Although organizational hierarchies are often viewed from the assumption that people seek upward mobility and compete with one another, new research indicates there is more action going on between peers than might be imagined. Highly-competitive organizational cultures do exist, but even within those, "lateral deference" takes place. Management Professor John Sumanth of SMU Cox and co-authors reveal a new twist on communications in the workplace, where protecting and saving one's status is more prevalent than jockeying for position.

When advertising on the Internet don't be too pushy, according to findings from new research. We all understand that search engines drive website traffic on the Internet and that many firms pay for top listings and search engine optimization. But very little meaningful research exists on the subject. Marketing Professor Jacquelyn Thomas of SMU Cox and co-author help fill the significant void regarding the relative effectiveness of search engine versus offline marketing communications.