WORKING KNOWLEDGE

by Philippe Aghion, Nicholas Bloom, Brian Lucking, Raffaella Sadun, and John Van Reenen

What makes some firms more resilient than others to large negative macro shocks? This paper finds that the internal organization of firms—specifically, the extent to which decision-making is decentralized from headquarters to plant managers—is an important mediating factor through which macroeconomic shocks affect firm performance and, ultimately, growth.

• 15 MAY 2017
 
• SHARPENING YOUR SKILLS

The Promises and Limitations of Big Data

by Sean Silverthorne

Recent stories chart the rise of big data, its impact on business, and how it affects our lives every day. Open for comment; 3 Comment(s) posted.

• 04 MAY 2017
 
• COLD CALL PODCAST

Leading a Team to the Top of Mount Everest

In a podcast, Amy Edmondson describes how students learn about team communication and decision making by making a simulated climb up Mount Everest. Open for comment; 1 Comment(s) posted.

• 24 APR 2017
 
• RESEARCH & IDEAS

Courage: The Defining Characteristic of Great Leaders

by Bill George

Courageous leaders inspire employees, energize customers, and position their companies on the front lines of societal change. Bill George explains why there aren't more of them. Open for comment; 33 Comment(s) posted.

• 12 APR 2017
 
• RESEARCH & IDEAS

Why Productivity Suffers When Employees Are Allowed to Schedule Their Own Tasks

by Carmen Nobel

Deviating from an organization’s prescribed task schedule tends to erode productivity, even among the most experienced workers, according to new research from María R. Ibáñez, Jonathan R. Clark, Robert S. Huckman, and Bradley R. Staats. Open for comment; 18 Comment(s) posted.

• 28 MAR 2017
 
• WORKING PAPER SUMMARIES

CEO Behavior and Firm Performance

by Oriana Bandiera, Stephen Hansen, Andrea Pratt, and Raffaella Sadun

This paper combines a new survey methodology with a machine learning algorithm to measure the behavior of CEOs in large samples. Results show that larger and more complex firms require CEOs with a more coordinative—and less micromanaging—behavior. Inefficiencies in the way CEOs match with firms have important consequences for firm productivity.