Wharton People Analytics uses data to help organizations make smarter decisions about people.
This interdisciplinary initiative is led by a team of Wharton faculty co-directors: Professors Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth, Cade Massey, and Matthew Bidwell. We focus on collaborative research, thought leadership, and the education of the next generation of experts in this emerging practice.
The Conference
April 4-5, 2019
The Bellevue
Philadelphia, PA
The annual Wharton People Analytics Conference brings together industry leaders and academic experts at the forefront of people analytics to share cutting-edge insights, practices, and innovations.
The 2018 program explored an array of hot topics: Stewart Butterfield, the Co-Founder and CEO of Slack, revealed how the conversation platform is pioneering products that will provide individual users with data on gender biases present in their digital communication; Bob Filbin, Chief Data Scientist of Crisis Text Line, provided insights about how they use data to save lives every day; Mary Barra, CEO of GM, shared how GM’s corporate vision to data-driven metrics; and DJ Patil, the first U.S. Data Scientist, explored how to encourage buy-in to data-driven decision-making.
Research
Research is conducted in partnership with organizations who share our commitment to advancing evidence-based work places.
The Bright Side of Being Prosocial at Work, and the Dark Side, Too
Mark C. Bolino & Adam M. Grant
More than a quarter century ago, organizational scholars began to explore the implications of prosociality in organizations. Three interrelated streams have emerged from this work, which focus on prosocial motives (the desire to benefit others or expend effort out of concern for others), prosocial behaviors (acts that promote/protect the welfare of individuals, groups, or organizations), and prosocial impact…
Overcoming Algorithm Aversion: People Will Use Imperfect Algorithms If They Can (Even Slightly) Modify Them
Berkeley J. Dietvorst, Joseph P. Simmons, & Cade Massey
Although evidence-based algorithms consistently outperform human forecasters, people often fail to use them after learning that they are imperfect, a phenomenon known as algorithm aversion. In this paper, we present three studies investigating how to reduce…
Shifts and Ladders: Comparing the Role of Internal and External Mobility in Executive Careers
Matthew Bidwell & Ethan Mollick
Employees can build their careers either by moving into a new job within their current organization or else by moving to a different organization. We use matching perspectives on job mobility to develop predictions about the different roles that those internal and external moves will play within careers. Using data on the careers…
Student Opportunities
Advancing the practice of people analytics is as important to us as our research. We are continuing to create new educational opportunities for those working in the field, as well as those who would like to enter it.
Professors Bidwell and Massey collaborated with Professor Martine Haas on a 6-hour, open-enrollment, on-line People Analytics course.
INTERNSHIPS
This is a unique opportunity for an MBA student to work with both a major company and/or large non-profit under the guidance of the People Analytics team.
CONFERENCE TEAM
Applications are taken each year for participation in the competitively selected Wharton People Analytics Conference Team. This group of MBA students works with us to plan and implement the entire conference.
WHARTON EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
NEW! People Analytics: HR Transformation through Data
Discover how to use data to make more informed people-related decisions and learn the best tools for defining and cultivating organizational culture. Join Professors Cade Massey and Matthew Bidwell to experience a true learning laboratory with executives from all over the world.
Academic Director Cade Massey on the People Analytics experience
Why Now?
Business Radio Presents: People Analytics Special
Faculty Co-Directors Adam Grant and Cade Massey discuss Adam’s new book “Originals”, including the people analytics behind it, the many lessons within it, and just what makes Adam so productive!
News & Articles
Check out our Wharton People Analytics content feed for everything from academic papers and popular press articles to full conference videos and radio shows from Wharton People Analytics’ faculty, staff and friends.
Why We Should Stop Grading Students on a Curve
Adam Grant | The New York Times
Ask people what’s wrong in American higher education, and you’ll hear about grade inflation. At Harvard a few years ago, a professor complained that the most common grade was an A-. He was quickly corrected: The most common grade at Harvard was an A.
Why Investors Won’t Embrace AI
Angelo Calvello | Institutional Investor
The biggest challenge quantitative managers face may be convincing investors against trusting their own judgment. “Algorithm aversion” is best summarized by academics Berkeley Dietvorst, Joseph Simmons, and Cade Massey, who wrote in a 2014 paper, “Research shows that evidence-based algorithms more accurately predict the future than do human forecasters. Yet… they often choose the human forecaster.”
WorkLife with Adam Grant: A TED original podcast
Adam Grant | TED.com | Download Podcast
You spend a quarter of your life at work, so shouldn’t you enjoy it? Adam Grant takes you inside some of the world’s most unusual workplaces to discover the keys to better work. Whether you’re learning how to love criticism or trust a co-worker you can’t stand, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again.
Wharton People Analytics
St. Leonards Court
3819 Chestnut Street, Suite 325
Philadelphia, PA 19104
The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania