Videos
Watch insightful presentations and discussions from Wharton’s annual People Analytics Conference, featuring researchers, industry leaders, and data innovators. These videos capture a wide range of perspectives on the evolving role of people analytics in business and beyond.
Smarter Work for a Better World?
2024
Speakers:
Juliet Schor – American Economist and Sociology Professor, Boston College, Bestselling Author of “True Wealth” and “The Overworked American”
Iwan Barankay – Associate Professor of Management; Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Studies suggest that the Four Day Week may reduce burnout and depression while offering significant opportunities to reduce our collective carbon footprint. Professors Juliet Schor and Iwan Barankay discuss what we know about the four-day work week and share their different perspectives on what this alternate structure might mean for organizations and their employees.
Navigating Uncertainty Through Art, Science, and Nudges
2023
Speakers:
Liz Fosslien – Illustrator, Author of “Big Feelings” and “No Hard Feelings”, Head of Content at Humu
Liz Fosslien discusses the intersection of emotions, leadership, and decision-making at the Wharton People Analytics Conference. She emphasizes emotional intelligence and the use of nudges to enhance workplace culture and employee well-being. Fosslien integrates art and behavioral science to offer strategies for managing uncertainty and improving team dynamics.
Supporting Mental Health at Work
2023
Speaker:
Lamar Pierce – Beverly & James Hance Professor of Strategy, Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis
Lamar Pierce discusses strategies for supporting mental health in the workplace at the 2023 Wharton People Analytics Conference. He emphasizes creating cultures of awareness and acceptance, enabling employees to seek and receive treatment without stigma. The conversation highlights the importance of employer support, data integration, and personal experiences in fostering a healthier work environment.
Zoom Fatigue and the Science of Recovery with Allison Gabriel
2022
Speakers:
Allison Gabriel – McClelland Professor of Management and Organizations, University distinguished Scholar at University of Arizona
The irony of doing an online talk about the challenge of Zoom fatigue is not lost on Allison Gabriel, the McClelland Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Arizona. But in this research-rich session, she’ll explain why the cameras that have served as portals to our distanced colleagues have inadvertently created a new set of challenges that are wearing us down. By treating emotions as data, Professor Gabriel shares practical advice about how we can each reclaim time for recovery, and seize the return to work as an unprecedented opportunity for employee revival.
Inclusion & Connectedness
2021
Speakers:
Kanwal Safdar – Senior Director of People Analytics, Microsoft
Becky Thielen – Senior Director of People Analytics, Microsoft
Kanwal Safdar and Becky Thielen explore inclusion and connectedness at the 2021 Wharton People Analytics Conference. They share Microsoft’s approach to fostering a supportive work environment during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decisions in enhancing employee well-being, connectedness, and inclusion. Insights from Microsoft Viva analytics illustrate how strategic interventions and listening systems can improve work-life balance, team cohesion, and foster an inclusive culture, offering valuable lessons for organizations aiming to navigate uncertainty and support their workforce effectively.
The Psychology of Technology
2021
Speakers:
Roshni Raveendhran – Associate Professor of Business Administration, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
Roshni Raveendhran explores the impact of new technologies on human psychology at the 2021 Wharton People Analytics Conference. Her research delves into behavior tracking, virtual reality, and AI, highlighting how these technologies affect our perceptions and well-being. Raveendhran emphasizes the importance of understanding these psychological impacts to leverage technology positively in workplaces.
Optimizing Performance
2019
Speaker:
Ceci Clark – Mental Performance Coach at the Cleveland Indians
Meg Popovic – Director of Player Well-Being of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Coyle – New York Times Bestselling Author of “Culture Code”, “The Talent Code”, and “The Secret Race”
Ceci Clark and Meg Popovic, in conversation with Daniel Coyle, discuss the role of psychology in optimizing athletic performance. They emphasize the significance of understanding individual needs and fostering mutual vulnerability to enhance trust and performance. Their discussion emphasizes the role of self-awareness, resilience, and personal development in achieving peak performance, showcasing innovative approaches to coaching and athlete management that prioritize mental well-being alongside physical prowess.
Virtual Reality for Employee Training
2019
Speaker:
Ayreann Luedders – Senior Director, Academy Operations, Walmart
Ayreann Luedders discusses Walmart’s innovative use of virtual reality for employee training. Walmart integrates VR to enhance learning and skill acquisition, leading to significant improvements in employee engagement and assessment scores. The conversation covers the implementation of VR in areas such as customer service, safety protocols, and preparation for high-volume sales events, highlighting VR’s potential to transform traditional training methods by offering immersive, realistic experiences.
Applied Perspective
2018
Speaker:
Laura Fuentes – Senior Vice President of Talent and Rewards at Hilton
Laura Fuentes discusses leveraging people analytics as part of HR strategy. She highlights Hilton’s use of data to understand employee needs, focusing on benefits, work environment, and leadership, showcasing the “Thrive at Hilton” initiative.
Articles
Explore a curated collection of articles featuring groundbreaking research and expert insights from Wharton’s faculty. Discover innovative approaches to people analytics, uncovering insights into human behavior and business practices that are shaping the future.
Getting Unstuck: The Effects of Growth Mindsets About the Self and Job on Happiness at Work
Berg, J., Wrzesniewski, A., Grant, A., Kurkoski, J., & Welle, B. (2022)
This article explores strategies organizations can implement to help employees overcome feelings of boredom and disengagement at work. It discusses the psychological impact of job monotony and offers solutions such as job rotation, skill development, and goal setting to reinvigorate employees’ enthusiasm and productivity. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding individual needs and fostering a dynamic work environment to maintain employee motivation and satisfaction.
Breaking the Cycle of Overwork and Recuperation: Altering Somatic Engagement Across Boundaries
Mehr, K. S., Geiser, A. E., Milkman, K. L., & Duckworth, A. L. (2021)
This research article examines the detrimental cycle of overwork and the mechanisms through which individuals engage in recuperation. Focusing on the role of somatic engagement, the study suggests that integration strategies in non-work settings can disrupt overwork cycles by altering how individuals engage with their bodily experiences. This approach shifts the focus from merely recuperating from work demands to a more holistic integration of work and personal life.
Taking Your Team Behind the Curtain: The Effects of Leader Feedback-Sharing and Feedback-Seeking on Team Psychological Safety
Coutifaris, C., & Grant, A. (2020)
This study, by Constantinos G. V. Coutifaris and Adam M. Grant, investigates the effects of leaders’ feedback-sharing and feedback-seeking on team psychological safety. It found that leaders sharing feedback about their own performance significantly boosts team psychological safety by demonstrating vulnerability and trustworthiness. However, merely seeking feedback from the team does not have the same enduring positive impact on psychological safety.
Coax Generosity out of Your Grumpiest Coworker
Grant, A. (2018)
In this article, Grant offers insights into fostering a culture of generosity in the workplace, even among the least cooperative employees. He introduces the concept of the “Reciprocity Ring,” a group exercise that promotes helping behaviors by making it easy and rewarding for team members to assist each other.
Employee Surveys are Still One of the Best Ways to Measure Engagement
Judd, S., O’Rourke, E., & Grant, A. (2018)
In their Harvard Business Review article, Scott Judd, Eric O’Rourke, and Adam Grant advocate for the continued use of traditional employee surveys alongside advanced methods like machine learning algorithms. Despite technological advancements, surveys remain invaluable for predicting turnover, providing employees a voice, and prompting self-reflection. Drawing on internal research from Facebook, they show that surveys outperform algorithms in predicting turnover and increase employees’ engagement resource requests. Surveys also signal issue importance and convey leadership’s concern for employee opinions, countering surveillance fears in a tech-driven era. The authors emphasize the enduring relevance of surveys for capturing insights that passive monitoring overlooks.
Beat Generosity Burnout
Grant, A., & Rebele, R. (2017)
Grant and Rebele discuss how to be generous without burning out, emphasizing the importance of strategic giving. They suggest that being overly selfless can lead to burnout, but smart givers set boundaries, leverage their strengths, and batch requests to remain productive and resilient. This approach allows for effective support of others while maintaining personal well-being. They also note the unique challenges women face, as their generosity is often expected and underappreciated. Strategic generosity not only prevents burnout but also increases personal energy and impact, demonstrating that it’s possible to be both generous and successful.
Collaborative Overload
Cross, R., Rebele, R., & Grant, A. (2017)
This article discusses the phenomenon of ‘collaborative overload,’ where excessive collaboration can lead to diminished productivity and burnout. It provides data showing that a significant portion of collaborative efforts are shouldered by a small fraction of employees. The article offers strategies to better manage collaboration demands, such as optimizing network resources, redistributing workload, and recognizing collaborative contributions effectively.
When Job Performance is all Relative: How Family Motivation Energizes Effort and Compensates for Intrinsic Motivation
Menges, J. I., Tussing, D., Wihler, A., & Grant, A. (2017).
This study examines the impact of family motivation on job performance, especially when intrinsic motivation is low. The authors propose that the desire to support one’s family can serve as a strong motivator, particularly when employees lack inherent interest in the work itself.
The Bright Side of Being Prosocial at Work, and the Dark Side, Too: A Review and Agenda for Research on Other-oriented Motives, Behavior, and Impact in Organizations
Grant, A., & Bolino, M. (2016)
Bolino and Grant review research on the role of prosocial behavior in organizations, exploring the balance between altruism and self-interest. They highlight how acts like helping and voicing opinions boost performance but can lead to burnout. The authors urge a broader understanding of prosocial activities and a deeper look into their potential downsides, such as exhaustion from over-giving. They call for research that explores complex models of prosocial behavior, its negative aspects, time dynamics, and the gender biases that often see women shouldering a disproportionate share of these tasks. Their analysis points out the need for a wider measurement of prosocial actions to fully grasp their impact and challenges in the workplace.
Work and the Art of Motivation Maintenance
Grant, A. (2013)
Grant highlights that direct interactions with beneficiaries significantly boost work motivation and productivity, contrasting sharply with the minimal impact of motivational speeches. Key strategies include facilitating encounters with those impacted by work, selecting team members inclined towards constructive giving, and promoting empathy. This approach underscores the effectiveness of connecting employees to the real-world impact of their efforts for enhancing engagement.
Podcasts
Selected episodes of Women@Work, hosted by Laura Zarrow. In these conversations, Laura speaks with extraordinary role models, authors, and industry leaders to explore tactics and strategies that support women and men at all stages of their careers.
Be Happier and More Productive at Work
March 13, 2019
Guest: Liz Fosslien – Illustrator, Author of “Big Feelings” and “No Hard Feelings”, Head of Content at Humu
Liz Fosslien, co-author of “No Hard Feelings,” joins Laura to demystify the role of emotions in the workplace. Liz shares her unique insights on harnessing emotions as data points for better decision-making and fostering an inclusive culture. Through humor and practical advice, she advocates for emotional intelligence as a tool for enhancing productivity and personal fulfillment at work. Dive into this episode to explore how embracing emotions can transform our professional landscapes and lead to more authentic connections.