Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va., American Trends column.

Byline: Gary Robertson

Nov. 6--COMPANIES GIVE PROMOTIONS FOR THE SAME JOB DUTIES: A promotion is . . . ?

That may be what a lot of executives are asking themselves these days, according to a new study by Korn/Ferry International.

Nearly half of the executives surveyed who were recently promoted said they had virtually the same duties as they had before. But Korn/Ferry says companies are willing to give promotions -- even for the same work -- to try to keep top talent.

Many companies also are busy at work dreaming up new titles for their executives.

CFO.com, which primarily serves chief financial officers, says the oddest titles …