The Behavioral Scientist as a Cartographer
How can researchers and practitioners better translate, scale, and adapt their interventions? A concept from cartography offers some inspiration.
Founding Columnist
Dilip Soman
Dilip Soman holds the Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. He researches behavioral economics and applications to welfare and policy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management. Formerly, he served as the director of the Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) research center and the academic director for a large international consortium of academics and organizations called Behaviourally Informed Organizations. He is the author of The Last Mile, editor of What Works, What Doesn't (and When), and co-editor of The Behaviourally Informed Organization.
Six Prescriptions for Building Healthy Behavioral Insights Units
Three don’ts and three dos that we think are critical to developing a successful behavioral unit in any organization.
Customer Segmentation Needs a Behaviorally Informed Upgrade
We have the technology and behavioral science know-how to approach market segmentation as something that’s ongoing and dynamic, rather than set once and static.
Six Prescriptions for Applied Behavioral Science as It Comes of Age
Applied behavioral science is at a critical juncture. Our efforts at this stage will determine whether the field matures in a systematic and stable manner, or grows wildly and erratically.
Four Roles for a Behavioral Scientist within Your Organization
Designing, developing, and implementing products and programs is hard. Behavioral scientists can help. But only if you understand the roles they can play, the problems they can solve, and how they can add value to an organization like yours.
A Lawyer, an Economist, a Marketer, and a Behavioral Scientist Go into a Bar…
No matter who you are, whether you are selling soap or shampoo, whether you are a government looking after the welfare of citizens, or an agency promoting financial well-being and better health, or an institution that is responsible for collecting taxes, you are in the business of changing people’s behavior.