Generative AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), offers a promising new tool for early-stage market research by simulating customer responses to product concepts. This can allow companies to draw conclusions similar to those they’d obtain by survey…

When a recession hits or is looming, many companies turn to layoffs in order to preserve cash and maintain flexibility in the face of economic uncertainty. However, new research on U.S. corporations and job cuts finds that when many firms cut jobs at once…

Delegation is not an uncommon challenge. Many leaders know that they should be delegating some of their tasks, but often struggle to identify meaningful tasks to delegate. Using a time log to track daily activities provides objective data that reveals tasks…

It wasn’t that long ago that American companies and other multinationals felt they had to have a big presence in China. But today, Craig Allen, former president of the U.S.-China Business Council, says this is the most difficult period for investors since…

A conversation with HBS professor Leslie Perlow on why small doses of joy can make you a better leader and lead you to a more satisfying life.

The potential upsides of effective succession planning are huge, and yet most companies are not realizing these benefits, even though many are spending countless hours on the effort. Although most succession planning processes no longer work for today’s business…

Plenty of research espouses the benefits of team rituals, including boosts in employee performance and motivation. However, most of the existing literature examines simple rituals (like a team cheer). A new study explored the impact that complex rituals—like…

Presenting a new strategy to the board is a defining leadership moment in any CEO’s career. Some directors may be supportive. Others will ask tough questions. Ultimately you need to win over their trust and secure their blessing to proceed. What can you do…

How a fast-casual favorite retools its guest experience with kiosks, apps, and a data-driven touch.

Choosing the right generative AI architecture is crucial for professional problem-solving applications. Generalist models excel in enterprise applications due to their versatility and ability to synthesize information across domains. However, specialized…

Demographic change isn’t coming—it’s here, and it’s reshaping labor markets, consumer behavior, and economic growth. Businesses that cling to youth-centric product and talent strategies alone risk missing out on one of the greatest growth opportunities of…

Executive coach Peter Bregman on how indecision, poor judgment, and misplaced values chip away at a leader’s impact.

AI is revolutionizing supplier negotiations, driven by the need for speed, scalability, and strategic agility in complex supply chains. Initially used for automating low-value tasks, AI can now play a crucial role in a growing number of key procurement decisions.…

Our Management Tip of the Day newsletter continues to be one of HBR’s most popular newsletters. In this article, we’ve compiled seven of our favorite tips on being a gracious communicator, talking to your team when times are tough, delivering a message that…

In today’s uncertain economy, leaders must navigate the delicate task of delivering bad news, such as layoffs or project cancellations, with empathy and transparency. Robert Sutton’s framework, originally published in a 2009 HBR article,  remains relevant…

By studying 100 brand implementations of gen AI, researchers have discovered four archetypes for how companies are using the technology strategically. Bold innovators seek to reshape their markets with gen AI. Disciplined integratorsfocus on trust, control…

Over the past several decades, HBR has published numerous articles about how best to develop strategy. This glossary contains descriptions of more than 40 of them, from A-Z, complete with videos and charts to explain how they can help your organization develop…

The most effective leaders understand that line of sight — clearly seeing what’s happening across workstreams and deliverables—doesn’t happen by accident. It’s something you have to engineer. To stay in the know without overstepping, start by mapping work…

With the looming specters of inflation and tariffs, pricing is especially tricky these days. However according to Rafi Mohammed, a pricing expert, companies aren’t particularly good at setting prices to begin with. In this issue of the HBR Executive Agenda…

A conversation with Northeastern University’s Laura Huang on when to listen to your gut.