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Kelley School of Business Indiana University Bloomington
Kelley School of Business

All-female team wins 2018 National Diversity Case Competition

Posted on by George Vlahakis

An all-female team from Drexel University emerged as the winners of the 2018 National Diversity Case Competition, followed closely by teams from the University of Washington, Boston College and the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

The competition, held annually the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, brings together some of the best and most diverse talents in undergraduate business education from across the nation.

Despite a major snowstorm impacting the Midwest, 33 of the 35 business school teams were able to make it to IU Bloomington for the event, which was hosted by the Kelley School for the seventh straight year. More than 130 undergraduate business students competed.

“It is an honor to bring together so many extraordinary students from some of the best colleges and universities in the United States, along with representatives from some of our country’s great companies,” said Josh Perry, faculty chair of Kelley’s Undergraduate Program.

“The weekend provides Kelley with an opportunity to showcase our long-standing commitment to foster a community where all students can come together to feel supported and included, and also offers all attendees multiple opportunities to make connections and share ideas about diversity initiatives within other schools, corporations, or regions of the country,” Perry added. “It is both an opportunity to learn and to develop one’s professional networks.” (more…)

Kelley Direct Online MBA and MS Programs Each Ranked No. 2 by U.S. News

Posted on by George Vlahakis

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business continues to be seen as a leader in presenting an array of choices for professionals seeking a quality graduate business degree online, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

The Kelley Direct Online MBA program and Kelley’s Master of Science program each were tied with one other school for No. 2 rankings among more than 250 schools and universities offering similar degrees nationwide.

“As these rankings and other indicators suggest, Kelley continues to lead the way in providing a quality graduate business education, whether it is presented online or on campus full-time,” said Idalene “Idie” Kesner, Kelley’s dean and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management.

“We’re pleased that our Kelley Direct Program is a model for online graduate business programs worldwide. Students value our flexible, innovative and relevant approach of presenting business education and preparing them for the next level of leadership in their chosen career paths,” she added.

In addition to the Kelley Direct Online MBA, students also can earn specialized Master of Science degrees in business analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, global supply chain management, information technology management, marketing, and strategic management.

In the last year, Kelley Direct was ranked the No. 1 program in the United States by QS Intelligence Unit — which also produces the QS World University Rankings – and the Princeton Review. (more…)

Kelley Direct online MBA program ranked No. 1 — again

Posted on by George Vlahakis

Kelley Direct, the online MBA program of Indiana University Kelley School of Business, continues to be seen as the leader in providing a quality education and a solid return on investment, as evidenced by a new No. 1 ranking by the Princeton Review.

The Princeton Review rankings of online MBA programs released on Nov. 1 was based on comprehensive surveys during the 2016-17 academic year of nearly 4,700 students and administrators at MBA programs that offer most of their program of study online.

In each instance, students and administrators used more than 30 criteria aspects to evaluate programs. Among the factors for students were faculty quality, career preparation, academics, the technology platform, and overall satisfaction. Schools were asked to provide information about admissions selectivity, graduation and retention rates, faculty training and credentials, technological infrastructure, student indebtedness, and career outcomes.

Earlier this year, Kelley Direct was ranked the No. 1 program in the United States by QS Intelligence Unit, which also produces the QS World University Rankings – for the second straight year. Both follow similar top rankings from U.S. News & World Report and the Financial Times. (more…)

Early-Career Communication Part 3: Leading Without Authority

Posted on by Kelley School

Articulating a vision and getting people to work toward that vision is formidable for many. Motivating clients, peers and other key stakeholders can be particularly challenging for someone who doesn’t have a title that commands action. However, for you to be personally successful, that success has to come as part of a broader effort. I am going to highlight 4 characteristics that can help you lead despite having no specific authority to do so.

 

Speak confidently.

If you speak confidently and in a manner that underscores a belief in what you are saying, you are likely to get others to agree. Meaning people want to follow the lead of someone that appears knowledgeable and self-assured. 

 
It is necessary to note that sometimes people will undermine their own confidence by saying things like “I’m not sure if you’ll agree” or “Is that in line with what you were thinking?” When you are rallying people and getting them to do what you want – refrain from using qualifying and confirmatory language, it will weaken you and your ideas. Instead, focus on speaking with certainty and assurance.

(more…)

Early-Career Communication Part 2: Getting Buy-in

Posted on by Kelley School

Kendell Brown, Associate Director of Graduate Career Services

The ability to influence is essential to leadership. If you can get people to buy into an idea that you set forth, you’re golden. But how can you get people to listen and take you seriously when you are the most junior person on the team? I’m going to guide you through a step-by-step plan you can use to get the buy-in you want.

Developing a thorough plan shows the upfront effort you have already made, in addition to highlighting your commitment to the idea. This course of action should include key steps, decision points and goals. With a clearly articulated action it is easier for people to understand your ideas, rationale and goals and thus put forth the effort necessary to achieve your vision.

In business, facts trump theory, so find what you can to support your idea and bolster your plan. Do an analysis, “run the numbers”, create a case study – the idea is to accumulate evidence to show that you’ve done your homework and that your suggestion isn’t a fly by night proposal. Another form of evidence gathering is to become a subject matter expert. Take the time to learn the ins and outs of a process, a client, a tool, etc. – know the good and bad points, become the “go-to” person in the office on that topic. When it’s common knowledge that you know more than anyone on a particular subject, your opinions and plans on that subject will carry significant weight.

Let’s say you’ve got a plan to grow the margin on the team’s 3rd largest product line. If you’ve been exclusively managing the product line and you’ve done a thorough analysis of the biggest factors affecting the line’s margin – your idea will get heard because you know the business better than anyone else. (more…)

Early-Career Communication Part 1: Expressing Dissent

Posted on by Kelley School

How can you express dissent without sounding like a troublemaker? The key is to respectfully and intelligently highlight your thoughts and opinions without letting your emotions get in the way. Here are several strategies you can utilize. Each strategy works best in a particular scenario. So think through the situation you find yourself in and choose the option that is best.

Option 1 – Ask questions.

You can pose questions for the team to consider. Questions like – “Did anyone consider how the new pricing system would impact our smaller customers?” or “What about thinking through the likelihood that Legal will agree to those revised contract terms?” This way you are not seen as the one trying to kill an idea, instead, you are viewed as someone who is thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. When dissent is packaged this way, you are actually seen as being organizationally savvy enough to foresee potential roadblocks. Your comments may be construed as a “head’s up” versus negativity.

Option 2 – Highlight contra-indicative information.

Stating key facts is an alternative for highlighting a disagreement without fully owning it. A statement such as “Decreasing the timeline by 3 weeks will cause us to be 25% over budget.” A well-documented fact cannot be argued. In this situation, you are not seen as rabble-rousing, instead, you’ll be perceived as knowledgeable and informed. This is best for those times when you’re new to the team or you work in a highly consensus-building organization.

Options 1 and 2 are appropriate for when you want to de-personalize your dissent and you don’t want to be known as an “agitator”.  These strategies are most effective when you don’t yet have an established workplace brand or you don’t want to branded as the company instigator.

Now let’s Consider those times when you’re in a team meeting, an idea gets thrown out that generates a lot of excitement and energy. However, you for whatever reason are not in agreement. What can you do? Let’s continue with our countdown of options. (more…)

Real Estate Billionaire and Philanthropist Conrad T. Prebys Makes $20 Million Gift to IU and Kelley School

Posted on by Kelley School

Philanthropist Conrad T. Prebys, BS’55, has made a $20 million gift to benefit the Kelley School of Business and to fund a new university amphitheater.

 

From modest beginnings in a South Bend working class neighborhood, Conrad T. Prebys came to IU a determined young man. Within a few years after graduation, he relocated to San Diego with only $500, no car and no home. He worked hard and eventually distinguished his company, Progress Construction and Management, as a developer of affordable, middle-class apartments. Mr. Prebys put his heart and soul into his real estate ventures over the next 50 years and today he is one of the wealthiest men in America — and also one of the most generous.

As one of the 30 most generous people in America, Prebys’ generosity has including many medical research, educational and arts organizations including the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, The Old Globe Theater, the Zoological Society of San Diego, the San Diego Museum of Art, Scripps Mercy Hospital and San Diego State University. Many people also know his name as a supporter of PBS and the Masterpiece Trust, which co-produces “Downtown Abbey.”

His investment in IU will significantly impact Kelley students, faculty, alumni, visitors and the companies who hire our graduates. Read more about Mr. Prebys’ gift to Indiana University and how the funds will be used.

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