MBS Media coverage

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.

Myer shares gift-wrapped

The Courier Mail, pg 9, 19 October 2009
It’s float time again on the share market, after a two-year drought caused by the global financial crisis. The biggest sale in Australia is on at Myer right now as the iconic 109-year-old department store - not so long ago part of the Coles Myer group - prepares for a new life as a reinvigorated publicly listed company next month. Melbourne Business School professor Paul Kerin says Myer's float marketing pitch has been cleverly targeting its shoppers, which are mostly middle to high-income women. "These are the people who can afford to buy shares so there is a dual benefit," he says. The approach is slick but not so unusual overseas."

Company earnings decide stock returns

Mark Crosby, The Australian Financial Review, pg 62, 17 October 2009
For current investors, the reality is that what actually happens will depend, as in the past, on corporate earnings writes MBS Associate Professor Mark Crosby. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 10,000, though the Dow and the S&P are still below 1999 peaks. Market expert Warren Buffet once predicted that the S&P 500 would rise to 2900 by 2016, but that would require more than 14 percent growth between now and then. In Australia, the news is far more positive, with the S&P/ASX 200 delivering healthy returns for long term investors.

WSJ weighs in with 'Aussie Mac' in the making

Joshua Gans, Crikey, 16 October 2009
Four days after the Treasurer announced a further $8 billion of government purchases of residential mortgage-backed securities through the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM), the Wall Street Journal decided to weigh in, calling the scheme an "Aussie Mac in the making", writes MBS Professor Joshua Gans. Read the full article.

Australia climbs ranks of finance service hubs

The West Australian, pg 92, 13 October 2009
Australia has risen to second position in an international ranking of global financial services that downgraded many major economies because of instability in their financial sectors. "I think that we are the Steve Bradbury of financial development," said senior fellow at Melbourne Business School, Dr Sam Wylie. "Our score would have positioned us 14th last year, (but) this year it puts us second. "Our improvement is not very large, it's just that everyone has fallen away so badly, and it really reflects how well Australia has done in the global financial crisis."

The correct call

ABC2 News Breakfast, 13 October 2009
MBS Associate Professor Mark Crosby is interviewed. He believes that Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan’s decision not to wind back the stimulus is correct because the economy is still quite weak.

My store, my share portfolio

The Courier Mail, pg 24, 13 October 2009
Melbourne Business School professor Paul Kerin compliments the marketing strategy for the Myer float. "As a department store they target middle to high income women, the same people they want as their shareholders," Prof Kerin said. "These are the people who can afford to buy shares, so there is a dual benefit." The school's associate professor of economics Andrew John said the strategy maybe as much about consolidating customer loyalty as generating demand for the share issue.

Work issues drive high-flyers to spread their wings

Australian Financial Review, pg 58, 13 October 2009
Melbourne Business School associate professor Isabel Metz has managed to survey a cohort of senior women who left the banking and finance sector a few years ago, and to verify their reasons for departure. The small sample – 44 women – reflects the small overall numbers of senior women in the sector, but all were happy to respond to the survey.

Are you selling me porkies?

The Courier Mail, pg 4, 10 October 2009
How’s this for a twist? Australian customers often feel they are being lied to by staff who are in fact telling the truth. Research by Melbourne Business School Professor Karen Jehn found that in 80 per cent of cases, customers thought they were being lied to when they were being told the truth. Jehn's advice: Staff should be trained to "appear" to be telling the truth when they in fact are.

Most customers think you’re a liar

Australian Anthill Magazine, 09 October 2009
New research by Melbourne Business School Professor Karen Jehn has revealed that, in 80 percent of cases, customers who were actually being told the truth thought that they were being lied to. You could chalk this result up to the impact of glib sales people or general consumer cynicism, but the reality is plain: most of your customers think you’re a liar. Read the full article.

Raising the rates

ABC Goulburn Murray - Mornings, 09 October 2009
Paul Kerin from Melbourne Business School discusses banks increasing their interest rates to match the RBA's increase on Tuesday. He also discusses the reduction in the number of non-bank lenders over the past two years.

Myer a 'nothing' brand that could eat itself - expert

news.com.au, 08 October 2009
MYER is in danger of becoming a "nothing" brand that risks cannibalising itself with an aggressive growth strategy of 15 proposed new stores. The chain has also disguised falling sales by adding in the revenue made by companies who rent store space, according to one expert. The department chain’s marketing and sales figures are the latest links of the prospectus to be criticised ahead of the multi-billion dollar float that one fund manager has already called "mutton dressed up as lamb". The company's branding problem stems from trying to be "all things to all people", Melbourne Business School’s Jody Evans says. Read the full article.

What I’m working on

AFR Boss Magazine, pg 54, 08 October 2009
MBS Professor of organisational behaviour Karen Jehn discusses her research. She says “I research things that are a bit controversial – we want to understand dishonesty and what people think about it. Our research looked at the airline industry. There’s something about airlines that makes them more susceptible to being perceived as deceitful.”

Lie to me

6PR Perth, 07 October 2009
MBS Professor Karen Jehn discusses her research into lying and – in particular – how to tell when you are being lied to.

Rates Rise

ABC2 News Breakfast, 07 October 2009
Melbourne Business School’s Professor Paul Kerin talks about the Reserve Bank’s decision to increase interest rates yesterday. Kerin says the RBA made the right decision and that the RBA should be focused on keeping inflation in check.

Existing mortgages cost more

The Australian , pg 6, 06 October 2009
Research showing that banks charge their home-loan customers a higher variable rate than the average offered to new borrowers has ignited a controversy over the cost of switching mortgages. Melbourne Business School academic Joshua Gans, who petitioned the government in July for another financial system inquiry, said the survey confirmed there was healthy competition for new mortgage customers but not for those already tied to a bank.