MBS Media coverage

When self-confidence runs amok

BRW, pg 37, 02 September 2010
Adopted as the basis for Leo D’Angelo-Fisher’s column. Unrestrained self confidence took the world into a financial crisis and Kevin Rudd to the Prime Ministership, and by extension, Australia to a disaster yet to run its course. It is therefore no surprise that research by the Melbourne Business School research has concluded that excessive self confidence in two or more members of a team can cause the team to self destruct. Management professor Karen Jehn says her research has found excessively confident people can trigger fault lines within teams that normally stay dormant and she argues companies should seek to ensure the cohesion of teams by rewarding them through group, rather than individual bonuses.

Compulsory voting bad for big-picture politics

Richard Speed, The Australian, pg 12, 31 August 2010
An op-ed (opinion editorial) by Richard Speed, ANZ Professor of Marketing Strategy at MBS. The most repeated lament of the election campaign has been the lack of big ideas. Why has this happened? How did we get into this mess? Part of the answer is something we have always known; not all votes are equal. The parties don’t need to change everyone’s mind, just enough voters to swing the right seats their way. To do this, political parties employ the tools of marketing, with a vengeance. Read the full article.

Takeovers? Investors want to know just who benefits

Crikey.com, 31 August 2010
Paul Kerin from MBS is quoted in a Crikey.com story about BHP’s mega hostile takeover of Canada’s Potash Corp on his views in the Australian Financial Review about whether company acquisitions create value for shareholders.

Teams 'undone' by overconfidence

The Age, 31 August 2010
WATCH out for people with excessive self-confidence in your work team. New research by Melbourne Business School academic Karen Jehn shows that "over-the-top" self confident people can cause teams to self-destruct. They believe they're better than everyone else "just because I'm me". However, Professor Jehn's research says the overconfident can be kept in check by encouraging teamwork that rewards group achievements.

Beware the value trap in takeovers

AFR, pg 21, 30 August 2010
The re-emergence of takeovers during August has seen Melbourne Business School professor of strategy Paul Kerin warn that value from mergers and acquisitions (M&A) ‘goes to the target’s shareholders.’ Recent proposed takeovers illustrating Professor Kerin’s point include BHP Billiton’s play for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Graincorp’s effort to acquire AWB, National Australia Bank’s bid for AXA Asia Pacific and when Seven Group Holdings announced plans to merge with WesTrac Group. Dealogic reported that August was the second highest month on record for Australian mergers and acquisitions.

Eliminate team disharmony: award group-level bonuses

Inside Retailing, 27 August 2010
Research on workplace organisational behaviour by Melbourne Business School has found that excessive self confidence in two or more members of a workplace team can cause a team to self destruct. Professor of Management in Organisational Behaviour, Karen Jehn, says it’s good to have self confidence but excessive levels can lead to undeserved entitlement beliefs, characterised by thoughts such as, 'I’m better than everyone else just because I’m me'. Read the full article.

ABC Classic FM

ABC Classic FM, 26 August 2010
John Armstrong is a British thinker and author who lives in Australia. He's Philosopher in Residence at the Melbourne Business School and Senior Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University. In this interview John speaks about how the idea of civilisation is possibly damaged and needs some tender loving care. Read the full article.

Pork Barrel Hard to Lick

Australian Financial Review, pg 14, 25 August 2010
Although independent MP Bob Katter has been characterised as seeking a return to protectionism, the Australian Banana Growers Council says the push to ban Philippines banana imports was driven by disease concerns, and the Peak Canegrowers group says growers have no desire to return to protectionism. Economist Paul Kerin of the Melbourne Business School yesterday said it would be difficult to re-introduce protectionism.

ABC 1233 Newcastle

ABC2 News Breakfast, 25 August 2010
Richard Searle, director, Negotiation Programs at Mt Eliza Executive Education speaks at very short notice - 4 minutes - on a live on-air interview about the importance of good negotiation tactics and politics.

ABC2 News Breakfast

ABC2 TV, 25 August 2010
Interview with Paul Kerin, Melbourne Business School, to talk about the issues faced by business with minority governments in power. He talks about the impact of interest rates as one of the issues. He talks about how the policies offered by both parties are pretty similar and once a minority government is elected, he does not believe confidence will change.

Aussie men tending it like Beckham

Australian Financial Review, pg 8, 25 August 2010
Australian men are following David Beckham's lead and investing in cosmetics and beauty products, says Jody Evans, a marketing lecturer at Melbourne Business School. She says, “Having a bubble bath isn’t just a female thing.”

Perceptions by design

BRW, pg 76, 25 August 2010
The recent sexual harassment scandal plaguing David Jones may have had little impact on the retailer’s strong share price and buoyant June quarter sales, but all businesses should be on the front foot when it comes to managing their corporate reputation. Associate professor of economics at Melbourne Business School, Andrew John, says the firm corporate reputation of Qantas has seen the airline’s brand survive recent setbacks like safety incidents and industrial action.

Katter's farm-gate push puts heat on supermarket giants

Australian Financial Review, 24 August 2010
Coles and Woolworths may face tougher rules surrounding their market power, with both sides of politics seeking the support independent MP Bob Katter. Frank Zumbo of the University of NSW said Mr Katter should push for a stronger Trade Practices Act, including stricter creeping acquisition and unconscionable conduct laws. The possible influence of the independents on competition law was described as 'fabulous' by the National Independent Retailers Association, however, Paul Kerin of Melbourne Business School said the changes would increase prices.

Not Wal King away: CEOs hard to shift

The Australian , pg 21, 24 August 2010
It can be tough for a company to get rid of its CEO. Paul Kerin from Melbourne Business School says the ones who last too long are where there’s poor governance. But suggests that in many cases it’s hard to attribute poor or superior corporate performance to the CEO.

The Friday Podcast: Allowance, Taxes And Potty Training

Planet Money on National Public Radio (NPR), 22 August 2010
It's really, really hard to create the right kind of economic incentives — even if you're a professional economist, and all you're trying to do is teach your kids to use the toilet. Planet Money talks to Joshua Gans, an economist at Melbourne Business School — and his 11-year-old daughter. Laugh out loud interview. Read the full article.

Payback time for bank support

Sam Wylie, AFR, pg 63, 18 August 2010
The incoming government must force the major lenders to meet their obligations writes Sam Wylie, principal fellow at Melbourne Business School.

Leading the way

Human Resources Leader, pg 12, 17 August 2010
Leadership training is fast becoming an essential tool in HR’s armoury. Employers must ensure it is used effectively. Richard Searle, program director at Mt Eliza Executive Education says there are two trends in leadership development. The first is to aim it at both individual managers and the core collective challenges of the organization. The second is to address the development of leadership development rather than management education.

It’s a bit rich if the well-heeled also receive generous handouts

Paul Kerin, Herald Sun, pg 28, 17 August 2010
Why are ordinary Australians and taxpayers propping up the baby-making of rich women? Under a Liberal scheme, according to Paul Kerin from the Melbourne Business School, low-income mums and ordinary Australians are $3.7 billion worse off in order to reward high-flyers.

How to get yourself a pay rise

AFR Saturday, pg 43, 14 August 2010
Advice on the best ways to negotiate a pay rise is provided by Graham Doyle of Hays, professor Ian Williamson of Melbourne Business School, Medine Simmons and Merryl Naughton, the authors of How to Get a Pay Rise, Paul Brady, the managing director of Brady & Associates Financial Services, and executive career coach Kylie Hammond.

Youth V Wisdom

Boss (AFR), pg 54, 13 August 2010
After decades of favouring baby boomers, Australian boards are increasingly appointing youthful leaders. In an unprecedented move this story quotes not one, but two MBS spokespeople. Organisational psychologist Dr Carol Gill, from the Melbourne Business School says age has zero impact on the predicted benefit a person will bring to a company. Gill’s colleague, Robert Wood, professor of management at MBS, qualifies the “age equals wisdom” maxim by point out that the simple passing of years doesn’t guarantee you will become a wise old hat.