All Briefs

As artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged in the last three decades, the effect on employment has not matched the public's fears. AI will be one of the transformative technologies of the next decade, but it will not be the only technology transforming our world. Predicting AI’s effects in a vacuum won’t get us anywhere. Companies and their employees need to make sure they can execute on the opportunities presented by AI and other technologies. That’s how to avoid obsolescence.

The majority of companies do not measure standardized outcomes related to arts, despite the fact that doing so would help them show the effect of arts support on company objectives. The Impact Genome Project®, an initiative of Mission Measurement, provides a framework for standardized outcomes in the arts sector that companies should be utilizing to understand their contributions’ effectiveness.

Alex Goryachev, Cisco System’s Director, Innovation Strategy and Programs, shares the most common mistakes he has seen at companies working to build a culture of innovation. The key concept tying together Goryachev’s observations: the need to focus on the people innovating, not the “innovations” themselves. Goryachev will be speaking at The Conference Board Innovation Master Class this December in Palo Alto.

Boards are expected to be more alert and foresighted. They must be prepared for more rapid situational assessment, faster reaction time and creative solutions for creating value and representing shareholders’ interests.

The perception about the growth of the nontraditional workforce is out of line with hard data. While the number of independent contractors earning income through online labor market platforms has been growing, except for the transportation sector, these platforms represent a tiny share of income and total hours worked in the US economy, and are highly concentrated in certain specific occupations.

Technology is forcing corporate executives to work harder than ever, so it’s important to understand that sometimes work commitments need to take a back seat. There’s a strong chance that colleagues (or you) are facing a personal crisis and it can be hard to know what to do to support them. Being there to support them in whatever way they need it is a good start.

Companies promoting associate board experience for their young workers can cultivate leadership skills and loyalty among early and mid-career employees. Young employees want a level of social impact engagement that they find meaningful and accessible in the workplace. Providing that opportunity helps companies solve one of their biggest challenges: attracting and retaining the workforce of the future.

Institutional investors should always be in a position of making an informed vote, whether or not a proxy advisor can help in making them informed.