Deborah Small - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

'Masculine Norms': Why Working Women Find It Hard to Reach the Top

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:33:48 EST

Women have been in the workforce for decades, but many will acknowledge that it is still a man's world, and that the unwritten rules of the workplace continue to favor men. So how would they structure a professional environment that would help more women reach the corner office?

Research Roundup: Fiscal Fatal Attraction, the Idiosyncrasies of Entrepreneurs and the Value of Luxury Hiding in Plain Sight

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:51:52 EST

Are big spenders attracted to the stingy -- and does it lead to blissful matrimony? Why are certain people more likely to take the entrepreneurial leap? How can subtle branding help retailers attract a high-end niche customer base? Wharton professors Deborah Small, Nikolai Roussanov and Jonah Berger, respectively, examined these issues -- and their broader implications -- in recent research papers.

To Boycott or Not: The Consequences of a Protest

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:48:25 EST

The call for a boycott of BP in the wake of its ongoing disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is hardly surprising. The boycott, which in BP's case was proposed by consumer group Public Citizen, is a tactic that has been used for centuries by consumers as a way to express outrage. While research shows many boycotts come up short in forcing their targets to give in to the demands of protest organizers, they can have real impact in terms of lost sales and a damaged reputation. In the case of BP, however, experts say a boycott is likely to be only a nuisance when compared to the outsized legal liability the company is facing from the Gulf spill.

'Mustaches for Kids': Charities Adopt Private Sector Models to Tap New Funds

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:27:19 EST

In the wake of the global financial crisis, social enterprises are hastening their transition from the traditional donor model to rely more on market mechanisms long established in the private sector. In so doing, organizations hope to not only survive the current recession, but also to create a foundation for long-term sustainability, say Wharton faculty and executives at non-profit institutions.

Baseball, Steroids and Business Ethics: How Breaches of Trust Can Change the Game

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:18:03 EST

When former Senator George Mitchell finally released his report on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball last December, many of its conclusions came as no surprise to baseball fans, most of whom had heard the allegations of steroid use for years. With fans aware of such egregious behavior, why has attendance at games continued to climb? Are baseball's "consumers" impervious to ethical lapses? No, say Wharton professors, but the case demonstrates how bias, competition and a lack of oversight can work together to create an ethically toxic atmosphere -- in any field.

Robbing the Cradle? If Marketers Get Their Way, That Bundle of Joy Can Cost a Bundle

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:40:29 EST

Just a decade ago, a company called Baby Einstein helped launch a new line of educational videos and toys that many parents believed would put their toddlers in the fast lane to success. The company was soon joined by others that promoted educational and entertainment products for babies and the under-three-year-old set, including The Baby Prodigy Company and Brainy Baby. But recently some child advocacy groups -- and the author of a new book -- are warning parents to rethink the products and the messages behind these campaigns.

To Increase Charitable Donations, Appeal to the Heart -- Not the Head

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:13:32 EST

One pitch for charity described the needs of Rokia, a young girl in Africa who is desperately poor and faces starvation. Another pitch talks about food shortages affecting more than three million children, many of whom are homeless. Which pitch is more effective? Not surprisingly, it's the first, but Wharton marketing professor Deborah Small and two co-authors delve deeper into the issue of sympathy and how it relates to charitable giving. Their paper is titled, "Sympathy and Callousness: The Impact of Deliberative Thought on Donations to Identifiable and Statistical Victims."