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Good Disruption: Online Learning

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide an online education platform reaching a global audience of millions of learners. Concerns around the rising costs of higher education are increasing the pressure on schools to consider digital offerings. Disruption is underway, but what are the opportunities and risks it poses?

Preparing for a Virtual Future: Teaching in the Metaverse

Professor Marc Santugini, the Blue Ridge Distinguished Teaching Fellow at UVA’s Department of Economics, shares his insights on teaching in the metaverse, in conversation with Darden Professor Anton Korinek.

Good Disruption: Cryptocurrency

The sheer number of crypto options available today suggests significant market disruption is underway. Yet where there is hype, there is also volatility. Is it merely the newness of crypto that is causing this volatility, or does the concern go deeper? What are the benefits and concerns of shifting the economy toward digital currencies?

The Crisis in Child Care: A Tri-Sector Solution?

We are in the midst of a crisis in child care. That’s not just for the parents or children directly and presently affected; if we don’t invest in quality care now, society will literally pay for it later. The matter touches issues of health, income, crime, IQ, costs to families and the public, and an individual’s ability to maintain employment.

Good Disruption: Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are on track to become the dominant technology over the next 10–20 years. But do we truly understand all the implications of this shift? Are we ready for it?

Inferences About Others’ Intentions: Dangers and Strategies to Combat Them

Professor Jim Detert discusses the dangers of inferring individuals’ intentions and strategies leaders can use in efforts to ensure balance and objectivity in an organization.

Innocent Until Proven Angry: Misperceptions of Righteous Indignation

The lady doth protest too much? Research shows that people are indeed likely to interpret anger as guilt in the face of an accusation — though it’s more likely an indication of innocence. Darden Professor Gabrielle Adams investigates various responses to accusations and how we interpret their veracity: angry denial, calm denial or silence.

Storytelling in Business: How to Tell Engaging Stories

Storytelling is a crucial skill for leaders to master in communicating with both internal and external stakeholders. In a companion piece, Darden expert Brian Moriarty discussed how to craft an engaging story. Here he provides tips on how to tell an engaging story.

AI, Word of Mouth, and Word of Machine: Context Is Everything

Word-of-mouth is a powerful, organic form of marketing. But what about word-of-machine? Research from Professor Luca Cian shows that customers trust artificial-intelligence recommendations when a product or service is practical but resist when they’re pursuing a product or service for pleasure. What can companies do with this information?

Why WeWork Didn’t Work as Planned: 4 Lessons on Corporate Governance

Hype vs. discipline. Charisma vs. responsibility. The buzz around Adam Neumann’s WeWork went from enthusiasm for a unicorn with billions in venture capital to backlash for a company with a plummeted valuation and scrapped IPO. Yet with new leadership and governance structures, long-term profit may be in sight. What might we learn from WeWork?