Thought Leadership
The lifeblood of a business school is its faculty, and at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business our faculty members are inspiring, supportive and world-class. We are attuned to a marketplace that values innovation, entrepreneurialism, analytical thinking and hard work. Our teaching and research equips students with the wisdom of business scholarship rooted in the experiential lessons of the marketplace.
April 4, 2018
A Learning Curve for Using Online Reviews
Do online ratings and reviews actually help consumers make better decisions about doctors, hotels, schools, restaurants, movies and other purchase options? The answer may surprise you.
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A Learning Curve for Using Online Reviews
March 31, 2018
Predict Presidential Election Results
To win elections, there is a right way for political campaigns to spend their money, according to new research. Smith School professor Lingling Zhang and a co-author studied U.S. presidential campaigns for elections from 2004 through 2012.
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Predict Presidential Election Results
March 30, 2018
Open Shop in Multiple Platforms
Online retail platforms dominate ecommerce. But in crowded markets, how can vendors stand out and maintain a competitive edge? Smith School professor Jie Zhang says vendors benefit from being in multiple places.
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Open Shop in Multiple Platforms
March 28, 2018
What Uber’s Setback Means for Volvo
The name Volvo has long conjured up an image of safety. But the fatal crash involving an autonomous Uber vehicle puts the brand in new peril, says Smith School reputation expert Roland Rust.
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What Uber’s Setback Means for Volvo
March 27, 2018
Beware of the Pull of Prada
Research from Smith School professor Yajin Wang shows that luxury consumption triggers antisocial behavior, but only if the luxury product is perceived as rare and exclusive and is used in front of other people.
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Beware of the Pull of Prada
March 26, 2018
Recover From a Service Failure
It happens. Sometimes companies let their customers down. And when they do, they need to fix it fast, says Janet Wagner of the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.
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Recover From a Service Failure
March 21, 2018
Get the Most From a Shared Experience
Have a social outing coming up? Take a minute at the outset to make sure you're on the same page about what you each hope to get out of the experience. You'll have a better time, according to new research from Smith School professor Rebecca Ratner.
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Get the Most From a Shared Experience
March 18, 2018
Calculate the Value of Social Media Buzz
How much is social media buzz worth to your brand? A new working paper, co-authored by Smith School professor Wendy W. Moe, quantifies the value of word-of-mouth mentions in terms of equivalent advertising dollars spent to influence consumers.
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Calculate the Value of Social Media Buzz
March 14, 2018
Shield Your Brand From Customer Misbehavior
Smith School professor Amna Kirmani explores how a company's corporate social responsibility activities might influence whether consumers will try to cheat the company.
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Shield Your Brand From Customer Misbehavior
March 12, 2018
Stop Flaunting Your Upscale Brands
If you've got it, don't flaunt it. That's the conclusion Smith School professor Rosellina Ferraro and two colleagues came to when they studied how people display the brands they use. Using brands in a conspicuous manner is a turnoff for many others.
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Stop Flaunting Your Upscale Brands