All

Conventional wisdom is that active-fund managers are paid to be contrarians; they take risks and go against trends. But new research shows that sometimes they’re the herd: In the bear market of February and March 2020, institutional investors amplified price crashes and volatility by fire-selling, and they focused on cash rather than ESG metrics.

Every hot youth brand faces the core dilemma of how to expand without diluting its appeal as exclusive. The case of streetwear brand Supreme is extreme: Its identity is tied to ultra-small distribution and a “you chase us” marketing model. How can a brand grow when part of its appeal is due to scarcity? Especially in the context of a pandemic?

Entrepreneurship is a powerful engine for innovation and job creation in the U.S., and downturns are precisely the times in which economies are in greatest need of new ideas and agility. More than any type of business, startups depend on the quality of talent to grow. What has the pandemic done to new ventures in the U.S.?

Consumers’ growing appetite for streaming content is changing the way studios produce and market feature films. But could they better reach audiences through analysis of tastes, personalities and lifestyles? Professor Anthony Palomba finds there’s more data out there for studios to capture and better understand movie platform or genre consumption

One pressing concern for pharmaceutical companies is how to effectively allocate scarce resources across projects in R&D pipelines. Professor Panos Markou shares insights on how competitors’ investments in drugs that treat the same disorder may reveal potentially useful information, which senior executives can use to improve chances of success.

Darden Professor Anthony Palomba is an expert in media management, an interdisciplinary academic discipline that examines how audiences consume media and entertainment products and services, as well as how entertainment companies compete amid shifting consumer preferences. He recently answered five questions on the rapidly shifting media landscape.

Professor of Practice Laura Morgan Roberts offers seven conversations, through Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning, that leaders should be having right now to ensure a more diverse, inclusive and equitable environment.

For years, the Western United States has experienced increasing drought. A new paper by Darden economist Peter Debaere reveals the culprit: beef production. Long-term water security and ecosystem health will depend on change.

Process-improvement activities may take many forms. One widespread technique is A3 thinking, a structured and easy to understand method for problem-solving, proposal writing and status reporting. Here, an example of integrating the six-step process into one’s personal life: Losing weight and maintaining the results.

It’s a pivotal moment for the U.S. and global economies, and the U.S. Federal Reserve holds a key position of influence. Professor Frank Warnock, a former Fed economist and current research adviser with the Fed, discusses the tools available and possible next steps for the Fed as the Biden administration steps in.