Rice Business Wisdom

CEO Compensation | Accounting

Short-Term CEO Pay Isn’t Always a Mistake

When companies break loan terms, boards adjust CEO pay to focus on stabilizing finances.

6 Mar

Hand stops a row of dominoes from tipping over onto a pile of coins

Discrimination | Organizational Behavior

Why Anti-Asian Discrimination Is Often Overlooked at Work

New research shows that people rely on mental prototypes when discerning racial discrimination in the workplace — and Asian Americans are less likely to fit that template.

20 Feb
Startups | Strategy

Does Gender Diversity Attract Investors? It Depends.

In startup accelerator programs, gender diversity alone doesn’t engage investors — what matters more is that founder and mentor teams align in their gender composition.

6 Feb

Negotiations | Finance

How Do Firms Actually Use Hurdle Rates?

New research shows how firms use hurdle rates differently in practice than finance theory predicts.

23 Jan

Hurdles on race track.

AI | Finance

Teaching Finance in the Age of AI

In November 2025, Professor Kerry Back received the Financial Management Association’s Innovation in Teaching Award for building an MBA course that trains students to apply artificial intelligence and coding to finance.

6 Jan
Data Centers | Strategy

What Really Drives Data Center Location Decisions in the U.S.?

A new study shows a divided geography: some facilities cluster in cities for speed and access, while others move to rural regions in search of scale and lower costs.

12 Dec

Learn From Leading Researchers Like

Anastasiya Zavyalova, Associate Dean for Degree Programs

Anastasiya Zavyalova

Jing Zhou, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs

Jing Zhou

Kerry Back, J. Howard Creekmore Professor of Finance and Professor of Economics

Kerry Back

Community Relations | Strategy

The Hidden ROI of Community Benefits Agreements

New evidence suggests CBAs can create real financial value by reducing the risk of prolonged conflict.

June 02

Aerial image of hands shaking embedded into forest

Reputation Management | Strategy

New And Improved

After a scandal, where do clients go next?

May 18

Innovation | Operations

Uncharted Territory

Should you co-create a product with your supplier?

May 10

Person in a space suit walking in a desert

Human Resources | Marketing

Star Student

How to turn top employees into coaches.

May 04

Star shaped cereal

Human Behavior | Organizational Behavior

The Surprising Link Between Authority and Distrust

Research shows that when people gain power, they trust others less, and that distrust pushes them toward deterrence-style punishment.

April 28

Group of people in an office

Innovation | Strategy

What Happens When The Workplace Is Too Comfortable?

Stronger firm-employee relationships can come at the expense of other types of innovation.

April 19

Smiley face bringing paper cutouts of people holding hands.

Q&A | Finance

Danger Zone

Why did areas that voted for the president worry less about COVID-19?

April 14

Medical mask graffiti

Marketing | More

Bending The Rules

Sometimes it's right to do the wrong thing.

April 13

Wrench that is bent

Corporate Tax Structure | Accounting

Hidden Costs

Avoiding taxes can have unintended consequences.

April 06

Human Behavior | Organizational Behavior

Want People To Follow the Rules? Stop Explaining Them

The more perceived distrust people feel, the less likely they are to follow the rules.

March 30

Dice that say follow / know the rules

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