The Why Podcast

London Business School •www.london.edu

Every piece of academic research starts with a question to answer or puzzle to solve. Listen in as London Business School faculty describe how they set about making new discoveries on a subject they’re curious about, what their findings suggest, and discuss the current and potential future impact of their research for you and your business. A Think at London Business School podcast.

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Episodes

The Why Podcast: Why does it matter how you phrase your mission statement?

If your mission statement is worded the wrong way, it’s unlikely you’ll end up with the kind of company culture you’re hoping for. In this episode of The Why Podcast, Dana Kanze explains how the power of language comes into play in workplace discrimination. Her full research paper, including the dictionary she mentions, is here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/articl…49597818301092 Dana Kanze is Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School. Kathy Brewis is Senior Manag...

Jan 05, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 7

The Why Podcast: Why not fight ageing itself, not just its ailments?

A lot of resources go into combatting age-related diseases, but should we be focusing more on slowing down the actual process of ageing? In this episode of The Why Podcast, Andrew Scott explores the economics of ageing using four different models and suggests a new way forward. His full research paper is here: www.nature.com/articles/s43587-021-00080-0 Andrew Scott is Professor of Economics at London Business School. Kathy Brewis is Senior Managing Editor of Think at London Business School. • Li...

Jan 05, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 6

The Why Podcast: Why is it so hard to spot misconduct?

What happens in between someone making an allegation and it being deemed misconduct? In this episode of The Why Podcast, Bryan Stroube delves into data from the Chicago Police Department to show how psychology and culture affect how wrongdoings are reported and dealt with. Bryan Stroube is Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. Kathy Brewis is Senior Managing Editor of Think at London Business School. • Listen to more insights from LBS faculty and alumni ...

Jan 05, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 5

The Why Podcast: Why is that person being so nice to them?

‘If I scratch your back, someone else will scratch mine…’ In this episode of The Why Podcast, Ena Inesi talks us through her research into how indirect reciprocity works within power hierarchies. It turns out that the judgements we make when we see someone performing an act of kindness affect how we behave towards them, which also influences the flow of resources in social groups. Ena is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School. The full research paper, ‘When it ...

Jan 05, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 4

The Why Podcast: Why doesn’t everyone make an Advanced Care Plan?

It’s straightforward to make your end-of-life treatment preferences known, yet few of us do. Simona Botti is intrigued by the decisions we make as healthcare consumers, so she set out to look into what was going on here – and what this might tell us about ourselves. Simona Botti is Professor of Marketing at London Business School. Kathy Brewis is Senior Managing Editor of Think at London Business School. • Listen to more insights from LBS faculty and alumni @ londonbusinessschool . • Discover mo...

Jan 05, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 3

The Why Podcast: Why is our board so dysfunctional?

Boards failures are shocking and often scandalous – yet, says Randall S Peterson, they aren’t inevitable. In this episode of The Why Podcast, he talks us though the six types of dysfunctional board he has identified in his new book and suggests what to look out for to preempt disaster. Randall S Peterson is Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Academic Director of the Leadership Institute at London Business School. His book Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Underst...

Jan 05, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 2

The Why Podcast: Why are you answering that email right now?

When you get an email from your boss after hours, it can feel like there’s a pressure to respond straight away – which adds stress to our lives. In this episode of The Why Podcast, Laura Giurge explores the psychology around this and suggests ways we can foster healthier emailing habits for happier minds. Laura Giurge is a Research Associate of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School and Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science at LSE. Kathy Brewis is Senior Managing Editor of Think...

Jan 05, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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