All Briefs
2018
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A Culture of Innovation Drives Corporate Value
July 20 | Dr. James Gregory, Senior Fellow, The Conference Board | Comments (0)There are many and varied definitions of the word innovation. The word often conjures up visions of scientists in white lab coats holding clipboards, but the most successful innovations that drive business results are often small and incremental cultural innovations rather than dramatic large-scale R&D endeavors.
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On Governance: Institutional Investor Engagement: One Size Does Not Fit All
July 18 | Charles M. Nathan, Consulting Partner, Finsbury Glover Hering, ESG Center Fellow | Comments (1)Companies should now consider using engagement models dependent on investor preferences. An ESG-centric paradigm is being challenged by portfolio-management-centric engagement.
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Total Impact Valuation: How Companies Convey Their Impact on Society
July 18 | Thomas Singer, Former Principal Researcher, The Conference Board | Comments (1)What if companies were able to communicate—in clear financial terms—the total value they create for society? While still very much in a nascent stage, such attempts at total impact valuation are being piloted by more than a dozen major companies across an array of sectors and geographies. A new report finds significant promise in these approaches, but a range of challenges remain to be tackled. Above all, standards for definitions and methodologies are needed to facilitate meaningful comparison.
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Is Your Company Prepared for the Next Disaster?
July 17 | Nicole Morrissey, Corporate Partnerships, GlobalGiving | Comments (0)Summer is upon us. Unfortunately, so is disaster season. Last year was unprecedented, with eight major disasters occurring within just a few short months of one another. Forecasters estimate hurricane activity to be higher than normal this year for the United States, and crises such as floods and volcanic eruptions have already devastated communities in Guatemala and Hawaii. Companies need to get strategic now to prepare for the next disaster.
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Recession Signals from the UK Leading Economic Index
July 13 | Ilaria Maselli, Former Senior Economist, The Conference Board | Ataman Ozyildirim, Former Senior Director, Economics, The Conference Board | Andre Therrien, Former Research Analyst, The Conference Board | Comments (0)Is a recession on the horizon in the UK? The short answer to this question is: yes. The probability of a recession in the near term has risen substantially. The UK business cycle is maturing and the lack of certainty around Brexit makes it difficult for consumers and businesses to make plans about the future. These are the ingredients that recessions are made of. The long answer requires an in-depth (and wonkish) analysis of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the UK.
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On Governance: Culture Matters
July 11 | Deborah Midanek Bailey, Founder and President, Solon Group Inc. | Comments (0)In this piece, corporate culture is defined as an intangible asset driving company value. A culture of trust and support is found to be the best way to foster success in the workplace. To create this environment, boards and executives must focus on engagement, financial success, recruiting, and retention.
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Corporate Communications: Let the Sun Shine
July 10 | Scott Carlberg, Program Director, Information and Management Research Council, Senior Corporate Communication Management Conference, and Organizational Design Lab, The Conference Board | Comments (0)“Let the sun shine” could have been the slogan for the The Conference Board’s 2018 Corporate Communications Conference, held June 26-27. More than 150 corporate communicators took home new ideas to effectively get their messages out. Here are a couple quick-hit concepts from our speakers from great companies like Hilton, BASF, Boeing, State Farm, Love’s Travel Stops, Mars, American Express, IBM, Aflac, Seattle City Light, UPS, Bank of America Merchant Services, DuPont, Bridge Consulting.
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If You Don’t Measure Yourself, Others Will Measure You
July 10 | Jeff Hoffman, Institute Leader, Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, ESG Center, The Conference Board | Comments (1)Whether it’s the 24-hour news cycle, social media, annual reports, internal messages, or stakeholder requests, the need for clear, understandable, and relatable corporate social responsibility (CSR) information from companies is increasing. Some stakeholders want metrics, others want stories. Either way, timeliness and transparency are key. So, which data and disclosures are relevant and/or required?