Research on business, work, and organizations. Covers dissent and management, innovation, workplace activism, and generative AI in investing.
A new study by Santa Fe Institute researchers reveals that public companies have a standard mortality rate, lasting about ten years before being acquired, merged, or liquidated. The findings contradict existing theories and evidence on company mortality, which suggested varying rates based on age and economic sector.
A new study by Daniel M. Bartels and Oleg Urminsky found that consumers who consider the future consequences of spending money tend to spend less, but also make better financial decisions.
A mix of positive and negative reviews can be beneficial for products judged on personal taste, but detrimental when quality is the primary consideration. The authors investigated how consumers respond to diverse online reviews and found that varied ratings due to individual tastes are more acceptable in some cases.
A new study identifies five essential elements that determine how consumers experience time: technology, skill, plans and moods, rules and regulations, and cultural understanding. When these elements are out of alignment, time seems to rush or drag, affecting consumer experiences in various activities.
Consumers are curating looks and creating images on outfit sharing websites, fueling popular fashion bloggers and a new logic of accessibility. This shift has changed market-level changes in institutional work, categories of actors, and underlying logics.
A recent study from Brigham Young University finds that leaders with a mix of narcissism and humility are more effective and engage their employees better. The research, which was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggests that when leaders balance their self-confidence with humility, they can avoid the negative traits as...
A new study by University of Chicago Booth School of Business researchers found that redesigning bike networks can increase ridership by up to 29.4% and reduce the distance commuters need to walk to reach stations. By taking commuter preferences into account, cities can optimize their bike-share systems to attract more users.
Research finds that US Treasury securities show a significant swing in returns between October and April due to seasonal depression. The average monthly return difference is 80 basis points, indicating a substantial impact of SAD on investment decisions.
A study published in Evolution and Human Behaviour found that women are more attracted to war heroes than regular soldiers or men who display heroic traits in other fields. The researchers also discovered that heroism in combat increases women's levels of sexual attraction towards male soldiers, but not in disaster zones.
A study suggests that supervisors can distinguish between selfless and self-servingly motivated employees based on their organizational citizenship behavior. Selfless employees are more likely to contribute positively to the organization, while self-servingly motivated employees focus on personal advancement.
A study by Luxi Shen and colleagues found that uncertainty motivates people to put in more effort to obtain uncertain rewards. In experiments, consumers completed tasks for lower potential rewards when the outcome was uncertain, highlighting the motivating-uncertainty effect.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers choose different products when looking up versus down. When looking up, consumers tend to focus on general features and quality, while looking down focuses on specific details and reliability.
A new study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that homes sold through bidding wars have increased their market share over the last two decades. Bidding war sales rates were correlated with economic and housing booms, but not consistently across jurisdictions.
A new UT Arlington study finds that employees who receive electronic correspondence from work after hours become angry more often than not, interfering with their personal lives. The researchers identified two categories of workers: segmentors who separate work and personal life, and integrators who want to stay connected with work.
A new study from Columbia Business School suggests that using range offers in negotiations can lead to better settlements for the offer-maker without harming their relationship with the other party. Bolstering and bracketing range offers were found to be effective strategies, while backdown range offers were less successful.
A new model developed by Harvard researchers explains how motives impact cooperation and why people trust genuine altruists over those who open envelopes. The 'envelope game' helps capture the notion that people value principle-driven behavior, especially in situations where cooperation comes with a cost.
A study by MIT researchers projects the growth potential of high-tech firms with new precision, identifying key characteristics and locations with higher growth prospects. The study found that firms with certain features, such as formal registration and capital investment, are more likely to grow.
The Fraunhofer Institute is developing a platform to interconnect various IT systems in rural areas, enabling secure real-time communication and optimizing transportation systems. This technology will be presented at CeBIT, allowing people to test business models for rural areas with a real-life simulation.
The book, 'Unfinished Work: The Struggle to Build an Aging American Workforce,' explores how businesses, governments, and individuals deal with the issue. Coleman traveled extensively, including Japan, France, and Sweden, to research how companies are adapting to an aging workforce.
A Concordia University study found that individuals from collectivist societies generate fewer ideas but with higher quality, while those from individualistic countries produce more ideas but with lower quality. The study suggests that understanding cultural differences is crucial for maximizing productivity in international teams.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that humorous complaints on Amazon and Yelp get more attention from consumers but may not lead to serious responses from businesses. Consumers tend to prefer funny reviews over non-humorous ones.
A study by University of Missouri and Lehigh University researchers discovered that job seekers with learning goal orientation are more successful in achieving career goals. Individuals with this disposition tend to react to failures by intensifying their search process, while those with low LGO decrease intensity. The study suggests t...
A strong hierarchy can increase both summit and fatality rates in the Himalayas, yet it helps groups achieve best outcomes by offering coordination and organization. The key to finding the right balance lies in identifying barriers that prevent lower-ranking members from voicing their perspective.
A new study from Columbia Business School found that 'crystallized intelligence,' gained through experience and accumulated knowledge, is more important than 'fluid intelligence' in making sound financial decisions. The research suggests guidelines for policymakers to help older adults with complex financial decisions.
A recent study found that trying to suppress anger about crucial negotiation topics can lead negotiators to lose focus. In contrast, bottling up emotions related to incidental matters does not negatively impact performance.
Research by András Tilcsik at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management shows that employees who experience similar economic environments in their early and later work lives perform better. Companies can help avoid 'curse of extremes' by diversifying new employees' experiences.
A UT Arlington study found that businesses near the stadium experience success when they synchronize their activities with events. Businesses closer to the stadium saw as a negative became paralyzed, but adapting to time-adaptation strategies helped them thrive.
A new study reveals that men from disadvantaged groups are disproportionately represented in low-paid, part-time jobs traditionally associated with women. The research found that disabled men are three times more likely to have a disability and be in the lowest income bracket than women.
A Danish research team has gained a new understanding of the diarrhea-causing bacteria, ETEC, and is exploring its potential for developing an entirely new class of vaccines. The research aims to create a vaccine that can activate the immune system to recognize the agent as foreign and destroy it.
Researchers argue that social networking sites can be used to provide timely updates and guidance during emergency situations on campus. The study suggests that these platforms could complement existing emergency notification systems, providing a cost-effective way to reach students and staff.
A new study finds that people are more likely to distrust e-signatures than hand-signed documents, with those having fewer personal characteristics perceived as less valid. This lag between technological advancement and psychological reaction highlights the need for caution in adoption.
Employees of small, locally owned businesses exhibit higher levels of commitment to their employers, leading to reduced absenteeism and turnover. For rural workers, company ownership plays a crucial role in organizational commitment.
A new survey by NORC at the University of Chicago reveals that nine in ten employers offering insurance are unfamiliar with objective quality metrics, despite valuing plan quality ratings. Employers cite cost to employees as a key consideration when selecting health plans.
Research by Michigan State University scholars found that financial experts fail to consistently beat non-professional investors, suggesting average investors might handle their own portfolios for better results.
Researchers found that reduced mortgage payments of $150 a month led to decreased mortgage defaults, increased consumer spending on automobile purchases, and improved household credit ratings. Additionally, households applied most of the saved mortgage money towards reducing outstanding credit card debts.
A new study found that consumers purchase a greater variety of products when they are packaged individually rather than bundled together. Consumers tend to seek more options when choosing from single products, regardless of their preference. The study offers insight for retailers on how to influence consumer behavior and increase sales.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers experience less guilt and higher vitality when they're not responsible for indulging in luxury products. The research suggests that allowing consumers to deflect their spending decisions can lead to increased happiness and well-being.
When favorite products are out of stock, consumers quickly forget about them if a good replacement is available, according to a new study. The study found that desire for a product depends on the time elapsed since consumption and substitute availability.
A recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that uncertainty can be a motivating factor for individuals. Researchers discovered that people are more likely to invest time and effort into pursuing an uncertain reward, rather than a certain one. This phenomenon is attributed to the positive experience of making the...
A new study at Ohio State University reveals that people with low self-confidence need a vivid picture of their future success to pursue their career goals. The researchers found that students who were given detailed information about the benefits of becoming a business psychologist were more likely to apply for the program and showed ...
A UGA study found that employees who feel excluded at work engage in harmful behaviors like cheating and lying to enhance their group's performance. These actions can affect the bottom line and undermine productivity. Organizations can prevent this by addressing internal dynamics and norms.
A new study by University of Illinois professor Ravi S. Gajendran found that telecommuting yields positive effects on task- and context-based performance for employees with good relationships with their bosses. However, for workers without a strong employer relationship, telecommuting actually improves performance.
Researchers found that leaders who prioritize others' perspectives produce better outcomes, especially when combined with power. Effective leadership involves balancing acceleration and steering to achieve successful results.
A new research study will analyze how changes in diet and lifestyle affect long-term wellness and contribute to healthy aging. The Stanford Prevention Research Center will lead the study, which aims to identify lifestyle and environmental factors that help people maintain their health and wellness as they age.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers can extend good experiences and shorten bad ones by categorizing them. By grouping events together, individuals can make pleasurable experiences feel longer and unpleasant ones feel shorter.
A new study suggests that artworks are perceived as an extension of the creator, with original pieces valued more highly than copies. The researchers propose a concept called 'magical contagion,' where the artist's physical presence imbues the work with their essence.
A new study reveals that consumers assume high or low levels of quality in price ranges where quality is more variable. Consistency in quality within a price range leads to incorrect predictions about product quality.
Researchers found that individuals with psychopathic tendencies and high intelligence can mask their symptoms by manipulating tests designed to reveal their personalities. This raises concerns about the potential presence of ruthless risk-takers in key business posts.
A study by Yanping Tu at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that people are more likely to start a job when it appears to be part of the present, rather than the future. This perception affects task initiation and completion rates.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers' perception of time categories influences task initiation. By categorizing deadlines as similar to the present, consumers are more likely to start tasks and achieve their goals.
According to a new study, parents are willing to turn to the marketplace for help once they have provided a strong baseline of activities that allow them to direct care and protect their connections. Achieving this balance helps parents maintain feelings of responsibility, control, and intimacy.
A new study found that abusive supervisors can infect entire teams with conflict, hurting productivity. Researchers discovered that individual employees who experience abuse also cause their teammates to become hostile and mistreat one another.
Researchers developed a modification to the core Android operating system that allows developers and users to plug in new security enhancements. The ASM framework enables custom security control modules to protect phones and enhance consumer privacy.
A CU Denver study found that government regulations are causing an inequitable distribution of marijuana dispensaries in disadvantaged areas. The majority of allowable land for marijuana businesses is located in the city's poorest and most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhoods.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that competition can harm the creative output of female-led groups, but not male-led ones. Women contribute less to team creativity when teams are competing against each other, while men become more creative under similar conditions.
Seven projects have been funded by Grand Challenges Canada to address pressing global health challenges in ASEAN countries. The initiatives include a 'skin printer' for large wounds and an Alzheimer's awareness campaign, with investments totaling $784,000.
A new study reveals that Denver's sports stadiums have excessive parking spaces, leading to heat islands and missed economic opportunities. The research suggests transforming inefficient parking into better investments to incentivize carpooling and other modes of transportation, improving the spectator experience and downtown businesses.
Researchers developed a method to identify search topics before stock market falls, finding increases in business and politics searches preceded market drops. The study used Google Trends and Wikipedia data to create a predictive model, highlighting the potential for search engine data to anticipate real-world events.
A new study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management finds that people who think of love as perfect unity have worse relationships than those who view it as a journey. Recalling conflicts with the unity frame in mind leads to less relationship satisfaction, while recalling celebrations has the opposite effect.
A recent USC Marshall study found that companies led by narcissistic CEOs have higher earnings-per-share and share price than those with non-narcissistic CEOs. However, this may be achieved through short-term manipulations that can be detrimental to the company's long-term health.