For some products and services, there's only so much to go around. But when it comes to putting a price tag on what's in demand, high fixed cost industries that supply scarce, perishable resources find that it's not as simple as asking for the total opportunity cost. Professors Dimitris Bertsimas and Ioana Popescu explain their breakthrough ideas in the field of revenue management and how their proposed improvement upon the current theories can mean big revenues.

Over the last decade numerous studies have shown that "dumbsizing" sometimes provides short-term relief - and protects shortsighted managers' bonuses - while hurting companies in the long-term.

E-Mail is moving to a broader business purpose.

The worst thing about recent business scandals is their lingering aftereffect: How can you move forward when you don't know who you can depend on? Karl E. Weick says the answer is inside highly reliable organizations. For them, uncertainty is the "good stuff."

How do you foster entrepreneurship in your mainstream business? Babson Professor Allan R. Cohen speaks about the fact that leaders are not just those at the top; they can and must be in all kinds of jobs throughout the organization.

Editor's Note: see Part 2 at
http://www.mbadepot.com/redir.php?ID=2033&file=links

When Dennis Kozlowski resigned on June 3 as chief executive of Tyco International - shortly before he would have been removed by the board - it raised questions about the future of top executives around him. Assuming they supported, or at least knew about, the strategies of their former boss, should they be ousted as well, or would the loss of institutional knowledge and expertise be too disruptive to the company? Wharton faculty offer their opinions.

The study of so-called emergent phenomena can help you grapple with issues as difficult and squishy as motivating employees, predicting changes in corporate culture, and preventing small errors from snowballing into catastrophes.

Editor's Note: If you find this topic interesting, check out the work being done on artificial societies at
http://www.mbadepot.com/redir.php?ID=1910&file=links

Looking to equip your office with used or surplus gear? Online auction sites can help.

America's graduate management programs are trying to be all things to all constituencies. Which means they're serving nobody well - least of all American business.

U.S. and international standard setters are coordinating their efforts to craft a common language for business.

Not necessarily in B-school, where too many focus too little on doing the right thing -- despite the rash of corporate scandals.

Note: read readers' comments at:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2002/bs2002078_9726.htm

It's a slippery concept, synergy. Few really understand it. Yet the word is thrown around to justify all big mergers today. Too bad it's a baseless idea.

Now that the window for initial public offerings has all but closed, more Wall Street-bound companies are flirting with controversial reverse mergers.

Without effective security, companies risk losing money and customer trust. With good security, companies have the power to maintain stakeholder value, customer loyalty, and competitive advantage. Faced with the complexity of providing effective security, many companies are turning to outsourcing.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part article.

Part 1 notes the benefits of outsourcing security.
Part 2 evaluates the cost of such an outsourcing.
Part 3 provides guidelines for selecting a security services provider

If you thought inventing something was hard, just wait till you try to protect the invention in markets across the globe.

Dollarization can be a double-edged sword. It can provide monetary stability, but in times of crisis, it can also significantly constrain the central bank from lending a helping hand when it's necessary. Professors Douglas Gales and Xavier Vives provide an ex-ante approach to establish the viability of dollarization for any given economy.

"I believe there are three basic styles - directing, discussing and delegating. The appropriate style provides the right amount of structure and support for each situation. Each style is unique in terms of how managers communicate, set goals, make decisions, monitor progress and recognize good performance."

Whilst global mergers and acquisition are as popular as ever, critics increasingly point to the high failure rate of even the most high profile ones, with Daimler Chrysler the latest case in point. Based on first hand experience of many mergers, this article focuses on three aspects of the phenomenon. What determines whether a deal goes through or fails to happen? What are the key issues in starting off integration successfully? And how do you sustain the momentum of a merger?

Lowering inventories is one of the quickest ways to decrease working capital needs. Performance measurements, such as the old standby ROA (return on assets) and the newer EVA (economic value added), as well as other measures that gauge how efficiently capital is used, have become more common organizational drivers.

This article includes 25 questions to help assess your company's inventory handling situation.

No company likes to dismiss its talented employees because of a rotten economy. But there's a way to keep people working with you even after they stop working for you. Here is a five-point program on how to build a successful alumni network for your company.

How it roared back from disaster and became a model for Asia

Today, the trade show "business" consumes more than $750,000,000 a year from firms just like yours. For most organizations, these shows represent a tremendous expense. As such, you must make certain you are getting maximum return for your investment and minimize wasted time and money.

BusinessWeek correspondents and editors have chosen 50 individuals at the forefront of change. They are presented in the following categories:
- MANAGERS
- INNOVATORS
- AGENDA SETTERS
- FINANCIERS
- ENTREPRENEURS
- CHALLENGERS

Companies create intellectual property daily, and the ability to protect it directly affects its value. There are four main types of intellectual property to consider protecting:
- trademarks and service marks,
- copyrights,
- patents, and
- trade secrets.

This article discusses these as well as contractual protections that apply to employing IT staffers, consultants, and subcontractors.

Entrepreneurial managers give 10 insights on how to quickly grow an organization and still keep employees focused on what it takes to be successful.