Texas Enterprise sponsors and hosts events to bring the big ideas in business into the real world. Catch up on the presentations and take-aways from our special series of enlightening events, featuring faculty research from across the University of Texas at Austin campus.
Texas Enterprise Events
"With current and future government deficits that far outstrip tax proceeds, we are in for some previously considered unthinkable policies including wealth taxation. The possibilities will be considered." Dr. Lew Spellman's May 9, 2013 video will be posted soon.
With about 170 billion gigabytes of digital information being produced each year, it's no wonder we can’t keep up with all the data clamoring for our attention. UT School of Information Dean Andrew Dillon discusses how we got to this situation — and how to deal with it.
Most people consider happiness to be an important goal, yet many express a stronger desire for material possessions, power, and importance. Associate Professor of Marketing Raj Raghunathan researches the reasoning behind people’s tendency to chase the means to happiness rather than happiness itself.
Looking ahead to 2013, experts predict that the U.S. economy will continue to face plenty of challenges, health care reform will remain a crucial issue, technology will keep growing in China, and energy executives will push for more domestic oil production.
According to marketing professor Vijay Mahajan, the Arab world has a way of surprising visitors. Mahajan spent three years criss-crossing the region for his latest book, “The Arab World Unbound: Tapping into the Power of 350 Million Consumers.” Despite unsettling news headlines from the Middle East and North Africa, Mahajan wanted to see how corporations and consumers actually operate in the region.
With nearly half a million new cases diagnosed every year, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis is a major worldwide health concern. The disease is especially prevalent in areas where medical care is sparse, meaning it can take weeks to get back test results. Andrew Ellington, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, is developing new tests to detect the presence of tuberculosis and other diseases rapidly and inexpensively, even when the nearest hospital is miles away. The technology could ultimately push health care in a new direction that gives patients more control over their own medical decisions.
Explicit gender discrimination has largely been ferreted out of the American workplace, but several inequalities have persisted for generations. Women are still paid less than equally qualified men who hold the same positions. They are promoted less often, are less likely to reach top management positions, and have lower job satisfaction. Emily Amanatullah believes these inequalities may stem from deeply ingrained social norms that influence the ways in which men and women interact. Amanatullah, assistant professor of management at the McCombs School, researches these social dynamics in an effort to establish a more level playing field in professional settings.
Professor Scott Tinker warns that with energy demand poised to spike in developing nations like India and China, it's necessary to consider energy options on the criteria of being available, affordable, reliable, and green.
“We know algae that grow very aggressively and some that produce lots of oil,” said Brand, the professor of energy. “The trick is getting both — to produce a valuable product — quickly and economically at large scale.”
In addition to being a competitor and creditor, China could be America's most important customer, said management lecturer John Doggett during a Sept. 8 talk as part of the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.
History is replete with examples of brilliant ideas that weren't implemented because they weren't sold correctly. Even worse, the world is full of bad ideas that were successfully championed within their organization and got the green light (think New Coke, the Gap's short-lived new logo, China's Three Gorges Dam). A new book by John Daly offers tips about how to shape opinion, inspire action, and achieve results when advocating for an idea.
Bob Metcalfe draws lessons from the development of the Internet in looking to solve critical energy challenges. He recently spoke as part of the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series.
Recent high-profile cases of corporate malfeasance have heightened the debate about business ethics. As the roots of ethical behavior are investigated, findings show that morality is tied to psychology, self-image and the wiring of the human brain.
