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Chinese companies are reinventing management through an approach called “digitally enhanced directed autonomy” (DEDA). DEDA uses digital platforms to give frontline employees direct access to corporate resources and capabilities, allowing them to organize themselves around business opportunities without managerial intervention. Autonomy is directed where it is needed and tracked. By giving teams the freedom to design, produce, and sell their products, companies can foster innovation, increase employee engagement, and improve customer satisfaction. The authors use case studies to examine how Chinese companies utilize DEDA and how Western companies might learn from it.

Two sisters, Mia Boyan Lima, DMSB'25, and Sofia Boyan Lima, DMSB'28, co-founded a swimwear company together, “By Lima.” By Lima is a sustainable, affordable, high-quality swimsuit company.

“I was given case studies that emulated projects I would take on working in an accounting firm, allowing me to develop the practical and technical skills I would need after graduation. This experience provided me with practical knowledge that has made me more confident heading into my role at KPMG.” Says Ian Duffey, MS in Accounting'22

22 D'Amore-McKim students named to this year's Huntington 100 list.

“[My graduate co-op] allowed me to work within a startup while also learning to consult with larger private equity firms. I know the practical knowledge I gained through this hands-on experience will make me stronger in future consulting roles.” Says Priyanshi Shah, MS in Quantitative Finance'22

Shaan Arora, Khoury'23/DMSB'23, has created a software company that builds a loyalty program featured on small business websites.

For Amy Oh, DMSB'24, a business and psychology major, the chance to work for five months at Goldman Sachs “was a really rare opportunity I couldn't pass up.”

Luis Dau is the recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award and Northeastern's interdisciplinary sabbatical program, which allows professors to take up to two semesters to teach and research at a different college within the university system.

“When hiring companies see I have a Bloomberg Market Concept certification, they know I've done my homework and have the skills. This certification is an important asset for any company when hiring a team member, and it put me in a favorable position during my hiring process.” Says Kavan Pandit, MS in Quantitative Finance'22

In our globalized world, the ability to navigate cultural differences has become a critical skill. Paula Caligiuri's recent book provides a valuable framework for achieving this goal, by emphasizing the need to build cultural agility through social learning. Her Cultural Agility framework provides executives and managers with the tools needed to build trust, gain credibility, collaborate, and communicate across cultural boundaries. It is all the more important for managers of companies in and from emerging markets, who may be facing unique cultural barriers through foreign expansion.