- 01 Nov 2021
- What Do You Think?
How Long Does It Take to Improve an Organization’s Culture?
If organizational culture is so important, why do so many companies struggle to change? James Heskett looks at the role of leaders—like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella—in challenging a company's collective mindset. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 01 Nov 2021
- Op-Ed
Team Success Starts with the Individual—and with Love
Many leaders see teams as collective units, but helping individual members reach their potential—personally and professionally—can open new opportunities. Ranjay Gulati looks at the philosophy of famed football coach Pete Carroll. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
What Companies Want Most in a CEO: A Good Listener
Financial expertise and operational experience will only take executives so far. More than ever, companies want senior leaders with strong social skills and emotional intelligence, says research by Raffaella Sadun and Joseph Fuller. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
Want Hybrid Work to Succeed? Trust, Don’t Track, Employees
Many companies want employees back at desks, but workers want more flexibility than ever. Tsedal Neeley offers three rules for senior managers trying to forge a new hybrid path. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Oct 2021
- Managing the Future of Work
Bringing hidden workers into focus
If workers are in short supply, why do employers continue to use digital gatekeepers that screen out millions of capable individuals? Joe Fuller joins his Managing the Future of Work co-chair and podcast co-host, Bill Kerr, to share insights from the project’s research collaboration with Accenture on the “hidden worker” problem.
- 19 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
Fed Up Workers and Supply Woes: What's Next for Dollar Stores?
Willy Shih discusses how higher costs, shipping delays, and worker shortages are putting the dollar store business model to the test ahead of the critical holiday shopping season. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 19 Oct 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
Should Global Beer Company Molson Coors Dive into the Cannabis Beverages Business?
In March 2019, Molson Coors CEO Mark Hunter considered a request to pull forward $65 million to build a facility in Canada to produce cannabis beverages. This request was not part of the original plan to test the waters with a few products in a small geography to see if there was a viable market opportunity, given that there was no legal market yet. It's this change in direction that gives Hunter pause. Should he approve the request, or push the team back to the original, more conservative plan? Senior Lecturer Derek van Bever and Steve Kaufman discuss balancing exploitation versus exploration inside this global brewing company in the case, "Beyond Beer: Brewing Innovation at Molson Coors." Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Oct 2021
- In Practice
Reunited and It Feels (Not) So Good: Tips for Managing a Rocky Return
For many companies, returning to the office has felt like a rollercoaster of worry, excitement, and uncertainty. Members of the Harvard Business School faculty offer advice to help managers restore calm. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
What Actually Draws Sports Fans to Games? It's Not Star Athletes.
Team owners think they need marquee names or slick stadiums to prosper, but research by Karim Lakhani and Patrick Ferguson suggests that fans want something far simpler: suspense. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
How Newspaper Closures Open the Door to Corporate Crime
A study of misbehavior among publicly traded companies illustrates the critical watchdog role that newspapers play, and the problems that arise when publications go out of business. Research by Jonas Heese. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Oct 2021
- Managing the Future of Work
Slack’s Brian Elliott: Digital-first elevates output and diversity
Slack is a mainstay of remote work. But when Covid-19 hit the company behind the software had to pivot from an in-person orientation to digital-first. VP Brian Elliott, leader of the firm’s Future Forum consortium, explains how remapping work means reimagining the organization.
- 05 Oct 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
How the Clean Network Changed the Future of Global Technology Competition
The Chinese telecom giant Huawei and other Chinese telecom firms, like ZTE, had been poised to lead the globe in 5G technology—until the U.S. State Department embarked on a global campaign to challenge the market dominance of Chinese firms with the Clean Network program. The initiative, launched in 2020 and led by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Energy, and the Environment, former Silicon Valley business leader Keith Krach, united countries and companies around a commitment to abide by a set of shared principles in technology adoption, data privacy, and security practices. Is this a new era of multilateral, democratic governance of the internet, or a “splinternet” forcing participants to choose between the U.S. and China? Krach (MBA 1981) and Harvard Business School Professor Meg Rithmire discuss how the Clean Network Program changed the competitive landscape for 5G in the case, "The Clean Network and the Future of Global Technology Competition." Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Oct 2021
- What Do You Think?
How Do We Make Sure the Right People End Up with Power in Organizations?
A new book argues that companies need to reward humility and empathy—antidotes to the hubris and self-focus of excess power. But is that easier said than done? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 01 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
Dying to Lead: How Reaching the Top Can Kill You Sooner
A study of General Electric employees by Tom Nicholas shows how the stress of chasing professional success can shorten an executive's life. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Sep 2021
- Research & Ideas
For Entrepreneurs, Blown Deadlines Can Crush Big Ideas
After a successful launch, entrepreneurs struggle to anticipate the complexities of product upgrades, says research by Andy Wu and Aticus Peterson. They offer three tips to help startups avoid disastrous delays. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 27 Sep 2021
- Research & Ideas
Managers, Your Employees Don’t Want to Be Facebook ‘Friends’
Want your colleagues to see your Vegas vacation photos? Research by Lakshmi Ramarajan and colleagues offers reasons to think twice about connecting with people you manage on social media. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Sep 2021
- Managing the Future of Work
Guest appearance: Joe Fuller on Enrollment Growth University
Managing the Future of Work project co-chair and podcast co-host, Joe Fuller joins Eric Olsen on Helix Education's Enrollment Growth University. How can colleges address the middle skills gap while readying students for the job market? Work-based learning and better career services are key.
- 21 Sep 2021
- Office Hours
Readers Ask: How Can I Gain Power and Influence?
Who has the real power in an organization? Julie Battilana says it comes down to two questions. She discusses power and more on Working Knowledge’s “Office Hours” series. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 21 Sep 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
Why JPMorgan Chase Is Committed to Improving Racial Equity in Banking
In 2020, JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced a $30 billion, “Commitment to Advance Racial Equity.” This included investments in housing, small businesses, and financial literacy across the U.S., as well as in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the bank. Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus Joe Bower and case protagonist Alice Rodriguez, head of community impact at JPMorgan Chase, discuss the implementation of that commitment and how it aligns with the bank’s longer-term growth strategy in the case, "JPMorgan Chase’s Path Forward." Open for comment; 0 Comments.
Why COVID-19 Probably Killed More People Than We Realize
Millions of people around the world have died from COVID-19, according to government records, but research by Ethan Rouen, George Serafeim, and Botir Kobilov suggests that the actual number could be much higher. Open for comment; 0 Comments.