If you knew that expressing gratitude to a colleague would improve their life and yours, would you do it more often? A new study by Portland State University researchers–business professor David Cadiz, psychology professor Cynthia Mohr, and Alicia Starkey, a recent Ph.D. graduate in psychology–together with Clemson State University professor Robert Sinclair, exhibits a positive...
Commerce
Money-Savers Focus Attention — and Eyes — on the Prize
Why are some people able to patiently save for the future, while others opt for smaller amounts of money now? A new study from Duke University takes a close look at what drives “patient savers,” and reaches some surprising conclusions. Saving takes patience. People must sacrifice instant financial rewards in favor of larger, delayed rewards....
Do Cold Temperatures Result in Heat-Of-The-Moment Purchases?
In 2005, the New York Times reported that high end retailer Bergdorf Goodman kept its stores chilled to 68.3 degrees, whereas Old Navy’s was kept at a balmy 80.3. Meanwhile, the swanky IFC mall in Hong Kong is kept at a frigid 59 degrees Fahrenheit. There may be a reason why luxury retailers keep their...
R-E-S-P-E-C-T? LGBT Views on Police Legitimacy and Authority
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals have a long history of discrimination in the United States. Studies show that they continue to be discriminated in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation, among others. Due to lack of comprehensive state and federal laws, it continues to be legal to fire gay, lesbian, and bisexual...
Why You Should Be Concerned About Oprah Winfrey When Introducing an Innovation
Academic literature recognizes innovation as one of the main drivers of a company’s stock value, but experience says that it’s not always the case and that, when it is, the magnitude of the effect can vary wildly. New research by Bocconi University and Texas A&M scholars proposes a finer-grained view asserting that: The reaction of large...
Consumerism in Crisis as Millennials Stay Away from Shops
Christmas may seem like a distant memory, but retailers won’t forget it in a hurry: it was the worst on the UK high street since 2008. Marks & Spencer and Debenhams saw sales fall, while the likes of specialist retailer Halfords and discounter B&M also struggled. Even that most Christmassy of stores, John Lewis, is...
Part-Time Working Mothers with Flexible Schedules End Up Doing More Work Without Pay
Part-time working mothers who have the ability to control their own schedule often end up working an increased amount of unpaid overtime, new research from the University of Kent has found. On average in the UK men work an extra 2.2 hours a week in unpaid overtime while for women it is about 1.9 hours....
New Research Reveals the Enduring Benefits of Hiring a Star
Much has been written about the benefits of collaboration and sharing of ideas and knowledge during the innovation process. Less is known about the intricate skills required to integrate, or synthesise, various raw materials in a way that will maximise creativity, and create innovations that help organisations out-perform their competitors. A new paper entitled, Where...
Stock Options Worth More for Women, Senior Managers, Study Finds
A novel new way of determining the value of employee stock options has yielded some surprising insights: Options granted to woman and senior managers are worth more because they hold them longer. And options that vest annually rather than monthly are worth more for the same reason. The new valuation method, which combines standard option...
Work-Family Conflict Hits Home
Researchers have long known that sick children can affect a company’s bottom line, as employees are distracted or have to take time off to care for their children. Far less is known about the impact a parent’s work life has on their children’s health. In a paper published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, researchers report that...