Research on business, work, and organizations. Covers dissent and management, innovation, workplace activism, and generative AI in investing.
Researchers synthesized over 50 studies to find that mental simulations using visuals or verbal calls to action improve behavioral intentions and behavior. However, the effectiveness varies depending on the modality, frequency, type of consumption experience, and target populations.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame recommends building water projects that allow community collaboration, reducing distances and increasing equity. The research team created a unique dataset to optimize locations and found that community collaboration models outperform traditional methods.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management suggests that restaurants can encourage customers to choose healthier food options by adjusting the font size of nutritional information on menus. By representing calorie values incongruously, businesses can effectively 'nudge' customers towards making heal...
A WVU study found that U.S. cities with new professional sports teams saw increased influenza mortality rates, with the NHL teams causing the largest increase. The researchers analyzed data from 122 cities and controlled for factors like population and temperature to find a significant correlation between team arrival and flu deaths.
Researchers found a U-shaped effect on profit margins due to the relationship between reducing costs, developing new processes, and innovating products. Initially, firms focus on cost reduction, but as robot adoption increases, they shift to product innovation, leading to higher profits.
A new statistical tool, two-step synthetic control, allows managers and policymakers to estimate effects they previously couldn't accurately. The study found that this method estimated a more modest increase in weekly tampon sales after New York's repeal, better matching actual sales figures.
A new study suggests that resume padding, while bad for individuals, can have a positive effect on society. Researchers found that the potential misrepresentation of education levels can reduce investment in education and lead to lower social welfare distortions.
A recent study found that employees tend to be less productive in the afternoons, especially on Fridays, with increased typing errors and reduced computer activity. Flexible work arrangements like hybrid work or a four-day week may help mitigate this decline in productivity.
A study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that institutional investors demand disclosure of climate risk due to its impact on a company's health and performance. The survey of 439 institutional investors showed that mandatory disclosure has an effect on investors' decisions.
Researchers found that consumers react differently to university-co-developed products and key factors influence these perceptions. Firms can leverage university collaboration to increase product attractiveness, but effective marketing is crucial.
The article explores how export diversification and ICT shape employment patterns, with research highlighting the importance of diversified trade baskets to minimize economic uncertainties. Tailored trade policies can unlock employment opportunities for both high-skilled and low-skilled workers, fostering sustainable growth.
Researchers found that customers tend to consider money spent as already lost, making it easier for retailers to cross-sell products. However, customers are less likely to buy an item outside their original category when expecting to return it.
Researchers found that consumers experience emotional rollercoaster during self-design, with optimism decreasing quickly. Companies can learn from this study to provide attractive starting designs and reduce abandonment rates by providing a 'lock-in' mechanism.
Research by Monika Ardelt and Bhavna Sharma found that wise organizations prioritize supervisor support, autonomy, competence, and relatedness to foster employee connection, job fulfillment, and overall well-being. This approach enables businesses to thrive in the long term while making a positive impact on their communities.
Forcing private firms to disclose their financial statements leads to more mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and better deals. The study found that mandatory reporting intensity is positively correlated with M&A activity and targets' growth rates after the acquisition.
Researchers investigated whether people rate women's and men's soccer differently based on player gender. They found that biased perceptions of female athletes' talent and toughness exist, affecting how we perceive their performance quality. The study suggests that women's soccer hasn't yet reached its full economic potential.
Amplified Sciences has received a $400,000 NCI grant to develop and validate an assay testing for the detection of pancreatic cancer in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cystic lesions. The company aims to improve the accuracy of diagnoses, reducing unnecessary surgical interventions.
New research finds that criticizing groups is more persuasive when the messenger also expresses concern for the issues faced by the criticized group. Studies show that dual concern messages encourage agreement and loyalty from members of the criticized group, leading to increased persuasion.
The study found that open innovation-based business models, created through stakeholder participation in the commons, drive continuous economic and social innovation and sustainable growth. The 'Comedy of Commons' concept, developed by Elinor Ostrom, is applied to explore the evolution of the commons as a business model.
A Chinese study found that fintech development effectively reduces the negative effect of macroeconomic uncertainty on commercial banks' proactive risk-taking behavior. The study also revealed that commercial banks with high capital adequacy ratios exhibit a weaker response to the mitigating effect of financial technology.
Only 36% of UK employers have invested in AI-enabled technologies like industrial robots and chatbots over the past five years, new research suggests. The survey highlights a growing skills problem, with less than 10% anticipating digital skills training investment in the coming years.
A new study found that certain credentials, such as more education, references, and experience, can offset the negative impact of a criminal record on job prospects. Applicants with a criminal record were less likely to be hired without these credentials, but more likely to be hired if they had relevant experience or a college degree.
A University of Missouri study found that consumers are more likely to use virtual apparel try-on software if it is interactive and easy to use. The research suggests that making the technology versatile can reduce privacy concerns, with qualities like interactivity having a direct impact on users' willingness to shop virtually.
A study by Margherita Corina and Alfonso Carballo Perez found that populist leaders increase uncertainty, making firms cautious in foreign investment decisions. However, strong institutional environments and high levels of firm internationalization can moderate these negative effects.
A new article explores how a CEO's subgroup power can impact decisions about CEO dismissal. Powerful subgroups of directors can exert influence to protect the CEO, even if the company is performing poorly. The study analyzed 20 years of data from S&P 500 boards.
A new study published in Journal of Marketing finds that consumers become motivated to distance themselves from brands after observing socially unacceptable social media mentions. Consumers with stronger self-brand connections experience vicarious shame, driving their desire to disengage from the brand.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland explores how digital-based start-ups can leverage digital artifacts for early and rapid internationalisation. The research model provides a toolkit to identify opportunities for companies to adapt their digital services to international markets.
A new study introduces a minCluster portfolio optimization method specifically designed for highly volatile markets, including cryptocurrencies. The method consistently outperforms traditional approaches and considers downside risk to find the best asset allocation.
A study of 142 nations found a strong link between access to formal financial services and lower COVID-19 mortality rates. Access to bank accounts, credit cards, or loans from a financial institution is a key predictor of lower mortality risk, even stronger than comorbidities.
A study by Chinese researchers found that financial reports produced during fiscal years mismatched with annual business activity may be less reliable due to rigid accounting regulations. This can result in higher abnormal accruals, lower analyst forecast accuracy, and longer audit reporting delays for affected companies.
Researchers from McGill University and Ontario Tech University examine the drivers of specialty drug diffusion. They propose a framework that suggests clinical studies affect the diffusion through a multi-stage scientific evidence production process. The study finds that marketing activities have no significant effect on prescriptions.
Research from Oregon State University shows that Americans judge the morality of armed self-protection on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like perceived threat and background of the person carrying the gun. The study highlights the complexity of consumer views on gun rights and Second Amendment rights.
Researchers found that similarity with a potential friend, the properties of a potential friend's network, and the potential friend's domain expertise are key drivers behind individuals' online friendship decisions. Having common interests and demographic traits improves the odds of two strangers becoming friends in an online community.
Researchers found that specialized MLB pitchers perform better in their specialty after obligatory tasks outside of their specialization, such as batting. This phenomenon is known as 'forced task inferiority,' where underperformance in non-specialist tasks frustrates specialists and generates heightened drive that they can channel into...
Researchers found that manual labor's perceived meaning can predict the adoption of autonomous products. Consumers tend to reject these products due to a loss of meaning in life. Companies can highlight alternative sources of meaning to reduce negative effects on adoption.
New research on Russia's sanctions reveals that targeted firms temporarily suffered modest losses but eventually adapted by reorganizing subsidiaries, altering supply chains, or seeking government support. This suggests that economic sanctions are unlikely to deter or reverse aggressive actions by other countries.
A new study finds that placing discounted products next to regularly priced items can have both negative and positive effects on demand for other products. The Negative Proximity Effect decreases the sales of proximal products, while the Positive Proximity Effect increases their sales.
A study by Anne Jacqueminet and colleagues identifies three favorable patterns for positive media coverage: congruent signalers, balancing signalers, and firms using a combination of less credible signals. Highly credible third-party signals play a complex role in media perception, delivering a single congruent message.
A new study emphasizes the need for a more precise definition of circularity beyond metrics and indicators. The researchers propose a product-centric circularity scorecard that captures aspects of a product's environmental sustainability, focusing on production, use, and end-of-life.
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that internal job candidates are more likely to be promoted, even if they're less qualified than external candidates. The research showed that managers prefer to reward past effort and perceive it as a 'gift' that should be reciprocated.
Anita McGahan, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School, has been recognized for her outstanding service to the field of strategic management. She will receive the William D. Guth Distinguished Service Award at the Academy of Management's annual meeting in August.
Illinois Tech researchers found that blockchain technology, investor sentiment, and economic stress are key predictors of bitcoin returns. Bitcoin's detachment from economic fundamentals makes it a poor safe-haven asset.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology identified four affordances of digital technologies facilitating business process integration: accessing, updating, sharing, and initiating. These mechanisms enable automation of information transfer, minimizing effort in business processes.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that historical memories have a lasting impact on consumer behavior, particularly in the automotive industry. The research analyzed vehicle registration data and archival records to show how past conflicts can affect car sales, with Japanese cars experiencing significant drops in sales...
A new study from the University of Missouri found that government guarantees decrease the frequency of 'income smoothing' in financial reports. This practice, where banks delay reporting high income to smooth out volatility, is a form of manipulation that can impact market stability and investor confidence.
Online radiologists choose studies based on financial attractiveness, leading to delays in high-priority cases. This study found that expedited priority class contained the highest percentage of delayed studies.
Researchers found that commercial properties in New York and Boston traded at lower values after Hurricane Sandy, despite no direct damage. This shift in perception is likely due to professional investors responding to changing flood risk perceptions post-Sandy.
A Boston University-led study discovered that self-essentialist reasoning plays a crucial role in attraction. When individuals assume others share an underlying essence, they're more likely to form connections with them. However, this flawed thinking can restrict who we find attractive, as it's based on superficial similarities.
A new study from City University London suggests that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has led to significant increases in high-quality published research, but not active academics. The study highlights areas of improvement needed in the assessment framework, including greater collaboration between domestic competitors.
Researchers identified two crucial drivers of brand extension success: parent brand equity and extension fit. The study suggests five groups of moderators to improve brand extension strategies.
A study by the University of Toronto found that intervening at the management practice level can empower workers and significantly raise wages in sustainable ways. H&M Group's initiative, which included workplace dialogue programs and wage management systems, resulted in a 5% average wage increase across 1800 factories in nine countries.
A new study found that job candidates who are exposed to social impact framing tend to refrain from negotiating for higher salaries due to feelings of discomfort. The researchers suggest that managers should be aware of this phenomenon and create greater transparency about company norms and values regarding compensation.
A new study by Duke University, University of Notre Dame, and Microsoft proposes a solution to reduce deceptive comparison pricing: requiring firms to disclose their true normal price. The study finds that providing this information can moderate the effect of advertised regular prices on consumer behavior.
Researchers found that disordered thrift shop displays can enhance perceptions of hidden treasure, but risk perceptions outweigh this effect, leading to a net negative impact on purchase likelihood. High inventory knowledge by sellers mitigates these risks, increasing perceptions of curated products and consumer trust.
A Bentley University study shows that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invests similarly to the pharmaceutical industry in bringing new drugs to market. The NIH spent $187 billion on research related to FDA-approved drugs between 2010-2019, with an average investment per approved drug of $1.7 billion.
A UBC study found that employee layoffs have a strong impact on voluntary turnover among remaining employees, especially when high performers are let go without clear justification. The research suggests that organizations should prioritize clear communication and compassionate decision-making to avoid destabilizing their workforce.
Research finds that using unconventional spellings can lead to decreased consumer trust and loyalty, but may have positive effects in contexts where consumers seek a memorable experience. The study suggests caution for firms launching new brands with unusual spellings.
Computational heuristics like Grey Wolf Optimizer and Whale Optimization Algorithm offer fast solutions to complex supply chain problems, providing accurate results within a shorter time frame. The research suggests these tools can be a valuable addition to supply chain management, especially in responding to unexpected disruptions.
A study of working men in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea found that alcohol-tolerant individuals do not earn more than their intolerant colleagues. Despite the cultural pressure to drink, better social drinkers did not experience a wage premium in terms of working hours or earnings.
The study measures digital transformation of Chinese commercial banks using an index system, finding a significant increase in digital transformation from 2010 to 2018. Digital transformation enhances profitability, bank efficiency, and reduces competitive pressure, enabling banks to gain a competitive advantage in the digital era.