- September 8, 2010
- 12:03 pm
- Mary Ann McGrath
- no comments
Autumn Reawakening
Hi, everyone.
My name is Mary Ann McGrath, and I am a Professor of Marketing at Loyola University Chicago. This is the first edition of my blog, which is about Marketing in general, and specifics and the occasional curiosities of Consumer Behavior, which is my area of expertise.
I have recently returned to the U.S. after spending two years living and teaching in China, so global business issues and the reentry shock of returning expatriates are also subjects close to my heart and in my immediate vision. I do not have a name for my blog as yet, so I invite suggestions from readers. My hope is to name it by the end of September.
Ah, September. As the calendar year wanes, students and the academic community experience a reawakening. “New” is the focal concept and applies to wardrobe items, computers, folders, pens, books, and eventually to courses, group members, theories, ideas and discussion items. Reading “for fun” is replaced with reading to keep up with the syllabus. But what should be learned?
Professor N. Gregory Mankiw of Harvard wrote an intriguing list of suggested courses “for the game of life.”
- Economics: He is an economist, so this is expected. But he makes some important points about being about to understand the effect of external forces, learning rigorous analytic skills, and, perhaps most tellingly, avoiding being fooled by economists.
- Statistics: With the reams of data available in our modern computer age, this course allows you to see the limits of number crunching and realize why best case and worst case estimates and scenarios rarely happen.
- Finance: We are in charge of our own financial situation and future, and need to be prepared to make difficult, complicated and appropriate decisions.
- Psychology: In Business School, this falls under the auspices of Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Management. Professor Mankiw wisely suggests that such study “reveals flaws in human rationality, including your own.” I would add that these topics also provide you with some strategies to deal with the endearing and maddening aspects of our own humanity.
Hmmm, the above closely resembles the curriculum we espouse in the School of Business. So if you are not currently in school, your autumn reawakening may include assessing whether it is time to complete your undergraduate degree or return to graduate school for an MBA or a specialized Masters in Marketing, Finance, Human Resources or Information Systems. If you are in school, it is time to download your syllabi and crack open those new textbooks.