MAY 2013 ISSUE

Businesses hear the echo boom and go green

By ROD HISRCH

Merck’s decision to shut down its sprawling suburban campus alongside Route 78 in Hunterdon County in favor of the tighter confines of new corporate offices in downtown Summit has as much to do with the working habits and lifestyles of a younger, tech-savvy generation of workers as with bottom line operating costs.

Aligning business and education makes both more effective 

By MICHAEL DAIGLE

Turning an ocean freighter and setting a new course is difficult, especially one riding as low in the water as education, laden with decades of engrained teaching practices.

THE CANTERBURY SALES: The Problem of the roof, the kitchen and the bathroom

By ANDY GOLE

In assessing a sales opportunity, defining our competition too narrowly can lead to excessive optimism. We commonly look at generic competition – companies offering like-solutions – or close substitutes.

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Regus: Keeping businesses working in New Jersey

Tired of snarled traffic on the Turnpike and fed up with the never-ending road work on the Hudson River crossings, New Jersey business people have decided to stay put in New Jersey and work closer to home.

Inside Views: Tools

By JIM COYLE

We seem to have reached a turning point. Over the past months there has been a growing chorus of voices from all sides singing the praises and necessity of STEM education. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Where the Chamber Stands: Making Businesses Work Harder to Hire Helps No One

Imagine you are considering buying a house but are precluded from seeing the inside until you make a qualified offer. That is the idea behind a pending bill in the New Jersey Legislature called the New Jersey Opportunity to Compete Act, or the “Ban the Box” bill.

Insight: Pairing execution with vision delivers sustainable employment

By JERRY MASIN

Thomas Edison said “Vision without execution is hallucination." In the 21st century, businesses have learned to do more with fewer resources. They are more selective in their hiring practices and expect new employees to hit the ground running.

The future of the workplace

By JOYCE GIOIA

Imagine walking from your bedroom to your home office, sitting down at the computer and logging in by talking to your computer. You give it commands and it executes.

The work that you might do processing insurance claims people used to call “boring” but Sedgwick CMS found a way to automate the process, so your work is now more like playing a game. You’re beating yesterday’s scores and that feels good. Your boss is pleased with your performance and sends you a video message to “Keep up the good work!”

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