22 Buffalo Business |
Insights
How to support employees through
organizational change
"Different skills influence employee behaviors during
times of change. By understanding which skills to
prioritize and how to employ them effectively, leaders
can strategically facilitate employee commitment to
change."
— James Lemoine, associate professor of organi-
zation and human resources, on his study that
examined which political skills leaders should develop to best
help employees embrace, engage with and work toward successful
change. The study reveals key skills, such as networking ability and
interpersonal influence, for leadership training to prioritize to
help managers navigate change efficiently. The study appeared in
Group and Organization Management. Read more at
bit.ly/ubmgtchange.
How investors are trading
to minimize taxes
"Our findings emphasize the need for clearer regu-
lations from the IRS. Currently, financial advisors
are navigating a foggy legal landscape, with some
advisors taking regulatory silence as tacit permis-
sion to swap ETFs that hold identical securities, while
others argue that if an investor's economic position
has not changed, the spirit of the tax law has been
violated."
— Michael Dambra, associate professor and Kenneth W. Colwell
Chair of Accounting and Law, on his research about investors
capitalizing on a loophole in U.S. tax laws that has led to billions of
dollars of lost tax revenue. The study finds that investors are selling
and repurchasing nearly identical exchange-traded funds (ETFs),
group of stocks, bonds or other securities, as a strategy to bypass
long-standing tax laws. Read more at bit.ly/ubmgtetfs.
How to deliver the most effective diversity training
"Implementing a single diversity program won't make a big differ-
ence if the company has unfair hiring practices, biased leaders or
even a customer base that holds prejudiced views. It's not realistic
to expect a diversity training program to instantly get rid of such
deep-rooted biases in an organization — the whole system needs to
be addressed for the training to truly be effective."
— Kate Bezrukova, associate professor of organization and
human resources, on her research that found diversity training is most
effective when it is part of a broader, ongoing organizational effort. In addition,
programs that consider the big picture with longer, iterative training programs
that include skill development are more likely to succeed than one-off sessions
or "check-the-box" approaches. The study appeared in Current Opinion of
Psychology. Read more at bit.ly/ubmgttraining.
