About the Book
Gender equality is a moral and a business imperative. But unconscious bias holds us back and de-biasing minds has proven to be difficult and expensive. Behavioral design offers a new solution. Iris Bohnet shows that by de-biasing organizations instead of individuals, we can make smart changes that have big impacts—often at low cost and high speed.
Table of Contents:
Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents The Promise of Behavioral Design Part One: The Problem Chapter 1. Unconscious Bias Is Everywhere Chapter 2. De-Biasing Minds Is Hard Chapter 3. Doing It Yourself Is Risky Chapter 4. Getting Help Only Takes You So Far Part Two: How to Design Talent Management Chapter 5. Applying Data to People Decisions Chapter 6. Orchestrating Smarter Evaluation Procedures Chapter 7. Attracting the Right People Part Three: How to Design School and Work Chapter 8. Adjusting Risk Chapter 9. Leveling the Playing Field Part Four: How to Design Diversity Chapter 10. Creating Role Models Chapter 11. Crafting Groups Chapter 12. Shaping Norms Chapter 13. Increasing Transparency Designing Change Notes Credits Acknowledgments Index
About the Author :
Bohnet Iris :
Iris Bohnet is a behavioral economist at Harvard University, where she is a professor, Director of the Women and Public Policy Program, and Co-Chair of the Behavioral Insights Group at the Kennedy School of Government.
Review :
Laura D. Tyson, Professor of Business Administration and Economics, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business:
Professor Bohnet has written a pathbreaking book documenting how unconscious biases and stereotypes are pervasive barriers to gender equality. The book combines brilliant insights from behavioral research with practical recommendations about how to design policies and organizations to counter these biases and accelerate progress toward gender parity. The moral case for gender parity is indisputable; the business case is compelling. Now Professor Bohnet has written a how-to manual, based on rigorous research, about how to achieve this goal.David Halpern, author of Inside the Nudge Unit: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference:
Bohnet is the world's leading expert at the intersection of behavioral science and gender equality. Her work moves effortlessly between laboratory studies and real world examples, and spells out the practical implications. Achieve equity; enhance profit; and beat your rivals--and be gripped along the way.
Urs Rohner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Credit Suisse:
If you want to solve gender inequality, read What Works. Then follow the compelling, insightful suggestions Iris Bohnet provides. This is a book you will return to again and again, for this is a book that changes everything.
Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, Global Vice Chair of Public Policy, Ernst & Young Global Limited:
What Works delivers! I have long been inspired by Iris Bohnet's impressive research on gender bias. In this book, she has distilled years of work into practical approaches that any organization--business, education or government--can adapt to start changing the environments in which we all live, learn, and work. This is a must-read for everyone who actually wants to do something to address the stubborn and costly issue of gender inequality.
Mirjam Staub-Bisang, CEO, Independent Capital Group, and author of Sustainable Investing for Institutional Investors:
Iris Bohnet's groundbreaking work will revolutionize the way governments and corporations approach gender equality in the workplace. Extraordinary.
Adam Grant, Class of 1965 Wharton Professor of Management and Professor of Psychology at the Wharton School and author of Give and Take and Originals:
Compelling, lucid, and filled with actionable insights, What Works draws from a deep well of research to explain how we can end gender inequality.
Max Bazerman, Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School:
If you really want equality, here is a guide to action. No more excuses; we know how to design. Bohnet is brilliant and practical, and she documents what works. Everyone who read Thinking, Fast and Slow and Nudge and cares about equality will want to consume this masterpiece.
Linda Babcock, James M. Walton Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University and coauthor of Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide:
A game changer. In this brilliant and practical book, Bohnet explains how behavioral insights can collapse gender inequality in our lifetime. It's terrific.
Carol Schwartz, Founding Chair, Women's Leadership Institute Australia:
Iris Bohnet has not only managed to successfully explain how gender bias exists in all of us, she then goes on to provide straightforward, practical suggestions to overcome the suboptimal status quo. A groundbreaking book with solutions that every institution and corporation should implement in their quest for high performance.
Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and coauthor of Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness:
Pathbreaking work, and packed with insights on every page. Bohnet has produced, at once, the best book ever written on behavioral science and discrimination, and a major contribution to behaviorally informed policymaking as a whole. Her book promises to change both private and public institutions--and to improve individual lives.
Fr�d�ric Roz�, President and CEO, L'Or�al USA:
Drawing on a deep well of research and expertise, Iris Bohnet's new book gives companies a practical and invaluable toolkit for designing a gender-equal culture. Her business case for action is so compelling that it should be required reading for every corporate leader.
Deborah Borda, President and CEO, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Association:
What Works is a call to action. It demonstrates with real-life examples, such as the introduction of blind auditions into the world of symphony orchestras, how the seemingly intractable problem of gender inequality can be not only addressed but solved. This book is a gift.
Laszlo Bock, SVP of People Operations at Google and author of Work Rules!:
In a field overflowing with opinions and 'gut feelings, ' What Works is a shining ray of truth and insight. Bohnet lays out the science behind what really drives--and prevents--gender inequality, and translates it into clear, easy-to-implement steps for achieving equality. A much needed book with precise, effective prescriptions for any environment.
