Publications

December 1999
Article

Changes in the Work Environment for Creativity during Downsizing

By: T. M. Amabile and Regina Conti

This study examined the work environment for creativity at a large high-technology firm before, during, and after a major downsizing. Creativity and most creativity-supporting aspects of the perceived work environment declined significantly during the downsizing but... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Culture; Situation or Environment; Creativity; Resignation and Termination; Employees; Business or Company Management; Motivation and Incentives; Management Practices and Processes; Crisis Management; Groups and Teams; Communication; Announcements; Interpersonal Communication

Article

Inviting Consumers to Downsize Fast-Food Portions Significantly Reduces Calorie Consumption

By: Janet Schwartz, Jason Riis, Brian Elbel and Dan Ariely

Policies that mandate calorie labeling in fast-food and chain restaurants have had little or no observable impact on calorie consumption to date. In three field experiments, we tested an alternative approach: activating consumers' self-control by having servers ask... View Details

Keywords: Food; Labels; Consumer Behavior; Interpersonal Communication; Motivation and Incentives; Health Industry; Food and Beverage Industry

1995
Article

Managing Distrust: The Hidden Cost of Downsizing

By: D. Sull and N. Nohria

Keywords: Management; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Cost; Trust

February 2012
Case

Hyperion Power Module: Downsizing the Nuclear Renaissance?

By: Dennis Yao and Britta Kelley

Keywords: Energy Industry

23 May 2000
Research & Ideas

Minding the Muse: The Impact of Downsizing on Corporate Creativity

counting on to drive sales over the next few years might not be forthcoming. Corporate downsizing is hardly anything new. Indeed, in recent years it has often been management's tool of choice for improving competitiveness. Ironically, new... View Details

Keywords: by Peter K. Jacobs

1996
Chapter

Managing the Hidden Cost of Distrust in Downsizing

By: D. Sull and N. Nohria

Keywords: Trust; Ethics; Restructuring; Cost Management

1999
Chapter

The Impact of Downsizing on Organizational Creativity and Innovation

By: R. Conti and T. M. Amabile

Keywords: Restructuring; Strategy; Innovation and Management; Creativity; Organizational Change and Adaptation

2008
Blog

Harvard Business Online—Marketing Know:How: How Recession Will Accelerate Consumer Downsizing

By: John A. Quelch

Register to Read

01 Mar 1994
Conference Presentation

Environmental Determinants of Work Motivation, Creativity, and Innovation: The Case of R&D Downsizing

By: Teresa M. Amabile and R. Conti

Keywords: Motivation and Incentives; Creativity; Innovation and Invention; Research and Development

December 2005
Article

Reducing Slack: The Performance Consequences of Downsizing by Large Industrial Firms, 1977-93

By: E. Geoffrey Love and Nitin Nohria

Keywords: Business Ventures; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Performance; Outcome or Result

2023
Working Paper

Trading Off Business and Family Investments: Evidence from U.S. Entrepreneurial Households

By: Olivia S Kim

Keywords: Downsizing; Small Business; Work-Life Balance; Household

1996
Working Paper

Adaptive or Disruptive: When Does Downsizing Pay in Large Industrial Corporations?

By: Nitin Nohria and Geoffrey Love

May 2016 (Revised August 2022)
Case

RegionFly: Cutting Costs in the Airline Industry

By: Susanna Gallani and Eva Labro

RegionFly is a small, private airline specializing in ultra-premium services. Founded shortly after the "Golden Age of airline travel," RegionFly's financial performance had been strong for several decades. More recently, however, the results have taken a downward... View Details

Keywords: Recession; Downsizing; Profitability; Cost Management; Profit; Luxury; Competitive Strategy; Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Divisions; Logistics; Decision Making; Strategic Planning; Air Transportation Industry

1997
Chapter

Environmental Determinants of Work Motivation, Creativity, and Innovation: The Case of R&D Downsizing

By: T. M. Amabile and R. Conti

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Research and Development; Working Conditions; Motivation and Incentives; Creativity; Innovation and Invention

2004
Working Paper

Downsizing Price Increases: A Greater Sensitivity to Price Than Quantity in Consumer Markets

By: John T. Gourville and Jonathan J. Koehler

October 2018 (Revised March 2019)
Background Note

Note on Managing Workforce Reductions

By: Ethan Bernstein and Carin-Isabel Knoop

Each individual who enters an organization will, at some point, leave. And yet most future leaders spend significantly more effort learning about recruiting than departures, despite the sensitivity and challenges associated with the latter. This note is intended to... View Details

Keywords: Layoffs; Downsizing; Workforce; Workforce Reductions; Delayering; Human Resources; Employees; Resignation and Termination; Management; Organizations; Reputation

October 2014
Case

Honeywell and the Great Recession (A)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Susan J. Winterberg

CEO Dave Cote spent six years turning around an ailing Honeywell and in 2008 Cote and his team face a new challenge: how to respond to the Great Recession. Cote does not want to give up the gains he made in transforming and unifying Honeywell. With a fall-off in... View Details

Keywords: Layoffs; Furloughs; Downsizing; Work Sharing; Short Time Work; Recessions; Earnings Forecast; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Cost Management; Executive Compensation; Crisis Management; Financial Crisis; Manufacturing Industry

October 2014
Supplement

Honeywell and the Great Recession: The Economic Recovery (B)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Susan J. Winterberg

Five years after the Great Recession, Honeywell's CEO Dave Cote and his executive team reflect on the choices they made to manage costs and earnings forecasts during that uncertain time. They discuss which cost cutting measures they decided to take and their personal... View Details

Keywords: Layoffs; Furloughs; Downsizing; Work Sharing; Short Time Work; Recessions; Earnings Forecast; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Cost Management; Executive Compensation; Crisis Management; Financial Crisis; Manufacturing Industry