Business Coaching

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he advises employers on how they can retain employees and keep them productive. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We’ve been in a tight labor market for several years. What does it look like now? Rick: It’s getting a little looser, but generally speaking, it’s still tight. It seems to be more industry-dependent, but overall, it’s still tight. There are some

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about taking part in the global economy. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We often hear about the need to take part in the global economy. How do you define the term “global economy?” Rick: The term global economy is redundant. All business is international now, all economy is global. You can’t isolate your economy. There are raw materials

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the pros and cons of outsourcing vs. hiring. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: One of the difficult decisions facing many small and medium-sized businesses is whether to hire a new employee for a specific task or to outsource it to a freelancer. What are some of the pros of outsourcing as opposed to hiring someone? Rick: Certainly,

As regular readers of this column know, I am returning to the classroom as a full-time faculty member this Fall Semester in August. In my first semester back in the classroom, I’ve been assigned two courses to teach. At the MBA level, I will be teaching a course in Strategic Management, while at the undergraduate level, I will be teaching a course in Operations and Supply Chain Management. While my most extensive academic training and experience have been in Operations and Supply Chain, I have taught Strategy in both MBA

The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens, a new book by Richard Haass, has been placed on my short list of recommended books. Let me explain why. “Bill of Obligations” makes a powerful point. Enshrined in our Constitution is a Bill of Rights but no bill of obligations. The author, Richard Haass, had a long and distinguished career in the federal government. He served in senior positions in the State Department and the White House. He worked closely with Presidents from both political parties. Richard Haass writes with authority about