Leadership & management

Substantial, transformative change requires deep, holistic learning. Darden Professor Joseph W. Harder examines four aspects of self, four approaches to learning and four critical elements of building a learning-conducive environment in this age of rapid change. It all adds up to improved organizational success and quality of life

Family businesses are unique and complex; they have aspects and layers to them that are unlike any other organizations. Professor June West and Alana Wall provide 10 recommendations for the resilient family business.

The months must-reads for managing in the digital age, curated by the Ideas to Action editors

Effective leadership is essential to progress in both business and society. But what is leadership really, what influences leadership effectiveness and how can the relevant skills be developed? Professor Sean Martin introduces and discusses key concepts to the big idea.

A study in basketball, team culture, effectiveness and star power: Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan had vastly different styles in leading their teams to victory, both on the court and off. Darden Professor Sean Martin discusses what we can learn from these all-star athletes and what sports have to do with organizational behavior.

A group of prominent CEOs recently issued a statement encouraging business to create value for all stakeholders, not limited to investors. Ed Freeman and his colleagues have been working with Stakeholder Theory for decades. Here, Darden professors across disciplines offer examples of how businesses can (or already are) prioritizing stakeholders.

Confident people are seen as competent people. And people of higher social class tend to have more confidence than others — yet perceptions of their abilities tend to exceed their actual performance. Darden Professor Peter Belmi studies cycles of inequality and here explains what the phenomenon means for businesses and what to do to stop it.

The “exploding offer,” a job offer with a near-term expiration date, is a technique some hiring managers use to increase the likelihood of acceptance. But does it do what it’s designed to, and under what conditions? New research answers these questions based on game theory and mathematical modeling.

To compete in today’s complex business environment, executives must excel at making decisions with an enterprise perspective. Darden Professor Elliott N. Weiss’ 9 Cs Enterprise-Perspective Model offers a useful decision-making framework.

Darden Professor Jim Detert studies courage in the workplace — the kind of courage it takes to disagree with your boss, put forth a new plan, confront a negligent co-worker or hold a difficult client to account.