March 2020
Leadership
Take 5: What Business Leaders Can Learn from the World of Sports
Specialists and scrappy underdogs can be just as indispensable in the office as they are on the playing field.
Organizations
Is Your Company’s Code of Conduct Encouraging … Misconduct?
Using words like “we” and “us” can signal to employees that they won’t be severely punished.
Finance & Accounting
Yes, Investors Care About Gender Diversity
By recruiting more women, tech and finance companies stand to add millions to their stock value.
Finance & Accounting
How to Pick a Loser
A hedge-fund manager explains what most traders get wrong about short selling and when to go long on a diamond in the rough.
Finance & Accounting
Why Financial-Market Pioneer Richard Sandor Is Building “the Most Boring Benchmark in America”
A conversation with the creator of AMERIBOR about interest-rate benchmarks in a post-LIBOR world.
Entrepreneurship
Is Your Company Culture on Autopilot?
Three tips for guiding your business through rapid growth.
February 2020
Innovation
Podcast: When AI Leaves the Lab
AI is now being used to serve customers. On this episode of The Insightful leader, we discuss trends and potential pitfalls that should be on companies’ radars.
Operations
Podcast: The (Surprisingly Muddy) Case for Transparency
Economists prize sharing information. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we ask if that’s always the right move.
Organizations
Why Anger Gets in the Way of Employee Activism
Moral outrage can be a powerful recruiting tool for social causes. But a different tactic is needed to motivate insiders.
Careers
Take 5: The Upside of Failure
A look at the surprising benefits of striking out, and how to make the most of your mistakes.
Organizations
Are You Giving All of Your Employees an Equal Chance to Succeed?
Make sure your organization is truly inclusive by following these three steps.
Operations
As Supply Chains Move Faster, Businesses Have an Opportunity to Cut Shipping Costs
How companies can make the most out of information gleaned during the delivery window.
Strategy
How to Design Financial Incentives in Professions That Are Highly Territorial
A study of doctors shows that the best incentive schemes harness a desire to expand and protect professional turf.
Marketing
How B2B Companies Can Up Their Customer Experience Game
Most companies focus on their own sales targets. They should be focusing on their clients’.
Organizations
Why Companies Shouldn’t Necessarily Fear Higher Employee Turnover
In private equity, team stability has long been prized. But new research shows that higher turnover leads to better performance.
Organizations
Do Manager Training Programs Boost Companies’ Productivity?
The answer has been surprisingly elusive. A new study tackles the question, and highlights the outsized value of HR training.
January 2020
Leadership
Podcast: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful
Forget the “feedback sandwich.” On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we’ll tell you how to up your game.
Leadership
Podcast: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn when you should—and shouldn’t—give your team room to fail.
Entrepreneurship
5 Tips for Pitching Your Startup to Investors
“Make your first 30 seconds count,” and other advice from a seasoned venture capitalist.
Careers
Take 5: How to Start Off Strong
Tips for plotting your first move, whether you’re negotiating a deal, paying off debt, or starting your workday.
Organizations
The Psychology Behind Conflict—and When It Can Be Harnessed for Good
A conversation about the role conflict plays in organizations and communities.
Organizations
Your Work Friends and Enemies Are Affecting Your Performance
A look at social triangles among day traders shows that profits increased under certain combinations of friend and foe.
Healthcare
Do Doctors Who Supervise Residents Spend Less Time with Patients?
Data from two ERs suggest that patients at teaching hospitals aren’t losing out on face time with senior physicians.
Finance & Accounting
Predicting Exchange Rates Is Hard. Could Dusting Off an Old Technique Help?
Investors take note: the “real exchange rate” may be a more accurate long-term forecaster than economists thought.
Finance & Accounting
How a Cash Crunch in India Led to the Widespread Adoption of E-Pay Technology
The rapid spread of a fintech app offers lessons for companies and policymakers.
Operations
How a Change to Food Inspectors’ Schedules Can Make Our Food Safer
Yes, they try to be objective. But seemingly small quirks in their schedules can affect their judgment.
December 2019
Careers
Podcast: When Teams Mess Up, Who Takes the Fall?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: how to make sure you’re not blaming the wrong person.
Organizations
How One Colorado Tech Firm Is Helping to Shape the Cannabis Industry
The key has been serving growers and retailers—as well as regulators.
Marketing
Take 5: How to Be a Savvy Holiday Shopper
Kellogg researchers explain the psychology of consumer decision-making.
Organizations
Podcast: How You Should Divvy Up Work between People and Machines
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: strategies for building a happier, more productive workplace.
Social Impact
Which Charity Will Do the Most Good with Your Donation? This Simple Tool Can Tell You.
Step one: choose a cause you care about. Step two: find out who’s having the most impact per dollar. Step three: donate with confidence.
Data Analytics
How Companies Can Mine Online Reviews for Product-Development Gold
The right techniques can uncover valuable insights in user-generated content.
Economics
Two Ways the Economy Could Have Recovered Faster after the Great Recession
Doubling down on these monetary policies could help combat future financial crises.
Operations
A Simple Way to Make Your Customers More Satisfied with Their Deliveries
Hint: It comes down to when you send status updates.
Economics
What’s Causing Wage Stagnation in America?
Previous explanations pointed to globalization and automation. But research shows that employer concentration is also to blame.
Leadership
Why Your Next Brainstorm Should Begin with an Embarrassing Story
This counterintuitive exercise can spark creativity.
November 2019
Careers
Podcast: Be Bold and Get What You Want
Done playing it safe? On this episode of The Insightful Leader, a three-time CEO offers advice on how to make difficult requests.
Leadership
Building Great Teams
Assembling and managing successful teams is a core leadership skill, whether you are convening a temporary task force, managing a full department, or running a school fundraiser.
Leadership
Podcast: Can a Little Embarrassment Make Your Team More Creative?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: new research suggests an unusual icebreaker to try at your next brainstorming session.
Policy
Dozens of New Terrorist Organizations Emerge Each Year. Which Ones Will Become Most Dangerous?
A new tool gets at the answer using the same techniques that investors use to evaluate startups.
Marketing
Entrepreneurs, Don’t Let Branding Become an Afterthought
Start defining your brand strategy on day one. Your future self will thank you.
Organizations
Why You Should Skip the Easy Wins and Tackle the Hard Task First
New research shows that you and your organization lose out when you procrastinate on the difficult stuff.
Careers
Take 5: How to Be Prepared for Important Career Moments
Expert advice on getting ready to network, negotiate, or make your case to the CEO.
Leadership
How Business Leaders Can Prepare for a Cyberattack
The former head of U.S. Cyber Command explains why any company can be a target.
Organizations
In an Era of Easy Outrage, When Should Brands Take a Stand?
A Kellogg professor explains how companies can navigate boycotts while staying connected with customers.
Economics
How Dodd-Frank Made Commercial Mortgage Loans Safer
The financial reform bill increased the cost of certain loans, but lowered the risk of default.
Economics
India’s Economy Is Slowing Down. What Happens Next?
The country’s chief economic advisor discusses how labor, trade, and energy factor into the country’s economic outlook.
Economics
How Raising the Sales Tax Could Help Fight a Recession
New research points to a counterintuitive new tool to spur spending.
October 2019
Marketing
Stories Can Be Powerful Persuasive Tools. But It’s Important to Understand When They Can Backfire.
New research reveals why sometimes sticking to the facts is your best bet.
Healthcare
Would "Medicare for All" Really Reduce Healthcare Costs in the U.S.?
Single payer drives significant savings in countries like Canada. But new research suggests it might play out differently in the U.S.
Economics
Companies Are Shifting Investment Away from Physical Capital, with Far-Reaching Consequences
Buildings and machinery are out. Software, IP, and research are in. Here’s why it matters.
Marketing
It’s Time to Radically Rethink the Customer Experience. Here’s How to Get Started.
To provide millions of personalized interactions, organizations will need to lean heavily on automation and AI.
Organizations
How to Create a Human-Friendly Workplace in an Age of Automation
Three ways humans and machines can work together—to the benefit of organizations and their employees.
Careers
Take 5: The Case for Being More Authentic at Work
When done thoughtfully, authenticity can make for more confident, ethical leaders. Here’s how to ensure you’re being your true self.
Careers
Early Career Failures Can Make You Stronger in the Long Run
A study of young scientists who were denied grants provides a striking example of why you should never give up.
September 2019
Finance & Accounting
Is Maximizing Shareholder Value a Thing of the Past?
Top CEOs recently “redefined” the purpose of a corporation. Kellogg faculty weigh in.
Marketing
First Impressions Matter for Groups, Too
Labeling something or someone as “first” can have a dramatic effect on our perceptions of those who follow.
Careers
Take 5: What Business Leaders Can Learn from the Military
Army colonels share advice on recruiting millennials, managing up, and keeping the broader mission in mind.
Marketing
Is Your Digital-Advertising Strategy Paying Off?
Brands are demanding evidence that campaigns are working. Here’s what they should be asking.
Economics
Daughters’ Math Scores Suffer When They Grow Up in a Family That’s Biased Towards Sons
Parents, your children are taking their cues about gender roles from you.
Careers
Nobel Prize Winners—They’re Just Like Us!
The career paths of these elite scientists are surprisingly similar to those of their less accomplished peers.
Marketing
Too Many Options? Here’s a Data Visualization Technique That Can Lead to Better Decisions.
It’s a surprisingly simple way to thwart our irrational impulses.
Economics
Some High-Frequency Trading Strategies Can Damage the Stock Market’s Health
But a small tweak to how trading orders are processed could help.
Careers
How to Get the Ear of Your CEO—And What to Say When You Have It
Every interaction with the top boss is an audition for senior leadership.
Social Impact
What’s Keeping Corporate Boards from Becoming More Diverse
And what leaders can do to change that.
August 2019
Policy
Why Antitrust Regulators Don’t Scare Big Tech
A business law expert explains why the market is more likely than the government to rein in Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google.
Policy
The Business Case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Two economists propose a bipartisan immigration overhaul, with an eye towards the future of the labor force.
Politics & Elections
When People Think Their Neighbors Support Trump, They’re More Likely to Express Anti-immigrant Views
Social norms are powerful—but fluid. A study of the 2016 election shows how they can change.
Careers
Ready to Reenter the Workforce? Read This First.
Four suggestions for transitioning back to work after a long break.
Leadership
Need to Make a Critical Decision? Here’s How to Ensure You Have the Right Intel.
A former Army colonel shares four steps leaders can take to get the information they need when they need it.
Take 5: What You May Not Know about Advertising
Research reveals how ads can affect shopping behavior, elections, and even our health.
Finance & Accounting
The Groucho Marx Theory of Efficient Markets
A finance professor argues that markets remain efficient only if enough people believe they are not.
Marketing
How Anger Can Help Us Make Better Decisions
Yes, you read that right: Sometimes being mad helps you focus on what you want.
Organizations
Numeric Performance Reviews Can Be Biased Against Women
The ten-point scale favors men in some situations. But a simple change to the rating system can level the playing field.
Organizations
What Makes a Corporate Board Member Most Influential?
New research explores what it takes for directors to drive big-picture strategic change at a company.
Economics
China Weathered the Global Recession with an Aggressive Stimulus Package. But Did It Prop Up the Wrong Firms?
A cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of credit expansion.
July 2019
Innovation
The Appeal of Handmade in an Era of Automation
This excerpt from the book “The Power of Human” explains why we continue to equate human effort with value.
Podcast: What Leaders Can Do to Build Trust Quickly
Lessons from Kellogg’s interim dean on establishing credibility, encouraging criticism, and empowering your team.
Leadership
How to Establish Yourself as an Interim Leader
Kathleen Hagerty reflects back on her year as interim dean of the Kellogg School.
Innovation
Artificial Intelligence Is Improving How Companies Do Business
Here are four of the most significant trends.
Strategy
Take 5: How to Increase Your Office's Productivity
Research-backed tips for improving workflows and discouraging slacking.
Economics
Should Antitrust Laws Really Be Changed, or Should We Just Enforce the Laws We Have?
A presidential assassination brought the trust-busting Teddy Roosevelt to power. The episode offers lessons for today’s antitrust regulators.
Policy
Do Soda Taxes Work? It’s Complicated.
A look at the Philadelphia soda tax shows that it had some benefits—but it didn’t stop people from buying sugary drinks.
Policy
We’re at a Data Privacy Crossroads. Where Do We Go From Here?
What individuals, regulators, and companies need to consider as we live more of our lives online.
Leadership
4 Steps to Becoming a More Self-Aware Leader
Here’s how to hone your emotional intelligence to benefit your team and your career.
Politics & Elections
Are Voters Biased Against Female Politicians?
In many cases, no. But economic anxiety can ignite powerful gender stereotypes.
Organizations
How Family Businesses Can Adapt for the Next Generation
Five tips for staying relevant—and successful—as an “enterprising family.”
Innovation
AI and the Social Sciences Used to Talk More. Now They’ve Drifted Apart.
Research shows that the gap between these disciplines is growing, which could make it harder to address social and ethical problems.
Organizations
Most Employees Retaliate If They're Slighted at Work
Here’s how managers can break the cycle of office conflict.
June 2019
Policy
Do High Local Taxes Really Hurt Economic Growth?
Corporate incentives and low tax rates are supposed to make a city more business-friendly. An economist explains why that’s often not the case.
Marketing
Take 5: The Psychology of Healthy Eating
Opting for a salad instead of a steak can be hard. Research from Kellogg can help.
Leadership
For Teams, What Matters More: Raw Talent or a History of Success Together?
A study of professional sports teams suggests that one factor is clearly more important, but the best teams combine them both.
Economics
A Nation’s Wealth May Depend on How Much Its Workers Can Learn on the Job
New research suggests that formal schooling is not the panacea to global inequality that many have long believed it to be.
Organizations
Could Bringing Your "Whole Self" to Work Curb Unethical Behavior?
Organizations would be wise to help employees avoid compartmentalizing their personal and professional identities.
Politics & Elections
One Nation Invades Another. What Will Happen Next?
Game theory reveals why some conflicts escalate and others don’t.
Marketing
How to Create a Brand Name That Works
Tide. Peloton. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. The best names share four traits, according to an excerpt from Kellogg on Branding in a Hyperconnected World.
Entrepreneurship
Uber and Airbnb Outpaced Regulators by Becoming Indispensable. Parking App Haystack Met a Very Different Fate.
The startup had a popular business model and positive press. Its founder explains why it still failed.
Finance & Accounting
What Causes Stock Market Swings?
Tariffs? Job reports? Oil prices? A new volatility index pinpoints which factors make investors feel uncertain.
Careers
Are You Doing the Work You Were Meant to Do?
It’s never too late to forge your own path. Here are four steps.
