In The News

A Fight Against Terrorism – and Disorganization

Karen DeYoung August 9, 2006
US government bureaucracy and spending has exploded since the 9/11 attacks five years ago. The US has spent almost $500 billion on counter-terrorism, and layers of protection that often overlap – which doesn’t include a burgeoning private security industry – yet many experts still question the country’s safety. Government agencies still clash and fight for turf. For example, the Central...

A New Brand of Power

Sebastian Mallaby August 8, 2006
Some product brands, from Apple’s iPods to Nike Air Force Ones, attract fast, global popularity. For many modern products, corporate value centers on patents, skill and brands – and yet firms have less control over brand popularity than ever before. Consumers tend to rely on word of mouth and blogs more than advertising. Customer opinions matter, according to columnist Sebastian Mallaby, and...

Managing Globalization: A New Trade Bandwagon – Are Rich-Poor Pacts Fair?

Daniel Altman August 8, 2006
Following in the wake of the failed Doha Round trade talks, negotiators turn their energy to bilateral trade agreements, which usually pair rich and poor countries. The US is eager to participate in bilateral agreements, recently making deals with Chile, Jordan and Singapore. In addition to creating more employment opportunities, the agreements also increase exports from each country. Less...

NASA’s Goals Delete Mention of Home Planet

Andrew C. Revkin August 5, 2006
A recent change in NASA’s mission statement has consequences, because many staff refer to that statement when crafting research proposals and agendas. The mission statement used to read: “To understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” But earlier this year, NASA officials deleted reference...

Commerce Department Report on Offshore Outsourcing Finally Sees the Light of Day

Richard McCormack August 4, 2006
The US Commerce Department released its 336-page report on offshore outsourcing of labor in the information-technology job sector, after holding on to the analysis for two years. The report provides a grim projection for future employment prospects of IT workers in the US. Rising pressure for low costs from customers, consultants and financial markets has led to outsourcing of high-level...

Wal-Mart Finds That Its Formula Doesn’t Fit Every Culture

Mark Landler August 3, 2006
Wal-Mart executives eventually realized that requiring employees to smile at customers or participate in the “morning Wal-Mart chant” at its German stores did not mesh well with either the staid employees or customers. Differences in corporate and national culture, combined with competition from local discount vendors, hampered success of the giant US retailer, which left Germany after eight...

Japan Makes More Cars Elsewhere

Martin Fackler August 2, 2006
A report released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that for the first time Japanese car companies manufactured more cars abroad than in Japan during the last fiscal year. The shift to local manufacturing has been a natural result of globalization of the industry, allowing the companies to shield profits from currency changes, reduce shipping costs and appeal to local...