- 19 Jun 2018
- Research Event
Has Environmental Sustainability Lost its Relevance?
Companies have thought for decades about business-focused solutions to fix the deteriorating environment. But judging by continually rising waters and temperatures, we may need a rethink about what sustainability means, suggest participants at a recent conference at Harvard Business School. A report by co-organizer Geoffrey Jones. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 19 Jun 2018
- First Look
New Research and Ideas, June 19, 2018
Tracing the rise of tractor technology ... An investment in the greater good ... How Sony got its groove back.
- 18 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Warning: Scary Warning Labels Work!
If you want to convince consumers to stay away from unhealthy diet choices, don't be subtle about possible consequences, says Leslie John. These graphically graphic warning labels seem to do the trick. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 18 Jun 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
A Measure of Risk Appetite for the Macroeconomy
This paper sheds new light on connections between financial markets and the macroeconomy. It shows that investors’ appetite for risk—revealed by common movements in the pricing of volatile securities—helps determine economic outcomes and real interest rates.
- 14 Jun 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
How Chase Sapphire Made Credit Cool for Millennials
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card was one of the hottest product launches in 2016. But what would be its next act, now that the introductory offer of 100,000 points was reduced? Shelle Santana discusses JP Morgan's strategy. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 13 Jun 2018
- Sharpening Your Skills
That Costs HOW Much?
Beyond the attributes of the product itself, price is probably the leading determinant of success in the marketplace. What does it takes to get the price right? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 13 Jun 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Learning to Become a Taste Expert
How should we learn to discriminate a fine wine or chocolate? Tradition says use a flavor wheel and map the taste into vocabulary. We find that works for novices, but, beyond a point, it is counterproductive. Enthusiasts perform more like experts when they abandon language and just “draw the shape” of the taste.
- 12 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
In a Landscape of 'Me Too' Drug Development, What Spurs Radical Innovation?
Pharmaceutical companies are criticized for not producing more breakthrough drugs. But new research by Joshua Krieger and colleagues shows that, given a financial windfall, drug giants turn on the innovation. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 12 Jun 2018
- First Look
New Research and Ideas, June 12, 2018
Are borrowers doomed to fall into debt traps? ... The selfish reason some people make mistakes ... How Target became a data science organization.
- 11 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Why South Korea's Samsung Built the Only Outdoor Skating Rink in Texas
New research by Lauren Cohen and Umit Gurun finds that when some companies are sued, they put their advertising dollars to work in unusual ways to influence local juries. Meet 'TiVo,' the championship steer. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Cut Salaries or Cut People? The Best Way to Survive a Downturn
When times are tight, companies usually respond with employee layoffs. But what if they held on to workers and cut their salaries instead? New research by Christopher Stanton and colleagues has the answer. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Jun 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Complex Disclosure
This study shows that companies looking to hide unfavorable information might strategically be making contract terms unnecessarily complex, harming consumers and undermining the effectiveness of disclosure. These results highlight a role for regulation that would encourage simpler forms of disclosure.
- 05 Jun 2018
- First Look
New Research and Ideas, June 5, 2018
How immigrants affect the workforce ... The value of creativity ... Ready for a snack?
- 04 Jun 2018
- What Do You Think?
Are There Conditions Under Which Directors Should Consider Hiring a CEO Fired Elsewhere for Inappropriate Behavior?
Executives fired fairly or unfairly over worker violence and harassment charges are about to seek new jobs. James Heskett asks the difficult but unavoidable question: Are there conditions under which boards should consider hiring them? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 04 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Think of it as Professors in Cars Having Coffee
Has the art of civil debate returned? In the new Harvard Business School podcast series After Hours, professors Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai discuss issues ranging from gun control to voice-activated digital assistants. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 31 May 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Careem: Riding the First Unicorn in the Middle East
Doubling in size every two-and-a-half months, ride-hailing service Careem was experiencing growing pains operationally and culturally. Shikhar Ghosh discusses how the founders struggled to keep its 4 million customers satisfied. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 May 2018
- What Do You Think?
Should Intellectual Property be Protected in International Trade?
SUMMING UP To do business in China, American firms often lose some of their intellectual property. James Heskett's readers think that price is too high. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 May 2018
- Research & Ideas
Should Retailers Match Their Own Prices Online and in Stores?
For multichannel retailers, pricing strategy can be difficult to execute and confusing to shoppers. Research by Elie Ofek and colleagues offers alternative approaches to getting the price right. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 29 May 2018
- First Look
New Research and Ideas, May 29, 2018
Banks with materialistic CEOs face risk problems ... Poor economic growth makes people miserable ... The business lessons learned from Disney’s comeback.
Show or Tell? Improving Agent Decision Making in a Tanzanian Mobile Money Field Experiment
Mobile money is popular in developing economies but many agents do not maintain proper inventory levels. This paper, based on a study of 4,771 agents in Tanzania, shows how training and ongoing guidance improve their inventory management. Agents who get in-person training and explicit inventory recommendations tend to stock out less.