Shows
The Management LabThe rise of workplace surveillance: Balancing productivity and privacy in the AI eraIn this episode, Sean and Uri explore the increasing prevalence of workplace surveillance, particularly in the context of remote work and the rise of AI technologies.
They discuss the ethical considerations surrounding employee monitoring including: the importance of maintaining a balance between productivity and employee well-being, the need for transparency, and potential biases introduced by AI-enabled surveillance tools.
They also talk about the psychological effects of surveillance on workers and cultural differences in attitudes towards surveillance.2025-02-031h 02The Management LabHow to foster creativity in the workplaceCreativity plays a key role in both individual flourishing and organizational success. In this episode, Sean and Uri discuss various aspects of creativity, particularly in the workplace. They explore the differences between creativity and innovation, the impact of leadership styles on fostering creativity, the role of AI in enhancing individual creativity, and the importance of a supportive work environment for nurturing creativity.2025-01-221h 06
The Management LabCreativity in the workplaceIn this episode, Sean and Uri discuss various aspects of
creativity, particularly in the workplace. They explore the differences between creativity and innovation, the impact of leadership styles on fostering creativity, the role of AI in enhancing individual creativity, and the importance of a supportive work environment for nurturing creativity.
2025-01-221h 06The Management LabThe Paradox of Group Intelligence – Why Smart People Make Bad DecisionsWhy can a group of intelligent, rational individuals still end up making poor decisions?
In this episode, Sean and Uri explore irrational group thinking, examining how dynamics like groupthink - where the desire for harmony leads to poor decision-making - occur.
We discuss what causes groups to fall into these traps, the potential harm to organizations, and how managers can promote a culture of critical thinking and open dialogue.
Research we cover in this episode includes:
Barr, K., & Mintz, A. (2022). Groupthink, Polythink, and Con-Div. Routledge Handbook of Foreign Policy Analysis Methods, 269.
Harel, M., Mossel, E., Strack, P., & Tamuz, O. (2021). Rational gr...2024-09-0557 minThe Management LabHow is AI shaping our public discourse?AI is dramatically transforming the ways in which we create content, present information, and formulate arguments.
Technologies such as large language models, social media algorithms, and synthetic media generation have the potential to upend mechanisms of social discourse that are central to the functioning of liberal democratic systems.
In this episode of The Management Lab, we explore the impacts of AI on social discourse. We explore a wide range of questions, including the following:
What specific technologies have the greatest potential to affect social discourse?
How can we discriminate between truth and falsehood and what is the importance of critical...2024-07-131h 06The Management LabDigital Empathy: Is Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizing Mental Health?The use of AI for mental support is rapidly increasing. Research shows that AI designed to understand and respond to human emotions can help people combat depression, avoid suicide, and improve their human relationships.
We examine both the potential and ethical questions arising from using AI for mental support. We also discuss how using such technologies can create new opportunities and challenges for organizations.
Sources Discussed:
Ayers, J.W., et al. (2023). Comparing physician and artificial intelligence chatbot responses to patient questions posted to a public social media forum. JAMA Internal Medicine, 183(6), 589-596.
Li, J. Z., Herderich, A., & Goldenberg, A. (2024). Skill b...2024-06-1158 minThe Management LabHow Organizations Can Manage Technology-Induced Stress and Enhance ProductivityTechno-stress refers to the stress we feel because of our inability to adjust to the introduction of new technologies. It can reduce workers’ job satisfaction, increase attrition, and hinder organizations’ ability to innovate. Sean and Uri examine the science of the causes, nature, and implications of technostress, and how managers can mitigate its negative effects.
Research discussed in the episode:
Ayyagari, R., Grover, V., & Purvis, R. (2011). Technostress: Technological antecedents and implications. MIS Quarterly, 35(4), 831-858.
Califf, C. B., Sarker, S., & Sarker, S. (2020). The bright and dark sides of technostress: A mixed-methods study involving healthcare IT. MIS Quarterly, 44(2), 809-856.
Nastjuk, I., Trang, S., Gru...2024-05-0851 minThe Management LabWhy work is boring and how to make it more interestingWorkplace boredom refers to a state of low arousal and dissatisfaction, which is attributed to an inadequately stimulating work environment. It can lead to counterproductive behavior, job turnover, anxiety, and depression. Sean and Uri examine the science of the causes, nature, and implications of workplace boredom, and how managers can make it more interesting.2024-04-0156 minThe Management LabBeyond the Screen: Using AR and VR in the WorkplaceWith the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, excitement about the potential of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is running hot. In this episode of The Management Lab, we explore these emergent technologies along with their most promising business applications and the challenges to their organizational use.
Research we discuss in the episode:
Adhyaru, J. S., & Kemp, C. (2022). Virtual reality as a tool to promote wellbeing in the workplace. Digital Health, 8, 2055-2076.
Berman, B., & Pollack, D. (2021). Strategies for the successful implementation of augmented reality. Business Horizons, 64(5), 621-630.
de Regt, A., Barnes, S. J., & Plangger, K. (2020). The virtual reality val...2024-02-201h 04
Debunking Information SystemsNicks Forschung: Verantwortung und digitale EthikIn dieser Folge gibt Nick einen Überblick über seine Forschungsarbeit und gewährt Einblicke in den Prozess, der zu seiner jüngsten Veröffentlichung geführt hat. Tatjana stellt sich als Reviewer 6 heraus.Ressourcen und Empfehlungen:Lüthi, N., Matt, C., & Myrach, T. (2021). A value-sensitive design approach to minimize value tensions in software-based risk-assessment instruments. Journal of Decision Systems, 30(2–3), 194–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/12460125.2020.1859744Lüthi, N., Matt, C., Myrach, T., & Junglas, I. (2023). Augmented Intelligence, Augmented Responsibility? Business & Information Systems Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-023-00789-9Nass, C., & Moon, Y. (2000). Machines and Mindlessness: Social Responses to Computers. J...2024-02-151h 01The Management LabEchoes of Prejudice: Exploring and Combating Stereotype ThreatStereotype threat refers to the performance-sapping impact of situations in which people feel they are at risk of confirming or reinforcing negative stereotypes about a social group of which they are a member. Sean and Uri investigate the science of the causes and nature of stereotype threat, and how managers can mitigate its effects.2024-01-1753 minThe Management LabThe do’s and don’ts of giving effective employee feedbackEmployee feedback is an essential component of work life that can be a source of individual growth and organizational success but also of anxiety and rigidity. Sean and Uri investigate the science of how managers can deliver effective feedback.2023-12-2059 minThe Management LabSpeaking Up or Holding Back: Navigating Voice and Silence in the WorkplaceEmployee voice refers to the ways in which employees communicate their opinions and suggestions to their managers on how to improve their organization.
Conversely, employee silence occurs when employees withhold their views due to fear of negative consequences or a belief that their opinions are not valued.
Understanding these dynamics is critical for managers because encouraging employee voice can lead to better organizational outcomes, such as higher performance, innovation, and employee retention. On the other hand, addressing the reasons behind employee silence can prevent potential issues from escalating and improve the overall workplace environment.
In this episode, we delve into t...2023-11-291h 16The Management LabThe Soul of Business: Spirituality in OrganizationsIn our rapidly-evolving, digitally-dominated world, many of us seek meaning, purpose, and a deeper connection to our inner self. This quest is not confined to our personal lives; it extends to our professional environments as well.
Spirituality, therefore, is emerging as a vital component for organizational success and employee well-being.
In this episode, Sean and Uri discuss spirituality in the workplace and unpack why spiritual practices and principles are no longer just personal pursuits but essential organizational strategies.
Some of the topics covered include:
What is spirituality and how it relates to religious beliefs.
The difference between personal and organizational...2023-11-011h 07The Management LabGetting to the Heart of the Matter: On human Emotions and AIThe explosion of generative AI in the past year has engendered plenty of emotional responses across the globe. Not surprisingly, the interaction of emotions and AI is a critical facet of our adaptation to this technology.
In this episode, we discuss the intersection between AI and human emotions, how AI can recognize and respond to emotion in users, and how human emotions can be leveraged to increase the use of AI.
Specific question we tackle include:
What makes emotional artificial intelligence distinctive from other emerging AI technologies?
To what degree can cultural and contextual factors be accounted for by emotional a...2023-10-121h 22The Management LabBeyond Profit: Exploring the Complexities of ESGOver the past decade, businesses have made a concerted effort to improve their monitoring, analysis, and reporting of a wide range of non-monetary societal impacts collectively grouped under the label of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors.
Driven largely by the investment community, the ESG framework seeks to capture diverse, traditionally-overlooked aspects of organizational performance. In this episode of The Management Lab, we explore this emergent concept with key insights from some of the latest research on the topic. Specific topics discussed include:
What organizational activities fall under the ESG rubric?
How does ESG differ from the earlier movement of...2023-09-251h 08The Management LabThe Promise and Peril of People AnalyticsAlong with most other aspects of our business environment, the domain of human resource management is being fundamentally reshaped through the application of advanced data analytics. People analytics is a class of technology tools aimed at promoting evidence-based practices in organizations and allowing managers to make objective and rational decisions about their workforce. In this episode of The Management Lab, we explore the promise and perils of people analytics, and discuss these topics:
The assumptions that underlie the vision of people analytics.
What is people analytics good for and what applications may reflect an overreach of the technology?
The key...2023-08-151h 32The Management LabMaking AI Work: The Generative Edge in Workplace ProductivityWe're diving into the transformative role of generative AI in the workplace and examine if and how it impacts business productivity.
Some of the questions we explore are: Should managers be unleashing the power of generative AI on everything in sight, or should they take a more measured approach? Does ChatGPT merely augment human capabilities or is destined to replace us? Is there still a role for human intuition in the AI era? And, can Sean do mental math?
In our discussion, we draw on the following studies:
Brynjolfsson, E., Li, D., & Raymond, L.R. (2023). Generative AI at work (Working Pap...2023-07-131h 04The Management LabAI unleashed: The Moral Dimension of Generative IntelligenceWe finally break the seal on a discussion of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Since the launch of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, the potential of generative AI for good and for ill has dominated technology speculation across the globe. In this episode, we explore several of the ethical dimensions of generative AI (while conceding that such dimensions are almost unlimited).
Specific topics discussed include:
The evidence of political bias in generative AI systems
The inconsistent moral argumentation of generative AI systems
Can generative AI take the place of human actors in cognitive science research (and would we want it to)?
...2023-06-261h 33The Management LabC-Suite Symphony: CEOs and firm performanceCEOs are central figures in organizations, standing at the helm of large corporations and wielding the power to create substantial wealth. Their influence is imprinted not just on their employees and shareholders, but also on society at large. They create jobs, foster innovation, and drive the engine of our economy.
On the other hand, some CEOs prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term corporate health, employee welfare, and societal benefits. CEOs’ power can lead to unchecked decision-making, risking not only company assets but also affecting the lives of employees and stakeholders.
In this episode, we explore the degree to which CEOs ac...2023-06-071h 15The Management LabCEOs Unveiled: A Deep Dive into Leadership Traits and Ethical BehaviorRecent decades provide ample evidence of the potential for unethical behavior in organizational leadership. From Enron to Volkswagen and Wells Fargo to Purdue Pharma, we see that ethical failings in managerial ranks can have devastating effects on organizations and society at large.
In this episode, we explore some research on the dynamics of leadership personality and its implications for ethical behavior (or lack thereof). We preface our discussion with an overview of the five-factor model of personality (the so-called Big Five), which looms large over this research domain. From there, we probe multiple dimensions of the phenomenon:
Personality traits that...2023-05-2457 minThe Management LabNudging with Care: Navigating the Ethical Landscape of Behavioral TechniquesHow can managers harness behavioral science to help their employees make better decisions? The principle of nudging says that, by tapping into innate psychological tendencies, we can design choice scenarios to increase the likelihood of individuals choosing well.
In this episode we delve into the world of nudging techniques, examining how they can influence decision-making in various organizational scenarios, with a special focus on the ethical dimensions of the practice.
Some of the topics we cover are:
Does nudging actually work [spoiler: yes]?
Can nudging be taken too far? If so, what are the limiting conditions for effective (and ethical...2023-05-101h 04The Management LabManaging Gen Z in the Workforce: Challenges and StrategiesAs more members of Gen Z enter the workforce, organizations need to understand how to effectively manage this new cohort of employees. In this episode, we discuss the challenges that managers may face when managing Gen Z employees and provide strategies for how to effectively manage and motivate them.
Some of the topics we will cover are:
What factors differentiate Gen Z from previous generations of employees?
What do Gen Zers look for in their ideal workplace?
How can organizations effectively manage inter-generational conflicts?
What leadership styles are best suited to manage Gen Zers?
The papers we discuss are:
Applebaum...2023-04-261h 10The Management LabThe Rise of Remote Work: How Companies and Employees are Adapting to the New NormalIn this episode, we’re discussing the rise of remote work and how companies and employees are adapting to this new way of working. We'll examine current academic research to explore the benefits and challenges of remote work, and provide insights and tips for companies and individuals looking to make the most of this new era of work.
Some of the questions we’ll answer are:
Does working from home increase job satisfaction and productivity?
How is being on camera during online meetings affect employee burnout?
Are women particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of WFH?
How does having a remot...2023-03-2356 minThe Management LabUnderstanding Algorithmic Aversion: Why are People Skeptical of Algorithms?Algorithms are increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, but many people still distrust of them. In this episode, we discuss what algorithmic aversion is, why it occurs, and what we can do to build trust in algorithms.2023-03-1450 min