November 2006

Report Examines How Consumers View Products With Unlikely Attribute Combinations

When a new hybrid car is marketed as being fuel efficient and powerful, how does the consumer interpret these two attributes that seemingly contradict each other? A new report from Penn State's Smeal College of Business examines how consumers reconcile paradoxical product attributes and how far marketers can go in assigning unlikely attribute combinations and still have their products remain credible in consumers' eyes.

Penn State, Smeal Student Win Currency Trading Competition

A Smeal College of Business senior took first place in the undergraduate division of this year's Texas A&M Inter-University Forex Trading Competition, beating out about 100 students from 15 different North American universities.

New Faculty Member Joins Smeal, Others Honored

Penn State's Smeal College of Business recently hired a new chaired professor, while another faculty member was appointed to a named professorship and another was honored for teaching innovation.

Smeal Team Takes Third In Wall Street Journal Biz Quiz

A team of Smeal College of Business undergraduates took third place at the Fisher Biz Quiz National Challenge, held Nov. 4 at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business.

Study: Disclosure Of Advertising Tactics Reduces Odds Kids Will Drink

A new research report from Penn State's Smeal College of Business finds that modest in-school lessons revealing the goals and effects of alcohol advertising can reduce the likelihood that adolescents will drink.

Undergrad Competition Changes Name, Keeps Focus

The unique academic competition at Penn State's Smeal College of Business that for six years has had students responding on their feet to global business challenges has a new name: The Next CEO. The competition—formerly called Smeal Survivor—and the special preparation leading up to it remain the same as in previous years.

Op-Ed: Oil Prices Going To The Century Mark

Ever since the beginning of the oil industry, we have experienced dramatic rises and falls in the price of petroleum with oil prices fluctuating some 700 percent over the past two decades. The lower prices at the pump today will not last long; we can easily expect oil prices to rise to $100 a barrel over the next five years.

Smeal To Host Real Estate Lecture

Penn State's Smeal College of Business will host Joe Riggs, group president of K. Hovnanian Companies, as this year's speaker at the annual Advance Realty Group Real Estate Lecture. Riggs will discuss the diverse opportunities offered by the real estate industry and its importance in our nation's future.

Two Executive MBA Scholarships Available To Nonprofit Employees

The Penn State Smeal College of Business Executive MBA Program, which is held in Philadelphia and currently in its fifth year, is offering two $25,000 competitive scholarships to be awarded to two incoming students in the class of 2009 who are employees of nonprofit organizations.

Capstone Course Culminates With 'Corporate Exchange'

For most of the fall semester, the more than 700 Smeal College of Business students enrolled in the capstone course "Analyzing Business and Industry" have been managing a simulated business, competing for market share and profits in the $100 million electronic sensor industry.