The referral penalty: Decreased perceptions of merit undermine helping behavior towards referred employees

Employee referrals are commonly used by organizations due to their numerous benefits. However, it remains unclear how organizational incumbents, who are uninvolved in the hiring process, perceive and react to referral beneficiaries. Although traditional views suggest that the presence of a referral signals merit, incumbents’ perceptions may differ.

Should I Stand Up for My Mistreated Colleague? When and Why High-Status Team Members Stand Up for Their Coworkers  

Supervisory mistreatment has adverse consequences for its victims. Coworkers, as observers, can shape victims’ experiences by standing up for them. Yet doing so entails the risk of supervisory retaliation. High-status coworkers should be well-positioned to stand up for victims as they have greater social capital at work. However, such retaliation risks may loom large for them because they are highly motivated to protect what they have. Thus, prior research reports both positive and negative links between status markers and various forms of standing up.

Smith Programs Challenge Students to Think Independently

The Smith experience emphasizes independent thinking, civil discourse and global engagement. Through immersive programs, debate series and initiatives like the Fact-Based Discourse Initiative, students collaborate across disciplines to tackle challenges, develop leadership skills and prepare to lead with curiosity and integrity.

Terps Football Coach Infuses Leadership and Teamwork Insight in MiM Course

Maryland football coach Michael Locksley is co-teaching a revised “Leadership and Teamwork” course with professor Sheetal Singh in the Smith School’s Master of Science in Management Studies program, emphasizing experiential learning on leadership and teamwork for about 60 students.

Strong Showing of Smith Scholars at Annual Academy of Management Meeting

Twenty-six scholars from Maryland Smith’s Management and Organization department participated in 22 presentations at the 2024 Academy of Management Meeting in Copenhagen. Three faculty members—Rajshree Agarwal, Hui Liao, and Alyssa Tedder-King—received prestigious awards recognizing their research and teaching excellence.

More than 37K Enroll in Smith AI Course for Career Empowerment

More than 37,000 learners worldwide have joined the Smith School’s free AI and Career Empowerment course—designed for transitioning federal workers but open to all—building AI literacy and career skills through expert-led, self-paced modules.

Experiential Learning Class Uses Thought Leader Support and Real-world Clients to Prepare Students

Master’s in Management students tackle real-world business challenges in Roy Thomason’s experiential learning class, partnering with companies like MLB and ServiceNow to develop solutions. The project-based course builds skills in leadership, strategy and teamwork while preparing students for professional success.

Fostering Discussion of Critical Issues

The Fact-Based Discourse Initiative (FBDI), led by Rajshree Agarwal and Rellie Derfler-Rozin, fosters critical thinking and open dialogue on business challenges. Events explored trade, polarization, taxation, and social media's influence, promoting intellectual curiosity and respectful discourse at Smith.

Smith Grad, Physician-Scientist Among ‘Best & Brightest Executive MBAs’

Amal Isaiah, head of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the University of Maryland, is a recent graduate of Smith School’s EMBA program and a 2024 Poets & Quants "Best & Brightest Executive MBA." He holds six patents and over 70 published works.

Experiential Learning Students Offer Expertise to Industry Clients in Project Showcase Event

University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business graduate students, in the Master of Science in Management Studies programs, showcased innovative solutions for corporate clients through hands-on experiential learning, earning high praise for their professional and impactful projects.

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