Research Interests of Professor Maier:
Each of us has critical thoughts that occur in our minds on a continual basis. I’m certainly no exception. At the present time, the following "vignettes" are some brief ideas that appeal to me from multiple perspectives. The list is certainly not all encompassing nor is it final but just the beginning of madness in thought. And certainly, the list is not in any specific order but more of some random thoughts. By all means, if one of the below is appealing to you whether from an academic OR practitioner’s perspective, please feel free to contact me. True innovation and the implementation of ideas only come about when great thoughts are built upon.

Development of social capital in the creation of trusting relationships throughout a supply-chain.
Why is it that some organization’s are able to achieve superior supply-chain performance while others continue to struggle? The contention is that there is much more that occurs "backstage" (Goffman) where some supply-chain managers are able to develop a stronger relationship with their strategic partners. This is more than just "networking."

The macro-economic impact of an inventory "load": Are there any real benefits?
Many consumer goods corporations at their year end continue to "push" inventory on their customers. But to what end? Additional costs are expended on transportation, overtime, etc. Yet when the first quarter arrives, sales are stagnant since the stores still possess plenty of inventory from the year-end "load".  Is there a true financial gain to do so? Is this a matter of managing by a balance sheet vs. an income statement?

Wal-Mart’s impact on the supply-chain
Wal-Mart certainly is an extraordinary organization on multiple avenues. However, for many manufacturers, primarily small to mid-size firms, due to Wal-Mart’s size and power, they can either abide by Wal-Mart’s directives or not. Simple? Not really since many of them would close their doors. Does Wal-Mart push inventory from their warehouses to the manufacturers, where the manufacturer is forced to carry the increased inventory? If such is the case that inventory has not been removed from the supply-chain but only moved back, has Wal-Mart been that effective in improving the supply-chain? Or is it that Wal-Mart is forcing organizations to manage their business with precision and superior performance as they should?

American management thought: The development of a new paradigm.
We have our Founding Father’s and the development of an American Political Thought. But who are the great management leaders of American industry?

What Frederick Taylor was really trying to say: How democracy gave way to greed.

Other topics of interest include:
Globalization

Executive Compensation

Alternative fuels as a competitive advantage

The 3^rd airport in Will County: A reality or dream?

Transportation congestion and the changing nature of the industry, especially in Chicago