We live in a society obsessed with copying. From file sharing to Internet memes to playlists of songs created for loved ones, we copy things every day. The pervasiveness of copying in our society has led to strict laws that distinguish acceptable acts of copying and sharing from non-acceptable acts. Laws that police piracy and protect copyright and intellectual property have become so powerful and pervasive that they discipline even our most quotidian behaviors.
All in. That’s how Dave Gulley and I approach the monetary-policy competition of the Fed Challenge. Students train intensively for eight full months, all for a one-day academic competition against some of the best schools in the nation. That level of preparation is necessary to succeed against such stiff competition at the regional and national level.
As the winter chill sets in, I am warmly recalling a teaching experience I had at Bentley in spring 2012. That’s when I taught the history of sports for the first time.
My students may have been a little jarred by the experience. Initially enthusiastic, these sports-loving undergrads encountered considerably more history, and completed vastly more reading and writing, than any of them anticipated.
The accounting profession is still suffering from old stereotypes: stagnant and boring number crunching. Mention the word “accountant” and people still picture a worker hunched over a desk, never seeing the light of day. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
On the heels of some pretty big mistakes by some pretty big companies, rules and regulations are constantly changing in all areas of accounting: the fiscal cliff caused unexpected tax law changes; the SEC continually issues guidance for reporting transactions.
In our digital age, “skimming” has become a growing problem. Skimmers are small devices, installed by criminals on ATM machines, self-serve gas pumps and other devices to steal information from credit, debit or ATM cards.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, thefts from ATM skimmers now total more than $1billion/year. That number is expected to rise. In January 2013, two people were arrested in New Jersey and charged with skimming more than $1 million from ATM machines.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino may be the most underrated politician in America. Marble-mouthed, no one’s idea of a matinee idol, just coming back from a serious set of health problems, the 20-year veteran of City Hall’s corner office nonetheless gave a bravura performance in his January 29 State of the City address.
One of the most inspiring moments in the American political process is the inauguration of a president, with its peaceful transfer of power and the president’s promise to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.” I am unfailingly moved by the majesty and simplicity of the ceremony, and reminded how much students can learn from the study of our Constitution.
One of the greatest operational issues is “staffing mismatches.” Having people in the wrong roles can create a dysfunctional organization and keep your company from growing. Operations teams need to run like a well-oiled machine, and in order for that to happen it is crucial to have the right people in the right jobs.
The best way to avoid mismatches is to get the right person from the start. However, there are three primary mistakes companies make when it comes to hiring new employees:
A hurricane, tornado or flood that destroys homes and property goes beyond individual harm. Entire communities suffer.
In the aftermath of an event like Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the New York-New Jersey shore in fall 2012, we naturally ask how people can rebuild their lives. But on a broader level: what makes one community or region better at responding to a natural disaster and surviving its aftermath?
With the business model of the credit rating agencies in the news again, we wonder if there will be more than partial repairs.
Since U.S. Attorney Eric Holder filed suit against the market leader, Standard & Poor’s, seeking $5 billion in damages, we are about to find out.