Most Popular Stories and Research Papers of 2018

Over just a few months, the United States stock market plunged almost 20 percent—then in one day rebounded a record 1,000 points. 2018 seemed just that kind of year in business: restless, surging, full of surprises. Big-name retailers continued to shutter, Bitcoin went from flash to splash, and disruption, well, disrupted.

At Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, our most popular stories about HBS faculty research have always been those that help readers become better managers and outstanding leaders, and it was no different this year. Here are our most popular stories, research papers, and social posts in 2018. Tell us in the comment section below what you thought were the most interesting business trends of the year and what you expect in 2019.

1. Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults
   In earlier research, Kathleen McGinn and colleagues discovered that adult kids of working moms are high achievers at work. Now it turns out they are happy, too.


2. Amazon vs. Whole Foods: When Cultures Collide
   Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods seemed a Wall Street dream come true. But then Amazon's data-driven efficiency met the customer-driven culture at Whole Foods—and the shelves began to empty. Dennis Campbell and Tatiana Sandino discuss their new case study.


3. How to Be a Rebel Leader
   In the book Rebel Talent, Francesca Gino argues companies should encourage rebellion in their workplaces.


4. Welcome to Retirement. Who Am I Now?
   Transitioning from work to retirement can be bumpy, as we wrestle with questions of identity and rebuilding relationships. Teresa Amabile presents preliminary findings on the journey to after-work life.


5. Why You Are Unhappy at Work
   Sometimes the deck is stacked against you at work. Learn more about how you can fight back against toxic co-workers, paycheck blues, and a job set up for failure.


6. If the CEO’s High Salary Isn't Justified to Employees, Firm Performance May Suffer
   Researcher Ethan Rouen discovers that rank-and-file employees understand the boss deserves a big salary, but only when the number is fully explained.


7. The Open Office Revolution Has Gone Too Far
   When Ethan Bernstein used wearable technology to track workers around their open office, he discovered many were trying to avoid collaboration rather than engage in it.


8. How to Get People Addicted to a Good Habit
   Reshmaan Hussam and colleagues used experimental interventions to determine if people could be persuaded to develop a healthy habit. Potentially at stake: the lives of more than a million children.


9. Master the Team Meeting
   Business meetings aren't always enjoyable, but they are key to moving a team forward. Julia Austin offers tips for making the most of your meeting time.


10. Why Ethical People Become Unethical Negotiators
    You may think you are an ethical person, but self-interest can cloud your judgment when you sit down at the bargaining table, says Max Bazerman.

The year’s 5 most downloaded research papers

Working Knowledge publishes summaries of working papers written by Harvard Business School faculty—along with links to the full text of those papers. Here are the five most downloaded working papers of 2018:

1. Corporate Tax Cuts Increase Income Inequality
   While corporate tax cuts increase investment, the gains from this investment are concentrated on top earners, who may also exploit additional strategies to increase the share of total income that accrues to the top 1 percent, according to Ethan Rouen and colleagues.


2. Shipping Fees and Product Assortment in Online Retail
   This study highlights a strong link between an online retailer’s product assortment decisions and shipping policies in determining purchase outcomes and profits. Consumers are less sensitive to shipping fees than to product prices, but free shipping for orders above the minimum is a strong motivator for increasing average basket sizes. Research by Chaoqun Chen and Donald Ngwe.


3. Work from Anywhere or Co-locate? Autonomy versus Learning Effects at the United States Patent Office
   This study of a real firm presents robust econometric evidence that "work from anywhere" organizational policies can have positive effects on net worker output. Research by Prithwiraj Choudhury, Cirrus Foroughi, and Barbara Larson.


4. Developing Novel Drugs
   This paper by Joshua Krieger and colleagues contributes to our understanding of how financing constraints affect the direction of innovation in drug development.


5. After the Carnival: Key Factors to Enhance Olympic Legacy and Prevent Olympic Sites from Becoming White Elephants
   This fieldwork-based research and analysis of stadium use at 10 of the last 12 Summer Olympics sites highlights eight factors for better sustainability. Research by Isao Okada and Stephen A. Greyser.

Biggest trenders on social media

1. If the CEO’s High Salary Isn't Justified to Employees, Firm Performance May Suffer
   


2. Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults
   


3. To Motivate Employees, Give an Unexpected Bonus (or Penalty)
   


4. How to Be a Rebel Leader
   


5. 5 Career-Related New Year’s Resolutions (and 5 Tips for Keeping Them)
   

[Image: Robert Benson Photography.]