Working Knowledge

Business Research for Business Leaders

When Parents Tell Kids to ‘Work Hard,’ Do They Send the Wrong Message?When Parents Tell Kids to ‘Work Hard,’ Do They Send the Wrong Message?   

It takes more than grit to succeed in a world rife with systemic inequity. So why don't we tell children that? Research by Ashley Whillans and colleagues shows how honest talk about social barriers could empower kids to break them down. 
11 Aug 2022  |  Research & Ideas

Leadership 

Blissful Thinking: When It Comes to Finding Happiness, 'Your Dreams Are Liars'

by Dan Morrell
  • 02 JUN 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Happiness research is all the rage. Arthur Brooks shares how understanding the origins of joy can improve the way we lead organizations—and our personal lives.

A World of Difference: What Keeps Companies from Becoming More Inclusive

by Jen McFarland Flint
  • 11 APR 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Inclusion can unlock excellence and innovation, but instincts and good intentions will never get you there. In this interview, Frances Frei and Francesca Gino explore the underlying factors that keep organizations from becoming more inclusive.

Representation Matters: Building Case Studies That Empower Women Leaders

by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg
  • 08 MAR 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
The lessons of case studies shape future business leaders, but only a fraction of these teaching tools feature women executives. Research by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg examines the gender gap in cases and its implications.

Effective Leaders Share the Spotlight with Their Teams

by Pamela Reynolds
  • 07 MAR 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Many executives make decisions alone and take credit for every win. Research by Yuan Zou and Ethan Rouen shows how leaders—and their companies—directly benefit when they engage and elevate colleagues.

Entrepreneurship 

How a Multimillion-Dollar Ice Cream Startup Melted Down (and Bounced Back)

by Pamela Reynolds
  • 07 JUL 2022
  • | 
  • HBS Case
A Brooklyn-based ice cream shop was getting buzz, and Disney was pitching a brand partnership. So how did the business wind up filing for bankruptcy? A case study by Thomas Eisenmann and Lindsay N. Hyde examines the rise and fall—and recent rebound—of Ample Hills Creamery.

Being Your Own Boss Can Pay Off, but Not Always with Big Pay

by Jay Fitzgerald
  • 10 MAY 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Working for yourself might bring freedom and autonomy, but it increasingly comes with a major risk: low pay. Research by William Kerr explores the shifting sands of self-employment.

Can You Buy Creativity in the Gig Economy?

by Pamela Reynolds
  • 28 APR 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
It's possible, but creators need more of a stake. A study by Feng Zhu of 10,000 novels in the Chinese e-book market reveals how tying pay to performance can lead to new ideas.

How to Get Companies to Make Investments That Benefit Everyone

by Lane Lambert
  • 10 JAN 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Want more organizations to give back to their communities? Frank Nagle says the success of open source software offers an innovative—and unexpected—roadmap for social good.

Popular 

Why Companies Raise Their Prices: Because They Can

by Rachel Layne
  • 05 MAY 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Markups on household items started climbing years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies have realized just how much consumers will pay for the brands they love, says research by Alexander MacKay.

More Proof That Money Can Buy Happiness (or a Life with Less Stress)

by Michael Blanding
  • 25 JAN 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
It's not about the bigger home or the better vacation. Financial stability helps people escape the everyday hassles of life, says research by Jon Jachimowicz.

Will Demand for Women Executives Finally Shrink the Gender Pay Gap?

by Kristen Senz
  • 29 JUL 2022
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Women in senior management have more negotiation power than they think in today's labor market, says research by Paul Healy and Boris Groysberg. Is it time for more women to seek better opportunities and bigger pay?

How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence

by Dina Gerdeman
  • 25 FEB 2019
  • | 
  • Research & Ideas
Researchers believe gender stereotypes hold women back in the workplace. Katherine Coffman's research adds a new twist: They can even cause women to question their own abilities.

Books 

The Moral Enterprise: How Two Companies Profit with Purpose

by Avery Forman
  • 28 JUN 2022
  • | 
  • Book
Despite polarized attitudes, Rebecca Henderson argues that it's the perfect time for companies to reset their moral compass. In an essay from the book A Political Economy of Justice, she explores the social efforts of Cadbury and Unilever.

Four Elements for Finding the Right Career Path

by Dina Gerdeman
  • 22 JUN 2022
  • | 
  • Book
Facing a major decision? Before you start ruminating about facts and figures, consider tapping into your "full self." In his book The Four Elements: Finding Right Livelihood in the 21st Century, Timothy Butler offers a framework for navigating life transitions.

Why Digital Is a State of Mind, Not Just a Skill Set

by Sean Silverthorne
  • 12 MAY 2022
  • | 
  • Book
You don't have to be a machine learning expert to manage a successful digital transformation. In fact, you only need 30 percent fluency in a handful of technical topics, say Tsedal Neeley and Paul Leonardi in their book, The Digital Mindset.

Empower Your Employees to Make Better Decisions

by Pamela Reynolds
  • 27 APR 2022
  • | 
  • Book
The impact of wise decisions can ripple out in an organization. In the book Decision Leadership, Max Bazerman and Don Moore explore how the choices of influential leaders, such as athlete Colin Kaepernick and Humu's Jessica Wisdom, motivate others to do better.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.