Performance Productivity →
- 31 Jan 2018
- Research & Ideas
American Idle: Workers Spend Too Much Time Waiting for Something to Do
Workers across the country are spending far too much time doing nothing—and it's costing their companies $100 billion annually. Research by Teresa Amabile and Andrew Brodsky. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Jan 2018
- Research & Ideas
If the CEO’s High Salary Isn't Justified to Employees, Firm Performance May Suffer
Researcher Ethan Rouen discovers that rank-and-file employees understand the boss deserves a big salary, but only when the number is fully explained. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 09 Jan 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Identifying Sources of Inefficiency in Health Care
This economic study finds evidence of allocative inefficiency and substantial variation in comparative advantage across hospitals, with the benefits from treatment being much higher in some hospitals than others. The study overall suggests new directions for research on productivity in healthcare.
- 14 Dec 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
The Real Exchange Rate, Innovation and Productivity
Addressing debates on the effects of real exchange rate (RER) movements on the economy, this study examines manufacturing firm-level effects of medium-term fluctuations, in particular firm-level productivity across a wide range of countries. RER changes have different impacts depending on the export and import orientation of regions and the prevalence of credit constraints. Effects are non-linear and asymmetric, suggesting that the link between RER changes and macroeconomic performance might be much more nuanced than usually thought.
- 09 Aug 2017
- Sharpening Your Skills
Productivity Tips You Probably Haven't Considered Before
Want to be more productive at work? These recent studies from Harvard Business School researchers offer tips on everything from organizing work flow to paying attention to the weather. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Jul 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Task Selection and Workload: A Focus on Completing Easy Tasks Hurts Long-Term Performance
Employees facing increased workloads usually tackle easier tasks first. This study tests the performance implications of such prioritization. Findings show that it happens because people feel positive emotions after task completion, yet it could hurt long-term performance. Workloads could be structured to help employee development as well as organizational performance.
- 27 Jan 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
The Microstructure of Work: How Unexpected Breaks Let You Rest, but Not Lose Focus
Work breaks are usually considered as a necessary evil—inevitable but nonproductive. This study shows that properly structured breaks maintaining employee attention can actually yield post-break improvements in performance.
- 18 Nov 2016
- Sharpening Your Skills
Sharpening Your Skills: Making a Fast Start on a New Job
Everyone has to begin a new job—even presidents! We look to the archives for what Harvard Business School experts have recommended for making a splashy start. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Jun 2016
- Working Paper Summaries
Management as a Technology?
Economists, business people and many policymakers have long believed that management practices are an important element in productivity. This study provides firm-level measures of management in an internationally comparable way, drawing on original data on over 11,000 firms across 34 countries. Differences in management practices account for about 30 percent of cross-country productivity differences.
- 28 Mar 2016
- Research & Ideas
What's a Boss Worth?
Quite a lot, it turns out. Good bosses can have a multiplier effect that ups everyone’s game, according to new research by Christopher Stanton. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 18 Jan 2016
- Research & Ideas
Hazard Warning: The Unacceptable Cost of Toxic Workers
As much as a firm gains by hiring a superstar, it loses twice that much by hiring a toxic worker. Dylan Minor details the troubles brought by creepy co-workers. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Nov 2015
- Working Paper Summaries
Cohort Turnover and Operational Performance: The July Phenomenon in Teaching Hospitals
Hummy Song, Robert S. Huckman, and Jason R. Barro study the impacts of the annual July turnover of doctors in teaching hospitals on qualty of care.
- 04 Nov 2015
- Working Paper Summaries
Do People Who Care About Others Cooperate More? Experimental Evidence from Relative Incentive Pay
This paper explores how the degree to which individuals care about other workers affects their own performance when faced with relative performance pay.
- 04 Nov 2015
- What Do You Think?
Why Does Gender Diversity Improve Financial Performance?
SUMMING UP Why does having more women in leadership positions make for more successful companies? James Heskett's readers offer a variety of theories. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Jun 2014
- Working Paper Summaries
Cohort Turnover and Productivity: The July Phenomenon in Teaching Hospitals
The authors focus on the effects of turnover in a particularly high-stakes setting: teaching hospitals. Specifically, the authors examine the effects on productivity of cohort turnover, in this case, medical residents and fellows-and a similarly sized entry of new residents and fellows. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 25 Nov 2013
- Research & Ideas
Hiding From Managers Can Increase Your Productivity
Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Ethan S. Bernstein explains why decreasing workplace transparency can increase productivity. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Mar 2013
- Working Paper Summaries
The Dirty Laundry of Employee Award Programs: Evidence from the Field
Many scholars and practitioners in human resource management have recently argued that awards and other forms of on-the-job recognition provide a "free" way to motivate employees. But are there unintended, negative effects of such awards? In this paper, the authors simultaneously examine the costs and benefits of an attendance award program that was implemented in an industrial laundry plant. The award used in the study was effective in that it reduced the average rate of tardiness among employees. However, it also led to a host of potential spillover effects that the plant manager readily admits were not considered when designing the program, and that reduced overall plant productivity. Overall, findings demonstrate that an award program that appears to be effective may also induce unintended consequences severely reducing the net value of the program. These results highlight the impact such a program can have on the overall performance of the firm and suggest caution when designing and implementing such programs. Key concepts include: Even simple awards programs can have much broader and complex implications for employee behavior. In the study, two highly valued employee groups - the most productive workers and the most consistently punctual workers - suffered a 6-8% decrease in productivity after the award was instituted. This finding is remarkable because it suggests that awards for one type of behavior have the potential to "crowd out" positive behavior in a completely different realm. This research suggests that non-monetary but extrinsic rewards such as corporate awards act more like monetary rewards than they do intrinsic motivators such as love for the job or empowerment through autonomy. Award programs with a low likelihood of winning may be ineffective because employees do not habituate good behavior, and instead lead to a highly strategic response from employees. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Sep 2012
- Research & Ideas
Blue Skies, Distractions Arise: How Weather Affects Productivity
New studies show that workers are more productive on rainy days than on sunny ones. Does your office take advantage? Research by Francesca Gino and colleagues. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Sep 2011
- Research & Ideas
How Small Wins Unleash Creativity
In their new book, The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, authors Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer discuss how even seemingly small steps forward on a project can make huge differences in employees' emotional and intellectual well-being. Amabile talks about the main findings of the book. Plus: book excerpt. Key concepts include: Of all the factors that induce creativity, productivity, collegiality, and commitment among employees, the single most important one is a sense of making progress on meaningful work. Seemingly small signs of progress will induce huge positive effects on employees' psyches. On the other hand, seemingly small setbacks will induce huge negative effects. The catalysts that induce progress include setting clear goals; allowing autonomy; providing resources; giving enough time-but not too much; offering help with the work; learning from both problems and successes; and allowing ideas to flow. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
Private Equity, Jobs, and Productivity: Reply to Ayash and Rastad
In 2014, the authors published an influential analysis of private equity buyouts in the American Economic Review. Recently, economists Brian Ayash and Mahdi Rastad have challenged the accuracy of those findings. This new paper responds point by point to their critique, contending that it reflects a misunderstanding of the data and methodology behind the original study.