Strategy
Take 5: How to Increase Your Office’s Productivity
Research-backed tips for improving workflows and discouraging slacking.
Operations
Why First Come, First Served Isn’t Always the Best Approach to Customer Service
Is it time to give impatient people their own line?
Operations
Podcast: How Do Those Valentine’s Day Roses End Up in Your Bouquet? It’s Complicated.
Millions of blooms. Two continents. One day. And a very busy airport.
Operations
What’s the Best Way to Learn a New Skill—by Doing or by Viewing?
An analysis of eBay coders shows that studying a colleague’s work can pay off. Just be careful whose shoulder you’re looking over.
Operations
There’s a Better Way to Manage Your Inventory
Using data from a drug-store chain, a new model finds opportunities to prevent shortages and boost profits.
Operations
Attention Passengers: Your Next Flight Will Likely Arrive Early. Here’s Why.
The reason has less to do with planes and airport logistics than a strategic move by airlines.
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Marketing
Buying and Selling Seasonal Goods
Decoding the dual dilemmas faced by customers and retailers
Operations
Outsourcing Contracts in Service Industries
A new model reveals a surprisingly simple pricing scheme for outsourced service contracts
Healthcare
When Hospitals Turn Away Ambulances
Uncovering flaws in a policy intended to prevent ER overcrowding
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Operations
Here’s a Better Way to Schedule Surgeries
A new tool could drive savings of 20 percent while still keeping surgeons happy.
Operations
How “Speed Factories” Help Companies Adapt to Capricious Consumers
For certain trendy products, these local but expensive plants can be a smart investment.
Operations
Want to Improve Your Sales Forecast? Check Your Company’s Facebook Feed.
Social media data can help predict consumer demand.
Operations
How Much Does It Cost to Manufacture Overseas Versus at Home?
A new tool helps companies calculate whether to offshore, manufacture locally, or dual source.
Operations
What Makes an Online Flash Sale Successful?
When ratings and reviews aren’t enough, showing that a deal is popular can convince others to buy.
Operations
How to Predict Demand for Your New Product
Relying on manager expertise and market research may not be enough.
Policy
What Volkswagen's Emissions Scandal Can Teach Us about Why Companies Cheat
Tighter standards may backfire in industries with fierce competition.
Operations
From Long Checkout Lines to Departure Gate Chaos, Can Companies Reduce Holiday Hassles?
An operations professor explores better ways to form queues, ride escalators, and deliver packages.
Operations
Is There a Better Way to Allocate Organs to Transplant Patients?
Two ideas for changing a system where people linger on waitlists while kidneys spoil.
Operations
How Offering a Ship-to-Store Option Comes at a Cost
It delights customers, but managing inventory becomes more complicated.
Operations
Can Going Big on Eco-friendly Practices Really Pay Off?
The case for doing even more than swapping out lightbulbs.
Operations
How Offering a Ship-to-Store Option Comes at a Cost
It delights customers, but managing inventory becomes more complicated.
Operations
Can Going Big on Eco-friendly Practices Really Pay Off?
The case for doing even more than swapping out lightbulbs.
Data AnalyticsStrategy
How Open Data Is Changing Chicago
A Q&A with Chicago’s chief data officer about the power of big data.
Strategy
Video: To Build Trust with Customers, Show That You Are in It for the Long Haul
A researcher and a trusted CEO share tips to boost loyalty.
Economics
Podcast: What Happens When Employees Are Poached?
How poaching benefits companies and industries, and how you can make yourself more poachable.
Operations
Going Green Can Be Good for the Bottom Line
Sustainable operations and greater growth can go hand in hand.
Leadership
Podcast: Get the Most from Your Newest Team Members
Onboarding advice for organizations big and small.
Operations
A Gentle Nudge Can Increase Participation in MOOCs
Reminders to collaborate benefit students in massive open online courses.
Marketing
When Retail Prices Cross the Line
Manufacturers should be strategic in enforcing minimum advertised price policies.
Leadership
Podcast: The Power of Persuasive Storytelling
Stories hook your business audience and get them to take action.
Organizations
Poach Our Employees, Please
How hiring an employee from a related company can directly benefit both the poacher and the poached.
Operations
Why Power Companies Love Smart Meters
Smart meters provide richer data, enabling smarter pricing strategies and a smoother electricity supply chain.
Organizations
How a Restaurant Chain Keeps Its Independent Spirit
At Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, growth begins with a learning mindset.
When Collaboration Takes a Toll on Productivity
A look at the cost of collaboration among highly skilled workers.
Too Much Good Press?
A Saudi homeware company’s great reputation might just be hampering its growth.