CompassBank-Knowledge@Wharton

12 Nov - 25 Nov



	The G-20 Economic Summit: More Symbolic than Substantive? It seems sensible: Bring leaders of the 20 largest economies together to discuss a coordinated plan for dealing with the world financial crisis. But the upcoming G-20 Economic Summit in Washington, D.C., has some commentators wondering what can be accomplished with so little preparation time, while others express concern about the formation of any new regulations when the causes of the crisis are still not thoroughly understood. Wharton faculty and other experts discuss some potential outcomes of the November 15 gathering.

	Hedging Their Bets: How Hedge Funds Can Curb Critics and Avoid Regulation Hedge fund managers oversee $1.9 trillion in assets, but no one knows what they invest in or even what those assets are actually worth. That's because hedge funds are not regulated and consequently aren't required to make the same detailed financial disclosures that are required of publicly traded companies. The combination of potentially huge financial rewards and lack of transparency may foster ethical lapses, Wharton professor Thomas Donaldson noted during a recent talk on hedge fund ethics. His solution? An approach he calls a "microsocial contract."

	Women Executives on Work/Life Balance: Flexibility, Networks, Outside Interests A panel of successful women acknowledged that striking a perfect balance between work and personal life is rarely possible for a first-year associate on Wall Street, but they also agreed that balance is achievable over time if the right priorities are established. Executives from Wachovia Securities, JP Morgan, Goldenridge Capital, Morgan Stanley and UBS offered anecdotes and advice at a recent Wharton Women in Business Conference.

	For Airlines and Others, Even the Best Fuel-price Bets Can Lead to Turbulence No one can accurately forecast what the price of oil will be in three days, much less three months, a fact that has played havoc this year with the finances of airlines and other industries that need a steady supply of fuel. For such firms, locking in prices when they seem to be at their lowest represents a high-stakes gamble.

	Luxury Brands: Marketing the Upscale During a Downturn Chasing aspirational 16-year-olds and new money in emerging markets is "out," while pampering the wealthiest and most loyal customers is "in," according to luxury retailers at the recent Wharton Marketing Conference. Said one panelist: "The core for a luxury brand is a customer with very considerable wealth."

	Job Survival Advice: Don't Fear the Whitewater Change is the new status-quo, and success at work will require agility, talent and the ability to learn from -- rather than fear -- failure, according to Gregory Shea, adjunct professor of management at Wharton, and business writer Robert Gunther. The two recently co-authored a book titled, Your Job Survival Guide, a Manual for Thriving in Change.

	Why an Economic Crisis Could Be the Right Time for Companies to Engage in 'Disruptive Innovation' While globalization has witnessed the decline of U.S. dominance in manufacturing, energy and even finance, one thing had long been presumed unassailable: a willingness to engage in transformative, or "disruptive," innovation. But with the economy in a tailspin, will business, government and academia shy away from the risk-taking and short-term costs that come with the territory of innovating? Wharton faculty and practitioners offer their views on why companies these days should be more interested than ever in trying out radical new ideas.