Knowledge@Wharton Business Research Journal

Kenneth Feinberg and Executive Compensation: 'My Number-one Priority: Repay the Taxpayer'
This month, all of Wall Street is paying close attention to Kenneth Feinberg, President Obama's "pay czar." Having determined the 2009 pay for executives at companies that took federal bailout money, Feinberg is expected to unveil his 2010 determinations in the next few weeks. His mission, he said during a recent talk at Wharton, is clear: "I can't be vindictive; I can't be vengeful; I can't punish. I have to make sure that the companies have the individuals necessary so that [they] will thrive and repay the taxpayer."

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'Tarzan Economics': If Music Is Free, How Do Artists Get Paid?
Over the past decade, the music industry launched hundreds of lawsuits against consumers in an attempt to halt illegal downloads of digital content. Although many in the industry have backed off from that approach, the challenge remains to find a business model that generates sufficient revenue for musicians and record label companies. Jim Griffin, working as an advisor to Warner Music Group, is partnering with a number of universities to experiment with business models that could provide an answer. At the recent Supernova conference in San Francisco, Knowledge@Wharton spoke with Griffin about his plans for changing the way music is distributed and monetized.

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Getting Stuck in the Grass (and Elsewhere): Women Entrepreneurs Say Flexibility Is Key to Success
Inflexibility toward change can trap a business in a web of inertia. During a panel discussion at the recent Wharton Women Business Conference, four female entrepreneurs -- heads of companies that include a designer dress rental service and a fundraising project to promote AIDs treatment and research -- said compromise and a willingness to listen to critics are critical for long-term, positive growth.

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Geography Lesson: Why Internet Retailers Should Pay Attention to Where Potential Customers Live
While the Internet holds immense promise for reaching retail customers far beyond traditional trading areas, new Wharton research indicates that old world dynamics, such as neighbors sharing word-of-mouth recommendations, can still have powerful effects on Internet sales.

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It's a Long Way to 4G Nirvana
Spurred by the data consumption of devices like Apple's iPhone, Motorola's Droid and the latest smartphones, wireless carriers are planning to upgrade their networks. Companies such as Verizon, AT&T and others have announced ambitious plans to make fourth generation (4G) services available to their customers over the next two years, enabling a wide range of new applications involving rich media such as video. Still, experts at Wharton and elsewhere note that 4G will take time to become a mass market phenomenon, in part because wireless spectrum is in short supply.

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Wireless Technology: The Birds and the Bees ... and 4G
Just when consumers thought they had their 3G wireless gadgets all figured out, it's now time to start getting a grip on the fourth generation of wireless technology -- which will be much faster and far more disruptive than anything we have experienced before, according to Scott Snyder in his recent Wharton School Publishing book titled, The New World of Wireless: How to Compete in the 4G Revolution. In an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, Snyder, who is president and COO of consulting firm Decision Strategies International, predicts 4G will revolutionize the way we work and play by creating "one giant wireless ecosystem" that buzzes with innovation.

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