- 20 Jan 2022
- Op-Ed
3 Steps to Help Companies Rebuild Trust During the Pandemic
Many workers feel battered and distrustful after almost two years of COVID-19 instability. But it's not too late for managers—even those who made damaging missteps—to repair these relationships, say Sandra Sucher and Shalene Gupta. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 19 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Making Infrastructure Climate Ready: Alice Hill, Council on Foreign Relations
In early 2021, a severe winter storm knocked out Texas’ power grid for days, leaving millions shivering in the dark and killing hundreds of residents. Other states have also been caught off guard by extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. This episode of the Deep Background podcast features , Alice Hill who led the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s effort to develop its first-ever climate resilience plan, being interviewed by Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman. Hill explains what Texas’ electrical grid collapse means for the United States’ infrastructure at large. She also makes recommendations to start preparing infrastructure to be more resilient to extreme weather events. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
- 19 Jan 2022
- In Practice
7 Trends to Watch in 2022
Surging COVID-19 cases may have dampened optimism at the start of 2022, but change could be on the horizon. Harvard Business School faculty members share the trends they're watching this year. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 18 Jan 2022
- Research & Ideas
How Eliminating Non-Competes Could Reshape Tech
President Biden says non-compete agreements threaten innovation, but the tech industry leans on them to protect trade secrets. Andy Wu discusses what a potential ban on these legal pacts could mean for business. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Jan 2022
- Managing the Future of Work
Contingent to career: Kelly Services’ Peter Quigley on reinventing work and creating good jobs
In its 75 years, Kelly Services has gone from temp agency to skills broker, outsourcing firm, workforce development provider, and source of labor market research. CEO Peter Quigley discusses how employers and workers are approaching contingent work, Covid-19’s role in driving innovation and flexibility, “hidden workers” and what’s behind the Great Resignation.
- 12 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Climate Change Lessons from the U.S. Navy: Forest Reinhardt & Michael Toffel
Climate change poses two very different challenges to the U.S. Navy. First, the Navy has to buttress its billions of dollars of shoreline assets against rising sea levels. Second, it has to plan to be called on more often to address both military threats and humanitarian crises caused by climate change. In this episode of HBR Idea Cast, Climate Rising host Harvard Business School professor Mike Toffel and his colleague Forest Reinhardt discuss how the U.S. Navy is both addressing climate change and adapting to it. They explain what the private sector can learn from the Navy’s scientific and sober view of the world. Reinhardt and Toffel are the authors of the Harvard Business Review article, “Managing Limate Change: Lessons from the U.S. Navy”. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org Resources: S. Department of Defense report: DOD Installation Exposure to Climate Change at Home and Abroad (April 2021)
- 11 Jan 2022
- Research & Ideas
Feeling Seen: What to Say When Your Employees Are Not OK
Pandemic life continues to take its toll. Managers who let down their guard and acknowledge their employees' emotions can ease distress and build trust, says research by Julian Zlatev and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 11 Jan 2022
- Cold Call Podcast
Can Entrepreneurs and Governments Team Up to Solve Big Problems?
In 2017, Shield AI’s quadcopter, with no pilot and no flight plan, could clear a building and outpace human warfighters by almost five minutes. It was evidence that autonomous robots could help protect civilian and service member lives. But was it also evidence that Shield AI—a startup barely two years past founding—could ask their newest potential customer, the US government, for a large contract for a system of coordinated, exploring robots? Or would it scare them away? Harvard Business School professor Mitch Weiss and Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s CGO and co-founder, discuss these and other challenges entrepreneurs face when working with the public sector, and how investing in new ideas can enable entrepreneurs and governments to join forces and solve big problems in the case, “Shield AI.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Jan 2022
- Research & Ideas
How to Get Companies to Make Investments That Benefit Everyone
Want more organizations to give back to their communities? Frank Nagle says the success of open source software offers an innovative—and unexpected—roadmap for social good. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Rebecca Henderson: Can Capitalism Address Climate Change
As the impacts of climate change mount, questions have arisen about whether the capitalist economic system we have in place is able to adequately address them. But what if, rather than upending the system, we recognized the power capitalism offers when it is properly regulated? In this episode of the Ask a Harvard Professor podcast, Harvard Business School Professor Rebecca Henderson talks through her own efforts to reconcile the climate crisis with her faith in the ingenuity of capitalism. “I believe that at the moment, our capitalism is also neither free nor fair,” she says. “The free market works when everyone can take part, and prices reflect real costs”—when polluters have to pay the cost of emitting fossil fuels. Henderson walks us through her vision for reimagining the system to address climate change by returning to its roots and building just and sustainable capitalism. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
- 04 Jan 2022
- What Do You Think?
Firing McDonald’s Easterbrook: What Could the Board Have Done Differently?
Letting a senior leader go is one of the biggest—and most fraught—decisions for a corporate board. Consider the recent CEO scandal and legal wrangling at McDonald's, says James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Jan 2022
- Research & Ideas
Scrap the Big New Year's Resolutions. Make 6 Simple Changes Instead.
Self-improvement doesn't need to be painful, especially during a pandemic. Rather than set yet another gym goal, look inward, retrain your brain, and get outside, says Hirotaka Takeuchi. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 15 Dec 2021
- Managing the Future of Work
SHRM’s Johnny C. Taylor Jr. on updating the HR playbook
How well is HR heeding its own advice to workers and reinventing itself to remain relevant and productive? Society for Human Resource Management president and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., on the importance of workplace culture, reskilling, and expanding the talent pool.
- 15 Dec 2021
- Research & Ideas
The 10 Most Popular Articles of 2021
Vaccines might have raised hopes for 2021, but our most-read articles about Harvard Business School faculty research and ideas reflect the challenges that leaders faced during a rocky year. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Dec 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
How Japan’s Recruit Holdings Regained Trust after a Scandal
Recruit Holdings, an advertising media, staffing, and business support conglomerate was founded in Japan in 1960 by Hiromasa Ezoe. The company was built on the principle that the company should add value to society. But in 1988, Recruit hit rough waters when Ezoe sold 2.8 million shares in a subsidiary before it went public to 76 Japanese leaders in politics, business, and media. The "Recruit Scandal," as it was called, resulted in the resignation of Japan’s prime minister and his entire cabinet. Thirty years later, Recruit has become a global conglomerate, with $16 billion in sales in 2017. How did the company not only survive, but thrive after its insider trading scandal? Harvard Business School professor Sandra Sucher examines how Recruit’s unique corporate culture helped to restore lost trust in her case, “Globalizing Japan’s Dream Machine: Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.," and her book, The Power of Trust. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Dec 2021
- Op-Ed
To Change Your Company's Culture, Don't Start by Trying to Change the Culture
Skip the inspirational speeches and culture committees. Meaningful culture change comes about only when companies rethink how they manage, lead, and pursue strategic goals, says Michael Beer. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 13 Dec 2021
- Research & Ideas
The Unlikely Upside of Mergers: More Diverse Management Teams
Mergers shake up the status quo at companies and help women and people of color move up the ladder. Research by Letian Zhang mines data from 37,000 deals. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Dec 2021
- Research & Ideas
Truth Be Told: Unpacking the Risks of Whistleblowing
The stakes are high for employees who report potential malfeasance at their companies. Aiyesha Dey and Jonas Heese discuss how companies benefit from whistleblowers and steps regulators could take to empower them. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Dec 2021
- Op-Ed
Want to Build Better Leaders? Focus on Mindset, Skills, Knowledge
Too many companies fail to see the potential of their best middle managers—and lose them to other firms. Hise Gibson and Shawnette Rochelle offer a framework for helping these promising leaders grow. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
More Proof That Money Can Buy Happiness (or a Life with Less Stress)
It's not about the bigger home or the better vacation. Financial stability helps people escape the everyday hassles of life, says research by Jon Jachimowicz. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.