Findings from recent MSI mobile marketing symposium

In January, the College of Business Administration Northeastern University co-sponsored the Marketing Science Institute’s (MSI) Mobile Marketing Symposium that was held recently on December 4 and 5, 2008 in Boston. MSI is a non -profit organization that brings academe and industry together on marketing issues.

Prof. Fareena Sultan, Associate Prof. of Marketing and Robert Morrison Fellow at the CBA, Northeastern was co-chair of the symposium along with Prof Russell (Russ) Winer, Prof. at NYU and Executive Director of MSI. Dean Tom Moore of the CBA welcomed the participants and indicated that the CBA’s sponsorship of the symposium fits well with the strategic initiatives of the CBA that focuses on innovation and global issues.

Prof. Sultan and her colleague at Northeastern Prof. Andrew (Andy) Rohm have been conducting research related to the mobile platform for four years. Prof. Sultan states that “I thought that it was time to hold a conference that brings academe and industry together on issues related to Mobil Marketing. The US has been slow compared to Japan, Korea and Europe in adopting the mobile platform as well as mobile marketing initiatives. This device allows for communication features such as location specific messages as well as interactivity in a way that other media do not. Our research indicated that it was time to take a serious look at the platform which is far more personal to consumers than any other device and consumer attachment to mobile devices is unprecedented.”

Prof. Sultan presented her research titled,
“Brand in the Hand: Global Research in Mobile Marketing”

Summary Points from Prof. Sultan’s talk:

“The mobile phone is a device that is unique in that consumer attachment to it is unprecedented. Not long ago, students in our Universities started walking around with their phones stuck to their ears, ignoring the world around them. If you ask these students what would happen if you lost your mobile phone, they make dramatic statements such as ‘it would feel like I my right hand was cut off’ or that ‘my best friend had died,’ or that ‘I had died!’ This attachment to mobile phones is what spurred my interest in studying mobile devices. As a marketing professor, I was curious how marketers could offer services to consumers through these devices that consumers are so attached to. The unprecedented attachment to this device means that the marketers have to have something of value that the consumer wants in order to reach them at this personal level.

Global brands such as adidas, Nike, Coca Cola, Volvo and many others have already engaged in mobile marketing. Clearly industry is ahead of academics in understanding this new medium. Statistics clearly show that half of the world population is now connected through a mobile phone and that technology is developing rapidly. Global brands have to think about not only the different cultures but also about the different, often incompatible, mobile standards and technologies around the globe.”

Mobile Marketing Research
One of the first research projects I worked on with Prof. Rohm involved Adidas in Amsterdam. We wrote a case study that focused on Adidas’s promotional activities around the Euro 2004 Football Championship. The challenge was how to reach consumers at the stadiums when there were many limitations about branded advertising. Mobile proved to be the successful answer. Other case studies were subsequently written focusing o the use of Mobile Marketing at the World Cup soccer championships. These cases are used in classes at Northeastern and other universities. The “Brand in the Hand" adidas case is a best seller at Ivey case publishing.

The Mobile Marketing Paradigm
he The mobile medium is different from other traditional mediums in two main ways: it is more location-specific and more interactive. In the US it is also purely permission-based marketing and not push marketing. This means that the consumer thinks, “If you can provide something of value, I would let you enter this private space of mine.”

Mobile marketing is a new marketing paradigm that if used effectively, can enhance brand awareness and positive attitudes towards the brand. For this reason, marketers need to understand what the emotional attachment to the device is, and how to provide value to the consumer in order to influence engagement and interaction with the brand. Privacy is a key issue when engaging in mobile marketing.

Our global research has shown that there are certain similarities between youth adoption of mobile marketing across developed and emerging economies. The most obvious similarity is usage characteristics. One clear difference is that users in emerging markets are more open to receiving promotional offers through their mobile phones than in the US.

Managerial Implications from Sultan and Rohm CBA NU research
-The medium is the message. If you are doing a mobile marketing promotion, it clearly says something about the innovativeness and “coolness” of your brand.

-Mangers should use universal appeals in mobile marketing such as sports and music, yet adapt for the local taste. Success in one market does not guarantee success in others.

-Mangers need to use cross-promotions in order to create awareness about mobile marketing campaigns and educate the consumer about what they can do with their mobile phones.

-Mangers need to recognize and respect privacy. Stress on trust-building through permission-based promotions. Control of the consumer-marketer interaction can be a significant driver for acceptance of mobile marketing promotions.

Other Summary Points from the MSI Symposium

-The mobile medium is seeing explosive growth that is projected to continue with about 30% CAGR. Innovations such as the iPhone and Google’s Android are heightening consumer interest and industry activity related to Mobile Marketing

-Marketers need to be cognizant of personal attachment of consumers to mobile phones. Consumer behavior and specifically the emotional attachment that people exhibit towards their mobile phones is a unique phenomenon to this medium

-It is of paramount importance to draw a model of the mobile ecosystem. This should include all players (networks, handset makers, marketers, users, etc) and the techno-economic interrelationships. An ecosystem model is vital for understanding where value is in the system and how business models affect the behavior of the players.

-Fragmentation is a major barrier to adoption of mobile technologies. Today carriers worldwide, and within a country follow different standards, and this coupled with over 300 different handset models and thousands of applications makes it extremely hard to standardize.

-The lack of understanding of the mobile consumer, coupled with the fragmentation of the industry prevents tapping the huge potential of mobile devices.

-Managers have to be very careful about privacy issues. However, the debate is shifting from a privacy debate to a question about the value proposition to the consumer. Furthermore, demographic segments such as Gen Y do not have a strong opinion about privacy.

-The industry needs to establish a common currency for mobile analytics. This has to do above all with media buying, similarly to what Google Analytics did for online advertising.

-Companies have to execute mobile campaigns globally. With over 3 billion sets around the world, companies have to run localized and personalized programs that are scalable globally and that address cultural and infrastructural differences. -However, for some companies a global mobile campaign can require up to 65 different mobile networks in tens of countries, which makes costs and implementation very complex and few advertisers are willing to experiment. Again, the demand is standardization of standards in order to achieve scale and thus facilitate adoption.

Guest Op-Ed: Who's Afraid of Hussein?

Who’s Afraid of Hussein?

Several years ago, a federal jury held that Abdul Azimi, a Muslim immigrant from Afghanistan, had suffered years of vicious racial invective and physical abuse at his workplace. The evidence established that co-workers had regularly taunted Azimi with the N-word, linked him by blood to Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein and left notes with swastikas and profanity-laced vituperations against his faith. They assaulted him, forcing pork into his mouth and pockets as they denounced his religion in the crudest terms. Shortly after filing a complaint against this hateful and abusive treatment, and just a few weeks after the attacks of 9/11, Azimi was summarily fired.

Despite wholeheartedly agreeing that Azimi had suffered discrimination, the jury found that the unlawful harassment had not caused Azimi “to be damaged by emotional distress, pain, suffering, emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and/or inconvenience.” Azimi did not receive a single penny in damages. On appeal, the verdict was affirmed, making it fair to wonder whether the courthouse door is effectively shut for Middle Easterners seeking redress for brazen civil rights violations. Surprisingly, as far as civil rights suits involving Middle Easterners go, Azimi was a relative success for the plaintiff. In 2007, the year of the Azimi appellate decision, courts reported decisions on 69 employment discrimination cases involving claims by Muslims, many of Middle-Eastern descent. Of these cases, only Azimi resulted in a plaintiff’s verdict. In the words of journalist Adam Liptak, it was the lone victory, “if you can call it that.”

Though accelerated by the tragic events of 9/11, Islamophobia and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment have festered in our country for at least a generation. During this time, Middle-Eastern Americans have faced rising discrimination—through targeted immigration policies, racial profiling, a war on terrorism with a decided racialist bent, and increasing rates of workplace harassment and hate crime. Indeed, the experiences of many Middle Eastern Americans readily belie the Panglossian trope of colorblindness that has permeated public discourse on race in recent years.

“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race,” proclaimed Chief Justice Roberts just last year. With these words, the Supreme Court effectively ended the use of affirmative action at secondary schools. However, Roberts’ edict against discrimination apparently gave a federal appellate court no pause when it declared earlier this year that “Race or ethnic origin of a passenger may, depending on context, be relevant information in the total mix of information raising concerns that transport of a passenger ‘might be’ inimical to safety.” Cerqueira v. American Airlines (2008). On this basis, the Court took the remarkable step of reversing the jury verdict for a plaintiff who, because of his Middle Eastern appearance, had been forcibly deplaned despite clearing all security checks. It is particularly ironic that some of the most vigorous proponents of government colorblindness in social policies represent the most ardent supporters of government profiling of Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans.

This year’s presidential campaign exemplified the challenges facing both Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans. During both the nomination battle and general election, political operatives attacked Barack Obama’s candidacy by linking him to Islam. Robocalls charged Obama with “palling around” with terrorists, rally emcees stressed Obama’s middle name of Hussein, advertisements linked Obama’s support of driving licenses for illegal immigrants to a desire to empower jihadists, and partisan bloggers highlighted photographs of Obama donning a turban and questioned Obama’s early education at an allegedly radical madrassa. The implication, of course, is that ties to Islam are inherently suspect; innuendoes of terrorism, religious extremism, and barbarism closely follow. Such an appeal to our worst prejudices betrays our most fundamental values of inclusion and tolerance.

And the unfortunate taint does not merely apply to Muslims. For example, I am neither Arab nor Muslim. But I am frequently perceived as both. In the popular imagination, we have conflated geography, ethnicity and religion to reify the Middle East, Arab descent and Islamic fundamentalism into a single Axis of Evil. We therefore assume anyone of Middle Eastern descent is Muslim. The depth of this misperception is remarkable. In fact, only 23% of Arab-Americans are Muslim. Many Iranian-Americans are Jewish, Baha’i, Christian or Zoroastrian. Armenian-Americans are mostly Christian.

In his endorsement of Barak Obama’s candidacy, Colin Powell cited his concerns about the underhanded attempts to link Obama to Islam. To suggestions that Obama is a Muslim, Powell eloquently pointed out, “the correct answer is, 'He is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian, he’s always been a Christian.' But the really right answer is, ‘What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?’” Unfortunately, in some circles, that answer is still a “yes.”

Historically, no country has ever been more open and welcoming to immigrants than the United States, and no country has ever demonstrated a greater respect for civil rights and the protection of minorities. The election of Barack Hussein Obama highlights this point. However, as the tenor of the presidential campaign and recent events involving Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans have demonstrated, we still have much work to do.

John Tehranian is a professor of law at Chapman University in Orange, California, an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, and the author of Whitewashed: America’s Invisible Middle Eastern Minority (NYU Press, 2008). Coincidentally enough, he and Barack Obama graduated from the same high school in Honolulu, Hawai’i and the same institution of higher learning in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ways independent retailers can better compete with bix box retailers in current economy

I thought you might be interested in the thoughts of Tony Gao, Ph.D., a marketing professor and retail expert at Northeastern University’s business school, on ways independent retailers can better compete against big box retailers in the current economy (you can find Prof. Gao’s bio here: http://cba.neu.edu/faculty/directory_detail.cfm?e=240):

“Generally speaking, in competing with larger national chains, independent stores suffer from a lack of economy of scale (larger size -> bigger buying power against suppliers -> better price and delivery terms) and a lack of economy of scope (merchandise scope, geographic scope, and multichannel presence). Therefore, they should avoid competing directly on price but should take advantage of their relationships with customers, unique merchandise, and unique services as key competitive weapons.

“In today's economic environment, though, even small stores which pride themselves on selling at full prices should be prepared to given incentives to shoppers. If not in the form of price discounts as commonly seen in national chains, these incentives could come as surprises or delights that add to the purchase order and sweeten the purchases to shoppers. They could also start or make more intensives uses of their loyalty programs to channel the best incentives and deals to their best customers.

“Smaller and independent retailers, by their family-owned nature, may enjoy a unique advantage over their larger counterparts, especially public ones. They can perhaps better withstand the economic storm than their larger foes because they don't have to face the same pressure from outside investors on profitability and sales performance fronts. Work and life balance is another major goal for indies in running an independent store and they can sacrifice some income and profit for these additional benefits.

“In slow business times, owners of small stores can take the time to reflect on their business experiences and seek ways to come out of the crisis as a stronger and more relevant player in the local retail market.”

Is Sarbox unconstitutional?

I thought you might be interested in the thoughts of Sanjay Anand, chairperson of the GRC Group (www.grcg.com), as to what could happen if SOX was ever deemed unconstitutional:

“I am not going to speculate on whether Sarbanes-Oxley will be ‘struck down’ or not, since that is anyone's guess at this point,” Mr. Anand says. “However, I will discuss what could happen should the Supreme Court conclude it is unconstitutional.”

1. Since SOX is an "all-or-nothing" regulation, deeming any portion (in particular Section I that deals with PCAOB) of it as unconstitutional immediately negates the entire legislation.

2. There is no overwhelming precedent that has been set for the Supreme Court to either deem it unconstitutional or to understand what the repercussions of deeming it unconstitutional would be.

3. Should it (SOX) be deemed unconstitutional, I still feel that SOX will not go away. In other words, there is a lot of pro-SOX momentum in the marketplace that companies will continue to push it as best-practice.

4. SOX will become a differentiator in the marketplace (just like ISO). Big companies will continue to adopt SOX as a way to differentiate themselves and to take advantage of industry best-practices.

5. Some small companies will take to SOX, but many will ignore it saying it is too expensive. But they may take on some elements of it.

6. New legislation will come into being that will be more similar to J-SOX, C-SOX etc. and will be a "watered-down" version of current US-SOX. The new legislation will apply only to large publicly-held companies and non-profits.

7. The new PCAOB will be a part of the SEC, and will not have as many powers over the audit firms as the current PCAOB. The new PCAOB will likely not be called PCAOB due to the bad image associated with the current PCAOB.

8. IT will continue to operate as it currently does (with maybe a few less curse-words towards SOX). COBIT, ITIL, ISO etc. will go back to being best-in-class industry-standards rather than SOX suck-ups.

9. We may end up with a bad sequel (SOX II) to the first movie (SOX). The sequel is never as good as the original as we all know. Maybe this will start to feel a bit like Groundhog Day (SOX all over again).

10. There is nothing wrong with SOX, per se. The problem was with the guidance and standards. Maybe this time the new PCAOB (and the auditors) will get it right.

Ph.D. asks: How many other Madoff's are out there?

As people sift through the rubble left behind by Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Harlan Platt, Ph.D., a business turnaround expert and finance professor at Northeastern University College of Business Administration, raises an interesting question (you can find a copy of Prof. Platt's bio here: http://cba.neu.edu/faculty/directory_detail.cfm?e=33):

“What people should be asking is how many other cases like Bernie Madoff's alleged fraud are out there waiting to be discovered. The answer to that question is probably too many,” Dr. Platt points out. “The problem is that as private vehicles, often owning illiquid and rarely traded securities, hedge funds are not subject to the same rigorous auditing as would be a mutual fund. Hedge funds often establish the value of their holding themselves or in conjunction with other hedge funds. The opportunity for self dealing and overestimation of values is overwhelming.”

“Trillions of dollars have been invested by ‘sophisticated’ investors in hedge funds. The requirements to be a hedge fund investor are high though I believe they were recently lowered,” Prof. Platt states. “The presumption is that intelligent investors will hold funds accountable. That is too much to ask.”

“Should the government come in and regulate the disclosure and accounting practices of these huge accumulations of capital. I don't necessarily think so,” Dr. Platt denotes. “What is necessary is that the government keep small investors away from the fire. Of course pension funds and others who invest for small investors may get caught in frauds and lose the small investors money. Pension managers generally run with the herd. In the ‘go-go’ years they fought to be allowed to invest. Now they will all run away. Maybe what the small investor needs is better pension managers?”

Law prof on Madoff ponzi scheme

I thought you might be interested in the thoughts of Larry Rosenthal, a law professor and white collar crime expert at Chapman University’s School of Law (You can find Prof. Rosenthal’s bio here: http://www.chapman.edu/law/faculty/rosenthal.asp):

“The high-end securities business places a great deal of emphasis on personal relationships and trust. For that reason, it is unsurprising that Mr. Madoff was able to raise enormous amounts of money from investors. Moreover, given his reputation, it would not have occurred to anyone that he was running a Ponzi scheme,” Prof. Rosenthal states. “The defining feature of a Ponzi scheme, of course, is that it always is discovered. Most criminals who run Ponzi schemes run them as what prosecutors call “bust outs”, in which, just before the scheme unravels, the schemer flees with the money and cannot thereafter be found. That, of course, is the only rational way to run a Ponzi scheme. No one would have suspected Mr. Madoff of running such a scheme, which is precisely why he could have gotten away with it for so long. And, of course, Mr. Madoff did not run his scheme as a bust-out – it just unraveled, . One can only speculate, but in cases like this, typically there is some factor at play that impairs the judgment of the person running the scheme – drug or alcohol dependency, family problems, or mental illness. I suspect some sort of extraordinary personal stress was at play here.”

Keys to finding a job in '09

Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration, shares her thoughts on finding a job in the coming year (you can find her bio here: http://cba.neu.edu/cba/directory_detail.cfm?e=218)

Finding a Job in 2009:

Be as flexible as possible - consider different industries, geographies or different ways to use your skill set

Industries or companies doing major layoffs are not going to be doing significant hiring. Only pursue opportunities in these industries or companies if you have a unique, marketable skill set that can add value in turbulent times.

Other industries are actively seeking experienced talent. Many face the challenge of significant retirements and they are focused on building the management team of the future. Finding the right people is imperative for them.

Especially in this economy, not all positions are posted. Use your search time more strategically by networking as much as possible instead of sitting behind the computer searching job boards.

You need a plan - if you don't know where you are going any road will do -- identify the type of position you are seeking and your target companies, research those companies, identify where you can add value, identify networking contacts and begin networking

Networking is the most successful job search strategy and often the most under-utilized. Start with the people you know and ask each contact to identify other contacts. Leverage former colleagues. Leverage your alumni database and career center. Utilize LinkedIn and join relevant Linked In groups.

Focus more on what you can do for the company than on your past accomplishments. Your accomplishments are not your selling points but are your proof statements. Have you managed an acquisition or merger? Served on the due diligence team? Managed a downsizing effort? If so leverage that experience. Have you managed a significant change initiative? Did you lead a major cost reduction or process improvement initiative? Focus on the most critical needs of the company at this time and emphasize how you can add value.

Flawless execution - in a tight economy there is no room for error. Competition is fierce. Your resume and cover letter must be flawless - no typos, no form letter, etc. You must be well prepared for all interviews and networking meetings - know the company, their business and current events and have specific questions prepared. Never overlook the value of timely, personalized follow-up.

How to Stand Out from the Crowd

Instead of applying at the online job board, network within the company and have a contact deliver your resume to the hiring manager. This puts you in the pile of a handful of resumes instead of in the pile of hundreds. It significantly increases the odds of someone actually looking at your resume.

A handwritten thank you after the interview makes a significant impression and is an additional opportunity to demonstrate your strong interest

Have your references ready and well-briefed

Have specific, thoughtful questions prepared for your interviewers. Do your research and be well-prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and industry, it also demonstrates your interest and your approach to preparation

Length of Search

Length of the job search can vary significantly depending on type of position you are seeking and the industry you are targeting. There will be increased competition as more laid-off workers join the search. General rule of thumb - it will always take longer than you expect it will. Plan on 6 - 9 months in general and longer if you have a highly specialized need.

Where to Target
In challenging times it is tough to identify a industry where all players are doing well, look for the successful and growing players in your target industry or those who have a specific need for your skill set

Also, companies are hiring but often for specific skill sets rather than across the board, use your network to learn who is hiring for the types of positions you are seeking

This is definitely a time when it is to you advantage to be flexible and to think outside the box

Nintendo Wii hot for third Xmas in a row

Early indications are that Nintendo’s Wii is one of the hot Christmas gift this year, for the third year in a row.

In April 2006, Ted Pollak, Video Game Industry Portfolio Manager and Analyst, wrote to his company’s board with a statement that raised a lot of eyebrows; “Nintendo will win console war”. Mr. Pollak is the Founder and President of EE Fund Management LLC, Portfolio Manager of Electronic Entertainment Fund LP (the world’s first fund focused on the video game industry), and manager of EEIndex (the world’s only game industry equity index). Additionally, Pollak is a senior gaming industry analyst for Jon Peddie Research.

At the time very few people thought this to be the case and Nintendo was largely being counted out of the game altogether. Many industry pundits were calling the console industry a two-horse race between Microsoft and Sony. Pollak saw what others did not, a fusion of different market forces that would create the “perfect storm” for the Wii and make it one of the most successful entertainment products in the history of the world. For three Christmases straight the Wii is in the ranks of the hottest gifts, an amazing feat that could even extend to next Christmas.

Pollak qualifies his prediction with the admission that “win” is a relative term based on many factors. He believes that all three console manufacturers will “win” in different ways and at different times but that Nintendo would definitely be the first. Some of the key elements to Ted Pollak’s forecast for Wii’s success were:

1. World not ready for HDTV transition en masse.
2. Revolutionary Wii user interface
3. Wii appeal to both core gamers and untapped demographics
4. Price point lower than other consoles.

Whitewashed: ‘Whiteness' in American History, with a Special Focus on Middle-Easterners

Last December, John Tehranian, a law professor and author on racial issues at Chapman University’s School of Law, gave a lecture at the Arpa Institute entitled Whitewashed: ‘Whiteness' in American History, with a Special Focus on Middle-Easterners (the title of his latest book is also called Whitewashed: America’s Invisible Middle Eastern Identity). Below is a description of some of the issues Prof. Tehranian covered in his lecture:

Throughout American history, racial classifications have wielded exceptional influence. For example, until 1952, federal law provided naturalization rights only to individuals who were white or black, but nothing "in between."

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a wave of new immigrants from non-Anglo-Saxon countries arrived on American shores. As a result, the American legal system confronted the task of defining what or who constituted the white race for the purposes of naturalization.
"Litigation over the concept of whiteness resulted, yielding life-altering consequences," the lecture's abstract states. "While the trials often grew senseless, with judges delving into the depths of antiquity, reconstructing history, and spouting rigid ideologies in order to justify their rulings, the reification of whiteness had a profound impact on shaping the immigrant experience in the United States."

Prof. Tehranian writes that Armenians played a central role in these cases, and that the Armenian struggle for naturalization rights and "white" recognition is critical to understanding the processes at play in the social construction of race.

By drawing on these cases, Prof. Tehranian's talk will assess the historical and contemporary relevance of whiteness in American society, with a particular eye toward the war on terrorism and the debate over immigration, assimilation, and national identity, especially after September 11, 2001. Specifically, Prof. Tehranian will discuss ongoing and peculiar problems of race and how they affect Armenian and Middle-Eastern Americans. He will also address "the unusual catch-22 facing Middle-Eastern Americans: although considered white by law, and therefore ineligible for any policies benefiting minorities, they have faced rising degrees of discrimination over time - a fact highlighted by recent targeted immigration policies, racial profiling, a war on terrorism with a decided racialist bent, and growing rates of job discrimination and hate crime."

Characteristics of stores doing well in current economy

Amid the current economic crisis, with retailers such as Circuit City and Mervyn’s filing for bankruptcy, I thought you might be interested in the thoughts of Tony Gao, Ph.D., a marketing professor at Northeastern University’s business school, on the characteristics of the stores that are doing well in the current economy (you can find Prof. Gao’s bio here: http://cba.neu.edu/faculty/directory_detail.cfm?e=240):

“Stores with the following characteristics are still doing well in the current economic turmoil:

1. Store selling essential merchandise such as drugs, groceries, and gas. Example stores are CVS, Walgreen, Stop and Shop, and gas stations.

2. Stores that have a general reputation for offering good value such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and deep discounters such as Dollar Tree.

3. Stores that have a broader merchandise assortment (thus in a better diversified situation) such as the supercenters of Wal-Mart and again, Costco.

4. Stores that have a broader geographic presence across the country and the world, in some cases.

5. Stores that have over the years built a loyal base of customers who will be inclined to support the retailer in hard times.

6. Stores that have over the years built strong relationships with key suppliers.

7. Stores that are led by a top executive that have the full and undoubted support from the board of directors.

“If a retailers happens to have all or most of these attributes, it might find itself in a relatively stronger position in this market downturn than most,” Dr. Gao concludes.

New Scientific Study Identifies the Best Self Help-Books for Anxiety, Depression and PTSD

Self-help books have emerged as a multimillion-dollar-per-year industry, and 85% of American psychologists report recommending self-help books to their patients. Even more people turn to self-help books on their own, as a cost-effective, convenient, and less stigmatizing alternative to professional therapy, most commonly for problems relating to depression, anxiety, or psychological trauma.

In a groundbreaking study published this month in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, a leading scientific and professional journal of the American Psychological Association, a team of American researchers (from Chapman University, Drexel University, and Brown University Medical School) report the results of a comprehensive study of the scientific validity and usefulness of the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety (including phobias, compulsions, panic attacks), depressive (including depression and bipolar disorder), and trauma-related disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress). The researchers developed a scientific scale for assessing self-help books based on the degree to which they are grounded in modern medical and psychological science, whether they offer potentially harmful advice, and whether the advice provided was in a form that consumers could actually use.

The article lists the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety, depression, or psychological trauma, listed in order of overall quality, as assessed by the study.

1. The OCD Workbook, written by Hyman, B.M.
2. Dying of Embarrassment, by Markway, B.
3. The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook, by Antony, M.M.
4. Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding, by Neziroglu, F.
5. Stop Obsessing, by Foa, E.B.
6. The Cyclothymia Workbook, by Prentiss, P.
7. Bipolar Disorder Demystified, by Castle, L.R.
8. Feeling Good, by Burns, D.D.
9. Overcoming Compulsive Checking, by Hyman, B.M.
10. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, by Penzel, F.

The study’s results suggest guidelines for consumers and mental health professionals to follow when selecting self-help books. The best books were those offering a “cognitive-behavioral” approach to treatment (emphasizing concrete ways to change thoughts and behaviors as a way of changing mood and improving psychological functioning), those written by mental health professionals holding a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.), and those focusing on specific problems (rather than offering a single treatment for many problems). The best books also provide specific guidance not only for implementing the self-help techniques but also for monitoring progress and dealing with treatment setbacks.

The researchers identified a number of books that, despite being immensely popular and selling millions of copies, are not grounded in modern scientific and medical knowledge (40% of books), contain greatly exaggerated claims of effectiveness (32% of books), fail to provide readers with reasonable expectations about the benefits that could be expected (58% of books), or fail to provide readers with guidance about seeking professional help when needed (56% of books). Only 36% of books provided proper guidance for the reader to self-diagnose, to even know whether the self-help book was appropriate for their symptoms or problems.

Particularly troubling, eighteen percent of books provided advice that may be harmful, according to the latest medical evidence, while other books offer treatments that have been found to be ineffective. Some popular books claim that problems are caused by blockages in the body’s invisible energy system and offer a complete cure through “thought-field therapy,” which involves tapping on specific parts of the body in a particular sequence, even though research shows this to be ineffective. Other books offer thought stopping and other distraction techniques, which research shows may only exacerbate symptoms. Other books promote the erroneous idea that traumatic memories are often unconsciously repressed and that certain symptoms are an indication of abuse even when the person has no memory of a traumatic event. Still others promote unproven and sometimes dangerous herbal remedies.

The study is reported in: Richard E. Redding, James D. Herbert, Evan M. Forman, & Brandon A. Gaudiano. (2008). Popular Self-Help Books for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: How Scientifically Grounded and Useful Are They? Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 39(5), 537-545.

Dr. Bird Appointed Prof of Global Business at Northeastern

Dr. Allan Bird appointed Darla and Frederick Brodsky Trustee
Professor of Global Business
at Northeastern University College of Business

Boston, MA—June 9, 2009—Northeastern University College of Business Administration today announced that Dr. Allan Bird has been appointed the Frederick and Darla Brodsky Trustee Professor of Global Business. As the Brodsky Chair, Dr. Bird will provide continuing leadership to the International Business and Strategy Group, the College’s strategic center of excellence in international business.

Professor Bird (Ph.D., University of Oregon) was most recently the Eiichi Shibusawa-Seigo Arai Professor of Japanese Studies and Director of the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Business Administration’s International Business Institute and the Director of its International MBA program.

“Dr. Bird brings strong scholarly achievements of international distinction in international business to the College,” remarked Thomas E. Moore, dean of Northeastern’s College of Business Administration.

Professor Bird is the author/editor of eight books and his more than 90 articles and chapters have appeared in scholarly publications such as the Academy of Management Journal, the Strategic Management Journal, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, and the Journal of International Business Studies. He He served as chair of the Academy of Management’s Careers Division and has served on the Executive Committee of the International Management Division.

Dr. Bird serves on the boards of several organizations in Europe, North America and Japan. Some of the companies he has worked with include AT&T, Coca Cola, Ernst & Young, Fujitsu, GE, Molex, Monsanto, Nippon Express, Sharp and Watchmark. Since 2001, Dr. Bird has served as president of The Kozai Group, Inc., an international consulting firm focused on assessing and developing global leadership potential.

Previously Professor Bird was at California Polytechnic State University where he headed the Global Strategy and Law Area, and at New York University. He has been a visiting professor/researcher at Columbia University, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Rikkyo University, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Osaka International University and Japan’s National Self Defense Academy.

Dr. Bird was the President of the Association of Japanese Business Studies and served on its Executive Committee. He was a key architect and founding member of the International Organization Network (ION), a network of academics and managers from around the world committed to increasing the quality and impact of research on people and their effectiveness in international organizations. He was also a key architect, founding member and head of the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education, a collaborative effort by more than 25 universities.

About Northeastern University College of Business Administration

Northeastern University College of Business Administration, established in 1922, provides its students—undergraduate, graduate and executive—with the education, tools and experience necessary to launch and accelerate successful business careers. The College credits its success to expert faculty, close partnerships with industry and its emphasis on rigorous academics combined with experiential learning.

The College is highly ranked by several prestigious publications. BusinessWeek ranks the undergraduate program 27th in the U.S., #1 in internships and #16 in academic quality in its “Best Undergraduate B-schools”. The College’s BS in International Business program is ranked #13 by U.S. News & World Report. The undergraduate program is also distinguished by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine as #14 in the top 25 entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. For more information about Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration, visit www.cba.neu.edu.

A distinguishing feature of Northeastern’s academic mission is its emphasis on practice in both education and research. The University has long been recognized as a world leader in the integration of work and learning through its cooperative educational program and other practical learning opportunities for its students.

Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblowers: Are They out of Luck?

Research shows that employees are more apt to report fraud or other wrongdoing in the workplace when they know that whistleblower protection exists, says Northeastern University accounting professor Charles Bame-Aldred. An abstract of the study he helped conduct indicates, in part:

In the presence of protection, the influence of retaliation disappeared, as whistleblowing was perceived equally likely whether retaliation was threatened or not.

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JetBlue puts holidays and flights on eBay

US airline JetBlue is selling more than 300 flights and six holiday packages on internet auction site eBay.

The last-minute budget flights have opening bids set between 5 cents and 10 cents.

The flights are to more than 20 mainly US destinations including New York, Boston and southern California. There are also a handful of "mystery" holiday packages to undisclosed locations.

Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University in Boston who follows the airline industry, said the auctions would provide "word-of-mouth" advertising for the discount carrier.

"I think it's a great idea," he said. "In this day and age, people are inundated with ads as they are sitting on airplanes or at airports. A subtle advertisement such as this could be very effective."

He said the auctions would probably produce final bids between 85pc and 90pc of the flight's, or package's, usual price.

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Impact of negative economic news on holiday shopping patterns

I thought you might be interested in Tony Gao’s thoughts on the impact of negative news about the economy on holiday shopping patterns. Tony Gao is a marketing professor and retail expert from the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University:

"If the negative news generally reflects what’s been happening with the economic situations facing the American consumers, then it may influence holiday shopping in several different ways,” Prof Gao states:

1. What's behind the negative news, i.e., the actual worsening of the financial situations for some consumers related to the increasingly tight housing market hurts the buying power of these consumers.

2. The ensuring tightening of banks' credit lending rules has made it harder for all consumers to borrow money to finance their holiday purchases.

3. The rising oil prices, rising food prices, and declining dollars have jointly eroded our buying power, especially for non-necessity purchasing and buying of imported products.

4. The negative news and anticipation for a slow holiday business season actually propel retailers to offer more and larger sales as a way to lure consumers into the store (online or offline). The competition among retailers in offering sales will drive down the profit margin for the retailers but actually benefit the consumers.

5. The general consumer population has been alerted the down turn of the economy and this fact may help lead to a more prudent spending habit. This is where the media itself can influence the holiday purchase behaviors of shoppers.

Two related impacts on holiday shopping are in order:

6. A related series of negative news, that on the recalls of millions of imported toys due to health hazard concerns may also influence how gifts to children are bought and sent during this season. It may encourage more adult consumers to purchase gift cards in lieu of actual toys for their children relatives.

7. The declining dollar again the Euro and in the past year, again the Canadian dollar, helps attract more international shoppers or tourists to US shopping malls or tourist destinations."

Tony’s bio can be seen here: http://cba.neu.edu/faculty/directory_detail.cfm?e=240

Networking for You Non-Networking Types

Networking skills can be vital in landing a job, particularly in a struggling economy. Experts say the most common way people find jobs is through personal referrals, whether through friends, relatives or professional contacts. But reaching out to others can be tough for people who aren't naturally outgoing.

Here are a few steps shy people can take to conquer their fear of networking:

Start with low-hanging fruit. If you are nervous about making the initial contacts, start by "talking to your relatives and friends and begin asking questions about what they do, who they know" and how they can help you, says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University. Talk to people at your alumni association, community group or even a neighborhood bar: The more nets you cast, the greater your chances of finding someone who can help you -- and the more comfortable you get with the process.

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U.S. restaurants see opportunity as rivals bankrupt

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Opportunity beckons for restaurant survivors in what may be a record year for industry bankruptcies that free up plum U.S. locations and ease competition.

Eateries are going belly up faster than usual, said Ron Paul, president of restaurant consulting firm Technomic. "We are already running slightly ahead of pace. Typically in slow times we have seen at least six per year."

S&A Restaurant Corp, owner of the Bennigan's and Steak & Ale chains, last week filed for Chapter 7 liquidation, shuttering dozens of company-owned restaurants and becoming the fourth large chain to go bankrupt this year.

But those publicly held chains are more the exception than the rule. Unlike retailers, most restaurant operators -- excluding those owned by public equity firms -- do not pile on loads of debt.

Harlan Platt, a professor of finance at Northeastern University, said that while the industry would likely see more small or marginal restaurant chains fail, the demise of Bennigan's and Steak & Ale does not foretell an avalanche of bankruptcies in the restaurant industry.

"I don't think it's a sign that the end is near. I'm surprised they lasted a long as they did," Platt said.

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Market pressure forcing MSFT to reconsider YHOO?

As the agreement between Yahoo and Google has fallen through, many in the media are speculating about what this means for Microsoft and another possible acquisition attempt of Yahoo. I thought you might be interested in some thoughts from Emery Trahan, Ph.D., the Donald J. Harding Professor of Finance at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration (you can find his bio here: http://cba.neu.edu/faculty/directory_detail.cfm?e=37):

“Carl Ichan, a major Yahoo shareholder, is urging Yahoo to seek the sale of its search business to Microsoft. While Yahoo management may still be reluctant to do a deal with Microsoft, Microsoft and major Yahoo shareholders may be eager. Since the original offer from Microsoft on February 1st until the offer was dropped on May 2nd, Yahoo shares were up consistently close to 50%, while Microsoft was down around 10%, while the NASDAQ composite was up around 3.5%. The market saw clear value to Yahoo shareholders from a merger, and questioned the value to Microsoft. As of November 6th, Microsoft is down almost 36% and Yahoo is down over 27%, while the NASDAQ is down almost 33%,” Dr. Trahan says. “While the broad tech market is down, clearly Microsoft is under pressure to do something and Yahoo shareholders are still feeling burned from the loss of value due to not doing a deal with Microsoft. With Google and Yahoo abandoning their plans for a deal on an advertising pact this week, due largely to regulatory pressure, and Microsoft trying to steal a deal with Verizon from Google, the door may again be open for a Microsoft Yahoo merger, or at least a deal for Yahoo's search business. Obama's recent election win may slow the short-term pressure, as a change in antitrust enforcers early next year may lead to a more accommodating regulatory climate.”

Garmin Needs to Keep Things Simple

SAN FRANCISCO -- For GarminGRMN, the message is clear: Keep it simple.

Most experts say the maker of GPS-based navigation systems has been confusing customers, lowering buyer satisfaction and taxing the company's operations by offering 30 models of its "Nuvi" car navigation systems that range from $200 to $1,000 in price.

"I believe 30 (models) is too much," says Russell Winer, a professor of marketing at the Stern School of Business. "There's a lot of academic research that shows consumers get overwhelmed by a product having too many attributes and variations."

But having so many variants of the GPS device can also leave some customers who have already bought the product dissatisfied, says Gloria Barczak, professor of marketing at Northeastern University, as they could be left wondering if they bought the right model for their needs. Too much choice also leads to too much complexity in decision-making, she adds.

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Unique photo book concept for the holidays

Research coming out of the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that toddlers learn better from books with photographs rather than those with illustrations or "likenesses" of objects ( http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev4261352.pdf ). The research finds that very young children understand the meaning of objects presented in color photographs better than black and white images or drawings, indicating that real-world, life-like images are important learning tools for babies and toddlers.

One of my clients, Bella Vista Foto ( www.bellavistafoto.com ) took that research and decided to take it one step further. Using the thought process in the research; Bella Vista Foto turns digital photos of objects like family members, family pets, favorite toys and everyday objects from their clients, or takes photos for their clients and crafts a customized book in various themes complete with photo captions or even stories. These books make unique holiday gifts.

"Instead of going to the bookstore to buy generic picture books to interact with your toddler, a custom photo book is more engaging and more effective in developing their skills and learning about the immediate world around them, with the items personalized and easily identifiable," says Erika O'Connor, founder of Bella Vista Foto.

"Alphabet books are a great example of the type of custom books that we create for families. A is for Adam, B is for bed (insert photo of toddler's bed), C is for car (insert photo of Mommy's car), D is for Dog, (insert photo of family dog), etc.," Ms. O'Connor adds. "Imagine sitting down with your toddler and seeing the connection that is made with the letter and the photo of something that is familiar to him. These custom photo books become more interesting to your toddler and a much richer learning experience is created as their learning skills are sharpened."
Adding to the richness of the learning experience, Bella Vista Foto has also included a foreign language component to the ABC books. ABC books can be customized in several language choices – Spanish, French, German and Italian – to spark the language learning in toddlers as well. Bella Vista Foto can have the photos sent to them to make these books, Bella Vista Foto can take the photos, or they can use stock photos of objects kids can identify with and make the books.

Detainee trial's fairness up for debate

The first U.S. war crimes trial since World War II has observers debating whether the military commission system offered the defendant a fair trial.

The trial of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainee Salim Hamdan, Obama bin Laden's driver, was handed to the jury Monday and whether it was fair depends on the observer, USA Today reported Tuesday.

John Altenburg, a retired U.S. Army major general who oversaw the commissions from 2004-06, said Hamdan was given as good a defense as an enemy fighter has been allowed.

"What's important is the process," Altenburg told USA Today. "And clearly the process has passed muster as full and fair."

Trial judge U.S. Navy Capt. Keith Allred's ruled for both the defense and prosecution, said Kyndra Rotunda, a one-time legal adviser to Guantanamo military investigators.

"He's ruled both in favor of the defense on some motions and in favor of the prosecution," Rotunda told USA Today. "What you have is a judge that suggests a level of fairness."

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First military commission doesn't end fairness debate

Observers of the first U.S. war crimes trial since World War II have seen enough to render a verdict on the fairness of the trial, the first major test of the military commission system established by President Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

John Altenburg, a retired Army major general, said the defendant was allowed as good a defense as any enemy fighter has been allowed. "What's important is the process," said Altenburg, who oversaw the commissions from the Pentagon from 2004 to 2006. "And clearly the process has passed muster as full and fair."

Stacy Sullivan, a counterterrorism adviser for Human Rights Watch, said the tribunal allowed tainted evidence to be heard and that the defendant, Salim Hamdan, was denied basic rights. "I don't think that anybody could argue that this was a fair trial," said Sullivan, who has been observing the trial at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Kyndra Rotunda, a former legal adviser to military investigators at Guantanamo, said Allred's decision to exclude some statements indicated fairness.

"He's ruled both in favor of the defense on some motions and in favor of the prosecution. What you have is a judge that suggests a level of fairness."

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Law school center helps immigrants fight domestic violence

Like all women, immigrant women are at high risk for domestic violence, but due to their immigration status, they may face a more difficult time escaping abuse. Despite recent federal legislation that has opened new and safe routes to immigration status for some immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence, abuse is still a significant problem for immigrant women, as it is for all women in the United States.

· A recent study in New York City found that 51 percent of intimate partner homicide victims were foreign-born, while 45 percent were born in the United States.

· Forty-eight percent of Latinas in one study reported that their partner’s violence against them had increased since they immigrated to the United States.

· A survey of immigrant Korean women found that 60 percent had been battered by their husbands.

If you are interested in taking a deeper look at this issue, I thought you might want to speak to Marisa Cianciarulo, law professor and director of the Family Violence Clinic at Chapman University’s School of Law.

In 2007, Chapman University School of Law created the Family Violence Clinic to address the unique challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence. Located at the secure new Anaheim Family Justice Center, the clinic offers free immigration and family law assistance for those clients who are undocumented immigrants. Unlike traditional externships offered by law schools, where student work supports a program director, the Chapman Family Violence Clinic gives students primary responsibility for cases and direct interaction with clients. This model is facilitated by special immigration regulations that allow students enrolled in clinical courses to do anything a lawyer can do, as long as there is supervision by a licensed attorney.

Judging Manila

By JOHN HALL

January 22, 2008

After years of absent political leadership -- or worse -- on human rights in the Philippines, help is finally coming, and from an unexpected source. A recent appeals court ruling suggests that judges are starting to take a greater interest in the military's problematic rights record. They're also asserting their power to address the issue.

This development comes courtesy of a case involving two farmers, brothers Raymond and Reynaldo Manalo who were abducted in February 2006, detained for 16 months and allegedly tortured. The Court of Appeals found that the brothers had been abducted by members of the Philippine Army and security forces. The Court of Appeals concluded the military had suspected the brothers were members or sympathizers of the communist New People's Army. All the evidence that's come to light suggests this was unlikely.

Their case has become something of a cause celebre, but it's by no means unusual in a country where extrajudicial kidnapping, torture and killing is a common method employed by the military to combat "ideological radicals" and other undesirable elements. Local human-rights group Karapatan has estimated that there have been 800 political assassinations since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office in 2001. The United Nations's special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, Philip Alston, reported in February 2007: "These killings have eliminated civil society leaders, including human rights defenders, trade unionists and land reform advocates, intimidated a vast number of civil society actors and narrowed the country's political discourse."

Mr. Alston was blunt in blaming the Philippine Army for playing a direct role: "The Philippine military is in a state of denial concerning the numerous extrajudicial executions in which soldiers are implicated." His report dismissed as "strikingly unconvincing" and "cynical" Manila's claims that the assassinations were "purges" carried out by communist insurgents.

Politicians have struggled to find the will to crack down on the military, despite mounting international pressure. In August 2006, President Arroyo -- under strong pressure from the European Union -- established the Melo Commission to investigate the wave of political killings. But some are questioning the commission's effectiveness. Human Rights Watch has noted that due to "concerns about the Commission's independence and fears of retribution, eyewitnesses, victims, and human rights organizations did not participate in the hearings," while police and military representatives did. The security forces "presented views that demonstrated a degree of denial and lack of concern for accountability."

Meantime, the Arroyo administration has been hard at work trying to paper over its record on the international stage. In the face of U.S. congressional threats to withhold some military aid, the Philippine government has launched a vigorous public relations campaign to influence Washington and to convince Congress that it is taking seriously demands that the political violence should be brought to a halt. To that end, the Arroyo administration has approached the white shoe law firm of Covington & Burling to lobby on its behalf.

Which is where the Manalo brothers come in: Following their escape from their captors, they took the unusual step of asking the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order to ensure they would not be arrested or have their rights violated further by the military authorities. The Supreme Court agreed, and when the brothers filed a writ of amparo to request documents and evidence from the military relating to their abduction, the matter was sent to the Court of Appeals. On Dec. 26, Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin of the Philippine Court of Appeals took the even more unusual step of ruling in their favor.

The ruling is precedent-setting in several respects. Most importantly, it assigns blame right at the top. Justice Bersamin pointed the finger of blame for the Manalos' ordeal at retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan. As the ruling stated: "General Palparan's participation in the abduction was also established. At the very least, he was aware of the petitioners' captivity at the hands of men in uniform assigned to his command." Justice Bersamin concluded that the general's "knowledge of the dire situation of [the brothers] during their long captivity at the hands of the military personnel under his command bespoke of his indubitable command policy that unavoidably encouraged and not merely tolerated the abduction of civilians without due process of law and without probable cause."

Gen. Palparan has long been accused by human-rights groups like Karapatan of playing a central role in the violent campaign aimed at leftist civilians. The Melo Commission concluded in January 2007 that "The rise of killings somehow became more pronounced in areas where General Palparan was assigned. The trend was so unusual that General Palparan was said to have left a trail of blood or bodies wherever he was assigned. He 'earned' the moniker 'Berdugo' ["executioner"] from activists and media groups for his reputation." The commission concluded that Gen. Palparan's "numerous public statements caught on film or relayed through print media give the overall impression that he is not a bit disturbed by the extrajudicial killings of civilian activists, whom he considers enemies of the state. He admits having uttered statements that may have encouraged the said killings." He's also politically well connected. As recently as President Arroyo's state of the nation speech in 2006, the president praised Gen. Palparan for his anti-insurgency efforts, claiming that he "will not back down until the darkness of terror gives way to the dawn of freedom."

The court also cut through the military's efforts to obscure the facts of the case. Justice Bersamin dismissed the military investigation of the incident as "superficial" and "one-sided" and added that despite Gen. Palparan's retirement from the active military, "we do not think that he was immune from inquiry or investigation or that he was exempt from any personal liability, if warranted" -- another important precedent. "At the very least," the court noted, "General Palparan and his men . . . should have been subjected to a more intense investigation."
Justice Bersamin ordered Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperoh to provide the court with all official and unofficial reports of the military investigation, produce medical reports pertaining to allegations of torture, and confirm in writing the places where two Master Sergeants accused by the Manalo brothers of torturing them are assigned.

The stand taken by Justice Bersamin is a brave one. Anyone who openly criticizes the Philippine security forces is taking a risk. In 2006, Counsels for the Defense of Liberties -- an international group of lawyers and law students -- concluded that the Philippines was among the most dangerous countries for lawyers. More than 20 lawyers have been killed since Ms. Arroyo took office, including Gil Gojol, shot and killed in December 2006 in Bicol. He was counsel to several leftist groups, and represented political prisoners charged by the military with acts of rebellion. Amnesty International has also reported on the problem: "An international fact-finding mission of lawyers and judges who visited the Philippines in June 2006 in response to reported extrajudicial killings of the legal profession within the context of a pattern of political killings, found that in cases of 15 lawyers and 10 judges killed since 2001 none of the perpetrators have been convicted."

Since June 2006 a further four judges have been murdered. The latest, Judge Roberto Navidad of the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court in Samar Province, was shot to death by an unidentified man on Jan. 14, 2008. Chief Justice Reynato Puno has released a statement that "the entire judiciary condemns the killing of Judge Navidad" and urges "the authorities to exert their best efforts for the immediate apprehension of those responsible."

In the face of this, Justice Bersamin has taken a highly visible, highly confrontational position against a former general. In granting the writ of amparo, Justice Bersamin is requiring senior government officials to provide specific documentation about the abduction of the Manalo brothers and not merely deny the allegations. This is an important legal precedent and a step toward transparency and an honest and public assessment of the role of the Philippine Army in the wave of political abductions and assassinations. He deserves more than just our praise. If the Arroyo regime is -- as it claims -- serious about ending the violence aimed at civilians it must do everything in its power to guarantee his future safety.

This case is worth watching. There is ample reason to be skeptical of the Arroyo administration. After all, Gen. Palparan himself had the vocal support of the president until last year. But perhaps -- just perhaps -- Justice Bersamin's stand against this general signals a new era for Manila. Critics and supporters of President Arroyo -- not least in Washington -- are waiting to see how this story will unfold both inside and outside Justice Bersamin's chambers.

Mr. Hall is an associate professor and Director of the Center for Global Trade & Development, Chapman University School of Law, in Orange, California.

Is It Time For A Massive Mall Meltdown?

It's the icky Darwinian side of every economic downturn--watching the weaker brands perish just yards away from the watering hole, while vultures and buzzards fill the air.But observers say it's probably a little too soon to declare a meltdown in the retail sector, despite the recent Chapter 11 filing of Mervyns, the Hayward, Calif.-based chain. Other recent casualties include Steve & Barry's, Linens 'n Things Inc., and the Sharper Image Corp., as well as widespread store closings, such as those announced recently by Starbucks.

Yes, there will be more to come: In its most recent report, the International Council of Shopping Centers predicts that close to 144,000 stores--or about 36,000 per quarter--will bite the dust in 2008. That's a 7% jump from 2007, and the largest increase in 14 years. But the trade group points out that those numbers mask the many stores that will open. For instance, it says, in 2006, 139,000 stores failed--but 123,000 new ones sprung up. Clothing stores, it says, continue to be the most vulnerable, with such chains as Wilson's Leather, Geoffrey Beane-outlet stores, Goody's Family Clothing, Ann Taylor and Talbots among the many retailers that shuttered stores in the first half.

Some experts believe the worst of the shakeout will be restricted to smaller, weaker chains. "Retailers that have a reputation for offering good value, those that have diverse geographic portfolios--both in the U.S. and around the world, and those that offer a broader selection of merchandise are in a better position," says Tony Gao, Ph.D., marketing professor and retail expert at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration in Boston, who points out that Mervyns and several of the other more troubled chains had a strong presence in California, which has been particularly hard-hit by the housing downturn. "And specialty stores tend to file for bankruptcy first."

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Distressed loans attracting private equity investors

Guess who holds your mortgage now? It's your friendly neighborhood hedge fund.

Dozens of hedge funds, private equity groups and other investors have plunged into the beaten-down mortgage market in recent months, buying tens of thousands of distressed loans and foreclosed properties around the country. They hope to profit from the woes of banks and other investors holding mortgages that have plummeted in value as home values sink and defaults soar.

They are buying them from Wall Street investment banks eager to rid themselves of bad assets. Merrill Lynch & Co., for example, said this week that it would sell mortgage-linked investments once valued at $30.6 billion for just $6.7 billion to Lone Star Funds, a distressed-debt investor in Dallas.

Still, there are some worries that desperate borrowers unwittingly may be giving up protections - such as the right to sue the original lender - when they agree to a modification.

"Borrowers are not represented by an attorney or anybody who can advise them about the legal effects of what they're signing," said Kurt Eggert, a professor at Chapman University's law school.

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Generic Strategies of India's Emerging Multinationals

Ravi Ramamurti, a professor at Boston’s Northeastern University, traces some of the paths Indian companies have taken to reach MNC status in a paper titled, “Generic Strategies of India’s Emerging Multinationals.” In the paper, Ramamurti says that he hopes that “bringing these generic strategies into sharper focus, and highlighting the organizational demands and strategic dilemmas each is likely to present, will be helpful to managers as they take their companies global. The generic strategies identified here are not unique to India and have relevance for MNCs from other emerging markets as well. As a group, however, these generic strategies are unlikely to be pursued by firms in advanced economies because they are rooted in conditions peculiar to emerging markets, such as low-income consumers, low-wage workers, high-growth domestic markets, and under-developed hard and soft institutions.

Ramamurti identifies four generic strategies of emerging MNCs – which he stresses are not mutually exclusive and may be combined or ordered in a variety of ways – to which they attribute the success, the growth, and ultimately the ability to move onto the global stage, demonstrated by a small but growing number of Indian companies. These are: Local-Optimizer, Low-Cost Partner, Global Consolidator and Global First-Mover. He then goes on to sketch the elements that comprise each strategy, the conditions that facilitate implementation, and examples of companies – or sectors – which have successfully pursued the strategy.

Emerging markets in countries like India have a number of unique characteristics that make them crucibles for innovation. Ramamurti pointed to three issues: Experience with a low-income customer base; a low cost business model – “these companies have to be not 10% or 20% cheaper, but 50%, 60%, 70% cheaper”; and risk management experience on a scale totally different from that familiar to companies in more developed countries.

ANALYSIS-Credit market far from tossing away its crutches

CHICAGO (Reuters) - New Federal Reserve liquidity measures announced Wednesday continue the process of healing for severely injured global credit markets, but a happier day will be when the market can toss away its crutches for good.

The positive reception to moves by the Fed, ECB and Swiss National Bank in currency, equities, and credit markets was short-lived in Wednesday trading, underlining how brittle the financial system remains.

"This latest I.V. keeps the patient in stable but not critical condition, but not ready for discharge," said Doug Roberts, chief investment strategist at Channel Capital Research in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

In that vein, GMAC (nyse: GJM - news - people ) and Ford Motor Credit (nyse: FCJ - news - people ) on Tuesday announced steps to cut back on auto leases, a move that threatened to hurt auto sales already at decade lows.

"Creditors in the United States are wary of making mortgage loans, consumer loans, and student loans, all of which are rising in price and have become less available," said Timothy Canova, professor of international economic law at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, California. "There is no forcing banks to take on increased risk at a time when their losses are mounting," he said.

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Hedge funds buying bad loans

Guess who holds your mortgage now? It's your friendly neighborhood hedge fund.

Dozens of hedge funds, private equity groups and other investors have plunged into the beaten-down mortgage market in recent months, buying tens of thousands of distressed loans and foreclosed properties around the country. They hope to profit from the woes of banks and other investors holding mortgages that have plummeted in value as home values sink and defaults soar.

They are buying them from Wall Street investment banks eager to rid themselves of bad assets. Merrill Lynch & Co., for example, said this week it would sell mortgage-linked investments once valued at $30.6 billion for just $6.7 billion to Lone Star Funds, a distressed-debt investor in Dallas.

Still, there are some worries that desperate borrowers unwittingly may be giving up protections — such as the right to sue the original lender — when they agree to a modification. "Borrowers are not represented by an attorney or anybody who can advise them about the legal effects of what they're signing," said Kurt Eggert, a professor at Chapman University's law school.

Distressed debt investors, however, emphasize that they are less bureaucratic and more willing to make changes than most loan servicers, which collect and distribute mortgage payments.

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Role of corruption in India's economy

As you may well know, the number of multi-national corporations in India has been increasing which has improved India’s economy. The question remains whether corruption still plays a large role in India’s economy. Ravi Ramamurti, professor, International Business and founder, Center for Emerging Markets, Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration shares his thoughts on India’s current corruption situation.

“India has a long way to go before our institutions are truly professional and independent, or the average public official's salary is high enough to make corruption unappealing," Professor Ramamurti says. "Keeping in mind that most corrupt officials earn many times their salary through corruption, it will take a huge pay increase (or moral awakening) to wean them off corruption."

“In some ways,” says Ramamurti, “with economic growth, we have shifted from 'retail corruption', where petty officials took small bribes from average citizens, to 'wholesale corruption', where bureaucrats and politicians extract fewer but bigger bribes from companies. Average consumer has benefited whenever real competition has been ushered in — for example, in air travel, wireless telephony or gas connections," he says. "In these cases, corruption has waned or disappeared, and the consumer is king. But where monopolies still exist or competition is imperfect, as in infrastructure, public services, or regulated businesses, there is still plenty of room for corruption.”