Press Detail

Professor and group coordinator of marketing Gloria Barczak and research program manager David Wesley's forthcoming book on videogame marketing was mentioned in Wired magazine online edition. The article also included a quote from their blog post 'Too Much of a Good Thing: Explaining the decline of Guitar Hero and Rock Band': "Once people own a music game, there is less reason to purchase another one. Each additional music game purchase becomes subject to the law of diminishing marginal utility. Given that fact, the 2009 sales numbers seem respectable. (…) One should expect further deterioration in 2010 before sales begin to level off. At that point, the franchises will need to focus on add-ons and adapt to having a smaller number of new customers. (…) One thing is certain. Neither company appears willing to accept the fact that instrument simulation games cannot continue to be released at the current rate indefinitely."
Click here for the complete blog post.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance, was quoted in an article on Citigroup's IPO of Primerica. "They must have shopped it around to competitors and the best bid offer was in their opinion less than their perceived value of the business," says Platt. "The market appears to be gaining comfort in buying IPOs based on recent experience including the Hyatt IPO and they may suspect that they would do better through this route. Hyatt is a good brand. Primerica is a good brand."

Ted Clark, executive director, Center for Family Business, was quoted in an article on family business. “The biggest challenge is being insulated from the outside world,” says Clark. “When a family business works well, you can’t beat it. It’s really hard to compete against them. You think about a business that is saying: I’m going to take my payoff next year, or I’m going to take my payoff in the next generation.”

Jay Mulki, assistant professor of marketing, and his co-authors have been awarded the Journal of Marketing Theory & Practice Best Article for 2009 (Volume 17). The paper is titled: “Examining the Impact of Service Quality: A Meta-Analysis of Empirical Evidence”. The award is being presented at the Society for Marketing Advances Conference in New Orleans.

Marketing professor Fareena Sultan's working paper 'Determinants and Role of Trust in E-Business: A Large Scale Empirical Study' has made the top ten list on the SSRN site for Internet and E-Commerce downloads.

Robert Lieb, professor of supply chain management, presented his '2009 3PL Provider CEO Perspective' survey at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Annual Global Conference. "This year's survey results underscore the caution and anticipation felt by 3PL executives as they wait for signs of a global economic recovery. Yet, despite bearish growth projections and acknowledgement that consolidation, pricing pressures and operational reductions were, and may continue to be, necessary adjustments, the opportunities for improved collaboration with customers, expansion into emerging markets and the possible addition of new management talent have many excited about the next several years," commented Lieb.

David Sherman, professor of accounting, was quoted in an article about a new FASB proposal concerning hard-to-value securities. "The proposal doesn't mark a major change, but an evolutionary one. I see it as an extension of what the SEC said to CFOs last September, that investors should be told what went behind the calculations and the sensitivity range," said Sherman. "The proposal could raise and lower liability risks. Raise them because you'd be more responsible for supporting the range of value - as opposed to a set value amount - yet also potentially lower liability because you are using a range and not an exact figure."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance, was quoted in an article about Citigroup's improved chances of selling off its assets due to a recent trend of mergers and acquisitions. "A frozen credit market will defrost for the highest-quality borrowers first, which plays well into the hands of Citi -- because anybody who is going to be buying the type of assets that they own is a premier company," says Platt. "The evidence we have in the last two weeks suggests that premier companies can in fact gain access to capital and make acquisitions. ... Two to three quarters from now, then even buyers for the bad stuff will surface. But right now there is so much risk and so much regulation."

Dean Thomas E. Moore was interviewed as a leader in online learning on Greg Gumbel’s Economic Report, September 9, 2009. The interview appeared on CNN Headline News in cities throughout the U.S., including Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, San Francisco, and New York.

David Sherman, professor of accounting, was interviewed about expanding his 2009 FAS 157 Answer Book due to changing fair value rules. "...if there was something radical, it was the revision the FASB made in April, where they said you could take the change in value and separate the part that's due to credit risk from the part that's due to inactivity in the market - and the part that's due to the market you don't have to put through to income. Also, the fair-value hierarchy with Level 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities - this is really a remarkable development. It's accounting, but it also is a broad business issue now in terms of what the implications are. People say things like, "From now on we're only going to take Level 1 as collateral." Investors, lenders and security analysts are making business decisions using this new vocabulary," explains Sherman.

Northeastern University's online MBA for Indian IBM managers was featured in an article about the rapid growth of online education in India. The web-based model is very practical and cost-effective for corporations.

Marjorie Platt, professor and group coordinator of the accounting group was quoted in an article about the rising popularity of accounting degrees. "As Wall Street faces serious layoffs, quantitatively oriented students may decide to focus on accounting rather than finance. We've seen our number of majors continue to grow over that past year while the number of finance majors is flat or trending down a bit. Since the two subjects are highly related, it may not take a lot of extra effort or coursework to refocus one's major," said Platt.

Arnold Wright, professor of accounting and international business, was granted funding for research by the Center for Audit Quality. Wright and his coauthor Stephen Asare of the Warrington College of Business were chosen for their paper "The Collaboration Between Financial Statement Auditors and Fraud Experts in Fraud Risk Assessment." The Washington-based group selected five projects from nearly 50 proposals it received addressing audit quality, professional judgment, professional skepticism, and the value of the audit.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and expert on corporate bankruptcies, was quoted in an article about investors picking up GM stock, despite indications that the shares may soon be worth next to nothing. To anyone thinking they are getting a bargain, Platt has a warning: "There are people who think they are buying the new General Motors. Stop. You're not. You're buying the detritus." This article has been picked up by media such as USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald and others.

David Sherman, accounting professor at Northeastern University, was quoted in an article about GE restating financial results after a SEC investigation. Sherman believes this case demonstrates why the changing interpretations of GAAP standards would warrant a switch to International Financial Reporting Standards. "This is an important policy issue. Under U.S. GAAP, the accounting is nightmarish. But under IFRS, it would be totally acceptable. A lot of the things GE and Fannie Mae did probably would have been considered reasonable under a principles-based approach," he says.

Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration, was quoted in an article offering tips on small talk. "...in a conversation, listening is just as important as speaking," said Sarikas. "Early in my career I heard very sage advice: "There is a reason you have one mouth and two ears; you are intended to listen more than you speak." Still true today. Show the other person respect by listening to what they have to say. Acknowledge, either verbally or with a nod, as appropriate. Ask questions. Use the person's name. Do not interrupt when they are speaking."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and expert on the airline industry, was quoted in an article about low-cost carriers JetBlue and Southwest competing in the Boston market. "It makes me think of gunfighters in the Old West - who is going to be the last man standing?" Platt said. "When you enter a town the size of Boston as really the sole low-cost carrier (like JetBlue did), you really can pick off a lot of the legacy carriers. But when the last two gunfighters are JetBlue and Southwest, you've got another game." This article has been picked up by media such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald and others.

Marketing professor Andy Rohm was quoted in an article about banks using Twitter for customer service. Banks have to be careful to emphasize communication over advertising, because users don't want to engage with banks that "hawk their wares," says Rohm. He has already executed an innovative idea with Netherlands' Rabobank, creating the virtual Yvette which can help multiple users through online chatting services. Care has been taken to make her appear genuinely friendly. "She can respond in both functional and social chat," explains Rohm. "She might engage with you saying, 'Hey it's nice to chat with you again. How was your trip to Barcelona?'"

Accounting professor H. David Sherman was recently quoted in an article on changes made to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Revised to make accounting methods less costly for underdeveloped countries, the abbreviated document will also benefit small, private companies in the US. By simplifying this document, the International Accounting Standards Board has essentially said, "all of those choices are a complication and impose a burden in valuating the accounting each year, so we're going to take them away and just say here, this is a good policy to use," said Sherman.

Beth Cliff, Director of Executive Education at the College of Business Administration recently discussed the value of a sound executive education program to companies during an economic downturn. "Armed with the right approach (practical, customized and results-oriented), the right faculty (industry and area-focused) and the right executive education partner (quick, responsive and flexible), a company can't help but provide top-notch educational experiences to their executive team. In times like these, this is precisely the muscle that's needed," said Cliff. For more information on the College of Business's Executive Education program, click here.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and corporate turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about General Motors' plan to further cut its workforce, including some executives. In response to the cuts Platt said, "That's great. But if it doesn't end up with General Motors being transformed, then it's just another step on the way toward the ultimate demise of General Motors." Provided by the Associated Press, this article has been picked up by media such as Businessweek, salon.com, forbes.com, msnbc.com and various news stations.

Dominic Coryell, a 2009 graduate of the Northeastern University College of Business, recently appeared on FOX News Business to discuss the success of his company. Coryell is CEO of Garment Valet, a laundry and dry cleaning delivery service. "The way our model works is we do the distribution and marketing and all the customer service," said Coryell. Its business model has allowed Garment Valet to perform well despite economic conditions. "We have a sufficient revenue stream of about $1M. There are VC options but right now we're using our own profits and our own money to just keep growing," he said. Coryell won the Global Student Entrepreneur Award in 2008 for his leadership of this venture.

Accounting professor H. David Sherman co-authored an article, with Dennis Carey, and Robert Brust, about the changing agendas of board of directors' audit committees. At this point, most committees have mastered Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and are looking for other areas to analyze and increase business value. According to Sherman, the committees need a wider array of knowledge in order to adequately tackle the issues.

Finance Professor Harlan Platt was quoted in an article on the dramatic rise of the number of commercial bankruptcies and how this might just be the beginning. "I think the surge in commercial bankruptcies is probably not yet here," said Platt.

An article co-authored by Michael H. Zack, professor of information, operations and analysis, and Edward F. McDonough, III, international business and innovation management professor, was recently recommended on Wall Street Journal online as further reading for insights on innovation. Featured on the MIT Sloan Management Review, the article states that in order to stay competitive, companies must strategize "based not only on what an organization makes or the service it provides but also on what it knows and how it innovates." To read professors Zack and McDonough's article, 'Integrating Innovation Style and Knowledge Into Strategy,' click here.

Executive professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, Dennis Shaughnessy, was quoted in an article on a recent College of Business Administration course. CBA students helped locals in the Dominican Republic plan and build profitable, sustainable businesses. "Profit is the key to fighting poverty," said Shaughnessy.

Marketing professor Gloria Barczak was quoted in an article on the increased usage of netbooks among corporate America. "It appears that netbooks have already made the leap from consumer toy to business professional," said Barczak. "Customers, both consumers and business, are looking for an inexpensive device that performs the primary functions they need -- Internet browsing, e-mail, typing documents and sharing some digital media. In addition to their functionality, netbooks are low price, very portable due to low weight and typically have longer battery lives than some laptops due to lower power requirements. So overall they are convenient, affordable and functional."

Multi-disciplinary executive professor of law and business, Susan Montgomery, was quoted in an article on decreasing intellectual property work, previously thought to be recession-proof. "As a general statement, which we've certainly heard in the past, IP is recession-proof. But I think that that's an overly broad way of looking at it, and that may be why you're seeing indications that perhaps it's not true now," said Montgomery.

Director of the Center for Family Business, Ted Clark, was quoted in an article on advice for breaking up a family business. "Try to get a third party to open the lines of communication," suggests Clark. "Find a professional who everyone can agree is neutral so that no one feels that party has favorites."

Director of Distance Learning Programs, Dee Masiello, was quoted in an article on the new online MBA program specifically tailored for IBM managers in India. "The target is to register a maximum of 20 managers from India to reach our first year target of 50 students for this unique online MBA course," said Masiello. "The course is completely online, no residency requirement now," she said.

Finance Professors Paul Bolster and Emery Trahan did a study on the stock picks by Jim Cramer of CNBC's Mad Money. Their research showed that his picks did remarkably well using straight numbers. However, when adjusted for the risk involved, his picks showed only marginal gains and losses. Their study has been picked up by CNBC.com, CXO Advisory Group, NYTimes.com Deal Group, Haaretz.com, as well as NPR. Audio content of that piece is available here.

Director of the MBA Career Center, Lynne Sarikas, was quoted in a Washington Post article on the advantages of volunteering and continuing to network while unemployed. "[Those who are unemployed] need that moral support, that accountability," said Sarikas. "[Volunteering] does wonders for the self-confidence."

Finance professor and corporate turnaround expert, Harlan Platt, was quoted in an article on GM and UAW reaching a tentative deal. "[This deal is] the best for everyone involved," said Professor Platt. "This is great for the workers because some of their jobs will be there in the future. This is great news for the Obama administration because they've demonstrated they're respecting contracts." The AP story has been covered by the San Francisco Chronicle, CNBC.com, Yahoo.com, NPR.org, USA Today, and abcnews.com, among others.

The College of Business customized an online MBA program for IBM managers in India. The program was conceived by Dean Tom Moore after speaking with Peter Lynt (BS '83), vice-president for global process delivery for IBM. "By getting these high potential managers into an MBA programme, we're adding value to IBM and helping the company recruit and retain workers," says Dean Moore.

Professor Ravi Ramamurti, director of the center for emerging markets, was quoted in an article on India's recent democratic election and the new government's propensity towards growth. "Just because the government will focus more on growth doesn't automatically mean they are going to open the floodgates to foreign direct investment," Ramamurti said. "In India's case, growth can come from giving a freer hand to the domestic private sector."

A customized College of Business Administration executive education program for second-year associates at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Boston was mentioned in a Wall Street Journal Article. Jane Eiselein, director of professional development, said the program was a success and will be offered again.

Marketing professor Andrew Rohm was quoted in an article on how the Yankees have been selling off, piece-by-piece, parts of the old stadium. "The old Yankee Stadium is no more, while Fenway still stands, making the Yankees' items more valuable," said Rohm. "If you were buying the last Fenway seats as the Sox moved to another stadium, those would be certainly be worth more than the old seats the team sold."

Airline industry expert and finance professor Harlan Platt was quoted in an article on how airlines made over $1 billion in the past year from baggage fees. According to Platt, airlines pay an average of $15 per checked baggage. "It's hard to argue with user fees," he said. "Why should a guy who's not bringing luggage on the plane pay for the guy who's bringing too many bags?"

Director of the MBA Career Center, Lynne Sarikas, was quoted in an article on how spouses can boost each other's job searching skills. She recommends mock interviews to better prepare for unexpected questions.

Research done by Finance Professors Paul Bolster and Emery Trahan was quoted on NPR's website. Their research has shown that CNBC's Jim Cramer's advice resulted in an annual 12% return on investment. "Overall, the results suggest that, while Cramer may be entertaining and mesmerizing to many of his viewers, his aggregate or average stock recommendations are neither extraordinarily good nor unusually bad."

Entrepreneurship professor Kim Eddleston was quoted in an article about Obama's efforts to support small business efforts in the U.S. "The goal should be encouraging investment, hiring and growth," said professor Eddleston. "That would help immensely and it would encourage hiring."

Finance Professor and airline expert Harlan Platt was quoted in an article on airline carriers' increasing use of wireless internet access (wi-fi) on flights. "Normally, air carriers rush to purchase capital equipment that raises their cost but doesn't raise their revenue. ... This is actually a revenue-producing tactic. And it's a good one because it's providing value to the passenger and it's creating incremental revenues for the airline," Platt said.

Finance Professor Paul Bolster was quoted in an article on investors' time-tested strategy of selling stock in May. According to Professor Bolster, research has shown that this strategy does not work in extreme markets. "This suggests that when market conditions get really bad, they stay bad regardless of the month of the year," he said. "2009 certainly has the potential to be a bad year for stocks from end to end."

Accounting Professor H. David Sherman was quoted in an article on FAS 157-4, a set of new Financial Accounting Standards Board guidelines for mark-to-marketing accounting rules and little these rules seemed to have changed things. "Before, you could say that there are just three objective ways of looking at [asset categorizations by level] and then use the one that makes the most sense. Now you have to be concerned [that] people think you're using the one that makes you have the smallest losses," said professor Sherman.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and corporate turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about Citigroup and other large banks being forced by the government to raise more capital. "Seeing success they're having in the auto industry, they're going to take a very similar tactic with these 19 banks that are too big to fail," Professor Platt says. "The government is going to light some fires under some butts and force people to sell off assets that have value as opposed to selling off assets that have limited value."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and corporate turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about GM's plans to cut costs further and eliminate the Pontiac brand. "It's not to say that Pontiac didn't make really nice cars," Professor Platt said, "(but) it's easier trying to plug four holes than trying to plug five."

Ted Clark, executive director of the Center for Family Business, was quoted in an article about the Zildjian centuries-old business with its 15th generation ready to continue the family legacy. "Less than 3 percent of family businesses make it to the fourth generation. Are they successful? Absolutely," Ted Clark said. "Everyone knows who they are. They have an extremely powerful brand."

Courtney Heath chose to attend the College of Business Administration six years after finishing her undergrad degree and having achieved most of her initial career goals. She chose Northeastern University because of its renowned co-op program. "It was the right time, right place for me to go to business school," said Heath.

Director of the MBA Career Center, Lynne Sarikas, was quoted in an article on six ways to sabotage your career. In the article, she recounts the story of a senior vice president firing an employee due to an overheard conversation. "Apparently, he had been riding the T (a subway in Boston), and one of the employees was on the train talking to someone -- in a loud enough voice to be overheard -- bashing his manager and the company," said Sarikas.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and corporate turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about General Growth's mall reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Professor Platt mentioned that bankruptcy announcement is positive for vendors and suppliers as it assures payment for their services. "Uncertainty, which has been sort of looming over everyone's head in this case, is now removed," Professor Platt said.

Joseph Giglio, executive professor of management and transportation expert, co-wrote an op-ed with Charles Chieppo on transportation reform in Massachusetts. Professor Giglio wrote: "At this late date, putting transportation reform back on track, not to mention implementing it successfully, will take real leadership and seasoned, experienced management. To find people with those qualities, state officials must look beyond candidates whose primary credentials are political."

H. David Sherman, professor of accounting, was interviewed by Matt Kelly, editor of Compliance Week , about the recent revisions to fair-value accounting rules. The banking industry and other companies that carry significant financial assets on their balance sheets will benefit from these changes. To download an mp3 of the interview, click here.

Samuel Rabino, professor of marketing, was quoted in an article that highlighted the results of the research study 'An International Perspective on Luxury Brand and Country of Origin Effect,' which Professor Rabino co-authored. "Country of origin association is extremely high with all of these luxury brands, which indicates to us that consumers know these brands quite well," said Professor Rabino. He also added that while the country of origin is an important factor in the consumer purchasing decision, the study revealed that "even higher attention is paid to the brand name itself."

Richard Goettle, lecturer of finance and insurance, was interviewed on NECN's 'This Week in Business' segment to discuss current economic conditions and the Obama Administration's plans to overhaul the way the nation's financial institutions are regulated. "I think things are starting to reach the bottom in the financial market. I don't think things are starting to reach the bottom in the fundamental economy," Professor Goettle said. "Everyone expects unemployment to continue to rise, businesses continue to be in tough times, and profits continue to erode. But I do think that the financial markets are the leading indicator that we are nearing the bottom of the bad news in terms of housing and in terms of maybe the stock market. The downside risk is a lot smaller than what it was three to four month ago." To watch the discussion, click here.

Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center, was interviewed on NECN to offer helpful tips on how to make a great first impression on a job interview. An important aspect of the interview process is to follow up with a hand-written note. "Follow up is usually a critical part of the job, so here is an opportunity to demonstrate your attention to that. A hand-written note does differentiate you because not everyone does it." To watch the interview, click here.

Nancy Upton, assistant professor of marketing, was interviewed for The Early Show on CBS to talk about the recent trend of designers and companies drawing inspiration from The Great Depression. "We see that in times of prosperity, people will oftentimes look forward. And in times of economic downturn, as we're seeing right now, that there's a tendency to reflect back on the past," said Professor Upton.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance, was quoted in an article on Citigroup's recent management change, which puts CFO at the helm of Citigroup's new unit, Citi Holdings. "This is an example ... where you have somebody whose talents have come to the surface and have been recognized," Professor Platt says. "This is an anticipatory change so that the spun off company will have a cadre of executives that will be well accepted on the Street so that the valuation [of the assets] will be high."

H. David Sherman, professor of accounting, was quoted in an article about the possibility of U.S. rules-based GAAP system becoming more like the judgment-centered IFRS. While speaking at a panel on the future of accounting regulation, Sherman pointed out that a more principles-based system, like the one outlined in the SEC's roadmap for global convergence of accounting rules, financial statements' footnotes will inevitably increase to provide the details previously given under U.S. GAAP. "It means you get a lot more clarity," Professor Sherman said. This story also appeared on SmartBrief.com.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance, was quoted in an article about Univision Communications, a Spanish-language broadcaster, struggling with sharp decline in its bond prices. "When a bond trades at nine cents, the market is anticipating a bankruptcy filing," said Professor Platt. "All media companies have suffered a startling decline in advertising revenues, and I suspect that Spanish-language stations are no different."

Tony Gao, assistant professor of marketing, was quoted in an article about many department stores, even Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, offering large sales that are deeper and earlier than in the past. "This is almost a path of no return," says Professor Gao. "It's hard to reverse this model."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about auditors giving GM a 'going concern' ruling because of the company's dependence on government funds. "It's telling you what you knew all along," Professor Platt said about ruling. "They issued what was obvious, blatantly obvious, in November."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and turnaround expert, was quoted in an article about GM auditors doubting the automaker's ability to continue operations despite its ambitious restructuring plans. "I think the government has forced the hands of everybody," Professor Platt said. "In 18 months to 24 months, I anticipate they will be profitable, in the black. A mean and lean competitor that will be world-class." This story also appeared in Forbes, Businessweek, Marketplace, iStock Analyst, and The Los Angeles Times.

H. David Sherman, professor of accounting and former SEC academic fellow, was quoted in an article about auditor liability in connection with fraud allegations. One of the most recent examples is the Satyam Computer Services scandal involving Price Waterhouse India. Professor Sherman says that the audit firm is at fault to some extent because it did not discover the fraud issue.

Nancy Upton, assistant professor of marketing, was quoted in an article about useful tips based on research about mood and spending. "If your desire is solely to pick up mood, there are much better mood regulators available," Professor Upton said. "Especially in the case of stress or anxiety, both cognitive and physical stress can be alleviated by exercise. And not only is it a mood regulator, it can be more cost-effective, as well."

Tony Gao, assistant professor of marketing, was quoted in an article about liquidation sales run by firms specializing in going-out-of-business sales. Professor Gao mentions that liquidators generally generate much better profits by selling inventory to deep discount retailers and foreign markets.

Harlan Platt, finance professor and business turnaround expert, wrote an article on short selling that was published in Advanced Trading. "Investors are selling stocks short, not because they know something bad about these companies but because everyone else is," Professor Platt writes. "If they drive companies into bankruptcy these investors come out winners. The losers are everyone else in the country. The solution is simple: the SEC needs to reinstate the uptick rule. The market will recover, the economy will recover, and the shorts will take a bath."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and bankruptcy expert, was quoted in an article about health and life insurance benefits cuts for Delphi Corp. employees. "What's transpired in the auto sector has been devastating," Professor Platt said. "Delphi is under good management but is seeing this onslaught of problems (spin) out of its control. ... In the case of Delphi, events have amounted to an unending case of bad news and ramifications for the firm."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and bankruptcy expert, was quoted in an article about Delphi's benefit cuts for salaried retirees. Professor Platt said that the auto supplier's benefit termination request is a "sign of absolute desperation" for Delphi. He predicts that the judge is likely to approve Delphi's appeal.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and bankruptcy expert, was quoted in an article about three Atlantic City casinos, which were once run by Donald Trump, filing for bankruptcy protection for the third time. "Mr. Trump has a way of doing business which was perfectly aligned with American capitalism over the last 20 years, but will probably be misaligned in the future," Professor Platt said. "He has lots of leverage and a tendency to make very bold bets." This story also ran in Forbes, New York Magazine, BusinessWeek, and on MSNBC.com.

Donald Margotta, associate professor of finance, wrote a letter to the editor in response to the op-ed article 'Capitalism Should Return to its Roots' by Carl Icahn who is the chairman of Icahn Enterprises, a publicly traded diversified holding company, and Blockbuster Entertainment. Professor Margotta wrote that while some of Mr. Icahn's criticisms of corporate America are valid, "his proposed solutions to those problems have apparently not worked for his own companies."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and airline industry expert, was quoted in an article on major airlines' partnership with regional carriers for commuter flights. "A regional carrier could never have the computer network for attracting new passengers, and the large carrier couldn't afford to fly from large towns to small ones," said Professor Platt. "You have a number of well-managed, highly professional regional carriers that operate this way, and for the most part, their safety record is unparalleled around the world."

Nancy Upton, assistant professor of marketing, was interviewed by Marketing Daily about the "Lipstick Effect" in this recession. "During the Depression, we saw an increase in cosmetic sales, especially lipstick. It's a small, relatively inexpensive purchase that cheers you up. We're seeing similar patterns today," Professor Upton said. "McDonald's sales are up, as are other lower-end restaurants--people know it's cheaper to eat at home, but it's an inexpensive way to lift their mood--especially if they're working late. Workplace morale is low, stress levels are high--people are looking for short-term gratification." This story also ran in The Kansas City Star.

Tony Gao, assistant professor of marketing, was quoted in an article about the question whether a smart IT strategy can help retailers survive the economic downturn. "Unfortunately, many retailers are under tremendous pressure from investors to deliver short-term sales and financial results," says Professor Gao, "and don't have the luxury of longer decision-horizons." This story also ran on Network World.

CIO Magazine published an article by Ravi Ramamurti, distinguished professor of international business and director of the Center for Emerging Markets. The article was about the effects of the recent Satyam scandal on offshore outsourcing.

Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center, was quoted in an article about tough job market. "It's going to be incredibly competitive, so they're going to have to sell themselves well," said Ms. Sarikas. "This isn't the time to hold out for your dream job."

Harlan Platt, professor of finance, was quoted in an article about dividend cuts. "Some massive companies may need to reduce their dividends not so much to retain capital but simply because they don't need to pay their shareholders extraordinary returns," Professor Platt said. "A company with a high yield is a company at risk to reduce it since the market is suggesting they are overpaying."

Nancy Upton, assistant professor of marketing and an expert in the effects of mood on consumer behavior, was quoted in an article about the 'Lipstick Effect.' "During the Depression, we saw something referred to as the 'Lipstick Effect', which showed an increase in the consumer purchase of cosmetics, especially lipstick," Professor Upton says. "What we saw was a consumer trying to make themselves feel better through small, indulgent, hedonic consumption." This story also ran in Financial Post, The Toronto Star, KIVI-TV, and PhysOrg.com.

Thomas Moore, Dean of the College of Business Administration, was quoted in the press release about Northeastern University's 3rd annual Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards program, which will be held on April 29, 2009. "Given that family businesses create 78% of all new jobs, it seems more appropriate than ever in these tough economic times to acknowledge and support family businesses. Family businesses are an important economic engine of the Commonwealth. They account for 60% of total U.S. employment and with all the long-term contributions that family firms deliver to their employees, the economy, and the Commonwealth, it seems fitting to highlight and recognize their achievements and success," said Dean Moore.

Harlan Platt, professor of finance and airline industry expert, was quoted in an article about additional layoffs at struggling airlines that have been cutting capacity since last summer due to lofty oil prices. "The reduction in oil prices and jet fuel prices has been a welcome benefit to the airlines but the floor has fallen out of air travel," said Professor Platt. This story also appeared on Market Watch, PR Newswire, iStock Analyst, Top News, Aircraft Maintenance Technology, and The Earthtimes.

Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, associate professor of accounting, was quoted in an article about India's biggest corporate fraud investigation involving Satyam Computer Services Ltd. "If you're an auditor working in an emerging market like India and you believe regulatory scrutiny is going to be somehow lower than if you were doing it somewhere else in the world, then there are less incentives to give the same quality audit," Professor Krishnamoorthy said.

Ravi Ramamurti, a professor of international business and director of the Center for Emerging Markets, was quoted in an article on the rise of India and China as hubs for innovation. "China and India are already well-recognized as centers of production of low-cost goods and services for the world. But their potential as centers of research and development and innovation is only starting to be recognized. They will fuel global innovation in at least four ways," said Professor Ramamurti. This story also appeared on IndiaNewEngland.com.

World-renowned expert on Russian business, Professor Sheila Puffer was quoted on Russia's potential for business expansion. "This is a country starved for consumer goods," says Professor Puffer.

Supply Chain Management Professor, Robert Lieb, was quoted in Shipping Digest on India's weak infrastructure and growth of Third Party Logistic companies (3PLs). The article, 'India's economy is booming, but weak infrastructure hampers growth' examines constant logistics issues companies in India face and how businesses are arising to deal with those issues. "Thousands of small companies are emerging from the transportation and warehousing sectors in India to operate as 3PLs," said Lieb.

Director of the Center for Emerging Markets, Professor Ravi Ramamurti was quoted in an article on Tata buying Jaguar, which was formerly a British company until it was bought by Ford. "The media like to call it the empire striking back. But I think there's more to it than that. There's a lot of evidence in international business research that companies will go to countries that are close to their own countries, close being defined broadly either in cultural terms or historical terms," said Ramamurti. This article also ran in the Baltimore Sun on March 26.

Bornstein Senior Fellow of International Business & Strategy, Ravi Ramamurti, was quoted in the Investor's Business Daily article, 'Third World's Corporate Giants Embarking on Global Takeovers.' The article discusses Indian private firms' successes in buying out U.S., Canadian and European companies while potentially state-owned Russian and Chinese companies are encountering difficulties. "Indian companies get cut some slack because generally they're private, so there is not much anxiety involved in acquisitions," said Ramamurti. "Many of the multinationals coming out of China or Russia still have close government ties, and state control is viewed with trepidation. It's a red flag. That's why China gets more flack."

In a littleindia.com article, 'NRIs Turbo Charge Indian Businesses,' Professor Ravi Ramamurti is quoted extensive on the benefits of non-resident aliens (NRIs). "Émigrés can help their countries of origin in a variety of ways, providing economic capital that may be in short supply domestically, providing "hard" skills, like engineering training, and "soft" skills, such as a more intimate knowledge of global business culture."

In a Forbes.com article, "Will Growth Slow Corruption In India?", Professor Ravi Ramamurti is quoted on the role of corruption in India. "The paradox," Ramamurti said, "is that even though India's faster growth in recent years is the result of fewer government controls, most Indian managers would tell you that corruption has increased, not decreased, in tandem. The good news," said Ramamurti, "may be that at least the most egregious forms of corruption are exposed by social activists or the media."

Professor Ravi Ramamurti, Director of the Center for Emerging Markets, is featured in the August 26th The Times of India story entitled, 'Retail graft has gone wholesale'. The article is about India's thriving retail industry that's rife with corruption between companies wanting to gain a competitive advantage and bureaucrats and politicians. Professor Ramamurti explains that India is ahead of many developing countries but still has ground to cover. "India has a long way to go before our institutions are truly professional and independent, or the average public official's salary is high enough to make corruption unappealing," says Professor Ramamurti. "Keeping in mind that most corrupt officials earn many times their salary through corruption, it will take a huge pay increase (or moral awakening) to wean them off corruption."

In the January 2007 cover story of Industry Week entitled, 'BRIC Crumbling?,' by John McClenahen,Entrepreneurship and Innovation Professor Daniel McCarthy states that outside of the energy sector, US companies have been slow to relocate to Russia. "For the most part, because of the obsolete condition of the manufacturing sector in general in Russia, [U.S. manufacturers] have to go in through another [company's] greenfield [investment]," adds International Business Professor Sheila Puffer.

With the Chinese Government offering foreign auto manufacturers incentives to move their manufacturing on Chinese soil, these manufacturers are doing just that, says Ravi Ramamurti, says CBA Professor Ravi Ramamurti in Investor's Business Daily. In an Investor's Business Daily article, 'China Starting To Export Autos, But It's Not Ready For U.S. Yet,' by Reinhardt Krause, Ravi states that China is allowing foreign automakers to own a majority stake in export-only factories. "Honda has provoked other global carmakers into thinking about the Chinese-made option," says Prof. Ramamurti.

In an Investment News article, 'China Temporarily Freezes Licensing For Brokerage Firms' by Riva Froymovich, International Business Professor Ravi Ramamurti believes that this timeout is good so that local companies can consolidate and get enough market clout. "We know they want to develop Shanghai as a global financial center. The WTO allows members to take a timeout from foreign competition if it's very disruptive to domestic industry," Prof. Ramamurti said. "That's using trade policy in a very strategic way, which the Chinese are very good at doing."

In Optimize magazine's section, Square Off, IOA Professor Ramaiya Balachandra takes the 'Yes' stance in answering the question 'Is Offshore IT Outsourcing Losing Its Luster?'. "Offshoring is growing the fastest with respect to activities like R&D and design, which companies such as General Electric, General Motors, and Toyota are widely outsourcing to India and China. I believe these enterprise leaders will influence many smaller businesses to follow suit and take their operations offshore, resulting in even larger increases in such overseas activities for the next decade." Professor Balachandra specializes in managing R&D and technology.