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A magazine of research and ideas from the
faculty of the Kellogg School of Management
Business Insights

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illustration of a couple standing in front of a house with a for sale sign in the yard, and the front walk is the tape of a calculator they are using.
September 5, 2025

Ready to Buy a House? Beware the Online Calculators.

Affordability and rent-vs-buy tools are easy to use but can be misleading. Here’s a holistic approach to making your decision.

illustration of Rocket Diner rebrand with workers installing new sign while people look on.
September 2, 2025

When a Rebrand Meets Backlash

Cracker Barrel’s attempt to modernize overlooked how the world of marketing has changed.

Corporate directors with certain backgrounds and experiences exert greater influence over a company's strategic direction.
September 2, 2025

Succession Is the Top Responsibility of a Board—Yet Many Avoid It

Boards need to view potential CEO successors as a priority and offer them opportunities for substantial board interaction.

Illustration of a group celebrating the installation of a lightbulb at a factory that is spewing pollution from four smokestacks.
September 1, 2025

Big Goals, Small Steps—Why Most Corporate Green Initiatives Fall Short

Despite making commitments to cut emissions, many companies are acting in the short term and underfunding projects.

illustration of lottery ball spinner with tiny illustrations of human organs on the balls
September 1, 2025

When People Game the System, It Helps to Shake It Up

Can introducing a lottery for organ transplants discourage line jumpers and give everyone a better chance?

illustration of a group including a doctor, nurse, inventor, and medical administrator discussing a new medical device.
September 1, 2025

How Durable Design Can Save Lives

Kellogg researchers partnered with UNICEF on target product profiles for newborn medical devices for low-resource settings.

illustration of a street scene with people going about their days among clouds of pollutions
September 1, 2025

Why Big Problems Can Feel Small

When people hear a problem is widespread, they are less likely to consider it serious—and less inclined to act.

man washing surface clean with green product.
September 1, 2025

Customers Are Taking a Shine to Eco-friendly Products

Sustainable alternatives were once viewed as inferior to their standard counterparts. But now, consumers equate “ecological” with “reliable,” easing industry fears.

a robot holds a scientific laboratory aloft in a city
August 22, 2025

Take 5: AI’s Past, Present, and Future

Artificial intelligence is transforming business, science, marketing, and labor. Kellogg faculty tell us how we got here and what could be next.

Illustration of person watering lightbulbs with watering can
August 20, 2025

To Align Purpose and Profit, Company Culture Matters

An Italian energy firm’s climate campaign illustrates how to tackle social problems without sacrificing the bottom line.

illustration of person grocery shopping, looking at a screen advertising potato chips
August 18, 2025

Are Your Ads Truly Paying Off?

Inconsistent methods make it hard to know if a campaign is working. New approaches to measuring return on ad spend can help companies make better decisions.

illustration of auto factory where two executives are shaking hands on the assembly floor
August 1, 2025

How Trade Secrets Fuel the International Auto Industry

To expand into China, companies like Toyota, Volkswagen, and BMW were required to work with local manufacturers, who then gained access to crucial knowledge.

illustration of several bankers fishing from small boats, with one pulling in giant colorful fish while others catch tiny gray fish.
August 1, 2025

When Banks Get Picky about Lending, the Economy May Suffer

Being too restrictive about who can borrow has ripple effects that can prolong economic downturns.

illustration of a person pouring colorful pellets into a funnel, with the pellets coming out of two downspouts as black and white.
August 1, 2025

When AI Thinks Too Much Like a Human

Generative AI models are susceptible to the same errors that humans make when interpreting statistical results.

illustration of person shopping in produce section with electronic price tags on produce
August 1, 2025

Surge Pricing in Aisle Five?

Despite concern, the use of digital price tags in grocery stores hasn’t moved the needle on costs for consumers.

Employees happy in an office
August 1, 2025

5 Questions to Consider When Deciding Whether to Start a Family Office

Ask better questions to understand the purpose, costs, structures, and your family’s alignment.

illustration of the exterior of a university faculty office building with a younger professor in a cluttered office in one window and an older professor in a sparely appointed office in the other.
July 24, 2025

Is Tenure a Golden Age for Research?

A large study finds that there’s a trade-off. While tenured researchers may publish less, they often come up with more novel ideas.

illustration of doves lowering the roof onto a corporate building
July 18, 2025

How Peace Can Be Good for Business

Expanding ESG strategies to include conflict reduction can benefit both companies and the regions in which they operate.

workers in a factory communicating using various methods
July 15, 2025

Take 5: Making Communication Work … at Work

Embrace vulnerability, know when to keep silent, and other strategies from Kellogg faculty.

illustration of a hiring manager interviewing a job candidate on a ski lift
July 14, 2025

Does an Athletic Past Give Job Applicants a Lift?

The competitive edge athletes get in the job market may come at the expense of candidates with other life experiences.

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