Topic: Productivity
American and Chinese Perceptions of Having a Say at Work
It’s generally a positive in both cultures, but buy-in is more tentative in China
How Companies in Big Cities Out-Export Those in Smaller Ones
Measure of export intensity raises questions about trade policy and housing restrictions
Too Much Free Time? Blame Solitude or Lack of Productive Activity
Even abundant free time, used in meaningful pursuits, brings happiness
Private Equity Boosts Nursing Home Staffing — When Compelled by Competition
But in uncompetitive markets, the financial owners cut staff
A Model Could Help Food Processors Operate More Efficiently
Managing production with the declining potency of a catalyst
Amid Technology Boom, Where Are Productivity Gains?
19th-century French cotton mills suggest halting, uneven progress
How Brands Can Anticipate Unauthorized Subcontracting of Apparel Manufacturing
A model predicts with 80% accuracy which orders get handed off
Collaboration’s Downside: Individuals Take Too Much Credit
Not just the office jerk. Even good colleagues overclaim. Managing around this destructive dynamic isn’t straightforward
Motivating Workers with a Sacred Symbol: Promise and Peril
A Chinese garment factory tidied up after golden coins were displayed
When Manufacturers Commence Exporting, They Become More Efficient
Looking at costs, in a sample of 5,000 plants in Chile, remarkable productivity gains occur
How Fashion Brands Can Best Ensure Worker Safety in Developing Nations
Collective action, rather than each brand working alone, appears more effective and costs less
Status among Team Members: Conflict and Productivity
Groups with unsettled hierarchies can benefit from disagreements that establish a pecking order
You’ll Be Interrupted — Why Not Plan for It?
A team of researchers weighs contingent planning against traditional time management
Not All Second Chances Are Good Ones
Hengchen Dai finds that hitting the reset button can help those who have recently struggled, but erodes the motivation and execution of top performers
Green Initiatives — By Themselves — Won’t Boost Productivity
Environmentally conscious companies that also instill teamwork and quality enjoy higher output