Review highlights of recent news coverage of Georgia Tech College of Management's people and programs.
Spring 2007
• Rising MBA rankings: Georgia Tech College of Management jumped nine spots in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the nation's top full-time MBA programs, rising from 34th to 25th (10th among public universities). In academic specialties, the College ranked 14th in Production/Operations, 19th in Supply Chain/Logistics, and 24th in Information Systems.
• New science: Although corporate R&D operations are increasingly moving to emerging countries like India and China, companies continue to keep the majority of their cutting-edge R&D in developed nations, according to a Georgia Tech study cited in The New York Times and International Herald Tribune. To maintain this competitive advantage, developed countries must preserve the excellence and accessibility of their research universities that can collaborate with high-tech companies, explained Marie Thursby, professor of strategic management.
• Brand building: "It's death if you don't differentiate yourself in this competitive market," said Dean Steve Salbu in an article about business-school branding in The Wall Street Journal. Salbu said he hopes to evolve the College's brand message to better reflect its strengths in manage-ment and technology and focus on sustainable business.
• Putting name with facelift: In recognition of Acuity Brands' seven-figure lead commitment to the College, Georgia Tech has named the plaza at the corner of West Peachtree and Fifth streets the Acuity Brands Plaza, reported the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The plaza, a gateway into Technology Square, will be renovated soon. More info
• Big gains: The College of Management offers great return on investment for undergraduate management majors, according to BusinessWeek. Ranked 44th in the magazine's Top 50 list of U.S. undergraduate business programs, Georgia Tech placed second for return on investment among public colleges (and 12th among corporate recruiters). More info
• Follow the rules: While some hedged financial transactions qualify for special accounting treatment, the SEC doesn't want companies to use hedging techniques to manipulate earnings, said accounting professor Charles Mulford in The Wall Street Journal. His insights into appropriate accounting practices also appeared in such publications as the New York Post, CFO magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Detroit Free Press, and Fulton County Daily Report.
• Leg up: In an article on the benefits of MBA degrees, Georgia Trend magazine prominently featured the College of Management, focusing on the executive-format MS in Management of Technology (MS-MOT) and Global MBA programs. The article quoted MS-MOT student Karen Bond, who runs a technology strategy consulting firm. "I wanted to stay current, update my skills," she said.
• Night time, right time: Beginning in fall 2007, Georgia Tech's MBA program will be available in an evening format for the first time, reported the Atlanta Business Chronicle and MundoHispanico. "Our evening MBA students will enjoy the same benefits as full-time students," said Dean Steve Salbu in the former publication. More info
• Key findings: Finance professor Cheol Eun's research showing that not all foreign stocks have lost appeal as diversifiers was called a "landmark study" by SmartMoney.
• Linking the chain: Effectively managing supply chains requires good forecasting, visibility across the critical points in the chain, and reduced lead times, said operations management professor Vinod Singhal in London's Telegraph. His research on supply chain disruptions was cited in Fortune and Middle East Company News; and his findings on the effects of product delays appeared in IIE Solutions with an article in Consumer Digest forthcoming. More info
• Lab to market: Thanks to nanotechnology that won the 2007 Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition, doctors may eventually be able to diagnose cancer at much earlier stages, reported the Atlanta Business Chronicle. More info
• Merger mania: "Consolidation is on the move, and it's going to continue," said Mike Cummins of telecom mergers in an article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. These mergers are being driven by the rapid convergence of services (phone, TV, Internet), explained Cummins, director of information technology for the College of Management.
• Conflicting agendas: While state lawmakers believe three-day weekends could help ease Atlanta's traffic woes, that solution might not be good for business, reported the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Senior Associate Dean Nate Bennett pointed out that flex weeks make it hard to schedule company meetings or work on group projects.
• Overseas opportunities: GlobalAtlanta reported on Georgia Tech MBA students traveling to Costa Rica and Ireland over spring break to provide market analysis, logistics consultation, and other business strategy services through the Georgia Tech Consultancy Project.
• Up in the air: Marketing professor emeritus Fred Allvine appeared several times on WAGA (Fox 5) to discuss attempts by US Airways to acquire Delta Air Lines as well as the latter's emergence from bankruptcy.