Kellogg Insight

Prof. Adam Pah explains why it’s getting harder to get good data, why too much data can sabotage your algorithm, and how companies are now using AI to address customers’ pain points. For more tips on using AI and analytics in business, download our new ebook: kell.gg/book

There’s a classic rule in economics that says more transparency and communication always leads to better outcomes. But research from Prof. Robert Bray suggests that there are important exceptions to this trusty rule. When does it make more sense to keep your cards close to the vest?

What’s the best way to offer your employees and colleagues constructive criticism? Prof. Ellen Taaffe shares tips for how to give (and receive) better feedback, and what you can do if you’re not getting any feedback at all.

For leaders, deciding how much trust to place in the people you manage can be tricky. Give them too much leeway, and they might take advantage of you—but don’t give them enough, and they may not feel safe to take risks. So how much does a more trusting CEO really spur innovation? And how should you determine if more trust is what your organization really needs? Prof. Kieu-Trang Nguyen describes a new study that takes a clever approach to analyzing trust at the top.

These days, more and more work is happening in teams. However, it’s often difficult to see who on the team did what. So how do we allocate blame when a team project goes wrong? Research from Profs. Benjamin Jones and Brian Uzzi finds that we often point the finger at the wrong individuals—and suggests ways that leaders can guard against this bias.

Machines are taking on more and more new responsibilities in the workplace. But are some jobs better left to humans? Prof. Adam Waytz, author of The Power of Human, offers three guidelines for how managers can play to the unique strengths of both people and technology.

"Don't be afraid to have an edge about you." Craig Wortmann, a professor of innovation and entrepreneurship and three-time CEO, explains how to hone the skills you’ll need to ask for what you want at work—and challenges you to embrace the tension that comes with being bold.

Creativity is invaluable. Yet when trying to generate ideas, we often censor ourselves for fear of being seen as foolish. So could overcoming this fear make us more creative? Professor Leigh Thompson tests that theory with a unique series of experiments.

After a short break, Kellogg Insight’s podcast is now back with a new look—and a new name.

What does it mean when the leadership role you have accepted comes with an expiration date? On this episode, Kathleen Hagerty, the outgoing interim dean of the Kellogg School, reflects on the leadership lessons she learned in her year at the helm of a leading business school.

At some point in our careers, we all question if we’re truly on the right path. But how do you know for sure? On this episode, Nicholas Pearce, a clinical professor at Kellogg and author of "The Purpose Path," explains how to find your calling, and summon the courage to make it a reality. 

How can thinking like a designer help you create better products, better services, and better solutions? On this episode, Kellogg Clinical Associate Professor David Schonthal, a senior director at IDEO, shares the three simple steps that can let anybody harness their inner designer and get results.

In 2001, Harry Kraemer faced a full-blown leadership crisis. At the time, he was CEO of healthcare company Baxter International. When one of his company's products was linked to patient deaths worldwide, it was up to Kraemer to decide how to respond. On this episode of the Kellogg Insight podcast, Kraemer discusses how to make hard choices that align with your internal compass.

Waiters get mistreated. Call center operators get screamed at. Salespeople have to smile at difficult clients. But why do those tense moments sometimes escalate to sabotage? Kellogg Professor Cynthia Wang shares what she discovered—and what companies can do about it.

Most of us think of Valentine’s Day as the “day of love.” But for the people in charge of getting roses out of the field and into the hands of consumers—from growers, to shippers, to flower shops—it's actually a high-stakes day of commerce. On this episode of the Kellogg Insight podcast, Martin Lariviere explains what the humble rose can teach us about a working supply chain, and the many ways it can go awry.

If you’ve ever had to give a presentation at work, then you know: It seems like there are a million things to worry about. In this episode of the Kellogg Insight podcast, Tim Calkins, a clinical professor of marketing and author of "How to Wash a Chicken: Mastering the Business Presentation," shares five tips that will let you conquer the business presentation.

When we think people are different from us, how do we treat them? The answer to that question can sometimes be a matter of life or death. On this episode of the Kellogg Insight podcast, we hear from Prof. Nour Kteily about his research on social categorization. 

In this episode of the Kellogg Insight podcast, we take a fresh look at how the Supreme Court really makes decisions. First, Tonja Jacobi, a professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, explains what oral arguments can tell us about how the Court is planning to vote. Then we hear from Jörg Spenkuch, an associate professor of managerial economics and decision-making at Kellogg, whose research questions whether justices are really as impartial as they think.

Kellogg Insight offers advice for entrepreneurs on the importance of defining their startup's identity as early in their journey as possible. We hear from Rick Desai, an adjunct professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Kellogg and founder of the brand identity firm Listen. Then we discuss with Ben Jones, a professor of strategy at Kellogg, his groundbreaking new research on the ages of successful entrepreneurs.

  In this best-of podcast, Kellogg Insight offers advice on advancing your career. We hear from Adnan Rukieh, a director of career services at Kellogg, about getting recruited, as well as faculty members Steven Franconeri, Carter Cast and Michelle Buck, who all discuss ways to hone your skills and put your best foot forward as you climb the professional ladder.