articles 21 to 30 of 319
Research Roundup: Team Performance, Demystifying Market Composition and the Reality vs. Hype of Sponsored Search
How do interpersonal relationships affect the performance of individual team members? Why is a shopping mall composed the way it is, and how do different stores affect each other's business? Do higher-ranked sponsored search listings pay off in terms of a company's bottom line? Wharton professors Jennifer Mueller, Maria Ana Vitorino and Kartik Hosanagar, respectively, examine these issues -- and what they mean for business -- in recent research articles
From: January 18, 2012
Transformative Times: New Opportunities for Business in an Era of Upheaval
In the 20 articles that make up this special report, students from the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies explore the many ways that the business community has responded to changes in our global economy. They look at individual companies and industry trends, and analyze how startups as well as established firms are taking advantage of transformative events around the world.
From: January 03, 2012
Building Blocks: The Bright Future of Colombia's Cement Industry
Colombia is poised to be the next Latin American growth story, ripe with opportunity for foreign investment. Heavy industries, particularly infrastructure, will be the big winners, as Juan Manuel Santos' government looks to enact new reforms that will modernize the economy. Much like a house, the foundation for the new Colombia will be built upon the cement industry. The bulk of infrastructure spending will be directed toward transportation (primarily roads) and housing, whose key input product is cement. Within Colombia, the cement industry is dominated by three key players: Argos, Cemex and Holcim.
From: January 03, 2012
Spain No Longer Battling the Windmills
Comparing Spain's current market grasp on wind energy with Don Quixote battling the windmill in La Mancha offers a certain irony. If Don Quixote is the representation of Spanish culture, today he would no longer be battling windmills, but rather trying to figure out how to manufacture them all over the world. In exploring the expansion of Spanish multinationals that specialize in wind energy, he would find one company's logo etched on some of the most sophisticated turbines on every continent -- Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica.
From: January 03, 2012
'Thanks, But No Thanks' to Made in China?
China, and the blossoming businesses that constitute this economic giant, have captivated the attention of the world. However, few Chinese companies have become world leaders in their field. While interest in Chinese products is growing exponentially, global consumers remain wary of products made in, or affiliated with, the Middle Kingdom.
From: January 03, 2012
The Groupon Effect in China
In January 2011, Groupon, the world's fastest-growing company, launched its online coupon business in China, the world's fastest-growing economy. At that time, more than 2,000 Chinese group-buying clone sites were already competing aggressively in a highly saturated market. While Groupon might have pioneered the group-discount model in the Western world, the concept of group-bargaining already existed in the Chinese culture. What forces helped shape such rapid growth in this industry in China? How are group-buying companies responding to the competitive landscape? And what are the implications for Chinese consumers today?
From: January 03, 2012
When Engaging with Your Stakeholders Is Worth Its Weight in Gold
Given two gold mines with the same amount of gold in the ground, the same cost of extraction and the same worldwide demand, why is one mine valued 10 times more than the other? Because one has local support and the other doesn't, argues Wharton professor Witold Henisz. In a new research paper, Henisz and his colleagues show how cooperating with, rather than antagonizing, external stakeholders generates sustainable shareholder value for companies around the world.
From: July 20, 2011
Can J.C. Penney's New CEO Reinvent the Department Store?
As engineer of Apple's winning retail strategy, Ron Johnson created a juggernaut that reaped both profits and positive buzz. But can he do the same with the department store, a retail format that many feel is becoming antiquated? As the newly named CEO of J.C. Penney, Johnson will be tasked with crafting a new niche for an American institution. Experts say doing that successfully requires more than leveraging gee-whiz technology.
From: July 20, 2011
As New Owner of NBC Universal, Can Comcast Merge the Corporate with the Creative?
NBC Universal is just the latest in a string of acquisitions that has transformed family-run Comcast from a single cable television operation into the largest U.S. cable television and home Internet provider. Comcast's most recent expansion will test the ability of the company's hard-nosed business culture to deliver results in the creative entertainment sphere, and comes against the backdrop of rapidly evolving technology pumping media content out across many platforms.
From: May 25, 2011
Building a Brand on the Smell of Mom's Kitchen: How Panera Found Success in a Down Economy
Replete with comfortable chairs, free wi-fi and the smell of freshly-baked bread, Panera is not your average fast food joint. The company is one of the fastest-growing chains in the U.S., with 1,420 stores and a roughly $3 billion market capitalization. During the depths of the downturn, when most companies contracted, Panera grew in size and profits. The reason for Panera's success is simple, experts say: The chain has pursued a niche strategy, differentiating itself as a fast food restaurant that serves healthy, tasty, affordable food in a community-minded atmosphere.
From: March 30, 2011
