In this episode of Now that's Significant, host Michael Howard, Head of Marketing at Infotools, is joined by Lisa Miller, President of Lisa W Miller and Associates and author of 'The Business of Joy.' The discussion revolves around the concept of joy as a vital component for economic and business growth, particularly in challenging times like the pandemic.

Lisa shares her journey of exploring joy through consumer insights and how it can drive both personal and professional success.

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Joy as an Economic Driver: Lisa highlights that joy is not just a feel-good factor but a powerful economic driver. When joy surpasses fear, it can propel economic recovery and business success.

2. Evolving Consumer Insights: Over her 30-year career, Lisa has learned to adapt her approach to consumer insights, emphasizing the need to stay innovative and sharp in understanding consumer behavior.

3. Impact of the Pandemic on Joy: During the pandemic, Lisa conducted ongoing surveys to track levels of joy versus fear. Her data revealed that joy significantly impacts economic activity and recovery rates.

4. Human Connection in Business: The book and Lisa's research stress the importance of fostering human connections in both personal and professional settings to enhance workplace culture and innovation.

5. Joy in Business Strategy: Lisa argues that incorporating joy into business strategies can help companies adapt to the new normal by reminding consumers why they love certain brands and encouraging customer engagement.

Tune in on major podcast platforms to stay informed about the latest trends and strategies in consumer insights.

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see thing

In this episode of Now that’s Significant hosted by Michael Howard, Head of Marketing at Infotools, the discussion features Bob Fawson, founder and CEO of Data Quality Co-op. The episode delves into the challenges and opportunities within the data quality landscape of the consumer insights industry.

Bob shares his insights on promoting transparency and improving data quality, emphasizing the need for structural changes to restore trust between buyers, participants, and intermediaries in the market.

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Importance of Data Quality: Bob highlights the intractable challenges facing data quality in the industry, comparing it to a 'lemon market' where buyers and sellers struggle with trust. He emphasizes the need for a structured clearinghouse to ensure transparency and improve data quality across the board.

2. Role of a Clearinghouse: The Data Quality Co-op aims to act as an independent clearinghouse, similar to credit reporting agencies, providing a broader understanding of data quality and offering a platform for buyers and sellers to align expectations.

3. Market Dynamics and Trust: The insights market is characterized as a two-sided ecosystem with inherent challenges in trust and collaboration. Bob discusses how better communication can break the cycle of competitive pressures and improve industry standards.

4. Optimism for the Future: Despite current challenges, Bob remains optimistic about the industry's ability to address data quality issues by learning from other sectors and implementing solutions that can change market dynamics positively.

5. Preparing for AI Demand: Bob stresses the importance of positioning the industry to meet the growing demand for high-quality first-party data, essential for training AI models, and ensuring that the data used is credible and reliable.

Want to explore other episodes of Now that’s Significant? Tune in on major podcast platforms and stay informed about the latest trends and strategies in consumer insights.

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see thing

This episode of Now that’s Significant, a market research podcast, welcomes Michelle Murphy Niedziela, PhD, a behavioral neuroscience expert, to discuss the potential and pitfalls of applying neuroscience to market research.

Michelle, who has worked with major brands like Johnson & Johnson and Mars Chocolate, emphasizes the importance of understanding both the benefits and limitations of consumer neuroscience to avoid falling prey to misleading claims and unrealistic expectations.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

Neuroscience is not mind-reading: While neuroscience can provide valuable insights into brain processes, it cannot simply "read minds" or reveal hidden desires.

Beware of neuro-myths: Claims like "95% of decision-making is non-conscious" are often used to promote neuroscience tools but lack scientific validity.

Focus on the research question, not the tool: The choice of neuroscience technique should be driven by the specific research question, not the novelty or popularity of the tool.

Integrate neuroscience with other methods: Combining neuroscience with psychology, behavioral science, and traditional market research methods provides a more comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior.

Education is key to avoiding pitfalls: Investing in education and training for market research teams helps them ask the right questions, critically evaluate claims, and apply neuroscience tools effectively.

Tune in to this episode to gain a balanced perspective on the potential and limitations of consumer neuroscience and learn how to navigate this complex landscape effectively. Don't forget to check out other episodes of "Now That’s Significant" on all major podcast platforms!

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see thing

In this episode of Now that's Significant, a market research podcast, host Michael Howard delves into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity with guest Vivienne Ming, a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author.

Vivienne, known for her work designing AI systems to address human challenges, challenges the prevailing narrative that AI will free us up to be more creative, arguing that using generative AI to do all the monotonous tasks can actually lead to more routine, mediocre work, which can lead to inferior outcomes.

Instead, Vivienne advocates for AI to be used in such a way that makes your job harder. If AI can present what you were about to present, then what value are you bringing to the table? Therefore, we need to use AI in such a way that it challenges our position, helps us think far more deeply about our challenge, and go well beyond what's served up to us with LLMS.

Otherwise, we risk producing things that look and sound very similar to everyone else, and no-one is any wiser.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

AI can inadvertently stifle creativity: By automating routine tasks, AI can lead to an increase in those tasks, rather than freeing up time for more creative endeavors.

Human uniqueness is crucial for innovation: The true value of human intelligence lies in exploring the unknown and asking ill-posed questions, a domain where AI currently falls short.

Embrace uncertainty and diverse perspectives: To foster creativity, individuals and teams must be comfortable with uncertainty and seek out diverse perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom.

Reward productive friction: Organizations should incentivize exploration and reward individuals for being productively wrong, as this leads to greater collective intelligence and innovation.

Collaborate with AI, don't be replaced by it: Rather than blindly following AI's suggestions, individuals should engage in a dynamic collaboration with AI, challenging its outputs and using it to enhance their own creative thinking.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode to learn more about the evolving relationship between AI and human creativity, and how we can harness AI's power while preserving our unique human capabilities. Don't forget to check out other episodes of Now that's Significant on YouTube or on most major podcast platforms.

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see things others can’t. Add to all this an impending GenAI feature, and you have an extremely powerful, future-proofed tool.

In this episode of Now That's Significant, a market research podcast, host Michael Howard interviews Tom Johnson, Senior Director of Consumer Insight and Analytics at Jack in the Box and Del Taco, about his journey in market research and the importance of aligning insights with business goals.

Tom, with 25 years of experience on both the agency and client side, shares valuable lessons learned from building the consumer insights function at Del Taco from the ground up and navigating the complexities of a merger with Jack in the Box.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

Passion for insights can stem from inspiring mentors: Tom's journey began with a college professor who ignited his interest in market research, highlighting the impact mentors can have on shaping careers.

Understanding the full impact of insights requires client-side experience: Tom transitioned to the client side to gain a deeper understanding of how insights are used to drive business decisions.

Cross-functional collaboration is essential for maximizing impact: Building relationships with stakeholders across different departments allows consumer insights to influence a wider range of decisions.

Strategic prioritization is crucial for managing research budgets: A "barbell strategy," balancing high-impact strategic research with efficient, tactical research, helps optimize resource allocation.

Adapting to evolving consumer behavior is key for success: Understanding the nuances of consumer behavior in a changing economic and social landscape is crucial for developing effective strategies.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about Tom Johnson's insights on building a successful consumer insights function and navigating the challenges of the fast-food industry.

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see things others can’t. Add to all this an impending GenAI feature, and you have an extremely powerful, future-proofed tool.

In this episode of "Now that's Significant, a market research podcast," host Michael Howard, the Head of Marketing at Infotools, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Jeffrey Hirsch, founder and president of the Right Brain Studio and adjunct professor at USC's Annenberg School, about the increasing dominance of short-termism in marketing and its potential consequences for brand building. Hirsch, a seasoned marketing professional with a passion for qualitative insights, argues that the shift towards digital and social media marketing, driven by the need for measurable ROI, has led to a decline in long-term brand-building initiatives.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

The marketing landscape has shifted dramatically: The rise of digital and social media has led to a significant decline in traditional advertising spending, with a corresponding increase in short-term, performance-driven marketing tactics.

Short-termism can hinder long-term brand building: The pressure to demonstrate immediate ROI can lead marketers to prioritize short-term gains over long-term brand building, potentially sacrificing brand equity and customer relationships.

Brands need a clear purpose and values: To navigate the changing marketing landscape, brands must define their core values and purpose, ensuring that all marketing activities align with these foundational elements.

Qualitative insights remain crucial: Despite the popularity of quantitative data, qualitative research provides valuable insights into consumer motivations, emotions, and brand relationships, which are essential for effective brand building.

Balance is key: Marketers must strike a balance between short-term performance goals and long-term brand building, utilizing a mix of quantitative and qualitative research to inform their strategies.

Don't forget to check out other episodes of "Now that's Significant" on YouTube and all major podcast platforms!

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see things others can’t. Add to all this an impending GenAI feature, and you have an extremely powerful, future-proofed tool.

In this episode of "Now That's Significant, a market research podcast," host Michael Howard sits down with Adam Hansen, principal and VP of behavioral innovation at Ideas to Go, to discuss the intersection of behavioral science and innovation.

Adam, co-author of the book "Outsmart Your Instincts: How the Behavioral Innovation Approach Drives Your Company Forward," shares his insights on how cognitive biases can hinder innovation and offers strategies for mitigating their impact.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

Cognitive biases can undermine innovation: Biases like negativity bias, confirmation bias, and status quo bias can stifle creativity and prevent teams from exploring new ideas.

Awareness is the first step to mitigation: Recognizing and understanding these biases is crucial for making conscious decisions that promote innovation.

Curiosity and experimentation are essential: Embracing a mindset of curiosity and a willingness to experiment can help overcome the limitations of cognitive biases.

The Johari window helps map knowledge and awareness: This tool can be used to identify knowledge gaps and guide teams towards a shared understanding of the problem space.

Behavioral innovation provides a framework for success: By understanding and addressing cognitive biases, teams can create a more effective and innovative environment.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the power of behavioral innovation and how it can help you overcome cognitive biases to drive innovation. Don't forget to check out other episodes of "Now That's Significant" on all major podcast platforms!

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see things others can’t. Add to all this an impending GenAI feature, and you have an extremely powerful, future-proofed tool.

In this episode of Now That's Significant, a market research podcast, host John Bird welcomes Professor Stephen Kraus from the University of San Francisco to discuss the importance of collaboration between academia and the market research industry.

Professor Kraus, an expert in marketing and consumer insights, shares his unconventional journey through the world of market research, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he's observed along the way.

Here are five key takeaways from the episode:

Collaboration is key: Professor Kraus emphasizes the potential for fruitful partnerships between industry professionals and academics, benefiting both students and companies.

Survey quality remains a challenge: Despite advancements in technology, ensuring high-quality survey data is an ongoing struggle for the industry.

Education empowers the next generation: Professor Kraus finds fulfillment in educating aspiring market researchers, equipping them with the skills and confidence to navigate a rapidly evolving field.

AI is a powerful tool, but human insights are still essential: While AI offers valuable capabilities, human creativity and the ability to synthesize insights remain crucial for success in market research.

Gen Z requires a different approach: Engaging younger audiences requires understanding their unique values, preferences, and digital habits, emphasizing relevance and authenticity.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the evolving landscape of market research and the exciting possibilities for collaboration between academia and industry. Don't forget to check out other episodes of Now That's Significant on all major podcast platforms!

***

Infotools Harmoni is a fit-for-purpose market research analysis, visualization, and reporting platform that gives the world’s leading brands the tools they need to better understand their consumers, customers, organization, and market.

www.infotools.com

Established in 1990, we work with some of the world’s top brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Orange, Samsung, and Mondelēz.

Our powerful cloud-based platform, Harmoni, is purpose-built for market research. From data processing to investigation, dashboards to collaboration, Harmoni is a true "data-to-decision-making" solution for in-house corporate insights teams and agencies.

While we don't facilitate market research surveys, provide sample, or collect data, we make it easy for market researchers to find and share compelling insights that go over-and-above what stakeholders want, inspiring them to act decisively.

One of the most powerful features of Harmoni is Discover, a time-tested, time-saving, and investigative approach to data analysis. Using automated analyses to reveal patterns and trends, Discover minimizes potential research bias by removing the need for requesting and manually analyzing scores of cumbersome crosstabs – often seeing what you can’t.

Discover helps you easily find what differentiates groups that matter to you, uncover what makes them unique, and deliver data points that are interesting, relevant, and statistically significant, plus see things others can’t. Add to all this an impending GenAI feature, and you have an extremely powerful, future-proofed tool.