By Uri Gal & Sean Hansen
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
Why 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:
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:
This discussion is a bit broader that our usual focus, but tune in to learn more about AI and its societal impact.
Research discussed in the episode:
Brady, W. J., Jackson, J. C., Lindström, B., & Crockett, M. J. (2023). Algorithm-mediated social learning in online social networks. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27(10), 947-960.
Brandt, J. (2023). Propaganda, foreign interference, and generative AI. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution.
Chesney, B., & Citron, D. (2019). Deep fakes: A looming challenge for privacy, democracy, and national security. California Law Review, 107, 1753.
Goldstein, J. A., Chao, J., Grossman, S., Stamos, A., & Tomz, M. (2024). How persuasive is AI-generated propaganda? PNAS Nexus, 3(2), 034.
Hazell, J. (2023). Spear phishing with large language models. arXiv Preprint arXiv:2305.06972.
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 but not Effort Drive GPT Overperformance over Humans in Cognitive Reframing of Negative Scenarios. PsyArXiv Preprints. URL: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/fzvd8
Maples, B., Cerit, M., Vishwanath, A., & Pea, R. (2024). Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots. npj Mental Health Research, 3(1), 4.
Sharma, A., Lin, I. W., Miner, A. S., Atkins, D. C., & Althoff, T. (2023). Human–AI collaboration enables more empathic conversations in text-based peer-to-peer mental health support. Nature Machine Intelligence, 5(1), 46-57.
Techno-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:
Workplace 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.
With 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:
Stereotype 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.
Employee 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.
Employee 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 the research on employee voice and silence and address some of its main questions:
In 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:
In our discussion, we draw on the following research:
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.