| |
27 Jan - 9 Feb
|
|
What's Hot
Crisis in Haiti: Where Do We Go from Here?
The earthquake that rocked Haiti recently has caused unimaginable death and destruction, a reminder to everyone that catastrophes are usually unforeseeable and therefore almost impossible to prepare for. Yet ironically, scientists almost two years ago warned Haiti about an impending major earthquake. The Haitian government lacked the resources to follow up on the report, which raises the question of whether any country or region of the world, rich or poor, can take meaningful steps to avoid the destruction caused by catastrophes of any kind, from earthquakes and hurricanes to terrorist attacks and pandemics. Knowledge@Wharton asked professors Howard Kunreuther and Michael Useem, authors of a new book titled, Learning from Catastrophes: Strategies for Reaction and Response, and professor Morris A. Cohen, to talk about the challenges of dealing with such crises.
|
|
|
|
Opening Cuba to U.S. Trade: Will Optimism Outlast Delays?
When Barack Obama became president a year ago, many U.S. business groups had high hopes that he would push hard for a quick end to the U.S. commercial and financial embargo of Cuba, dating back to 1960. For optimists, the question wasn’t whether the embargo would end but how quickly it would be dismantled, and just how soon U.S. exporters, carriers, freight forwarders and others would be able to take full advantage of Cuba’s proximity to the U.S. But things haven’t turned out that way. Despite continued optimism about the grand opportunities that await U.S. business in Cuba, American suppliers of goods and services may have to wait several more years for Cuba to make the sorts of economic and political reforms that would open the market to U.S. trade and investment, experts say.
|
|
|
Swimming against the Tide: The Success of Spanish Real Estate Developer Neinver
Neinver, a development firm specializing in turnkey non-residential properties, is one of the few Spanish companies to have grown stronger during the ongoing financial crisis, which has devastated the country’s commercial real estate (CRE) sector. Although most CRE companies have focused their efforts on rapid growth, Neinver has set up a unique business concentration: outlets and shopping centers that specialize in low-price fashions. This strategy has made the family owned company the second-largest operator of outlet stores in Europe.
|
|
|
CEOs in Argentina: The Pitfalls of Short-term Thinking
“In every situation, the election of a CEO defines the destiny of the company.” This comment by Ram Charan, a management columnist at Fortune magazine, serves as the inspiration for a recent research project on how CEOs work in Argentina. The study, “The Agenda of the Number-One: The value added by senior corporate management,” highlights some of the weaknesses of the country’s key executives, such as their lack of interest in succession planning and the short-term mindset of their agenda. Alejandro Carrera, a professor at the IAE Business School in Buenos Aires and one of the authors of the study, talked about the report’s findings with Universia Knowledge@Wharton.
|
|
|
China's Rebalancing Act: How Much Do Consumers Stand to Gain?
After a tough grind through the Year of the Ox, it's easy to see why China is looking forward to the beginning of the Year of the Tiger in February. Thanks in large part to the government's ability to keep the Chinese economy moving in 2009 with a massive, two-year, RMB 4 trillion ($585 billion) stimulus program, most analysts expect robust growth in the year ahead. The challenge now is to reduce its overreliance on exports and manufacturing by increasing domestic consumption. Meanwhile, some experts warn that unemployment and the specter of inflation could threaten any new-found consumer confidence.
|
|
|
Will Google's Nexus One Change the Wireless Industry?
On January 5, Google launched the Nexus One -- its new "superphone" -- with a good deal of fanfare. Although the launch itself was quickly overshadowed by the online giant's surprise showdown with China over censorship, the company's attempt to rewrite the rules of the wireless industry has not gone unnoticed. Through its online store, Google is selling the Nexus One directly to consumers, sidestepping service providers that operate as device gatekeepers under the traditional sales model. The operation is off to a somewhat rocky start, leaving some observers to wonder whether Google can adapt to its new role in direct sales, but the bigger question is whether Google can alter consumer behavior and the economics of an entire industry.
|
|
|
From Venti Lattes to Spider-Man: Adapting Global Brands for Success in China and India
How can a company like Starbucks sell coffee to a nation of tea drinkers? What should Western marketers do when the mention of “office supplies” generates blank stares abroad? And how can firms tap into the purchasing power and desires of a huge, growing youth population? These were among the challenges discussed at a recent conference held in New York City titled, “Branding in China and India: The Reality and Future.” Jointly hosted by the Centers for International Business Education and Research at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California at Los Angeles, the event featured panelists from well-known global enterprises who shared their advice for successfully taking brands across national borders.
|
|
|
