Publications

July 2002
Case

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Mentoring Program, The (A)

By: David A. Thomas and Gina Carioggia

Describes steps taken to implement and manage a successful employee mentoring program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. A cultural change at the bank provided the context out of which the program grew. The case describes the development of the program,... View Details

Keywords: Design; Training; Human Resources; Employee Relationship Management; Public Ownership; Planning

27 Nov 2014
News

When Your Boss Gives You Conflicting Messages

08 Mar 2021
In Practice

COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace. What Should Companies Do Now?

A year ago, COVID-19 forced many companies to send employees home—often with a laptop and a prayer. Now, with COVID cases subsiding and vaccinations rising, the prospect of returning to old office routines appears more possible. But will employees want to flock back to... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

05 Feb 2024
What Do You Think?

How Do You Hire for Attitude?

spend 2 percent of their time recruiting and 75 percent managing their recruiting mistakes.” Our research confirms that these are companies that hire for skills and try to do the nearly impossible: train for attitude. The question I’m... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

09 Nov 2021
Research & Ideas

The Simple Secret of Effective Mentoring Programs

Old-fashioned mentoring may be one of the most effective ways to improve job performance, but many mentorship programs don’t reach new hires who need guidance most, new research suggests. Newly hired employees at a United States call... View Details

Keywords: by Jay Fitzgerald

01 Apr 2013
Research & Ideas

First Minutes are Critical in New-Employee Orientation

the opportunity for self-expression is indeed directly related to employee retention. Lessons For Businesses For employers, the implications of the findings are pretty clear: "Given that the standard, organization-focused approach of... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Web Services; Service; Telecommunications

10 May 2021
Research & Ideas

Who Has Potential? For Many White Men, It’s Often Other White Men

“Missteps can be perilous for these employees,” Ely says, “because managers see their slip-ups as reason to write them off.” Meanwhile, those deemed stars are given the benefit of the doubt, even when they make mistakes. Ultimately, View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

December 2005 (Revised January 2007)
Case

Ben & Jerry's: Preserving Mission & Brand within Unilever

By: James E. Austin and James Quinn

In the months after Ben & Jerry's was acquired by Unilever, Ben & Jerry's head social mission faces challenges and opportunities unique in the company's history, including: how to manage employee morale; whether to include synthetic ingredients to meet consumer... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Problems and Challenges; Mergers and Acquisitions; Mission and Purpose; Social Enterprise; Management Teams; Governing and Advisory Boards; Value Creation; Corporate Governance; Employee Relationship Management; Food and Beverage Industry; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Retail Industry; United States

31 Jul 2019
Research & Ideas

Distressed Employees? Try Resilience Training

employees take time for themselves,” Whillans says. “Managers have to tell their employees, ‘I really want you to take this one hour every week during your normal work time to do something positive for your own mental well-being.’” And... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Health

February 2015 (Revised August 2016)
Case

Nokia's Bridge Program: Redesigning Layoffs (A)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Susan J. Winterberg

"Not another Bochum." Nokia Board Chairman Jorma Ollila was clear in the goals he set for the 2011 restructuring that Nokia's new CEO, Stephen Elop, had decided was necessary to address the dramatically changed competitive environment the company faced in smartphones... View Details

Keywords: Layoffs; Plant Closure; Outplacement; Shared Value; Business or Company Management; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Restructuring; Employee Relationship Management; Telecommunications Industry

Video

Meet Raymond Porch

06 Sep 2022
Research & Ideas

Does Hybrid Work Actually Work? Insights from 30,000 Emails

Early COVID-19 lockdowns sparked a contentious debate that rages on in the workplace: Can businesses thrive if employees continue to work remotely? Skeptical CEOs, such as the leaders of Goldman Sachs and Starbucks, say they need workers... View Details

Keywords: by Ben Rand

January 1992 (Revised August 1992)
Case

Lexon Corp. (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine

A general manager at Lexon Computer Corp. must decide whether interception and surveillance of employees' e-mail is acceptable company practice, and whether to follow the advice of his computer operations manager who wants to fire the person who complained that the... View Details

Keywords: Information; Rights; Managerial Roles; Interpersonal Communication; Employee Relationship Management; Ethics; Computer Industry

February 2011
Case

Jamie Turner at MLI, Inc.

By: John J. Gabarro and Colleen Kaftan

The case describes the evolution of an interpersonal mismatch between a previously successful manager, Jamie Turner, and his new boss, Pat Cardullo. Turner, a 32-year-old MBA graduate, has been recruited by Cardullo to be vice president of marketing and sales at Modern... View Details

Keywords: Communication; Interpersonal Relations; Superior ＆ Subordinate; Micro Organizational Behavior; Performance Management; Personal Strategy ＆ Style; Management Style; Conflict Management; Interpersonal Communication; Employee Relationship Management; Rank and Position; Performance; Communication Strategy; Personal Development and Career; Acquisition; Distribution Industry; Consumer Products Industry; San Diego; Chicago

01 Dec 2020
News

Steady as She Goes

observes. For the $17 billion retailer, the dual crises were a reminder that the services the company provides are necessary ones. There were very human moments of fear and panic—when store managers in fire-ravaged New South Wales sent... View Details

Keywords: April White; COVID-19; change management; leadership; women; grocery stores; Food and Beverage Stores; Retail Trade

March 1990 (Revised September 1993)
Case

People Express Airlines: Rise and Decline

By: Michael Beer

Describes the innovative approach to organizing and managing employees by People Express and describes the company's eventual demise. This material can be used to inform about leading edge human resource management practices and to raise questions about what went... View Details

Keywords: Employee Relationship Management; Human Resources; Air Transportation Industry

June 1991 (Revised April 1993)
Case

General Electric: Jack Welch's Second Wave (A)

By: Christopher A. Bartlett

By the mid 1980's Jack Welch had completely transformed General Electric with more than 300 divestitures and acquisitions since the beginning of the decade. Welch insisted that his business units be number one or number two in their markets, and have the strength of... View Details

Keywords: Business Conglomerates; Transformation; Employee Relationship Management; Planning; Corporate Strategy

14 Sep 2020
Research & Ideas

You're Right! You Are Working Longer and Attending More Meetings

their employees are juggling to provide the right professional support. Focus on output, not hours. It’s virtually impossible to track how employees are actually using their time. Instead, View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

January 1992 (Revised August 1992)
Case

Lexon Corp. (B)

By: Lynn S. Paine

Lexon Corp. lawyers must decide how to respond to two lawsuits challenging the company's interception of electronic mail on privacy grounds. They must also formulate a company policy on e-mail. One suit was filed by an employee dismissed from her job after asking that... View Details

Keywords: Information; Rights; Managerial Roles; Interpersonal Communication; Employee Relationship Management; Ethics; Lawsuits and Litigation; Computer Industry; California