Knowledge at Wharton
The Wharton School
The Knowledge at Wharton Network Acast feed serves as a curated showcase highlighting the best content from our podcast collection. Each week, we feature one standout episode from each show in the Wharton Podcast Network, giving listeners a comprehensive sample of our diverse business and academic content. This rotating selection allows audiences to discover new shows within our network while experiencing the depth and variety of Wharton's thought leadership across different topics and formats. It's your monthly gateway to explore the full spectrum of insights available through the Wharton Podcast Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Nov 15, 2006 • 18min
Product Placement in the Pews? Microtargeting Meets Megachurches
Patti LaBelle, a legendary singer and actress celebrated for her gospel music, discusses the intriguing intersection of marketing and spirituality. She reveals how churches are becoming marketing goldmines, with brands like Chrysler targeting affluent African Americans through sponsorships. The conversation touches on the ethical dilemmas of mixing faith with commerce and the challenges megachurches face in maintaining their spiritual integrity while pursuing growth. LaBelle's insights provide a thought-provoking look at the commercialization of faith.
Nov 15, 2006 • 10min
Unilever’s Michael Polk: It’s All about ’Dislocating Ideas’
To drive home the subject of his speech at the recent third annual Wharton Marketing conference Michael Polk president of Unilever United States flashed up a definition straight from the dictionary: ’Innovation: a new idea or method; a change in something established.’ Polk who manages such brands as Dove Axe Slim-Fast Country Crock Wishbone and Q-Tips said innovation not invention lies at the heart of successful marketing campaigns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 15, 2006 • 13min
Out of Shanghai’s Shadow: Why Hong Kong Is Becoming China’s New Financial Services Center
Contrary to rumors about its imminent ”death” following the transfer of power from the British Hong Kong has emerged as the financial intermediary through which foreign investors seek to invest tens of billions of dollars into mainland China. Meanwhile once-booming Shanghai’s star is starting to fade. What happened? According to Wharton faculty and other experts while Hong Kong was crafting a strategy to position itself as both a legal and financial services center for China Shanghai was weighed down by corruption and a largely state-run financial services sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 15, 2006 • 11min
Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD: Knocking Each Other Out?
High definition televisions are expected to be hot sellers this holiday season but consumers are likely to have a tough time sorting out the newest generation video discs and the players that go with them. The culprit: Two competing high definition DVD formats -- Blu-ray and HD-DVD -- and no sign of a clear winner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 9min
What’s in Your Future(s)? The Merger of the Chicago Exchanges
In mid-October the Chicago Board of Trade agreed to be purchased by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for about $8 billion topping a wave of exchange mergers in the U.S. and Europe. Two factors drove the deal: the enormous growth in the use of futures options and other derivatives to hedge risks and speculate and the need for economies of scale to compete with exchanges that have grown through mergers. Wharton professors analyze the deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 12min
Michael Porter Asks and Answers: Why Do Good Managers Set Bad Strategies?
Errors in corporate strategy are often self-inflicted and a singular focus on shareholder value is the ”Bermuda Triangle” of strategy according to Michael E. Porter director of Harvard’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness. Porter who recently spoke at Wharton as part of the school’s SEI Center Distinguished Lecture Series challenged managers to stop trying to be the best company in their industry and instead deliver ”a unique value” to their customers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 17min
Efforts Are Growing to Trim the Fat from Employees -- and Employers’ Health Care Costs
With all the statistics showing how many adults in the United States are obese (30%) how many deaths are caused each year by obesity (365 000) and how bad the problem is (getting worse not better) it’s no surprise that obesity is definitely on employers’ radar screens this year. But Wharton experts and others point out obesity is not just bad for the individual; it also weighs heavily on companies’ rising health care costs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 12min
Making the Global Grade: Chinese Managers Are the Latest Enrollees in Western Executive Education Classes
As Chinese firms increasingly turn their attention to strengthening their ability to compete in the global economy they have a new challenge -- developing international expertise. One way they are doing this is by turning to Western executive education programs which can include everything from courses in finance marketing and corporate governance to a visit to Bloomingdale’s and meals at noted Western restaurants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 16min
How Some Firms in India Succeed by Bypassing Entrenched Financial and Legal Systems
In India regulatory protections for investors are weak banks don’t lend much money to small- and medium-size businesses and the country’s legal system is highly corrupt. Yet when it comes to economic growth India seems to be doing everything right. How can this be? According to a new study by professors at Wharton and three other business schools owners of small- and medium-size firms have found ways to finance growth and settle legal disputes outside the system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2006 • 12min
Can’t Find That Dress on the Rack? Retailers Are Pushing More Shoppers to the Web
Shoppers with tastes or sizes that fall outside the mainstream may have more trouble finding what they want in stores as retailers attempt to shift low-volume items to Internet sales. According to Wharton faculty and industry analysts retailers are paring back in-store selections in order to save inventory handling costs as well as precious floor space. The strategy however has its drawbacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
