Drones, Intuitive Sandwiches and the Future

SMITH BRAIN TRUST – When you envision the future of autonomous delivery, do you imagine an army of drones for every supermarket and corner store, waiting to be deployed to customers' homes? Noted futurist Oliver Schlake sees a better way. He sees a future where everyone has a drone.

Why GM Is Breaking Up with Europe

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — It was never an easy marriage. Now General Motors and its European operations are officially calling it quits, laying bare their incompatibilities and the difficulties of bridging the cultural divide.

12 Big Things That Will Shape Business in 2017

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — It's almost a new year, and across the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, some prognosticating has begun. We asked a group of professors to look ahead at the trends and developments we might see in the next 12 months. Here's what they said. 

Toy Craze in an Egg: Why the Hatchimal Is Hot

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Why do we want the things we can't have? In the toy market, especially in the holiday season, it's sometimes because demand just takes off like a flying reindeer, surprising Santa, and toy makers and everyone in between. We're referring, of course, to the Hatchimal, the small, furry, motorized creature that pecks its way out of its colorful plastic egg and sings "Happy Birthday." Store shelves and online retail s

Soft Skills Reign at Smith School Business Summit

Companies worried about disruption need science and technology to stay relevant in the 21st century, but speakers at the fifth annual Smith School Business Summit pointed to soft skills as the real competitive advantage. “If you get leadership, management and culture right, everything else takes care of itself,” keynote speaker David Williams told an audience of more than 300 faculty, staff, students and working professionals gathered Oct.

LEGO Sales Slip, But Toymaker Has a Plan

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Demand outstripping supply in North America prompted LEGO to curb promotional activities in the world’s biggest market for toys. First-half sales in 2016, reported on Tuesday, slipped to about $524 million from about $533 million last year.

Unraveling Pokémon Go’s Workplace Enigma

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — A Forbes survey last week revealed 69 percent of its respondents have played Pokémon Go during work hours.

Students Showcase Aromas of Entrepreneurship

Frozen desserts, spicy sauces and burrito-sized sushi rolls added flavor to a food entrepreneurship conference organized by undergraduate students on Nov. 16, 2015, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “This event is like a startup company that will last exactly three hours,” Smith School professor Oliver Schlake told the audience of about 200 guests at the school’s Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Md. “It’s a learning experience.”

Gamification: Why San Francisco Loves Airbnb

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — San Francisco voters had a chance Tuesday to kick Airbnb to the curb with a ballot measure designed to restrict short-term housing rentals.

Back to Top