Business, Management, Marketing, Money, Tax, Law, People

Using M&A as a launchpad for transformation

M &A can offer a powerful lever for executing strategy, transforming organizations, and delivering exceptional value creation. In this episode of the Inside the Strategy Room podcast, two McKinsey experts talk about how executives under pressure to create more value for shareholders and stakeholders can benefit from using a transaction as an opportunity to transform the entire organization. Alex Liu is a partner in McKinsey’s Minneapolis office and a leader…

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Investing in Kaedim

The games industry has a cost problem. Over the last decade, we’ve seen record growth in player demand driven by several tailwinds, including: the rise of mobile and emerging markets, new business models like free-to-play and subscriptions, transmedia storytelling, and much more. Yet that growth has come with a price in the form of rising game development budgets. Players today expect more from their games than ever before – more…

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How to Make AI ‘Forget’ All the Private Data It Shouldn’t Have

There’s a virtual elephant in AI’s room: It’s nearly impossible to make the technology forget.And there are an increasing number of scenarios where consumers and programmers may not only want to remove data from a machine learning model—they may be required to do so by law. For instance, since Europe’s tougher data privacy regulations went into effect in 2018, they have created complications for companies worldwide. Questions around data privacy…

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Can a Wage Increase Make Employees More Productive?

In California, the upcoming minimum wage boost for fast food workers to $20 starting April 1st has ignited discussions about its potential influence on worker productivity.  Currently, the median hourly wage for fast-food workers in the U.S. is $13.43, while in California, it stands at an average of $16.60 per hour. Examining the connection between minimum wage hikes and productivity reveals a nuanced picture.    Wage Increase and Productivity Research…

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The journey toward AI-enabled railway companies

Many types of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have accelerated in recent years due to tumbling costs of data storage and processing, rapidly expanding data availability, and improved data storage and modelling techniques. In general, analytical AI can analyze historical data and make numeric predictions, while generative AI (gen AI) allows machines to produce new outputs similar to human-generated content. Gen AI, in particular, has been building momentum since 2017 and…

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New Sanctions Against Russia: Taking a Swing at the Ruble

Amid the second anniversary of the start of the Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine, a number of Western countries and associations launched a new set of sanctions against Russia, as expected. In quantitative terms, the number of Russian companies and citizens subject to restrictive measures was indeed high. However, the latest wave of sanctions does not bring qualitative changes - their impact on the Russian economy and its relations…

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It’s time for a new managed services model

Managed services was born out of a need to outsource responsibility for monitoring and maintaining certain services, or more often specialized appliances such as on-prem data warehouse solutions or rather cumbersome ETL servers or network configurations. Between 2005 and 2006 this outsourcing practice became what it is today, IT managed services (MS). IT MS has undoubtedly changed and evolved over the years, particularly in the technical capabilities that most MS…

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Winning the Game of Boardroom Chess

It is broadly understood that bold, expansive postures and gestures convey power and credibility. But how often have executives entered a meeting confident in achieving their goal, only to leave blindsided – unsure of how the power dynamics shifted in favour of an opposing viewpoint? Most people assume that their actions are their own. However, our research would argue that it is the (often unconscious) responses to the behaviour of others…

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Philip R. Lane: The 2021-2022 inflation surges and monetary policy in the euro area

11 March 2024By Philip R. Lane[1]In 2021-22 inflation surged due to the direct and indirect effects of the energy shock, together with a set of pandemic-related factors and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this post on The ECB Blog, Chief Economist Philip R. Lane looks at the monetary policy actions taken by the ECB in response to these extraordinary inflation shocks.IntroductionIn this blog post, I review the monetary policy…

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Viewing Life as a Learning Process

Hart Posen is not shy about his privileged childhood, but only because it vanished with no warning. He grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, in a family of entrepreneurs. His father, who was raised in an orphanage, founded a rental car company in the early 1970s that became a large international firm. “By the time I was a young teenager, my family was very wealthy,” Posen says. In the early 1980s,…

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How Could Harvard Decarbonize Its Supply Chain?

Brian Kenny: One sage piece of advice I heard long ago, is to worry only about what I can control, which works great until you're responsible for an outcome that involves others over whom you have no control. Such as the conundrum of firms everywhere, including 96 percent of the Global 250 who have committed to reducing their carbon footprint. There are things you can control in your physical plant,…

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Paving the Way for NFTs

A computer scientist by training, Rogers was involved in the creative industries from the early nineties, when he created the Beastie Boys’ website. He was later involved in Winamp and the launch of Apple Music, before working at luxury conglomerate LVMH as its Chief Digital Officer. He also sits on the board of fashion shopping website and app Lyst. During the webinar, Rogers shared that he first learned about Bitcoin back…

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Analyzing the CEO–CMO relationship and its effect on growth

CEOs who place marketing at the core of their growth strategies are twice as likely as their peers to have greater than 5 percent annual growth, according to a recent survey McKinsey conducted with input from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). CEOs and chief marketing officers (CMOs) must work together closely for any marketing plan to flourish. On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey partner Robert Tas joins…

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A Bone to Pick with Distinctiveness of Trade Marks

  Is the mark “Melbourne Bone and Joint Clinic” (the MBJC Mark) for medical and orthopaedic surgery type services in classes 35 and 44 registrable as a trade mark? In Melbourne Bone and Joint Clinic Pty Ltd v Registrar of Trade Marks [2024] FCA 53, the Federal Court of Australia found that the MBJC Mark was descriptive of the services offered thereunder and lacked the distinctiveness required for registration. Background…

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Drive to Subscribe: Revving up subscription success

Achieving subscription success was the theme in the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) market during and immediately following the pandemic. Traditional transactional approaches to product sales saw significantly less resilience than subscription models which were better at protecting cash flow. In the Business-to-Business (B2B) market the concept of ongoing contracts, facilitated via renewals, shows subscriptions have been established for some time. The recent boom in B2C has introduced more focus and innovation in…

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Report From Final Day of The 2024 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker,  Daniel R. Birnbaum, Melissa A. Ortega and Taylor Iaculla Seyfarth Synopsis: This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The meeting includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Review Commission, the MSHA Review Commission, OSHA and MSHA Judges, and the Solicitor’s Office, as well as management, labor, and safety…

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Singapore Employers, Are Your Hiring Practices in Order for the Next TAFEP Request?

Quick Hits The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) was set up in 2006 by the Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress, and the Singapore National Employers Federation, to promote the adoption of fair, responsible, and progressive employment practices in Singapore. Since its inception, TAFEP has slowly gained traction with employees and job seekers alike as an avenue for redress of concerns regarding harassment and…

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Costlier goodbyes: Increased termination notice entitlements under the Canada Labour Code as of February 2024

This article was orginally published on Sept. 26, 2023 and updated on Jan. 17, 2024: On Sept. 26, 2023, we published an article (see below) regarding the amendments to the Canada Labour Code that would, among other things, greatly increase the individual termination notice entitlements of employees working for federally regulated employers. As a reminder, these amendments are coming into force on Feb. 1, 2024. It is to be noted…

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Data residency in the AI era: New capabilities to manage your data

In January, we updated our Microsoft Copilot product line-up to expand Copilot for Microsoft 365 to more businesses and announced no seat minimum for commercial plans. Now we’re excited to announce the expansion of Microsoft’s data residency capabilities by adding content of interactions with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 to our portfolio of data residency commitments and offerings. We are expanding our product terms and Microsoft 365 data residency offerings…

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Why Companies Should Share Their DEI Data (Even When It’s Unflattering)

Companies struggling with diversity, equity, and inclusion might be tempted to hide their workforce data. Why shine a light on a company’s limited progress—or worse, risk a public-relations headache?It turns out, all news is good news when it comes to letting customers know how diverse—or not—your workforce is, says a recent paper by Harvard Business School researchers. Even when a company’s numbers aren’t ideal, their transparency sends the message that…

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Beyond Goals: David Beckham’s Playbook for Mobilizing Star Talent

Superstar talent brings the kind of wattage that can power a business to the next level, as recent high-stakes decisions facing soccer legend David Beckham show.Two new Harvard Business School case studies examine the questions Beckham and his team pondered as he transitioned from the world’s biggest sports stage to cementing a legacy as a businessman, entrepreneur, and club owner. What’s the best way to build a team around a…

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As inheritance disputes hit a record high, here’s how you can make a watertight estate plan

When you pass on, it should hopefully be a time for your family to come together, mourn, and commemorate your life. However, there has unfortunately been a recent increase in the number of inheritance disputes, and cases are at a record high. From rising property prices to a surge in dementia diagnoses, there are several factors behind this trend. One of the best things you can do to limit the…

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Evolving the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle

The software developers and systems engineers at Microsoft work with large-scale, complex systems, requiring collaboration among diverse and global teams, all while navigating the demands of rapid technological advancement, and today we’re sharing how they’re tackling security challenges in the white paper: “Building the next generation of the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL)”, created by pioneers of future software development practices. Two decades of evolution It’s been 20 years since…

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Paralympian Lex Gillette’s top 7 AI tools for accessibility

Discover the AI innovations empowering lives on and off the athletic track Human sighted guides are instrumental in supporting blind athletes. They offer comprehensive instructions on adaptations, training, and methodologies. Today, much like a guide, Azure OpenAI Service is helping power Microsoft apps that help people accomplish their goals, no matter how large. Copilot for Microsoft 365 can automate tasks and generate content, Microsoft Translator can bridge linguistic barriers, and…

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Leading through uncertainty: An interview with Neeti Bhalla Johnson

Inspiring leaders motivate their teams to embrace the opportunities and growth inherent in change, according to Neeti Bhalla Johnson, the president of Global Risk Solutions at Liberty Mutual Insurance (Liberty). Born in India and raised in Kenya, Bhalla Johnson is passionate about furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion at the insurer, cosponsoring a group for Asian professionals there and participating in its women’s networking and advocacy group. She spoke with McKinsey…

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The human element is key: An interview with Barbara Karuth-Zelle

Barbara Karuth-Zelle, COO and board member of Allianz, is passionate about driving technology and AI innovation for a sustainable future. She’s spent more than 20 years at the insurer—including as CEO of Allianz Technology, its internal technology service provider—and is known for her ability to assemble diverse teams that get things done quickly. Karuth-Zelle spoke with McKinsey senior partner Jörg Mußhoff about generative AI (gen AI), digital transformations, sustainability, and…

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International Women’s Day 2024: Pay gaps, the law of averages and accelerating progress

International Women’s Day for 2024 has the important theme of Count Her In: Invest in Women. The UN talks about the importance of empowering women and investing in women in a range of ways. This includes accelerating women’s economic empowerment by recognising that when women entrepreneurs are successful, this can lead to more benefits. The topic of investing in women has been in the headlines in Australia, following the first…

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2024 Commercial Litigation Outlook and Webinar Series

Seyfarth’s Commercial Litigation practice group is pleased to present the fourth annual installment of the Commercial Litigation Outlook, which provides insights on litigation issues and trends to expect in 2024. Since its inaugural publication in 2020, Seyfarth’s Commercial Litigation Outlook has served as a beacon for legal professionals, providing invaluable insights and forecasting emerging trends.  2024 promises to be one for the history books — a vastly more robust regulatory…

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Report From Day 2 of The 2024 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Melissa A. Ortega and Taylor Iaculla Seyfarth Synopsis: This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The meeting includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Review Commission, the MSHA Review Commission, OSHA and MSHA Judges, and the Solicitor’s Office, as well as management, labor, and safety professionals. Day 2 started…

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International Women’s Day: Expanding cybersecurity opportunities in the era of AI

March is a meaningful month for me personally as we honor Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Some of the most powerful role models in my own life are the women who raised me and the community of women who’ve provided the support and encouragement that continues to empower me to believe that I can be anything I aspire to. In security, this is particularly important because women are still…

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Whoa! Cannabis Company Lawsuit Lights Up the Benefits of Creative IP Protection

This blog has been cross-posted from Seyfarth’s The Blunt Truth site. Federal trademark registration is typically unavailable for goods and services related to the sale of cannabis.  But a combination of federal copyright registration and state trademark registration for these goods and services may provide an opportunity for cannabis companies to protect the substantial investments made in their brands and offerings.  A recent case in California, The Holding Company LLC v.…

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The business of risk-taking: An interview with Jayne Plunkett

Jayne Plunkett, chief risk officer (CRO) of pan-Asian insurer AIA Group, has held leadership roles across the full spectrum of insurance products and services, including primary insurance, reinsurance, frontline underwriting, and risk management. In a conversation with Bernhard Kotanko, McKinsey senior partner and head of the firm’s Asia–Pacific insurance practice, Plunkett shared her perspectives on the role of insurance, her approach to risk management, and her personal journey as a…

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Subscription performance unleashed: Accelerating through market volatility

Welcome to our Drive to Subscribe blog series, created to provide readers with insight into the world of subscriptions while drawing parallels with the world of Formula 1. In part four, we look at how to handle market volatility to ensure subscription performance is not affected. Formula 1 teams do everything in their power to maximise performance, but variables make performance unpredictable. The weather, other teams’ performances, and the car’s…

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Report From Day 1 of The 2024 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Melissa A. Ortega and Taylor Iaculla Seyfarth Synopsis: This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The meeting includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Review Commission, the MSHA Review Commission, OSHA and MSHA Judges, and the Solicitor’s Office, as well as management, labor, and safety professionals. Tuesday, March…

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Ohio Supreme Court Rules That Municipalities Could Temporarily Collect Income Tax From Remote Workers During Pandemic

Quick Hits The Supreme Court of Ohio issued a ruling confirming that Ohio municipalities did not violate the U.S. Constitution or the Ohio Constitution by taxing remote workers who lived outside of city limits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling applies only to a temporary state law applicable during the COVID-19 pandemic that has since been lifted. The Ohio Supreme Court held that the law did not violate the Due…

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Forward to the Future: Between Fear and Hope

The Valdai Club youth conference on March 5 consisted of three thematic sessions and an open discussion. As during the closed-door workshops held on March 3–4, which you can read about here, the participants in the open session were guided by the image of the future presented in the new Valdai Club report “Charting the 2040: Younger Generation Insight on the World in the Making.” But if in previous days…

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Federal District Court Rules Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional, but Law Remains in Effect

Last Friday, a federal court in Alabama ruled in National Small Business United v. Yellen that the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements established by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are unconstitutional. These CTA provisions, implemented through the BOI reporting rule promulgated by the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in September 2022, just started taking effect on January 1, 2024. Pursuant to the CTA and the…

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Key Players in the Indo-Pacific Region

The last two years have been a period of history with a multiplicity of conflicts. While the world has of course experienced conflicts before, we have not witnessed this many clashes with such high complexity since the fall of communism. There are currently three sets of confrontations taking place in the Indo-Pacific region, which we can view as a triangle of conflicts in the periphery of Europe and Asia. Two…

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The Power of Proper Pronunciation

Applying thoughtful approaches to pronouncing an unfamiliar name can enhance inclusivity and belonging at work. Elisa S.M. Fattoracci and Larissa R. Garcia March 07, 2024 Reading Time: 7 min  Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Anne Wojcicki, Indra Nooyi, Ginni Rometty, and Oscar Munoz are all distinguished Fortune 500 CEOs with something else in common: Their names are often mispronounced. They’re far from alone; in a poll by Namecoach, a…

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Weaving the Patchwork: How Mandatory Paid Family Leave Laws Stitch Together

Seyfarth Synopsis: With each passing year, the country’s patchwork of mandatory state paid family and paid family medical leave (collectively, “PFML” or “PFL”) laws continues to evolve and expand. Why is this existing patchwork so challenging for employers? Look no further than how varied these laws are in terms of their substantive and procedural components. The below graphic illustrates this complexity by highlighting four key PFML substantive areas – (1)…

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