Decision-making & Analytics
5 READS YOU NEED...
To apply behavioural science
3 'Wake Up To The Benefits of Power Naps' . By Mattie Toma . The idea of ‘sleeping on the job’ remains an anathema. This article
working conditions that managers might otherwise ignore. For example, many firms remain reluctant to embrace short daytime naps for employees. However, research by Mattie Toma, Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science at WBS, and colleagues at Harvard, MIT, Wharton revealed that workers who had a midday ‘power nap’ were 2.3 per cent more productive over the course of the day. To put it another way, it increased productivity as much as a 50 per cent wage rise would. Workplace naps improved physical wellbeing, mental health, task cognition, and attention levels more than a better night’s sleep. Dr Toma said: “It may seem counterintuitive to reduce the “But in the long term, educating employees on the value of high- quality sleep and encouraging them to carve out time in their daily schedule for a nap could pay off.” Understanding how people behave remains a powerful tool for leaders in politics and business. But understanding how to use that information effectively is equally important. That is where institutions like WBS can make a vital difference, providing evidence-based insights to nudge those in positions of power to make better-informed decisions, as well as nudging individuals to behave better. time that individuals spend working, particularly when budgets are squeezed and the cost of living is rising.
THE CHANGE MAKERS’ MANUAL
EDITION 11 | 2023
Why strategy shouldn’t be secret 13 | How to adopt AI responsibly 20 Can AI police social media? 22 | Wake up to workplace naps 52 AI: Should we be afraid?
from Core 11 summarises Mattie Toma's research with colleagues at Harvard University, MIT, and Wharton, which reveals the productivity benefits of short daytime naps Crucially, these can boost productivity by a significantly greater margin that a better night's sleep. Firms such as Nike are now embracing power naps as a way of improving employee morale and performance. This is helpful reading for bosses who don’t want to be caught snoozing.
1 Nudge . By Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein . This book convinced
governments the world over
to embrace nudge theory as a low cost intervention to improve individual behaviour and optimise outcomes. It remains a classic read and an obvious starting point for any decision-makers who are interested in leveraging behavioural insights to further their policy goals. Thaler won the Nobel prize for economics in 2017 and while there have been growing questions about the effectiveness of nudging in many contexts, he remains a giant in the field.
4 How To Change . By Katy Milkman . This book provides simple but profound strategies to help individuals and
teams achieve their professional goals.
Award-winning Wharton Professor and Choiceology podcast host Milkman teaches readers how to adaptively harness key barriers that stand between them and the change they seek, benefitting both managers and the teams they lead.
pointing out that they were behaving differently was enough to convince many to significantly reduce their overprescribing. As a result, all GP practices received a letter in November 2022, asking them to ensure they offered the shortest effective course of antibiotics in line with NICE clinical guidelines. Behavioural science in business It is not just policymakers who can benefit from using behavioural science in a more considered way. Business leaders must also understand how to use it effectively to reap the benefits and avoid the potential pitfalls. Dr Tim Mullett, of WBS, says: “Interventions aimed at increasing people’s motivation at work and improving performance can
backfire, particularly if they place too much emphasis on competition, such as bonus schemes or incentives for individual employees.
equally careful thought, especially if companies stand to profit from an intervention that is positioned as benefit for consumers or society more generally (a challenge explored in more detail in the article starting on page 40). There are other ways that businesses can apply behavioural science to improve employee wellbeing, retention, and productivity. For example, a better understanding of the so-called ‘midlife crisis’ can help bosses to better support employees in their 40s and 50s who are moving into more senior roles that involve greater stress and responsibility (see the article starting on page 24). Behavioural science can also reveal evidence-based improvements to processes and
2 The Voltage Effect .
By John List . Why do some policy initiatives and business ideas fail to take hold,
“In some cases it might be wiser to offer collaborative teamwork incentives”
5 Six Lessons on Negotiation From Middlemarch . By Daniel Read . Life is a constant stream of negotiations. In this article, from Core
THE CHANGE MAKERS’ MANUAL EDITION NINE 2021
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while others succeed? This book reveals some of the most common reasons. Leading economist List
also shares insights gleaned from numerous small-scale
Nine , my colleague reveals some of the surprising lessons that George Eliot’s classic Victorian novel offers for anyone about to embark on a tricky negotiation in their professional or personal lives. These range from leveraging existing relationships to how to handle a weak negotiating position.
policy experiments to provide a framework for thinking about how to replicate ideas at scale, helping those with important ideas to achieve widespread impact. This is as relevant for business leaders and entrepreneurs as it is for policy-makers.
Find out about the Executive Diploma in Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School.
“In some cases, it might be wiser to offer collaborative teamwork incentives that encourage employees to perform well as a group.” Nudging customers requires
Sustainable Development Goals
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