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March 2020

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.

Man cheers on first and last horses in race
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.

pilots remove autopilot on plane
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.

employees feel included in eqitable workplace
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.

employee showing B2B customer analytics
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.

entrepreneurs pitch to venture capitalists for funding
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.

Cannabis grower scans seedling barcode.
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.

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.

rugby defenders against cyberattack
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.

protestors boycott a company meeting
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

A salesperson tries storytelling to market a product.
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.

robot delivers lemonade to thirsty customer
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.

people and robots enjoy working together
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.

Economics

No, Extended Warranties Are Usually Not Worth It

So why do so many people keep buying them?

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.

Digital advertising scientists study an online shopper.
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.

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.

employee presents to CEO in elevator
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.

August 2019

Federal interrogator grills smartphone.
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.

Two teams coordinate a plan on the phone.
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.

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.

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.

Family business adapts over generations
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

A municipality grows within a piggy bank.
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.

A leader chooses their own path
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.

May 2019

Careers

Take 5: How to Kickstart a Successful Career

Young professionals, smart decisions now will open doors for you in the future.

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