Our most popular stories are those that help readers become better managers and outstanding leaders. Here are our most-read stories and faculty research papers in 2019. Tell us in the comment section below what you thought were the most interesting business trends of the year and what you expect in 2020.
- Forget Cash: There are Better Ways to Motivate Employees
In today's tight job market, employers must focus on how to attract and keep top talent. Giving away stacks of money may not always be the best incentive. - How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence
Gender stereotypes hold women back in the workplace. Now, researchers add a new twist: They can even cause women to question their own abilities. - How Companies Benefit When Employees Work Remotely
Letting independent workers choose their locations can boost companies, employees, and even the economy. - Stuck in Commuter Hell? You Can Still Be Productive
Commuters who listen to music or talk radio might be increasing their chance of a stressful workday. Here are better ways to cope with a bad commute. -
Why Salespeople Struggle at Leading
When salespeople become managers, they often do a horrible job. Four key steps can help them—and all soon-to-be managers—make the shift. - These 4 CEOs Created a New Standard of Leadership
At the height of the 2008 financial crisis, these four corporate leaders stepped forward—and changed how we think of leadership forever. - Rituals Strengthen Couples. Here’s Why They’re Good for Business, Too
Couples with deliberate rituals feel more satisfied with their relationships. Can businesses also benefit? - The Ferrari Way
Secretive sports car maker Ferrari opens up about how it has bucked industry trends to achieve success. - Walmart's Workforce of the Future
A case study explores Walmart's plans for future workforce makeup and training, and its search for opportunities from digital infrastructure and automation. - What’s Really Disrupting Business? It’s Not Technology
Technology doesn't drive disruption—customers do.
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 2019:
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Corporate Sustainability: A Strategy?
This study examines the interplay between common and strategic practices. This dynamic distinction helps for understanding whether and how sustainability practices can help companies establish a competitive advantage over time. - The Economic Effects of Private Equity Buyouts
This study of 6,000 private equity buyouts between 1980 and 2013 finds that the real side effects of buyouts on target firms and their workers vary greatly by deal type and market conditions. - Experimentation and Startup Performance: Evidence from A/B Testing
An analysis of the adoption of A/B testing technology by 35,000 global startups provides evidence that a strategy based on repeated experimentation will improve performance over time. However, the benefits of experimentation vary. - Managerial Quality and Productivity Dynamics
Which managerial skills, traits, and practices matter most for productivity? - Going Digital: Implications for Firm Value and Performance
This study of the economic performance of nontech firms adopting new digital technologies finds a persistent future increase in valuation. However, investors only slowly incorporate the value implications of digital activities into prices.
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