BRYAN
Winter 2016
FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UNCG BRYAN SCHOOL
X-Culture competition upending
international business education­
companies around the world that are facing
pressing challenges, often related to entering
new markets. Through X-Culture, those companies receive creative, well-researched and
well-reasoned strategies for moving forward,
while competition winners can earn cash
prizes and even land consulting contracts
and full-time jobs. X-Culture has spun off
into symposiums and research projects. In
terms of scope and scale, there is nothing else
like it in international business education.
X-Culture has grown to include symposiums that
bring students together for networking and more.
In only five short years, what began as a
Bryan School faculty member’s idea for a
small class project has grown into X-Culture,
an intense business competition that involves
nearly 4,000 students from more than 100
universities in 40 countries. Impressive as
those numbers are founder Dr. Vas Taras
thinks the competition could have even more
far-reaching effects by changing the way
business problems are solved in the future.
The X-Culture competition is real world and
high stakes. Competition cases come from
X-Culture was created in 2010 when Taras,
then an assistant professor at UNCG,
thought it would be useful to partner with a
professor in another country so students at
both schools could work together virtually in
cross-cultural collaboration. Taras sent out
a call through the Academy of International
Business. What happened next was an early
sign of how rapidly X-Culture would develop:
Within an hour, Taras received dozens of
responses from professors around the world.
In that first go-round, about 400 students
from seven countries participated.
Here is how the competition works: Participants are put into teams of about seven
students, each residing in a different country.
Ways alumni can get involved
•D
oes your company have a business
challenge that would make a good case for
an X-Culture competition? X-Culture is particularly interested in projects with a strong
international focus, such as companies
seeking to expand into new markets.
•N
onstudent professionals are welcome to
participate in X-Culture competitions. Sign
up to test and augment your own skills or
encourage your employees to do so.
• Do you have ideas related to teamwork or
cross-cultural interactions that you would
like to study? X-Culture may be able to
assist you with data collection.
For more information, contact Dr. Vas Taras at
v_taras@uncg.edu or 336-256-8611.
continued on page 2
Vol. 3, Issue 1
CARS transforms
students’ passion
for fashion into
successful careers
It may be atypical but it is fitting that
UNCG’s Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies is part of the Bryan
School of Business and Economics:
Apparel is an enormous industry — and
enormously competitive.
“It’s a huge global industry, and we want
our graduates ready to enter it successfully.
We’re devoting more and more resources
to help them get a job in the industry that
many of them have loved since junior
high or high school,” says Dr. Nancy
Hodges, Burlington Industries Professor
and head of the CARS department. Many
CARS students chose UNCG specifically
for the CARS degree programs (bachelor
of science, master of science and PhD),
bringing with them a passion for textiles,
fashion and design. Since Hodges became
department head in 2013, one of her
priorities has been creating more professional development opportunities to help
students focus their passion and become
the experienced, nimble problem solvers
the apparel industry demands.
Recent CARS initiatives include Breakfasts with a Boss, in which small groups of
undergraduate students meet with
senior-level industry executives. An event
in November introduced students to Cotton Inc. CEO Berrye Worsham (’80 MBA).
Unlike many programs at other schools,
CARS requires that every undergraduate
Dr. James
S. Bolesinternship
student complete
a 300-hour
NCSI Director
continued on page 3
DEAN
X-Culture continued from cover
As I write this, we are a week past our
December commencement. As the names
of new graduates of the Bryan School
were called, they strode across the stage
to receive their diploma covers. By the
end, my right hand was swollen and my
right elbow was tired from shaking all
their hands.
I felt as if my face were frozen in a huge smile and my voice was hoarse
from my congratulatory remarks to each and every one. And I would not
change it, or miss it, for the world. What a joy to see the students with
their big smiles, decorated mortarboards, and variously colored stoles
and cords denoting honors and accomplishments. What a joy to hear their
grateful comments, and the cheers and applause from family and friends.
Congratulations and best wishes to our recent graduates as you take your
places as exceptional problem solvers in a wide variety of organizations.
Please keep in touch and share your stories of how you are making a
difference.
During that same week, several colleagues and I had the opportunity
to engage in and view interviews with incoming first-year students for
academic scholarships. These were early applicants to UNCG who had been
selected by the Office of Admissions on the basis of grades, test scores,
class rank and an optional essay. Credentials for 52 applicants were sent
to the Bryan School, and we invited all of them to participate in a Webbased interview. Of those, we made scholarship offers to 19! To put this
in perspective, typically we offer to nine or ten. The increased number
resulted from a variety of factors: a larger pool with even better academic
qualifications than in the past, increased interest in being considered by
the Bryan School, some great interview performances by students, and the
generosity of our alumni and friends. What a joy to write and tell each of the
19 students we were offering them a scholarship. Of course, it does not end
there.
The Bryan School, through the generosity of our alumni and friends,
awards 165 scholarships each year (including renewals of previous awards)
worth approximately $465,000 annually. Some are based exclusively on
merit, such as those above; others are based exclusively on need and are
awarded on our behalf by the Office of Financial Aid. Many are based
on a combination of merit and need. We appreciate the generosity and
support of all those who have endowed or otherwise committed funding for
scholarships, but with roughly 3,500 students enrolled in the Bryan School,
we always can use more. Please let us know if you wish to discuss making a
scholarship commitment.
By the time you read this newsletter, we will be into the new calendar year. I
know it will bring new challenges and joys to us in the Bryan School. I hope
2016 is good to you. Please let us know how we can help.
McRae C. Banks II
Margaret & Harrell Hill Distinguished Professor & Dean
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The teams communicate online using the same tools
their corporate counterparts use, such as email, Skype,
Facebook, Dropbox and Google Docs. A number of
companies submit their real-life international business
challenges, and each team chooses one. “One of our
recent projects was for an Italian shoe company that
wanted to expand into new markets. One team not only
developed a new market-entry plan, but even found a
store in the U.S. that offered a distribution contract for
the company,” Taras says. “Those students proved there
was a viable market. They got that experience of landing
a real contract for the company.” Throughout the twomonth process leading up to the final project, teams face
weekly deadlines and, at the end, students are evaluated
on more than 100 performance dimensions.
In 2012, X-Culture began allowing nonstudent professionals to participate. Some like simply to challenge themselves; others use it as a way to demonstrate their own
capabilities as they seek new roles. These professionals
bring more diversity to the teams — and diversity is a driv-
In terms of scope and scale,
there is nothing else like it in
international business education.
ing force of X-Culture. Organizers consider participants’
cultures, backgrounds, genders and other factors when
creating teams; similarly, company challenges are selected
to ensure they represent a wide variety of industries, corporate structures, geographic locations and more.
Three years ago, X-Culture added an annual symposium
for top X-Culture participants. It was held in Savannah,
Georgia, this year, in conjunction with the Academy
of International Business and sponsored by big-name
companies such as Mercedes-Benz, JCB, Louis Vuitton
and Home Depot. International symposiums are being
added. First up: Greece in 2016 and then possibly India.
Early on, Taras realized that, with its strong participation
around the globe, X-Culture could help researchers study
how people function in teams, and research has become
a key focus. Now Taras and his colleagues are using
X-Culture to study whether crowdsourcing could shake up
the business consulting model — much the way Wikipedia
changed the way encyclopedias are written and edited.
“We’re testing different models of managing crowds to
see if crowdsourced solutions are as good or better than
solutions developed by professionals,” Taras says. “If our
theory is correct — and initial results already are encouraging — crowds of amateurs can consistently outperform
experts if they have basic skills and are given necessary
information.” Taras imagines a future when crowds can
aid — or possibly even replace — experts in a number of
industries, including business consulting.
CARS continued from cover
Honoring 40 Under Forty
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY LEADERS
Join us in celebrating 40
“superheroes” who are on
the fast track to success
in their business and
community endeavors at
the annual 40 Under Forty
Awards Ceremony and
Reception on Feb. 18.
UNCG’s Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies is one
of only a few such programs that are part of a business school.
The Bryan School is
proud to be a presenting
sponsor of the evening for
the seventh year. The 40
Under Forty ceremony — a Dean McRae C. Banks II congratulates
must-attend event for proJacqueline McCracken (‘09) during
fessionals in the Piedmont
the 2014 event.
Triad — celebrates and
honors leaders who already are significantly impacting their companies and communities and who will be difference makers for years
to come. The annual 40 Under Forty list is published annually by
the Triad Business Journal. Not surprisingly given the success of its
graduates, Bryan School alumni frequently are among the winners.
at an approved employer, often a company with operations in the
Piedmont Triad such as VF Corp., HanesBrands and Polo/Ralph
Lauren, but also employers in fashion hubs such as New York, Los
Angeles, London or Hong Kong. (Master’s degree candidates are
encouraged to do internships, as well.) This year, CARS launched
the Internship Poster Competition, in which undergraduates created posters representing their internship experiences. Faculty chose
the top ten and those students moved onto a second round in which
they gave a three-minute “elevator speech” about their internship to
industry judges and participated in a question-and-answer session.
Prizes were given to the top three winners.
This year’s event will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18
at UNCG’S Elliott University Center. Tickets are $50 and can be
purchased by calling the Triad Business Journal at 336-370-2906.
We look forward to seeing you!
CARS is able to offer students many of these experiences because of
close, long-cultivated relationships with major companies throughout the apparel industry. Senior-level executives of many of those
companies serve on the CARS Industry Advisory Board. Board
members provide internships and professional development opportunities, serve as guest lecturers, participate in networking events,
and offer input to faculty members to ensure the CARS curriculum
remains relevant and cutting-edge.
RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE
“One of the strengths of our department and our faculty is our outward-looking focus,” Hodges says. “We are always asking, ‘How can
we build real-world experiences into the curriculum?’ and working
with companies to enrich students’ education and networking
opportunities.” A typical event is the upcoming third annual CARS
Industry Summit. The focus this year is on product innovation. It
will be hosted by VF Jeanswear and will include a case competition in which teams of undergraduates have 24 hours to complete
research before presenting their final project to VF judges.
BRYAN SCHOOL AMONG TOP ONE PERCENT OF BUSINESS SCHOOLS
With AACSB International
accreditation in both business
and accounting, the Bryan School
is among the top one percent of
business schools in the world —
an elite group indeed.
As an organization dedicated to
advancing management
education worldwide, AACSB International accredits only
the best business schools. In fact, only 3% of business schools
worldwide hold AACSB accreditation.
That case competition and the poster contest dovetail with another
of Hodges’ goals: “I’ve been pushing to foster more of a competitive
spirit among our students and being part of the business school
helps.”
CARS readies for centennial — and you can help
Our dual accreditation is confirmation of the rigorous education
we offer our students and assurance to our alumni, corporate
recruiters and community partners of the value of a Bryan
School degree.
The Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies is
preparing to mark its 100th birthday. CARS invites alumni to
be involved in both the planning and the celebration. If you
are interested, email the CARS office at cars@uncg.edu
or Dr. Nancy Hodges at nancy_hodges@uncg.edu or call
336-334-5250.
The AACSB accreditation bar is set high, and the Bryan
School clears it — twice
3
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HIGHLY RANKED FOR A REASON
Most Full-Time Female
MBA Students
(U.S. News & World Report,
2015-2016)
Online MSITM Program
in the U.S.
(U.S. News & World Report,
2015)
Best Value Online Undergraduate
Business Schools of 2015
(Value Colleges,
2015-2016)
The Bryan School is honored each time one of its programs or accomplishments
is recognized by a ranking organization. Indeed, we appear on numerous “top”
and “best” lists. But it is not about the numbers. It is about the excellence behind
those numbers: the rigor and selectivity of our programs and the quality of our
faculty, staff and students as we produce principled leaders and exceptional
problem solvers ready to meet the business challenges of today and tomorrow.
These recent rankings indicate the breadth and depth of our success.
MISSION STATEMENT
In the Bryan School of Business &
Economics, we create and disseminate
knowledge about the theory and practice
of business. In addition to our courses
and research, we accomplish this through
hands-on projects, global experiences,
and outreach to the community. Our
work produces principled leaders and
exceptional problem solvers who have
a global perspective, an innovative
mindset, a broad understanding of
sustainability, and a commitment to
improve the organizations in which
they work and the communities
in which they live.
Innovation
•Connected!
Ethics
Globalization
DON’T LOSE TOUCH WITH THE BRYAN SCHOOL AND UNCG!
UNCG will keep the university email account you used as a student active for six
months after your graduation. To receive a UNCG-connected email address that
you can use for as long as you’d like, please visit alumni.uncg.edu.
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