Dec 12, 2009

Messiness

The “broken window” theory has been around for ages. It was based originally on an observation of old buildings – if a broken window isn’t repaired promptly that it acts like an invitation for vandalism.  The theory was the basis of Giuliani’s successful effort to reduce crime in NYC which began with cracking down on minor violations.  For many years however its just been a... read more

Dec 12, 2009

Choice isn’t always a benefit

Its been known for a long time that too many choices can have a negative impact on sales. A study done at Columbia University in 2000 showed people confronted with 24 gourmet jam jars vs 6 showed that whilst the larger selection increased the likelihood of people stopping and looking, it reduced purchasing. In that study where 30% of those presented with the limited selection made a purchase, only 3% of... read more

Dec 11, 2009

Men shop quickly, women love to search

Flickr/jimmyharris According to researchers at Brunel University, when it comes to shopping we revert to evolutionary roles – men are the hunters, women are the gatherers.  Women like searching and finding the best values – they enjoy the process of shopping. Men, on the other hand, like the thrill of the kill and the outcome of shopping. The study at Brunel was collected from 14 countries and... read more

Dec 5, 2009

Mood literally affects vision

Research undertaken this year at the University of Toronto suggests that people’s moods impact literally on what they’re able to see.  Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study indicated that people in a good mood took in more information when they look at something, whereas those in a bad mood are more likely to see with tunnel vision. Being in a good mood and taking in more... read more

Dec 2, 2009

The “outsider” on teams

According to a study published in the Personality & Social Psychology Bulleti, better decisions come from teams that include a “socially distinct newcomer” – which is psychology-speak for someone who is different enough to bump other team members out of their confort zones. OK I know this is going to sound like justification for including consultants in teams but this is not what the... read more