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    Most Popular Stories of 2012
    31 Dec 2012Research & Ideas

    Most Popular Stories of 2012

    by Staff
    What topics intrigued Harvard Business School Working Knowledge readers in 2012? Read our Top 10 list of most-read stories, then tell us your candidate for most significant business issue of the year.
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    The following articles were the most read pieces on Harvard Business School Working Knowledge in 2012. Now two questions for you. What do you think was the most important business issue of the year? Fiscal cliff? China's slowdown? Also please share your opinion about what will be the most significant economic development of 2013. Use the "Comments" link to tell us what and why.

    Most Popular Stories In 2012


    1. Clayton Christensen's "How Will You Measure Your Life?"
    Published: May 9, 2012
    World-renowned innovation expert Clayton M. Christensen explores the personal benefits of business research in the forthcoming book How Will You Measure Your Life? Coauthored with James Allworth and Karen Dillon, the book explains how well-tested academic theories can help us find meaning and happiness not just at work, but in life.

    2. Is JC Penney's Makeover the Future of Retailing?
    Published: March 5, 2012
    The stuffy department store chain has become emboldened under new CEO Ron Johnson, with plans for an innovative store upgrade, simplified prices, and a brand polish. Professor Rajiv Lal discusses whether Johnson can repeat his previous magic at Apple and Target.

    3. Are You a Strategist?
    Published: July 16, 2012
    Corporate strategy has become the bailiwick of consultants and business analysts, so much so that it is no longer a top-of-mind responsibility for many senior executives. Professor Cynthia A. Montgomery says it's time for CEOs to again become strategists.

    4. The Power of Conversational Leadership
    Published: July 23, 2012
    Communication is always a challenge, especially in multinational corporations. Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind discuss why it makes sense to adopt the principles of face-to-face conversation in organizational communication.

    5. Breaking the Smartphone Addiction
    Published: May 14, 2012
    In her new book, Sleeping With Your Smartphone, Leslie Perlow explains how high-powered consultants disconnected from their mobile devices for a few hours every week-and how they became more productive as a result. Such "predictable time off" might help phone-addled employees better control their workdays and lives.

    6. HBS Cases: Sir Alex Ferguson--Managing Manchester United
    Published: November 7, 2012
    For almost three decades, Sir Alex Ferguson has developed the Manchester United soccer club into one of the most recognized sports brands in the world. Professor Anita Elberse discusses the keys to Sir Alex's long-time success.

    7. Why Is Trust So Hard to Achieve in Management?
    Published: July 5, 2012
    There are many reasons for the trust gap between employees and management-but also many ways to bridge the divide, according to Jim Heskett's readers. What do YOU think?

    8. The Business of Life
    Published: June 4, 2012
    Scholarly economic theory applies to more than just business. The same causal mechanisms that drive big corporations to success can be just as effective in driving our personal lives, says Professor Clayton M. Christensen.

    9. Five Ways to Make Your Company More Innovative
    Published: May 23, 2012
    How do you create a company that unleashes and capitalizes on innovation? HBS faculty experts in culture, customers, creativity, marketing, and the DNA of innovators offer up ideas.

    10. How to Brand a Next-Generation Product
    Published: April 23, 2012
    Upgrades to existing product lines make up a huge part of corporate research and development activity, and with every upgrade comes the decision of how to brand it. Harvard Business School marketing professors John T. Gourville and Elie Ofek teamed up with London Business School's Marco Bertini to suss out the best practices for naming next-generation products.

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