A former B-school dean boosted his school’s rankings by fraudulently misstating student test scores, work experience, and other data. If rankings weren’t crucial, he wouldn’t have done it. But might such rankings also be meaningless? Ranking Mania The last 30 years have seen an explosion of rankings. Among other things, we rank countries for rule …
U.S. News Business-School Rankings: Crucial But Meaningless? Read More »
A tax-planning adage states, “Pigs get fed; hogs get slaughtered.” In pushing a “dodgy tax break” to business customers, AmEx taught itself and them a lesson they should have already known. AmEx’s Tax Alchemy AmEx wanted to boost commission fees from business customers. So, it suggested to owners of closely held businesses that they make …
AmEx Learns The Hard Way: Pigs Get Fed; Hogs Get Slaughtered Read More »
After two 737 MAX crashes and 346 dead, prosecutors only go after a couple of mid-level Boeing employees. The prosecutor who cut Boeing its deal now works for Boeing’s law firm. Something smells fishy. Violating Basic Principles Previous columns here and here, described the decisions and events leading up to two separate crashes of Boeing …
Leaked Facebook research shows that the company’s Instagram platform is “toxic” to teenagers, especially girls. Now what? Peddling Envy: The Only Deadly Sin That Gives No Pleasure The leaked research appears in, “The Facebook Files,” a multipart Wall Street Journal expose on Facebook. On one level, the information should come as no surprise. Generally available …
The criminal fraud trial of disgraced former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes starts today. We know what the evidence says about her. What does it say about us?
A surprising number of healthcare workers, including physicians and registered nurses, refuse COVID vaccinations. Reports cite several factors, but the principal issue may come down to trust. What does this say about healthcare generally, and what does it mean for mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers? Weighing Costs And Benefits Like many people, I got vaccinated …
Two days after Juneteenth, the Supreme Court rejected NCAA limits on athletes’ education-related benefits. The ruling was justice. The timing was poetic justice. Here’s why. Juneteenth Juneteenth commemorates emancipation of African-American slaves in the United States. “Juneteenth” refers to June 19, 1865. On that day, the Union military governor of Texas, Maj. General Gordon Granger, …
Search-and-rescue teams pick through the rubble of a partially collapsed 12-story condominium near Miami, Florida. The death toll may top 160. If the blame rests with words, how safe are the rest of us? Words, Words, Words While search-and-rescue teams dig, media and investigators have begun unearthing causes of the collapse. Current Guestimate Of Causes …
When Words Kill: Lessons From The Champlain Tower Collapse Read More »
The Chinese government canceled retailer H&M from the national Internet for airing concerns over alleged forced labor in Xinjiang Region. Will pending EU and US ESG regulations trigger a trade war? A Juggernaut Gains Momentum Previous columns described the environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) movement and examined conflicting claims over whether ESG investing yields higher returns …
Many businesses — meaning many bosses — want employees back in the office. Millennials make up the largest cohort in the workforce. What if they won’t go? Millennials: Numerous, Demanding, and Distrustful 40%-75% Of the Workforce Millennials comprise persons born roughly from 1981-1995. (Some date ranges start as early as 1978; some go as late …
Forget “The Big Shift.” Here Comes “The Big Shakeout” Read More »