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Defining Your Operating Model: Make IT a Strategic Asset by Developing a Clear Vision of the Role of IT
by Peter Weill Jeanne W. RossMany firms have not addressed the key question of how they want to profit and grow, and how IT can help create their platform. IT savvy firms, on the other hand, clarify what they are trying to do with IT by defining an operating model. In this chapter, Weil and Ross look at IT systems as tools for integration and standardization of business processes rather than an end solution. Using examples of companies like P&G, PepsiAmericas, and ING Direct, they categorize four operating models which can help you decipher how much or how little integration and standardization is needed to run your business smoothly. They also explain how multiple operating systems can work within various areas of your company to meet the needs of different departments. This chapter was originally published as chapter 2 of "IT Savvy: What Top Executives Must Know to Go from Pain to Gain."
Definitions, Concepts and Scope of Engineering Asset Management
by Kerry Brown Joe E. Amadi-Echendu Roger Willett Joseph MathewDefinitions, Concepts and Scope of Engineering Asset Management, the first volume in this new review series, seeks to minimise ambiguities in the subject matter. The ongoing effort to develop guidelines is shaping the future towards the creation of a body of knowledge for the management of engineered physical assets. Increasingly, industry practitioners are looking for strategies and tactics that can be applied to enhance the value-creating capacities of new and installed asset systems. The new knowledge-based economy paradigm provides imperatives to combine various disciplines, knowledge areas and skills for effective engineering asset management. This volume comprises selected papers from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd World Congresses on Engineering Asset Management, which were convened under the auspices of ISEAM in collaboration with a number of organisations, including CIEAM Australia, Asset Management Council Australia, BINDT UK, and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China. Definitions, Concepts and Scope of Engineering Asset Management will be of interest to researchers in engineering, innovation and technology management, as well as to managers, planners and policy-makers in both industry and government.
The Definitive Executive Assistant & Managerial Handbook: Leadership for PAs, Executive Assistants, Senior Administrators and Office Managers
by Sue FranceWINNER: PA Voice Awards 2015 - Best Book for a PA (1st edition) With the world of work profoundly disrupted by artificial intelligence, machine learning and COVID-19, the role of the executive assistant is changed forever. Learn how to respond to these challenges and help create 'the better normal' while developing the leadership skills necessary to thrive in a senior administrative position. From bestselling author and expert Sue France, The Definitive Executive Assistant & Managerial Handbook is the ultimate guide to management in the context of an administrative role. Placing an emphasis on both personal leadership and practical skills, this new edition of the award-winning book teaches readers to manage a team, develop the emotional intelligence to understand their colleagues, negotiate effectively and confidently manage a project. Equipped with these tools, readers will be ready to steer their teams to organizational success in any situation. With new sections on best practice for managing remote workers and building a responsible relationship with new technologies, The Definitive Executive & Managerial Handbook is an indispensable guide for both ambitious PAs aiming for promotion and senior assistants who want to improve their skills.
The Definitive Guide to Emergency Department Operational Improvement: Employing Lean Principles with Current ED Best Practices to Create the “No Wait” Department, Second Edition
by Jody Crane, MD, MBA Chuck Noon, PhDThis revised and updated book explores the academics behind managing the complex service environment that is the Emergency Department (ED) by combining applied management science and practical experiences to create a model of how to improve operations. This book offers a presentation of Lean tools used in the ED along with basic and advanced flow principles. It then shows how these concepts are applied and why they work, supported by case studies in which Lean principles were used to transform an underperforming ED into a world-class operation. After reviewing best practices, the authors explain how to achieve excellence by discussing the elements of creating a culture of change.
The Definitive Guide to IT Service Metrics
by Kurt Mcwhirter Ted GaughanIT service metrics: Manage them. Measure them. Make them work for you. Measuring success is crucial, but how do we do it? How can we be sure that the IT services we offer are adding real value to our business? Metrics are an invaluable tool for measuring the effectiveness of IT service provision. Used effectively, metrics enable businesses to assess performance in order to inform the decision-making process, drive change and realize improvements. They facilitate cost savings through economical use of finance and resources, and ensure that the services provided are appropriate - thereby strengthening customer loyalty. Based on ITIL(R) and other service management frameworks and standards Up-to-date, based on the ITIL(R) framework, as well as COBIT(R), ISO/IEC 20000, PMI(R) and ISO/IEC 27000, The Definitive Guide to IT Service Metrics will show you how to integrate metrics into your business and maximize their usage and effectiveness. You will learn what to consider when gathering and reporting information and how to secure and protect your company's metrics. Use metrics to benefit your IT department and the business as a whole Used just as they are, the metrics in this book will bring many benefits to both the IT department and the business as a whole. Details of the attributes of each metric are given, enabling you to make the right choices for your business. You may prefer and are encouraged to design and create your own metrics to bring even more value to your business - this book will show you how to do this, too. About the authors Kurt McWhirter is a recognized authority on using the ITIL(R) framework and has more than 30 years' experience in IT strategic planning, operations management, and enterprise process design and implementation. He is certified as an ITIL(R) Expert and ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant and is an accredited ITIL(R) Trainer. Ted Gaughan has more than 25 years' experience in business/technical strategic development, program/project management, and IT engineering and operations management. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP(R)), Process Design Engineer (CPDE(R)), ITIL(R) Expert, ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant and TIPAiE Lead Assessor. The definitive guide you can't afford to be without!
The Definitive Guide to IT Service Metrics
by Kurt Mcwhirter Ted GaughanIT service metrics: Manage them. Measure them. Make them work for you. Measuring success is crucial, but how do we do it? How can we be sure that the IT services we offer are adding real value to our business? Metrics are an invaluable tool for measuring the effectiveness of IT service provision. Used effectively, metrics enable businesses to assess performance in order to inform the decision-making process, drive change and realize improvements. They facilitate cost savings through economical use of finance and resources, and ensure that the services provided are appropriate - thereby strengthening customer loyalty. Based on ITIL(R) and other service management frameworks and standards Up-to-date, based on the ITIL(R) framework, as well as COBIT(R), ISO/IEC 20000, PMI(R) and ISO/IEC 27000, The Definitive Guide to IT Service Metrics will show you how to integrate metrics into your business and maximize their usage and effectiveness. You will learn what to consider when gathering and reporting information and how to secure and protect your company's metrics. Use metrics to benefit your IT department and the business as a whole Used just as they are, the metrics in this book will bring many benefits to both the IT department and the business as a whole. Details of the attributes of each metric are given, enabling you to make the right choices for your business. You may prefer and are encouraged to design and create your own metrics to bring even more value to your business - this book will show you how to do this, too. About the authors Kurt McWhirter is a recognized authority on using the ITIL(R) framework and has more than 30 years' experience in IT strategic planning, operations management, and enterprise process design and implementation. He is certified as an ITIL(R) Expert and ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant and is an accredited ITIL(R) Trainer. Ted Gaughan has more than 25 years' experience in business/technical strategic development, program/project management, and IT engineering and operations management. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP(R)), Process Design Engineer (CPDE(R)), ITIL(R) Expert, ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant and TIPAiE Lead Assessor. The definitive guide you can't afford to be without!
The Definitive Guide To Passing The Police Recruitment Process 2nd Edition: A handbook for prospective police officers, special constables and police community support officers
by John MctaggartEvery police force in England and Wales uses the same national application form and assessment centre. This book tells you not just about the process, but what you need to do to impress the assessors. Now in a revised new edition to reflect the recent changes in the six core skills by which all police applicants are assessed, it provides:
The Definitive Guide To Passing The Police Recruitment Process (2nd Edition): A handbook for prospective police officers, special constables and police community support officers
by John McTaggartThis book has been written with one very specific objective in mind. It aims to give you, the reader, an in-depth appreciation of the skills and abilities required to pass the police national recruitment tests, including the process for applying to be a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). <P><P>As you read through this book, you will see the approach is to explain in detail the reasoning and rationale behind each exercise, the mechanics of how each exercise works, and the various limitations that exist within the exercise itself – from the perspective of those who designed it. It is not about making you a better person, although if you follow the principles contained throughout, you may just end up that way! <P> In essence, this book is a ‘how to’ guide to passing the police recruitment system. It aims to give you the best chance of passing through the process successfully.
The Definitive Guide to Strategic Content Marketing: Perspectives, Issues, Challenges and Solutions
by Lazar Dzamic Justin KirbyMarketers everywhere are talking about content, but not everyone is saying the same thing. Some professionals love content and believe it has revolutionized the practice of marketing. To others, it's mere hype: a new name for what marketers have always done. The Definitive Guide to Strategic Content Marketing brings together all of these diverse perspectives, structuring them around useful key topics that provide insight into the multi-faceted nature of content marketing. The editors of The Definitive Guide to Strategic Content Marketing weave different voices together to present a balanced view of content marketing, grouping the discussion around relevant subjects such as content monetization, native advertising, visuals vs video, and the challenge of measuring results. This structure allows readers to move through the book according to their interests, and cherry-pick the most useful aspects of each discussion to apply to their own marketing initiatives. Containing contributions from, and interviews with, leading academics, industry experts, thought leaders and influencers, this book is a truly unique resource.
The Definitive Handbook of Business Continuity Management
by Andrew HilesWith a pedigree going back over ten years, The Definitive Handbook of Business Continuity Management can rightly claim to be a classic guide to business risk management and contingency planning, with a style that makes it accessible to all business managers. Some of the original underlying principles remain the same - but much has changed. This is reflected in this radically updated third edition, with exciting and helpful new content from new and innovative contributors and new case studies bringing the book right up to the minute.This book combines over 500 years of experience from leading Business Continuity experts of many countries. It is presented in an easy-to-follow format, explaining in detail the core BC activities incorporated in BS 25999, Business Continuity Guidelines, BS 25777 IT Disaster Recovery and other standards and in the body of knowledge common to the key business continuity institutes.Contributors from America, Asia Pacific, Europe, China, India and the Middle East provide a truly global perspective, bringing their own insights and approaches to the subject, sharing best practice from the four corners of the world.We explore and summarize the latest legislation, guidelines and standards impacting BC planning and management and explain their impact.The structured format, with many revealing case studies, examples and checklists, provides a clear roadmap, simplifying and de-mystifying business continuity processes for those new to its disciplines and providing a benchmark of current best practice for those more experienced practitioners.This book makes a massive contribution to the knowledge base of BC and risk management. It is essential reading for all business continuity, risk managers and auditors: none should be without it.
The Definitive Job Book
by Anne WatsonThere are few books available which cover the full job-searching, application, interview and negotiation process. The Definitive Job Book is just that - it covers every single aspect of job-hunting in seven chapters. Each chapter includes 'advice from the inside' interviews with HR and recruitment specialists and 'I've been there too' interviews with people who have successfully navigated the recruitment minefield. The Definitive Job Book Is an essential reference for anyone - from graduates starting out, to senior executives seeking a change - to the job-hunting process. You will need only THIS book to get the job of your dreams.
The Definitive Personal Assistant & Secretarial Handbook
by Sue FranceWritten by a former Times Crème PA of the Year, this new edition of The Definitive Personal Assistant and Secretarial Handbook is the ultimate guide for all management assistants, PAs, secretaries and executive assistants. Administrative personnel in today's workplace hold an immense influence, not only on their bosses' performance, but also on the running of the whole organisation. This best-selling book is the only resource needed to excel in one's role as an assistant, outshine bosses' expectations and go up the ladder. Placing special emphasis on career development and learning, it provides help and advice on the skills necessary to progress in your career. Along with a chapter to share with your boss for a more fruitful working relationship, it includes help with time management, networking, relationship management, communication and confidence. Now with a new chapter on how to use neuroscience tools to coach yourself through your weaknesses and primed behavioural traits, it also contains even more practical help with minute taking, telephone and mobile communication etiquette and presentation skills. With free downloadable online resources to aid the day-to-day running of your office, this comprehensive and accessible guide will help you keep your finger on the pulse and maintain your professional image.
Deflategate and the National Football League
by Marco Iansiti Christine SnivelyOn January 18, 2015, the New England Patriots faced the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. In the second quarter, a Colts player intercepted a pass from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Colts equipment personnel alerted NFL officials that the ball's air pressure was below the required 12.5 PSI (pounds per square inch). Some argued that lower PSI provided a competitive advantage as it made the ball easier to grip and harder to fumble. At halftime, game officials found the air pressure in 11 of the 12 Patriots game balls to be under 12.5 PSI. The NFL launched an investigation into what became known in the media as "Deflategate," and commissioned attorney Ted Wells to investigate whether or not the balls had been intentionally deflated. Wells' team, with expert consultants, examined air pressure data recorded by referees, the temperature on game day, the behavior of Patriots players, and other evidence. Did the Deflategate investigation reveal any actual evidence of cheating? Were there flaws in Wells' investigation?
Deflation
by Chris FarrellDeflation is one of the most feared terms in economics. It immediately conjures visions of abandoned farms and idle factories, streams of unemployed workers standing in breadlines. So when Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan started talking openly in 2003 about his fears of deflation, it sent waves of shock through the business press and the public. Many feared that the United States was entering a period of prolonged slump after a pronounced boom, much like Japan experienced throughout the 1990s. Others worried that a sustained fall in prices would have a cataclysmic impact on our nation's overhang of consumer debt. Yet another camp blamed low-wage manufacturing countries like China and high-volume retailers like Wal-Mart for becoming the engines of relentless deflation. In this important new book, Chris Farrell explains that deflation need not presage a collapse. In the process he gives a new way of looking at our economic and our financial futures. More than an introduction to the subject, Farrell points out that deflation has always been a fundamental aspect of the business cycle. For much of the 20th century, deflation had vanished from the economic scene, but its return is no cause for panic. Instead, properly understood, deflation presents opportunities and pitfalls in equal measure for businesses, corporations, the government, and our national economy.
Deflation and Fiscal Deficits: Three Questions About Japanese Economic Policy (SpringerBriefs in Economics)
by Yoshikiyo SakaiIn this study on the Japanese economy, the author focuses on three problems related to economic policy and presents their answers. The author analyzes (i) what mechanisms exist for fiscal policy and the price level, (ii) whether the MMT proposition that public deficits increase people’s wealth and savings fits into the standard macro model, and (iii) whether Blanchard's assertion that fiscal deficits are net wealth in the US economy can be applied to Japanese economy as well. The propositions of Sims’ FTPL, Kelton's MMT, Japan's Ricardian type argument, and the non-Ricardian type of government by Blanchard have been understood as independent economic perceptions, but they will be theoretically shown as a coherent story. Namely, this study presents a macroeconomic framework that includes the financial sector and derives Sims’ proposition that “fiscal policy can be the sole determinant of the price level.” It also shows that MMT's claim that "budget deficits increase our wealth and collective savings" can inevitably hold within this framework. Furthermore, it presents a model that consistently explains that public debt leads to financial collapse but contributes to economic welfare.
Deflation Determinants, Risks, and Policy Options
by Manmohan S. Kumar Taimur Baig Jörg Decressin Chris Faulkner-Macdonagh Tarhan Feyzio LuThis paper presents the findings of an IMF task force set up to investigate issues related to the causes and consequences of deflation, as well as the the risks in individual economies and on a global scale. It focuses on four aspects: an analytical framework regarding the measurement, determinants, and costs of deflation; historical experiences of deflationary pressures in the nineteenth century and during the Great Depression, along with the recent experience of Japan and China; risk assessment issues; and policy options available.
Deforming the Reform: The Impact of Elites on Romania’s Post-accession Europeanization (Contributions to Political Science)
by Luana Martin-RussuThis open access book presents an actor-centered study on Europeanization, based on the assumption that EU-driven reforms are highly dependent on the behavior and interests of the key domestic actors. Whether or not a state pursues a European and democratic agenda depends on domestic lawmakers. Further, political elites are pre-eminent in deciding on the nature, form and content of any law, and on the extent to which the rule of law is actually enforced. Elites can overcome structural or institutional barriers that stand in the way of achieving their goals. The empirical study on Romania presented here lends this observation a more profound meaning: it shows how, in contexts where high level corruption is the norm rather than the exception, self-serving political elites cannot be expected to genuinely commit to adopting sound anti-corruption reform. The book is an inquiry into the motivations that drive legislators to make particular decisions, but also into the structural characteristics and dynamics of the elite that invite a selfish rather than responsible and responsive behaviour.This publication was supported by funds from the Publication Fund for Open Access Monographs of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany.
Defusing Democracy
by Delia M. BoylanMany of today's new democracies are constrained by institutional forms designed by previous authoritarian rulers. In this timely and provocative study, Delia M. Boylan traces the emergence of these vestigial governance structures to strategic behavior by outgoing elites seeking to protect their interests from the vicissitudes of democratic rule. One important outgrowth of this political insulation strategy--and the empirical centerpiece of Boylan's analysis--is the existence of new, highly independent central banks in countries throughout the developing world. This represents a striking transformation, for not only does central bank autonomy remove a key aspect of economic decision making from democratic control; in practice it has also kept many of the would-be expansionist governments that hold power today from overturning the neoliberal policies favored by authoritarian predecessors. To illustrate these points,Defusing Democracytakes a fresh look at two transitional polities in Latin America--Chile and Mexico--where variation in the proximity of the democratic "threat" correspondingly yielded different levels of central bank autonomy. Boylan concludes by extending her analysis to institutional contexts beyond Latin America and to insulation strategies other than central bank autonomy. Defusing Democracywill be of interest to anyone--political scientists, economists, and policymakers alike--concerned about the genesis and consolidation of democracy around the globe. Delia M. Boylan is Assistant Professor, Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago.
Defying Displacement
by Anthony Oliver-SmithThe uprooting and displacement of people has long been among the hardships associated with development and modernity. Indeed, the circulation of commodities, currency, and labour in modern society necessitates both social and spatial mobility. However, the displacement and resettlement of millions of people each year by large-scale infrastructural projects raises serious questions about the democratic character of the development process. Although designed to spur economic growth, many of these projects leave local people struggling against serious impoverishment and gross violations of human rights. Working from a political-ecological perspective, Anthony Oliver-Smith offers the first book to document the fight against involuntary displacement and resettlement being waged by people and communities around the world. Increasingly over the last twenty-five years, the voices of people at the grass roots are being heard. People from many societies and cultures are taking action against development-forced displacement and resettlement (DFDR) and articulating alternatives. Taking the promise of democracy seriously, they are fighting not only for their place in the world, but also for their place at the negotiating table, where decisions affecting their well-being are made.
Defying Expectations: The Case of UFCW Local 401
by Jason FosterIn October 2005, Jason Foster, then a staff member of the Alberta Federation of Labour, was holding a picket line outside Lakeside Packers in Brooks, Alberta with the members of local 401. It was a first contract strike. And although the employees of the meat-packing plant—many of whom were immigrants and refugees—had chosen an unlikely partner in the United Food and Commercial Workers local, the newly formed alliance allowed the workers to stand their ground for a three-week strike that ended in the defeat of the notoriously anti-union company, Tyson Foods. It was but one example of a wide range of industries and occupations that local 401 organized over the last twenty years. In this study of UFCW 401, Foster investigates a union that has had remarkable success organizing a group of workers that North American unions often struggle to reach: immigrants, women, and youth. By examining not only the actions and behaviour of the local’s leadership and its members but also the narrative that accompanied the renewal of the union, Foster shows that both were essential components to legitimizing the leadership’s exercise of power and its unconventional organizing forces.
Defying Reality: The Inside Story of the Virtual Reality Revolution
by David M. EwaltA fascinating exploration of the history, development, and future of virtual reality, a technology with world-changing potential, written by award-winning journalist and author David Ewalt, stemming from his 2015 Forbes cover story about the Oculus Rift and its creator Palmer Luckey.You’ve heard about virtual reality, seen the new gadgets, and read about how VR will be the next big thing. But you probably haven’t yet realized the extent to which this technology will change the way we live. We used to be bound to a physical reality, but new immersive computer simulations allow us to escape our homes and bodies. Suddenly anyone can see what it’s like to stand on the peak of Mount Everest. A person who can’t walk can experience a marathon from the perspective of an Olympic champion. And why stop there? Become a dragon and fly through the universe. But it’s not only about spectacle. Virtual and augmented reality will impact nearly every aspect of our lives—commerce, medicine, politics—the applications are infinite. It may sound like science fiction, but this vision of the future drives billions of dollars in business and is a top priority for such companies as Facebook, Google, and Sony. Yet little is known about the history of these technologies. In Defying Reality, David M. Ewalt traces the story from ancient amphitheaters to Cold War military laboratories, through decades of hype and failure, to a nineteen-year-old video game aficionado who made the impossible possible. Ewalt looks at how businesses are already using this tech to revolutionize the world around us, and what we can expect in the future. Writing for a mainstream audience as well as for technology enthusiasts, Ewalt offers a unique perspective on VR. With firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, Defying Reality shows how virtual reality will change our work, our play, and the way we relate to one another.
Deglobalization: China-US Rivalry in the Innovation Economy (Routledge Studies in the Economics of Innovation)
by Jon-Arild JohannessenThe emerging conflict between the United States and China has an inherent tendency towards a development of deglobalization. It is the historical prerequisites for this deglobalization that are examined in this book. These assumptions are largely based on what is termed the second wave of globalization, based on increasing technological competition between the US and China, as well as China's expansion along the new Silk Road. In this book, the author makes a distinction between the Old Globalization and New Globalization. The Old Globalization was characterized by competition over costs in general and wage costs in particular, while the New Globalization is categorized by new competencies and skills, especially technological capabilities and technological innovations. The second wave, which is driven by technological innovations, lays the foundation for a counter-strategy on the part of the USA to stem the Chinese technological expansion. It is this new strategy that confines the second wave of globalization from China and lays the foundation for deglobalization. The book analyzes US-China relations from a fresh perspective, namely a systemic thinking approach. The focus is the emerging innovation economy which leads to tension and deglobalization. The book is grounded in evolutionary economics and uses conceptual generalization in its descriptions, analysis, theoretical reflections and real-world cases. The key message is that the economy of the future will be characterized by coordinated wave movements: economic growth mainly controlled by private capital alternating with economic downturns that necessitate collective solutions and government interventions. The book offers policy suggestions, which include promoting effective macroeconomic policies, and extending microeconomic cooperation schemes, related to the innovation economy.
Deglobalization and Alternative Futures
by Geoffrey G. Jones Valeria GiacominThis note reviews the evidence that the world is undergoing an era of de-globalization. It shows that available metrics show some support for this theory. However there is also evidence that what is happening might be better described as regionalization. The nature of globalization is also changing with digitalization and a de-linking of globalization and Americanization. The note continues by an examination of four factors which have slowed or else redefined global economic integration in recent years: terrorism, the global financial crisis of 2008/9, the growth of populism; and geopolitical rivalty between China and the United States. The note ends by outlining four alternative future scenarios. They are a return to globalization as known in the past; widespread national autarky as in the 1930s; intensified regionalization with each regional block anchored by a major economic power; and full-scale military conflict replicating the first half of the twentieth century.
Deglobalization, Financial Inequality, and the Green Economy (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)
by Fikret ČauševićOne of the most challenging issues for the current state of global economy is a highly uneven distribution of global financial assets and liabilities. Drawing on extensive data, this book analyses the new global divisions in economic and financial inequality across the globe in the first two decades of this century. After outlining the context of the global financial system in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/2009, this book provides a detailed examination of the data on economic and financial inequality, analysing growth rates relative to financial liabilities and assets for all countries where data is available. The central issues in understanding the financial and environmental efficiency of economic growth are also addressed as well as the development of financial and regulatory technologies (FinTech and RegTech). The final part of this book explores the changes in economic growth and financial assets/liabilities as a result of major events in the past three years: Covid Crisis, the rise of inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The focal point of this analysis is the relationship between the speed of economic growth, the use of financial resources for funding that growth and levels of inequality. The green transition, as one of the most important challenges in the global economy, is an integral part of this analysis, along with the inequality in available financial resources for this transition and potential threats to global financial stability. This book will be vital reading for those interested in inequality, financial economics, the global financial system and economic growth.
Degrees Of Inequality: Culture, Class, And Gender In American Higher Education
by Ann MullenDegrees of Inequality reveals the powerful patterns of social inequality in American higher education by analyzing how the social background of students shapes nearly every facet of the college experience. <p><p> Even as the most prestigious institutions claim to open their doors to students from diverse backgrounds, class disparities remain. Just two miles apart stand two institutions that represent the stark class contrast in American higher education. Yale, an elite Ivy League university, boasts accomplished alumni, including national and world leaders in business and politics. Southern Connecticut State University graduates mostly commuter students seeking credential degrees in fields with good job prospects. <p> Ann L. Mullen interviewed students from both universities and found that their college choices and experiences were strongly linked to social background and gender. Yale students, most having generations of family members with college degrees, are encouraged to approach their college years as an opportunity for intellectual and personal enrichment. Southern students, however, perceive a college degree as a path to a better career, and many work full- or part-time jobs to help fund their education. <p> Moving interviews with 100 students at the two institutions highlight how American higher education reinforces the same inequities it has been aiming to transcend.