MBS Media coverage

It’s all a very difficult business

The Weekend AFR, pg 24, 06 December 2008
Melbourne’s Business School and Graduate School of Management are getting round to some series business. Both parties are currently involved in talks centered around possible greater integration. The preliminary deal, yet to be signed off, involves the MBS brand being extended across all graduate programs and MBS’s unique corporate governance structure overseeing all Faculty of Economics and Commerce courses, including undergraduate, graduate and executive education.

'Fair go' broadband

The Age, pg 12, 03 December 2008
Following on from MBS Professor Joshua Gans’ five article series on broadband internet, this article explores reasons why Australians far and wide deserve a high-speed internet service extend beyond any economic rationale.

Someone’s watching your other selves

AFR Boss, pg 50, 03 December 2008
Melbourne Business School’s professor of management diversity and change, Amanda Sinclair says people are increasingly being coerced into leaving their real selves at home, while donning a uniform personality to fit into the work environment.

Putting fun into learning pays off

The Australian Financial Review, pg 50, 02 December 2008
It is enjoyable, interactive and effective, so little wonder that gaming is the new teaching tool. This article explores the possibilities of adopting gaming technology in the workplace. Reference is made to the successful Deloitte’s Leadership Academy (DLA) initiative which is active on Qantas airlines. Melbourne Business School provides content to the DLA.

Other Passions

AFR Magazine, pg 90, 01 December 2008
In this AFR Magazine feature, Amanda Sinclair, Foundation Professor, Management Diversity and Change at the Melbourne Business School discusses her passion for Yoga and her work on mindful leadership

Patience pays off for CP2’s Doherty

The Australian Financial Review, pg 22, 01 December 2008
A short-term mindset drives the capital markets – and that’s the problem for one investment manager writes Vesna Poljak. Peter Doherty can’t help but betray excitement over opportunities the global financial crisis may deliver. As managing director of specialist infrastructure investment house CP2 he’s come a long way since the firm began 11 years ago. CP2’s origins lie in a group of industry types and some Melbourne Business School professors who sought to ‘bring a little bit more sophistication to investment markets”.

When tailor-made is not always the best fit.

The Australian Financial Review, pg 32, 01 December 2008
For Paul Kirkbride, Associate Dean Mt Eliza Executive Education, customised corporate programs go a step further in meeting clients’ needs. Kirkbride notes that the customised program process is ‘more confronting, challenging’, but also of much higher value in terms of business outcomes.

Why dumping the bid made shareholders $10-15bn richer

Paul Kerin, The Australian, pg 25, 01 December 2008
Last Tuesday evening, BHP Billiton canned its Rio Tinto merger bid. Its relative share price jumped 6.9 per cent by Wednesday's close and 10.5 per cent by Friday's, boosting market capitalisation by $10-15 billion. The real reasons behind these jumps suggest useful tips for deal pricing, structuring and go/no-go decisions, writes MBS Professor Paul Kerin.

As easy as wait and see

The Age, pg 15, 30 November 2008
Melbourne Business School’s general manager marketing and admissions, Anna Parkin, discusses MBA enrolments in the context of the current global financial crisis. Parkin notes that "When the economy goes down, MBA enrolments tend to go up. So it will be interesting to see if that happens again this time."

At least deposit insurance protects against folly

Mark Crosby, The Australian Financial Review, pg 63, 29 November 2008
Deposit insurance can protect customers from the folly of imprudent bankers but some argue that it can also encourage those bankers to take excessive risks, writes Melbourne Business School Associate Professor Mark Crosby.

No broadband bid leaves Labor's policy in tatters

The Age, pg 12, 27 November 2008
Key sticking points centre on the threshold issue of whether Telstra will be split, and fundamental flaws in the tender, writes Kevin Morgan. Telstra has said it is ready to put $5 billion into an urban fibre network and would roll out fibre in rural areas with a loan from the Government, but the threat of separation means finance would be in question until the regulatory risk was removed. Similarly, despite the extraordinary claim recently by Melbourne Business School's Professor Paul Kerin that building the broadband network "isn't rocket science", the tender would have obliged Telstra to hand hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property to a government that does not seem capable of keeping the Prime Minister's conversations with the US President confidential.

Telstra submits ‘incomplete’ bid

ABC TV 7.30 report, 26 November 2008
Tenders for Australia's national broadband network closed today, with Telstra submitting an 'incomplete' bid. Telstra had previously said it may not submit a bid. The proposal comes with demands that the Federal Government not force the company to separate its wholesale and retail operations. Telstra also said its proposal would only deliver to 90% of families. Professor Paul Kerin from Melbourne Business School suggests that the Optus consortium would end up a cheaper option and would be likely to roll out the network quicker.

Finance Report with Dr. Sam Wylie

ABC 2 News Breakfast , 26 November 2008
MBS Professor Sam Wylie delivers his finance report noting that BHP Billiton has dumped its takeover bid for Rio Tinto. He states that the deal is similar to Microsoft's generous offer for Yahoo.

Telstra bluffs to the end on broadband bid

The Australian , pg 25, 25 November 2008
The federal Government may face a legal battle with Telstra if a competitor wins the national broadband network contract. Proposals to use up to $10 billion in taxpayer funds to build the network are due by midday tomorrow. Melbourne Business School professor Paul Kerin said Telstra could launch legal action to delay construction if a competitor won the contract.

Revenue review needs to get radical: Let's abolish income taxes

Paul Kerin, The Australian, pg 27, 24 November 2008
Treasury Secretary Ken Henry’s recent statements hold out hope that his tax review will recommend substantial reforms. But even more radical change is badly needed, writes MBS Professor Paul Kerin. Read the full article.

Market down means muscles up and school’s in

The Australian Financial Review, pg 22, 21 November 2008
Melbourne Business School Associate Dean Jenny George says that MBA applications were up 20 per cent on last year. “The reason is when students don’t have such quite attractive options in the jobs market, the time for doing study which will take them out of the workplace for a while is more attractive.”

Time to get a life and shake off the zombie curse

The Australian Financial Review, pg 75, 21 November 2008
The economy is best served by innovative and entrepreneurial companies, not those that survive on a steady diet of public funding, writes MBS associate professor Mark Crosby

Telstra not to bid for National Broadband Network

ABC TV 7.30 report, 20 November 2008
With just one week to go until tenders for the National Broadband Network close, Telstra is threatening not to bid even though it is the biggest player in the industry. Professor Paul Kerin, from Melbourne Business School says that it is a threat by Telstra but the Fed Government must decide if it is a bluff.

Breaking up isn't hard to do for a disappointment like CSR

Paul Kerin, The Australian, pg 25, 17 November 2008
CEO denial is amazing. Chief executives like to grow empires, even when their bits are completely unrelated and break-ups can realised substantial value. Former CSR CEO Peter Kirby was an exception. His vigorous restructuring delivered enormous value. But his first successor wasted his legacy and his second successor is destroying it. CSR must be broken up before it's too late, writes MBS Professor Paul Kerin. Read the full article.

Year-end rush for babies to get bonus

Sun Herald, pg 22, 16 November 2008
Pregnant women from high-income families may bring forward the birth of their baby to avoid the introduction of means testing for the baby bonus. Melbourne Business School economist Joshua Gans said his research showed that the introduction of the baby bonus in 2004 and the $800 increase in the payment in 2006 led to almost 2000 births being moved for economic reasons.