A new paper by Prof. Daron Acemoglu and Prof. Simon Johnson uses the impact of automation in the textile industry to predict potential similar effects from AI, writes Bloomberg’s Andy Mukherjee. Noting the parallels between the Indian textile industry and disruption currently underway in tech outsourcing, the economists write “the impact of automation on workers today is more complex than an automatic linkage from higher productivity to better wages.”
Senior lecturer Robert Pozen writes for Fortune about how businesses need to implement new methods for measuring employee productivity and performance. Pozen recommends an approach he developed called “success metrics,” noting that “under this approach, the manager sets objectives for their team as part of the effort to fulfill the organization’s goals. Then the manager and team members discuss how they will know at the end of the relevant period whether they have been successful in achieving these objectives.”
A survey developed by Senior Lecturer Robert Pozen identifies several habits of highly-productive people, reports Prachi Bhardwaj for Money. “Probably the most important habit is whether you are geared to accomplishing a lot rather than putting in a lot of hours,” explains Pozen. “That leads to the second most important thing, which is whether you’ve defined your highest priorities and you’re focused on your highest priorities.”
CNBC reporter Kerri Anne Renzulli spotlights how Senior Lecturer Robert Pozen developed a survey to help identify what enables workers to be more productive. “Working longer hours does not necessarily mean higher personal productivity,” explains Pozen. “Working smarter is the key to accomplishing more of your top priorities each day.”
While examining the impact of aging societies on growth, The Economist cites a new study co-authored by Prof. Daron Acemoglu, which shows that “when young workers are sufficiently scarce, manufacturers invest in more automation, and experience faster productivity growth as a result.”
In an article for The Wall Street Journal, Greg Ip highlights a new study by Prof. Erik Brynjolfsson and graduate student Daniel Rock that examines why advances in technology have not yet led to increases in productivity. Ip writes that, “the authors blame these lags on the cost and time it takes for businesses to adapt to new technologies.”
Tim Bowler reports for the BBC News that a new study by MIT researchers finds that workplace chatter can increase productivity. The researchers found that “those who interacted most with their co-workers had the highest productivity - whether or not they were talking about work or sport.”
Saki Knafo of The Atlantic interviews Professor Zeynep Ton about the efforts companies are taking to make employees happier and more productive. “A good job is more than just higher wages,” says Ton. “A good job is also a productive job.”
Senior lecturer John Carrier writes for The Huffington Post how he has applied methods used to improve productivity in factories to more efficiently use his kitchen at home. Carrier outlines small changes that allowed his family to maximize use of space and time in their kitchen.