Remove Benchmarking Remove Comparison Remove Productivity Remove Sales
article thumbnail

A Look into Microsoft’s Data-Driven Approach to Improving Sales

Harvard Business

Companies are beginning to utilize their employees’ behavioral data — generally known as people analytics — to better understand and improve their sales operations , with strong results. Microsoft, where we work, is no exception, and B2B sales is one of the areas where we are seeing the most value.

Sales 28
article thumbnail

4 Self-Improvement Myths That May Be Holding You Back

Harvard Business

of all book sales in the United States. Add in speeches, training programs, TV programs, online-products, coaches, yoga, and the like, self-help is a $10 billion industry per year , and that’s just in the U.S. Myth 2: We get better by benchmarking ourselves against others. HBR staff/Bettmann Collection/Getty Images.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

How B2B Software Vendors Can Help Their Customers Benchmark

Harvard Business

Mainstream software companies are beginning to hold “ data mirrors ” up to their customers, allowing scoring and benchmarking of their customers’ strategies. One of its business units, Fieldglass, provides insights and benchmarks to customers on external workforce management.

article thumbnail

A Guide to Solving Social Problems with Machine Learning

Harvard Business

But so is the trepidation: as with all new “products,” there is potential for misuse. By now, policymakers are used to hearing claims like this in sales pitches, and they should appropriately raise some skepticism. The enthusiasm is well-placed. How can we maximize the benefits while minimizing the harm?

Tools 28
article thumbnail

Reflections on 2013; What's Important, What's Not? What's Ahead?

MishTalk

Trillion Yuan in Audit The Washington Post notes "Local debt now equals about 33 percent of China’s gross domestic product, up from about 10 percent in 2008 and almost nothing in 1997." Assets in exchange-traded products backed by gold fell 33 percent to the lowest since 2009 amid sales by billionaires George Soros and John Paulson."