NIU College of Business Dean is quoted in Businessweek on the Glass Ceiling (August 8, 2011)
Denise Schoenbachler, NIU Business Dean and tenured marketing professor, was interviewed in a Businessweek story on the glass ceiling in academia. The story -- "For Female Faculty, a B-School Glass Ceiling" -- discusses the views shared by a select group of female business deans who describe why tenure and full professorships tend to be elusive for many female academicians. When Schoenbachler first became dean, only 12% of all AACSB deans across the country were women. In an earlier and separate interview, she points to NIU as a great example of seeing women serve in more leadership capacities. In the 2006 college magazine, Schoenbachler says, "Here, women step up to more leadership roles, due in large part to their capabilities but also to NIU's commitment to diversity and to developing diversity." Click here to read the full Businessweek article >>
NIU College of Business accountancy students roleplay with IRS Agents is featured on WGN News (April 18, 2011)
Representatives of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (CID) delivered a six-hour interactive workshop with NIU College of Business accountancy students to educate them on the functions of the CID. This IRS workshop is called the Adrian Project and includes roleplay exercises between students and IRS agents of real-life investigative scenarios including a drug bust. HSBC Professor of Accountancy Chih-Chen Lee helped bring the IRS and its Adrian Project to the NIU College of Business. WGN TV's news video on this workshop aired on April 18, 2011. More >>
AT&T Wireless CEO, a NIU Business alumnus, is quoted in Barron's on AT&T's planned acquisition of T-Mobile (March 26, 2011)
Ralph de la Vega (NIU MBA holder), AT&T Wireless CEO, and Randall Stephensen, AT&T Chief Executive, were interviewed in a story on AT&T's $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile. The story -- "The Calculus Behind AT&T's T-Mobile Deal" -- ran in Barron's on March 26, 2011. The article presents a balanced view of what the megamerger could mean if approved by President Obama and federal regulators. "The U.S. is the least concentrated wireless market in the world. The deal will improve the quality of service," said de la Vega. AT&T proposes in its bid to increase 4G (fourth-generation) wireless-network coverage to 95% of the US population. Click here to read the full article >>
Director of BELIEF Initiative quoted in Northwest Herald article: Wasting company time? They aren't crimes, but technology breaks are hurting bottom lines (March 3, 2011)
William McCoy, Director of the BELIEF Initiative, was quoted in the Northwest Herald about tools employees can use to make choices about their own behaviors in the workplace. The article focused on employee theft and mentioned time theft as the most common form of employee theft. Technology was cited as the main culprit, enabling employees to use breaks to make personal phone calls, check Facebook, and visit hobby-interested blogs. One of the tools McCoy suggests using is the Mom Test: your behavior should be something you want to tell your mother about. If it's not, then it's probably not the right choice. More >>
Finance professor quoted in the media on pensions
NIU Finance Professor Gerald Jensen was quoted in the Northwest Herald (December 10, 2010) and the Kane County Chronicle (February 11, 2011). The stories describe how companies continue to move away from "defined-benefit plans" like company-backed pensions. Jensen offers a number of possible contributing factors to this shift, including the changing job market, government regulation and increased costs.
NIU Business students aid non-profit organization
Northern Illinois College of Business students volunteer to help with Junior Achievement efforts with schools in the DeKalb area. The NIU business students introduced business concepts to young kids, typically fifth-graders in a Sycamore based elementary school. Junior Achievement partnerships with universities and in this case the NIU College of Business provides children with the skills necessary to "compete in a global economy" says Tracy, the program's operations manager. The Junior Achievement non-profit organization partnered with Northern Illinois University, Ideal Industries, Target Distribution, 3M, Nestle Distribution and Tegrant Corporation, reaching four million students a year, to bring real-life experience to the classroom. Full DeKalb Chronicle story November 11, 2010 here.
Fast-Trak MBA program and students featured in the Chicago Tribune (November 3, 2010)
"When Joe Walker was looking for an MBA program he wanted one that would get him back into the workforce quickly and that would challenge him enough to prepare him for a management job. Walker believes he found the perfect program in the new Fast-Trak MBA program..." offered out of the NIU College of Business. So begins an article in the November 3rd "Education Today" section of the Chicago Tribune, which reports enthusiastic student and marketplace reactions to the double-degree program. Students enrolled in the college's Fast-Trak MBA complete 44 hours of coursework in one year and earn two degrees: a Master in Business Administration from the NIU College of Business and a Master of International Business (MIB) from the Bordeaux University School of Management in France. More >>
Finance professor's study on gridlock and stock market performance cited in the Washington Post. (November 1, 2010)
Professor of Finance Gerry Jensen's research was discussed in a Washington Post article (November 1, 2010) entitled: "What does divided government mean for the market?". In the pre-election article, the reporter shares key findings in Jensen's co-conducted 2006 research study: "Gridlock's Gone, Now What?". In this study, Jensen and his coauthors examined the monthly inflation-adjusted returns of 10 stock indexes over the period 1949 through 2004. Their findings indicate how the stock market performs during gridlock, partial gridlock, and periods of governmental "harmony", respectively. This particular study by Jensen has generated media interest and media coverage worldwide during every election cycle since his study was published in 2006. Major media outlets referenced his work and continue to. Those media outlets range from the Wall Street Journal, the Dow Jones Capital Markets Report, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, The Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, BloombergNews, Morningstar, among countless others. Professor Jensen's co-authors are Scott Beyer at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Robert Johnson who is the managing director of the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute. The current Washington Post article can be found at this link: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/11/what_does_divided_government_m.html?referrer=emaillink
Crowe Horwath Professor of Accountancy's work cited in Wall Street Journal
Jim Young, Chair and Crowe Horwath Professor of Accountancy in the Department of Accountancy, was recently cited in the Wall Street Journal (October 9, 2010) on the taxation of investments. This refers to taxable interest, dividends, and long-term capital gains as they relate to income levels. As the expiration of the Bush tax cuts get closer, many investors are concerned with what the tax rate will be on these investment income items. More >>
Executive in Residence quoted in Management Today article on social media for executives
Executive in Residence, Joe Cullinane (B.S. Marketing), provided Management Today (Summer 2010) with his insights on how to effectively use social media in the business environment. Cullinane is the co-author of the book "Surfing the Rift", which analyzes the strategic business use of social networking tools. In the article, Cullinane comments about the traditional social media pitfalls that executives can fall into, such as writing on controversial topics. He also explains that engaging in active listening on social media sites will provide executives with an understanding of their audience interests.View the article >>
Assistant finance professor's research on unethical executives cited in FOXBusiness
Assistant finance professor Adam Yore's co-authored research was cited in the August 9, 2010 FOXBusiness online article "HP's Hurd: Did the Punishment Fit the Crime?". The research studied whether or not the personal life choices of an executive influenced financial returns to shareholders or if they could be separated. Yore's co-authored paper received the Eastern Finance Association's 2010 Outstanding Corporate Finance Paper Award on April 15, 2010.
NIU business alumnus interviewed on how businesses can revive growth in good and bad times.
Dean DeBiase, Chairman of RebootPartners.com and alumnus of Northern Illinois University's College of Business, discusses the concept of rebooting, or rethinking, a business' strategy. In the August 2010 issue of SmartBusiness magazine, DeBiase offers insight on what companies can do to create growth even in a slow economic period. DeBiase describes the three Reboot Zones (People, Platform, Passion) and how to get the most out of those zones to create a positive change within a company. SmartBusiness - Chicago is read by more than 19,000 CEOs and company founders of fast-growth, middle-market and large companies that are located in the Chicago business community. View the article >>
NIU's marketing department collaborates on a study of world class organizations.
The 2010 Miller Heiman Sales Best Practices Study data was analyzed by Northern Illinois University College of Business' Marketing Department. The department's in-depth analysis revealed that during an economic recession companies with stronger integration between their marketing and sales departments perform better than those without such an alignment. As a result, highly aligned companies experienced growth in the following performance areas: qualified leads, conversion, acquisitions, retention, average billing per customer, and revenue. Over the past seven years Miller Heiman's surveys have gathered input globally from over 23,000 executives, leaders, and representatives in the sales profession to pinpoint what differentiates world-class sales organizations. Read the article >>
Associate Dean interviewed in SmartBusiness magazine on the importance of corporate training in a tough economy (July 2010)
Paul Prabhaker -- associate dean of and MBA Program director -- was interviewed on how to approach employee training in both a tough economic climate and in an economic recovery. While many companies view training as a perk and cut the activity during tough market cycles, Prabhaker shares a different viewpoint. He briefly discusses how companies can factor in the realities of training costs during a recession and still find ways companies can engage in it during hard times. Prabhaker addresses how companies can best determine the type of training to provide employees, how it can be cost-effective, and how to monitor employee training. View the Q&A >>
Adjunct faculty member and NIU business alumnus provides a recipe for business success. (July 2010)
Joe Cullinane, adjunct faculty member and NIU business alumnus, discusses how every business has processes or activities in place that make the business not only successful but also differentiates it from its competitors. Cullinane likens the special traits of a business to the special ingredients used to create a successful stew. In the July 2010 SmartBusiness article, Cullinane suggests that focusing on your organization's special ingredients will cultivate a deep sense of corporate identity. Cullinane adds that the important first step is to know what the special ingredients are that make your company stand out. But the equally vital next steps involve consciously building on those distinctive ingredients -- in other words, doing more of what you already do extremely well -- in order to serve to the market a classic that will hold up over time. View the article >>
NIU double-degree MBA press coverage (June 2010)
The 12-month double-degree MBA program between NIU and France's University of Bordeaux was approved on June 23, 2010 by the Board of Trustees and has received the following press mentions:
Director of Leadership Development discusses how to maximize performance (June 2010)
Keith Robinson, director of leadership development, explains that companies need to view performance management in a new way, by thinking about employees as assets not as expenses. In doing so, Robinson suggests companies can build their business and generate long term returns. In the June 2010 SmartBusiness article, Robinson explains the benefits, tools and ways to manage this new human investment portfolio. View the article >>
Associate Dean discusses global marketplace competitiveness in Smart Business magazine (May 2010)
Associate Dean and Marketing Professor Paul Prabhaker discusses the increasingly interconnected nature of the global marketplace and how it's redefining many business practices. In the May 2010 SmartBusiness article, Prabhaker shares ideas on how businesses can stay competitive in such a furiously evolving environment. Primary among those ideas is the need for businesses to stay true to their own corporate character in such an ever-changing world, as well as the need for businesses to track their customers and truly understand how they make choices in the global arena. View the article >>
Finance professor's research cited in the Wall Street Journal
Finance professor Gerald Jensen's co-authored research on the relationship between Fed interest rates and commodities was cited in the April 24, 2010 Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article "Rising Interest Rates Might Be a Buy Signal for Commodities." Jensen's co-authored study analyzes data from December 1970 through August 2007, including "...commodity futures tracking the S&P GSCI Commodity Index to five types of stock portfolios...". Jensen's research is highly regarded in the business, financial, and academic communities. Over the years, his co-conducted research has received worldwide media attention in major media outlets ranging from the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, CNBC, Investment News to Nikkei Kinyu Shimbun (Japan). His most recent research collaboration on which the WSJ article is based will be published in Fall 2010 in the Journal of Investing, an academic publication. Jensen's co-authors on this most recent study are Robert Johnson of the CFA Institute, Mitchell Conover of the University of Richmond, Jeffrey Mercer of Texas Tech University.
Management professor interviewed on the changing face of workplace mentoring (April 2010)
Wendy Marcinkus Murphy, assistant professor of management, illustrates how businesses can create a more loyal workforce by implementing a mentoring program. In the April 2010 SmartBusiness article, Murphy describes some of several ways that mentoring has evolved from the traditional one-on-one relationship. She also describes the more successful approaches to workplace mentoring that address diversity of views, experiences, ages, and even use of technologies. With more than 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies adopting formal mentoring programs, workplace mentoring has increasingly become part of an organization's strategic toolkit. SmartBusiness - Chicago is read by more than 19,000 CEOs and company founders of fast-growth, middle-market and large companies that are located in the Chicago business community. View the article >>
A Taxing Experience: Students Learn Directly from IRS Agents (March 2010)
On Friday March 26, 2010 the College of Business’ Accountancy Department hosted the IRS Criminal Investigation Division’s Adrian Project at Barsema Hall. The project was developed by the IRS to provide students with real world experiences in forensic accounting and fraud investigations. Over 40 IRS Special Agents worked with 60 forensic accounting students in a variety of scenarios involving white collar crime. The IRS chose NIU’s College of Business because of Chih-Chen Lee’s, the Michael and Patricia Strachan Professor of Accountancy, forensic accounting classes. The event received media coverage from Rockford affiliate stations NBC, CBS as well as coverage in the DeKalb Chronicle.
Wal-Mart Professor in Enterprise Technology Innovation interviewed on building the corporate brain (March 2010)
Charles E. Downing, Wal-Mart Professor in Enterprise Technology Innovation, explains the importance of creating and feeding the business brain, formally known as business intelligence (BI). In the March 2010 SmartBusiness article, Downing discusses the necessary steps for creating BI, the risks and benefits involved when implementing BI, the importance of employee participation, and why it's critical to incorporate BI into a company's business strategy. SmartBusiness - Chicago is read by more than 19,000 CEOs and company founders of fast-growth, middle-market and large companies that are located in the Chicago business community. View the article >>
Marketing professor interviewed on how to create a brand with sound (February 2010)
Vijaykumar Krishnan, assistant professor of marketing, describes the emerging practice of sonic branding: using sound to create or enhance a company's brand image. In the article, Kirshnan also discusses the short and long term financial implications of implementing a sonic branding campaign as well as the associated benefits and risks. SmartBusiness - Chicago is read by more than 19,000 CEOs and company founders of fast-growth, middle-market and large companies that are located in the Chicago business community. View the article >>
Management professor interviewed on the cost and impact of bullies in the workplace (January 2010)
James Burton, assistant professor of management, describes the growing problem of workplace bullies and how workplace bullies cost organizations in multiple ways from inflicting psychological harm on individuals, creating a demoralized culture to real dollar losses -- $24 billion annually -- due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and tardiness. Burton also provides suggestions for developing a culture that discourages workplace bullying. SmartBusiness - Chicago is read by more than 19,000 CEOs and company founders of fast-growth, middle-market and large companies that are located in the Chicago business community. View the article >>
