MBS Media coverage

Reflect, review, recover

BRW, pg 30, 03 December 2009
Lessons learned in the economic downturn must not be ignored as the market rights itself. This is true when examining dealings with suppliers. Melbourne Business School’s Marc Stigter says that to achieve cost reductions, business should not be afraid to negotiate with suppliers for better prices or terms. Supply costs can eat up close to 75 per cent of a manufacturing company’s revenue and 40 per cent of a service company’s. Renegotiating can lead to big savings.

You’re the voice, try and understand it

The Age, pg 7, 01 December 2009
Read the full article.

Market rental rates

ABC2 News Breakfast, 30 November 2009
Associate Professor Melbourne Business School, Mark Crosby, discusses the rise in market rental rates. Crosby says that economists predict another interest rate rise is likely when the Reserve Bank next meet.

People remain torn over crucial issues

Sunday Mail Brisbane, pg 57, 29 November 2009
The idea of the CPRS is not to cause people to spend more on electricity, Professor Joshua Gans from the Melbourne Business School explained during the week. It is to change their behaviour so they don’t spend more on electricity.

Right on Cue, another crisis

Sam Wylie, The Age, pg 14, 25 November 2009
Inevitably, interest rates will go up and the electorate will blame the Government as the global financial crisis becomes a distant memory, writes Sam Wylie. Read the full article.

Rudd: Two Years on the Verdict – Joshua Gans on The Economy

Joshua Gans, The Age, pg 11, 23 November 2009
One thing is for sure, if there was ever a time when one cannot distinguish the soundness of economic management from things beyond control, the last two years would be it, writes MBA Professor Joshua Gans. Read the full article.

Our business schools make the grade globally

The Australian, pg 30, 18 November 2009
Four Australian universities are among the world's top 100 business schools in The Economist magazine's eighth annual survey. As exclusively reported by Andrew Trounson in the HES recently, the Melbourne Business School is the highest-rating Australian institution, rising from 26th place last year to 17th in the new list.

Too much stress for students?

ABC Southern Queensland, 18 November 2009
Are students put under too much pressure to perform and get top marks at school when they are not necessarily the measure of success for their later lives? Professor Robert Wood, Melbourne Business School, has researched extensively on the subject. He points out that the it is hard for employers not to rely on employee's past school grades due to the fact that they are easily compared, drawing on his personal experience as the deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Western Australia.

The downside of being nice

AFR, pg 59, 17 November 2009
Bullying might work for some bosses but striking a balance provides the best chance for success. Mara Olekalns, professor of management at Melbourne Business School, says being nice all the time can encourage workplace conflict because people are too polite to tackle issues as they arise.

Get a real read on your boss

Australian Financial Review, pg 3, 13 November 2009
The art of negotiation, according to new academic research, lies not in establishing a rapport but instead in showing competence so that other parties are not tempted to manipulate the outcome of discussions. “All the advice given about negotiation is that you should start by building a relationship and establishing trust that you’ll act in good faith. But if you overplay that strategy, people think you’re a soft touch and are more likely to deceive you,” says Mara Olekalns, professor of management at Melbourne Business School.

Taking the next step

HR Monthly, pg 33, 13 November 2009
"The MBA is a generalist degree for people who are looking to build strong corporate careers,” explains Jane Prior, director of academic programs at Melbourne Business School. She says that a deeper understanding of business as a whole not only makes for a better professional, but allows that professional to contribute to the strategic conversations that have to take place in the upper echelons of a large organisation.

Asking for a raise

ABC 720 Perth Mornings, 13 November 2009
Mara Olekalns, Professor of Management and Negotiation at Melbourne Business School gives listeners advice on how to successfully negotiate a pay rise. Olekalns explains that building rapport with a boss, having shared interests, or simply discussing future aspirations helps when asking for a raise.

How to best motivate your employees

Human Resources Leader, pg 7, 10 November 2009
Managers who understand the motivations of their staff will be better able to nurture and sustain their employees’ self confidence, especially during challenging climates, and manage their performance beyond the formal performance management process. Helen Ormond, program director, Mt Eliza Executive Education, part of Melbourne Business School, said that employees are currently feeling high levels of anxiety, fear and even panic about losing their jobs or having to reduce their hours as well as the strain of increased workloads as their companies reduce headcount.

When to see consultants

BRW, pg 46, 05 November 2009
Organisations should select a consultant who can co-develop customised (as opposed to off-the-self) and practical (as opposed to theoretical) solutions. Consultants should have a proven track record and demonstrated ability in not only developing practical solutions but also implementing them successfully, writes Mt Eliza Executive Education’s Marc Stigter.

Weather the economic storm

Business Day South Africa, pg 23, 05 November 2009
There is widespread consensus from global business school career centres that the economic downturn has softened demand for MBAs. Leo Grogan, careers consultant at Melbourne Business School says in difficult career markets ambitious candidates will differentiate themselves. “The MBA qualification can help but students should think beyond development of managerial and technical skills such as finance and marketing”, he says. “Business is changing rapidly and a candidates exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social enterprise as well as e-commerce assists in securing attractive posts.”

New leadership programs

CFO, pg 10, 31 October 2009
The Institute of Chartered Accountants is about to launch a new leadership academy affiliated with Harvard Business School, Melbourne Business School and the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Suspect lies

ABC 891 Adelaide Afternoons, 30 October 2009
Compere Natasha Stott Despoja chats with Melbourne Business School Professor Karen Jehn about Jehn’s latest research. Jehn says that research shows that in many industries, people suspect that they are being lied to even when they are being told the truth.

Ups and downs of the global ratings game

The Australian, pg 30, 30 October 2009
It seems a little lightweight, but there’s enormous credence placed in course rankings when it comes to MBAs. One of the more credible lists recently released is The Economist’s report, Which MBA? If placed four Australian business schools among the world’s elite, including Melbourne Business School at number 17 globally.

Myer: just window dressing?

Jody Evans, The Age, pg 6, 20 October 2009
A leap of faith is required to believe Myer's forecasts, writes MBS senior lecturer Jody Evans. Read the full article.

MBS the top business school in Asia-Pacific: The Economist

Human Capital, 19 October 2009
The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 2010 'Which MBA?' report has named its annual list of the best business schools in the world. Ranked the number one full-time MBA program in Asia Pacific and 17th on the world stage in this year's rankings was Melbourne Business School (up from 26th last year). Internationally MBS has placed ahead of prestigious schools such as Columbia, (20) and MIT Sloan School of Management (19). No other business school in Australia ranked in the top 50. Read the full article.