Another European plan to fix its sovereign debt problem has initiated another sharp market rally. But will the enthusiasm over the latest rescue effort last longer than the optimism that greeted past plans, only to slowly fade away? (New York Times)
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average broke 12000 yesterday – a level not seen since early August – and the S&P 500 moved into the black for 2011. But while reaching these mini-milestones could give investors a boost of confidence, some pros warn it may could be short-lived. (SmartMoney)
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The conventional wisdom is that our education system is failing our economy. But our companies deserve a lot of the blame themselves. (Wall Street Journal)
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Humility is one of those qualities that all leaders say they admire, but few want to experience. Think about it. Ask any group of leaders if humility is important. Almost every one will nod and tell you that the world needs more humble leaders in every field: business, politics – well, everywhere. Ask that same group if any members would like an opportunity to be humbled. All are likely to decline. (Bloomberg/Businessweek)
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Corporate alumni networks can make it easier for former employees to become future employees. Though formal alumni networks have existed for years – consulting firm McKinsey & Co. has coordinated activities for its ex-employees since the 1960s, for example – they have made a resurgence as professional-services and technology companies, among others, struggle to find skilled workers to fill their ranks. (Wall Street Journal)
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Keeping silent on the job can come at a considerable cost to any employee or manager. What to keep in mind when confronting your boss or coworkers with problems. (Fortune)
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European leaders have thrashed out a deal they hope will resolve the problems that threaten the stability of world markets and the very existence of the euro currency. (CNN International)
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French president's remarks highlight the challenge European leaders face in trying to hold the currency together. (The Guardian)
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Duke University's controversial campus in China received a vote of support Wednesday as the business-school faculty approved the first degree that would be offered there. The degree, a master's in management, still requires approval by the university's Academic Council and other university bodies. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
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When Derrick Bolton speaks, business-school applicants' ears perk up. He is assistant dean and director of M.B.A. admissions at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Last year Stanford had a 7% acceptance rate for the incoming class – starting this fall – of 397 students. (Wall Street Journal)
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Three students from Florida A&M's School of Business and Industry accounting MBA program beat competitors from Pennsylvania State University and University of Georgia to win first place at a national competition. (The FAMUAN)
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Watch out, Microsoft PowerPoint: Google Docs has unveiled some serious upgrades to its online presentation editor. The changes – which include better collaboration features and more editing tools – are the most recent in a series of upgrades to Google's constantly evolving flagship online office software set, Google Apps. (Entrepreneur)
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The maker of the Blackberry PlayBook has delayed an update to the tablet computer's operating system until next year. (BBC)
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Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives quickly advanced four bills that would make it easier for small businesses to line up capital. The quartet of bills makes technical changes to several securities laws, easing obstacles to raising funds. (Inc.)
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Many Americans struggle to decipher news about producer prices, inflation, consumer confidence and other factors that are supposed to shed light on the state of the economy. Yet more common occurrences may be easier to comprehend – and perhaps can offer an even better reading of the nation’s fiscal health.
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The nation's economy regained some much-needed strength in the third quarter, as the pace of growth nearly doubled compared to the previous three months. (CNN/Money)
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Since 2008, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has dramatically changed the way millions of families manage their money and their lives. Some actions were predictable, like cutting up credit cards, clipping coupons, and suddenly remembering that, yes, you really do need to save for a rainy day. What you were living through, after all, was a downpour of financial troubles. (CNN/Money)
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In a 40-year history of executive MBA education at Simon Fraser University, only 10 aboriginal students came to the program. The abysmal record is typical of the under-representation of First Nations, Metis and Inuit students in higher education in Canada. (Globe and Mail)
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After weeks of turmoil and seemingly haphazard decision-making – including the ouster of CEO Leo Apotheker 10 months after he was hired – HP said on Thursday that it would hold on to the Personal Systems Group. In the last days of Apotheker’s tenure, the company said that it was considering the sale or spinoff of its PC biz.
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As the economy sputters and health-care costs rise, businesses large and small are eliminating benefits they consider nonessential and shifting more costs to employees for the benefits that are offered. (Wall Street Journal)
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Sometimes the best stimulus is not the biggest, but the one that’s possible. While Barack Obama has been haranguing Congress, without success, to pass his $447 billion stimulus plan, a more modest effort paid off on October 24th when the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two big mortgage-finance companies, made it easier for borrowers to lower the rates they pay on their mortgages. (The Economist)
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The GOP releases a $2.2-trillion package that includes no new taxes, a counter to a $3-trillion plan by Democrats that relies on spending cuts and new taxes on wealthier households. (Los Angeles Times)
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Why doesn't digital talent want to work at your company? It’s not because you’re a consumer packaged goods company, rather than Google. It’s not because you’re in Ohio instead of Silicon Valley. It’s not because your salaries are too low, or because you don’t offer free food and laundry services. It’s because you’re not providing them the right opportunity. (Fast Company)
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This tension between the player's (worker's) desire to get paid his worth and the fans' (employer's) hope for loyalty is at the root of a key insight into human social relationships. In a classic 1992 paper, Alan Page Fiske describes four elementary forms of social relationships, basically: families, neighborhoods, hierarchies, and markets. (Harvard Business Review)
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Like many public transit systems, especially ones outside the big cities, Little Rock's continues to struggle as transit ridership increases and unrelenting sprawl creates job centers in areas outside those where black residents predominate. (The Root)
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