Rajendra S. Shirolé Appointed New Director for the UConn Full-time MBA Program

June 5, 2013

After a global search we are pleased to announce that Rajendra Shirolé will be joining UConn on July 1, 2013 as the Director of the Full-time MBA Program. Rajendra has most recently been Director of the Kent MBA Program at the Kent Business School in Canterbury, UK.

In his Kent MBA Director role, which he has held since 2008, Rajendra has instituted innovative opportunities in cross-cultural research, teaching and learning, including ‘live’ case studies and engagement in corporate consulting for MBA students. He designed a policy and practice focused study program supported by EU based policy makers and global corporations including HSBC, Delphi, Cummins and Schlumberger. He passionately believes that MBA program content should facilitate learning in a creative environment focused on a global perspective, grounded in practical application, embedded with an approach to management decision making which incorporates issues such as managing resource scarcity and sustainability.

Rajendra’s career has spanned academia and industry in multiple disciplines, including management, software development, infrastructure design and international service delivery. His research interests are in IT outsourcing and he is currently working on a research project entitled, “The emerging role of hinterland networks in IT outsourcing service delivery – a vendor perspective.” Recently he has completed a highly commended project for the Kent County Council exploring the effective use of mobile technologies in remote working. As a consultant he has worked with global organizations in facilitating partner relationships and post-merger integration support. He has also directed substantial infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe, financed by the European Union. He has also been a visiting professor in corporate strategy at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Rajendra is looking forward to leading the UConn MBA Program and working with colleagues to engage students to be dynamic, creative problem solvers and supporting them to find efficient ways of turning complex challenges into robust opportunities for sustainable competitive advantage. His experience and perspective will be a substantial asset to us as we evaluate and move forward on changes to our MBA Program.

Bridging the Gap between Business and Human Rights

May 28, 2013

Business law faculty in the marketing department hosted a colloquium titled, “Bridging the Gap between Business and Human Rights.” The event took place on May 14-15, 2013 at the UConn School of Business and was organized by Robert Bird, associate professor of business law in the School of Business and Northeast Utilities Chair in Business Ethics. Assistance was provided by Karla Fox, emeritus professor of business law and special assistant to the provost, and Michele Metcalf, program manager at the School of Business.

The purpose of this colloquium was to explore the potential for common ground between business and civil society groups in the area of human rights. Attendees at the conference explored how firms perceive and interact with human rights, examined how voluntary regulatory regimes can positively influence business behavior, and analyzed how multinational corporations can align their interests with human rights in their chosen markets.

This conference brought together academics from many different disciplines and universities. Authors included Norm Bishara, University of Michigan; Dan Cahoy, Pennsylvania State University; Lucien Dhooge, Georgia Institute of Technology; Janine Hiller, Virginia Tech; Radu Mares, Lund University; David Orozco, Florida State University; Stephen Park, University of Connecticut; and Jamie Prenkert, Indiana University.

From UConn, Shareen Hertel, associate professor of political science, Department of Political Science and Human Rights Institute, Lisa Laplante, interim director, Dodd Center, and Emma Gilligan, associate professor of history and co-director of the Human Rights Institute, gave valuable input during the conference. Executives in residence included Kate Emery ’81, CEO of the Walker Group and reSET (Social Enterprise Trust), and John F. Sherman III, general counsel, secretary, and senior advisor at the Shift Project.

School of Business Dean John Elliott gave opening remarks by emphasizing the importance of human rights and the timeliness of the conference. At the closing dinner, Anthony Ewing, Columbia University, presented the topic, “Teaching Business and Human Rights: an Emerging Discipline.”

The conference was sponsored by the UConn School of Business, the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, the UConn Human Rights Institute, the UConn Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), and the Northeast Utilities Chair in Business Ethics.

Papers from the conference will be published as a collection by Elgar Press in 2014.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Travelers EDGE Scholars Identify Growth Opportunities for Local Organization

May 20, 2013

Travelers EDGE Scholars Begum Abadin ’15, Kurtis Adei ’14, Janice Tate ’14 and Andrea Llivichuzhca ’14 recently presented a marketing strategy to the New England Air Museum (NEAM) as part of the Travelers EDGE Venture project for 2013. Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) works to help underrepresented students attain college degrees, as well as a competitive edge when entering the job market.

EDGE Venture, a semester-long marketing consulting course at the UConn School of Business, gave these students an invaluable opportunity to work with NEAM on a real world challenge. The students’ task was to complete a marketing strategy for NEAM, with an overall goal to collect useful data that the organization would be able to use to help grow their business.

The students conducted surveys, created focus groups, and developed innovative marketing strategies to best position NEAM for the future. They had to work together as a team to figure out how they could market NEAM to the public as a great place to take family or friends, which in return would increase the amount of business NEAM would gain. Professor Christopher Levesque, Director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) taught the course and was the entrepreneurial expert that worked with the students. Travelers executives and a NEAM representative provided additional insight and project guidance.

The students presented their strategy at Travelers’ Corporate Office in Hartford, Connecticut to an audience of Travelers representatives, NEAM representatives, special guests, and Travelers representatives from Minnesota via satellite.

MIS Students Develop Tracking System for Connecticut Department of Banking

May 16, 2013

This semester, a team of Management Information Systems (MIS) students, as part of their capstone course taught by Professor Sulin Ba, developed a Microsoft SQL Server based Enforcement and Examination Tracking System for the Consumer Credit Division of the Connecticut Department of Banking. Despite the complexity of the project, the students were able to provide a system solution that the Consumer Credit Division staff can incorporate and use.

The course, Systems Analysis and Design, was designed to cover system development methodologies for business information systems and explore project management concepts, hardware and software technology, and organizational considerations.

“This real-world system development experience is immensely beneficial to our MIS students,” says Ba, a professor in the School of Business Operations and Information Management (OPIM) department. “It is also in line with the Next Generation Connecticut initiative and its focus on STEM. I hope we’ll be able to bring more such opportunities to the School of Business in the future!”

Professor Ba received a personalized letter of thanks from Connecticut Banking Commissioner Howard F. Pitkin for her role in advising the students with the project.

Accounting Graduate Accepted to Yale School of Management Global Pre-MBA Leadership Program

May 15, 2013

Kimberly Foster ’13, a recent graduate of the UConn School of Business accounting program has been accepted to the prestigious Yale School of Management Global Pre-MBA Leadership Program—a highly selective, two-week summer program aimed at college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates from populations typically underrepresented in management education.

This emphasis on leadership flows from the mission of the School of Management: to educate leaders for business and society. When students know how to inspire people, as well as manage capital, materials and ideas, they can become a more potent agent of change. The program will consist of learning business management skills, leadership knowledge, developing career inspiration, job search training and business school application guidance.

Whether or not attendees decide to pursue an MBA – at Yale or elsewhere – the Yale School of Management Pre-MBA Leadership Program will not only develop their practical knowledge of business and management, but also inspire attendees to develop and draw upon their leadership abilities in order to make a positive impact – in their personal and professional endeavors, and in the life of their community.

Kim is the former president of the UConn chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and was recently honored as “Outstanding Student Member” by the NABA Greater Hartford Professional Chapter. Beginning this summer, Kim will be working full-time for Ernst and Young.

Congratulations Kim!

Business Leadership Council and Macy’s Host “Suits2Shorts” Picnic

May 13, 2013

On Friday, May 3rd, the Business Leadership Council and Macy’s hosted “Suits2Shorts,” an end-of-year celebration to recognize the hard work and dedication of all UConn School of Business students during the 2012–2013 academic year. Students were recognized for their leadership and career development efforts throughout the year and were invited to put aside their business suits for the day in order to relax and enjoy the sunshine in their summer shorts. School of Business Dean John Elliott, along with Jim Lowe, Robin Coulter, Mo Hussein, Min Lin, Brandy Nelson and Seanice Austin all joined in the festivities to congratulate our students. Danica Porter, our sponsor from Macy’s, was a gracious hostess who asked nothing of the students except to enjoy the day. We look forward to partnering with Macy’s more in the future to support the synergies between School of Business students and the Macy’s / Bloomingdale’s Careers after College program.

Colloquium Announcement: Bridging the Gap between Business and Human Rights

May 10, 2013

Multinational corporations can deeply influence human rights. Inspired by the United Nations Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights, the UConn School of Business, together with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, the UConn Human Rights Institute, and the Northeast Utilities Chair in Business Ethics, bring you the following events to facilitate participation of business in the human rights dialogue:

Workshop: Converging Interests of Business and Human Rights*

May 15, 2013 1:15 – 2:45 pm
Student Union, Room 304B
Executives in Residence: John Sherman, General Counsel Senior Advisor and Secretary of Shift Project;
Kate Emery, CEO The Walker Group and reSET (Social Enterprise Trust)

How can business entities incorporate the principles of human rights into their organizational practices? This workshop will explore the barriers and opportunities for civil society groups to embed human rights values within the internal structure of organization. Participants will examine the impact of linguistic barriers, organizational culture, and the profit-making motive of corporations as factors that impact the understanding of human rights in business practice.

*Sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut

Book Discussion: An Analysis of “Just Business: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights” by John Ruggie, Ph.D.

May 15, 2013 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Student Union, Room 304B

John G. Ruggie is the Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affair at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative on Business and Human Rights. His new book “Just Business: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights” tells of how the UN Guiding Principles were developed and discusses how firms can operationalize those principles in a competitive marketplace. This session will discuss Professor Ruggie’s new book and explore its implications for advancing respect for human rights in business enterprises.

For more information about these events, or to RSVP, please contact Michele Metcalf, Program Manager, at michele.metcalf@business.uconn.edu

20th Anniversary Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Celebration 2013

May 9, 2013

On Friday, May 3, 2013 the UConn School of Business celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its annual Hall of Fame Induction and Award Celebration. Around 200 guests gathered in the Rome Ballroom on the Storrs, Connecticut campus to celebrate the occasion.

The annual School of Business Hall of Fame celebration recognizes UConn alumni who have achieved outstanding success in a business career while at the same time making significant contributions to their profession and community.
This year’s alumni inductees are Mark P. Coville ’79, Managing Director, Trading & Liquidity Strategy, BlackRock; Myron Dickstein ’61, Owner, Myron Dickstein LLC; Craig A. Douglas ’77, Vice President and Treasurer, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.; and S. Brian Simons ’60, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, OEM Controls, Inc.

Twelve School of Business students were honored as Hall of Fame Student Fellows. The student fellows are selected by their programs based on academic excellence as well as school and community involvement. The Student Fellow awardees are: Undergraduate Program: Travis J. Bloom ’13, Emily M. Finn ’13, Brian Laureano ’13; Full-time MBA Program: Dawei Zheng ’13 MBA; Hartford Part-time MBA Program: Maria A. Falvo ’12 MBA; Stamford Part-time MBA program: Elizabeth P. Lowe ’13 MBA; Waterbury Part-time MBA Program: Donald Rogers ’12 MBA; Hartford EMBA Program: Julian S. Gross ’13 MBA; MS in Accounting Program: Kristina K. Allen ’09, ’13 MSA; MS in Financial Risk Management Program: Rodrigo A. Toledo ’13 MSFRM; MS in Business Analytics and Project Management Program: John R. Wilson ’13 MSBAPM; and Ph.D. Program: Hang Thu Nguyen.

UConn School of Business Ackerman Scholars and 2013 Faculty Award recipients were also recognized.

Pictured (L-R): Myron Dickstein ’61, School of Business Dean John Elliott, Craig A. Douglas ’77, and Mark P. Coville ’79

Students “Make Data Tell a Story” in MSBAPM Capstone Course

May 8, 2013

Analyze…Manage…Communicate… Analyze an industrial size dataset, manage the project risk and time commitment, present and “sell” your results to all the stakeholders. This was the theme of the capstone course in the MS in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) program, taught by Sudip Bhattacharjee, Mark Tschiegg, and Michael Vandusen from January – April 2013. The final student presentations were held on Monday, April 22 at the Graduate Business Learning Center (GBLC) in downtown Hartford.Continue Reading

Marketing Students Develop Advertising and Promotional Campaign for 2013 Honda Civic

May 3, 2013

In an Integrated Marketing Communications (MKTG 3265) course this semester, a team of students—named the “Blueprint Integrated Marketing Team”—engaged with EdVentures, Inc. to develop an advertising and promotional campaign for the 2013 Honda Civic sedan.

As one of twenty university teams around the country, the Blueprint Integrated Marketing Team branded their campaign, Honda Push-Play. On April 9, the team featured three 2013 Civics on Fairfield Way with opportunities for students to experience the car and participate in games and giveaways. UConn students’ awareness of the Honda Civic and interest in purchasing the car increased significantly as a consequence of the team’s social media campaign and on-campus promotion. As the team made their final presentation on April 30 to representatives from Honda’s local advertising firm, EdVentures, and Manchester Honda, they were excited at having had the opportunity to work on a real project for a top automotive brand.

2013 Honda Push-Play Related Links:

YouTube
The Hartford Courant
Mansfield Patch