Consumer-facing companies across all types of sectors have already begun to harness the power of modern retailing techniques. Tactics such as bundled offers and dynamic pricing can provide a boost to an organization’s revenue and profit. At the same time, they are creating better, more relevant experiences for consumers. Airlines, however, have yet to capture many of these benefits. For instance, some might fail to bundle the sale of a…
Annalisa Grassano Dual dangers are threatening the national workforce: a child care crisis and a mental health crisis. The connection between the United States’ inadequate child care system and parents’ mental health struggles is so significant that the U.S. Surgeon General highlighted it in an advisory released in August on the mental health and well-being of parents. But employers that support employees experiencing child care issues have an opportunity to…
Quick Hits The FTC is appealing a Florida federal court’s preliminary injunction blocking its noncompete ban. The appeal comes after a Texas federal court, in a separate case, blocked the FTC’s rule on a nationwide basis, while a Pennsylvania federal court has backed the rule. The FTC’s final rule, published in May 2024, would effectively ban all noncompete agreements between employers and employees. On September 24, 2024, the FTC filed…
This blog was written with Syril Smith Garson, Head of Product, AI at BlackRock The financial services industry is entering a new era of generative AI, creating new opportunities and redefining business practices. Microsoft and BlackRock’s strategic partnership is at the forefront of this evolution, exemplifying the potential of AI to redefine industry standards, enhance client experiences, and set new industry standards. Advancements in generative AI are leading to more…
Political polarization has seeped so deeply into US society that it shapes who Americans befriend, date, and marry, where they live, raise their families, and retire—and how they run their businesses.A recent paper illustrates how the partisan divide permeates corporate America, segregating executive suites, start-up firms, and even entire professions and industries. Within finance, in particular, decisionmakers’ political views influence investment returns, credit ratings, asset allocations, loan terms, and bond…
Sudden wealth is an exciting prospect for anyone. Maybe you’ve received a large inheritance, sold your business after a lifetime of hard work or cashed in on a family property. Whatever the source, there’s a temptation to start making big plans when a financial windfall comes your way. The future may suddenly be brighter, but taking time to stop and think is likely to benefit you in the long run.…
Following her latest economic policy speech, Vice President Kamala Harris and Stephanie Ruhle discussed Harris’s economic plan, including her controversial pledge to pass a new federal law against price gouging. When pressed on how this matches her belief in the capitalist system, the vice president responded, “I am never going to apologize for going after companies and corporations that take advantage of the desperation of the American people.” Most states,…
No matter where one turns these days, engaging with some form of AI is likely. From the algorithms that power social media to virtual assistants that answer questions and control smart devices, AI is actively shaping how the world works. Opinions about AI’s impact on the workforce range from positive expectations that it will reduce employees’ workloads to negative sentiments that AI will replace human interactions. In healthcare—with patient lives at…
On October 1, the 39th US President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday. In our opinion, this ex-president personifies a very interesting and, judging by some details, irretrievable bygone era. An era from which lessons can be learned. Especially if we look back at the turning point, the year 1979, writes Roman Reinhardt. Then, forty-five years ago, a number of events occurred that determined the development of international relations along…
Beyond HR and across your business Organisations often struggle with unreliable people data, impacting their ability to make informed decisions. This article highlights the importance of high-quality people data, offering strategies to improve data accuracy and effectiveness. Leveraging tools like OrgMaps and ensuring consistent data input can enhance strategic workforce planning, productivity, and organisation design. Reading time: 5 minutes “If organisations had the same quality finance data as their people…
Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images You call your team into a meeting to discuss a looming decision. As the meeting begins, you notice that your questions are being met with little response. Most people seem uninterested while a few dominate the conversation. You’re not making progress on reaching a decision. It’s better than an open revolt, but the level of apathy bodes ill for any real energy around the…
Learn more about how we’re making progress towards our sustainability commitments in part 1 of this blog: Sustainable by design: Innovating for energy efficiency in AI, part 1. As we continue to deliver on our customer commitments to cloud and AI innovation, we remain resolute in our commitment to advancing sustainability. A critical part of achieving our company goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030 is reimagining our cloud and…
In the digital age, social movements increasingly transcend national and cultural borders. #MeToo, for one, remains a global phenomenon seven years since it burst into the public consciousness. It has increased awareness of sexual offences and challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes around the world. It may also have had an unexpected impact on firms. We conducted a study, now published in Management Science, that uncovered how #MeToo changed demand for identity-signalling products in 32…
At a glance A three-lens approach–on adoption, creation, and energy–is required to assess Europe’s competitiveness in the emerging generative AI (gen AI) economy. While much of the current discourse centers around large language models (LLMs), European policy makers and business leaders must look beyond LLMs. Adopting a holistic approach to capitalize fully on gen AI’s potential could boost European labor productivity by up to 3 percent annually through 2030. On…
An unprecedented package of measures These measures were expected, but do they go far enough? Following the start of the Fed’s monetary easing cycle and the rally in the yuan over the past month, the PBoC has regained some room for manoeuvre, which it has quickly exploited to support the real estate market. The first announcement was a 50-basis-point cut in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) that dictates how much cash commercial…
A new study from The University of Manchester has highlighted a link between social media use, unhealthy lifestyles and wellbeing in young people, with those with the healthiest lifestyles experiencing the highest wellbeing. The research, led by Dr Chris Knowles and a team of experts from the Manchester Institute of Education, as part of the #BeeWell programme, analysed the habits of nearly 18,500 Year 8 students from Greater Manchester. Findings…
Rising property prices and higher interest rates have left younger generations struggling to get on the UK property ladder. The situation has prompted families to get more involved with parents and grandparents using their own property wealth to help younger generations become home buyers. Jack Lear, our UK Financial Planning Manager, looks at how families are supporting the next generation into home ownership. Today the average home in the UK…
Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Many of us try to avoid workplace discussions about electoral politics — along with conversations about topics such as guns, climate change, abortion, and religion — to maintain our collegial relationships. Many people do this intuitively to keep the peace…
Quick Hits Employers have legitimate and substantial business interests in restricting employee use of recording devices in the workplace to protect privacy and trade secrets. Employers may want to consider policies that prohibit or restrict making recordings in the workplace. Such policies may need to account for potential issues under the NLRA and may need to include exceptions for recording conversations as part of protected activity and be narrowly tailored…
Whilst listening to the radio on my way into work today I heard yet another advert about a company able to offer clients full estate planning and a Will for just £99. On getting into work, I decided to google the name of the company advertising this service. No where on their website does it state they offer this service for £99 but what it does state is that they…
Creating an investment plan can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. Yet a robust approach can maximise your opportunities, build your confidence and help you to achieve financial freedom. Charlie Buxton, our Head of Investment Management, shares the key steps to cover when it comes to investment essentials. Investment planning can feel like a rather complex skill to master. However, if you’re keen to explore opportunities to…
Two Delta Network Planning team members provide an inside look at some of the decisions that shape where and when customers can fly. Why does Delta fly to some cities and not others? Who is making the decision to introduce a new flight to Italy? Behind every route in Delta’s network is a complex web of planning and data – all carefully orchestrated by the airline’s Network Planning team. Understanding…
Retail predictions for the 2024 holiday shopping season Lindsey Mazza Black Friday has long been one of the single most critical days of the year for retailers and brands In today’s landscape, economic uncertainty, a proliferation of digital channels and the rise of a global market are redrawing the holiday shopping calendar. For retailers, how well they perform will depend on how well they are able to manage the major…
To truly harness the power of generative AI, customization is key. In this blog, we share the latest Microsoft Azure AI updates. AI has revolutionized the way we approach problem-solving and creativity in various industries. From generating realistic images to crafting human-like text, these models have shown immense potential. However, to truly harness their power, customization is key. We are announcing new customization updates on Microsoft Azure AI including: General…
Surging inflation drove many consumers to cheaper brands or lower-quality products, but new data suggests that switching might not have saved them as much as they might have expected. During the most recent period of high inflation, prices of the least expensive products increased more than those of the costliest, according to an analysis of microdata from large retailers by Harvard Business School Professor Alberto Cavallo. In a forthcoming article…
Quick Hits Missouri voters will vote this year on whether employers will be required to provide earned paid sick time (PST) to eligible employees. PST would accrue at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked; it would begin accruing for existing employees on May 1, 2025, or the first day of employment for employees hired after that date. Employers with fifteen or more employees maylimit an employee’s…
Adriemilly Rigo wasn’t feeling well. “To tell you the truth, I was very sedentary, I didn’t practice sports much, and I didn’t take care of myself very well,” she says. She had gained weight, felt fatigued and developed chronic migraines. Then her doctor told her she had fatty liver disease, a serious metabolic condition that if left untreated can lead to liver failure. Rigo was scared. So, when her supervisor…
Switzerland recently signed a free trade agreement with India within the framework of the EFTA. The world’s most populous country is seen by many Western states as a promising alternative to the increasingly authoritarian China. The agreement is undoubtedly a success, but it did not come without concessions. The next step will be for Parliament to deal with the agreement, to which the Federal Council submitted the dispatch this week.…
What would Aristotle think about self-driving cars?As the abilities of artificial intelligence systems to automate complex tasks accelerate, warnings about the dangers of outsourcing life-and-death decisions to machines are pumping the brakes on the powerful technologies. From Emmanuel Kant to John Stuart Mill, philosophers have wrestled with the age-old questions autonomous vehicles are now raising—in new and urgent ways—for businesses and their leaders. “And by genuine ethical decisions, I mean…
Looking back over the past few months since our last China Brief update in April, not much has changed.China’s GDP grew at a steady 5 percent during the first half of the year, while retail sales ticked modestly upward by 3.7 percent during this period. We see few signs that this picture of single-digit growth in consumption will change for the foreseeable future. Indeed, some observers are warning that it…
In July, student protests in Bangladesh grew violent when the country’s longtime and increasingly autocratic prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, initiated an aggressive crackdown that killed hundreds of demonstrators. This brutality caused what had started as discontent about unemployment among the country’s most educated young people to bloom into a wider movement against inequality, corruption, and antidemocratic leadership. In the early days of August, protestors defied curfews and internet shutdowns to…
Harlan Krumholz: Howie, it’s great to see you, and welcome to Health & Veritas. Howard Forman: You’re Harlan Krumholz. Harlan Krumholz: And you’re Howie Forman. And we’re sitting together today. Howard Forman: Exactly. We’re in the studio. We’re physicians and professors at Yale University. We’re trying to get closer to the truth about health and healthcare. This is one of our periodic episodes without a guest, and there is so…
Wealth inequality, long a pressing issue that was exacerbated by Covid-19, remains a significant problem to governments and policymakers around the world. Many nations including the United States, Japan and France have recorded skyrocketing income disparities in the past few years, while South Africa has claimed the unenviable title of the country with the highest wealth inequality. Economic inequality can hinder economic growth, erode social cohesion and lead to political polarisation.…
Representatives of the Semiconductors Point of Contact Group from the G7 group of nations met in Cambridge today. The meeting was held at ARM, which designs over 95% of the processors in the world. Representatives from the University of Cambridge, as well as representatives from local semiconductor companies, participated in the events.Semiconductors underpin nearly every electrical, optical and quantum device, from mobile phones and medical equipment to electric vehicles. They…
Archaeological fieldwork in Morocco has discovered the earliest, previously unknown 3400–2900 BC farming society from a poorly understood period of north-west African prehistory. This is the earliest and largest agricultural complex yet found in Africa beyond the Nile.This study, published in the journal Antiquity, reveals for the first time the importance of the Maghreb (north-west Africa) in the emergence of complex societies in the wider Mediterranean during the fourth and…
Did you know that the World Health Organization (WHO) classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon? In other words, while leaders and HR tend to classify burnout as a personal failing, as evidenced in the way they tackle it with offerings of gym memberships and extended PTO, WHO says it’s a result of chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. WHO begs the question, who is supposed to manage chronic…
Autonomous vehicles (AVs), with their potential to reduce shipping costs and address a scarcity of drivers, will likely be delayed by another year, according to McKinsey analysis. Major OEMs are continuing their commitment to autonomous trucking and are investing to bring the first vehicles of their kind on the road in the second half of this decade (see sidebar, “The technology underpinning autonomous trucks”). Industry and economic factors increasingly supporting…
The real estate industry faces growing pressure to reduce the emissions caused by building operations. The good news is that the technology already exists to solve the problem, and a new way to formulate decarbonization plans can make it easier and cost effective to take action, as McKinsey partner Brodie Boland discusses with McKinsey Global Publishing’s Katy McLaughlin. An edited transcript of the conversation follows. Brodie BolandHeadshot of Brodie Boland Katy…
A global conservation effort to reintroduce a tiny snail to the wild is celebrating a momentous milestone: for the first time in 40 years, conservationists have found born-in-the-wild adult Partula tohiveana – meaning the precious molluscs have successfully established themselves in French Polynesia.This year Cambridge’s Dr Justin Gerlach helped restore over 6,000 of the snails to Moorea, their French Polynesian island home as part of an annual reintroduction of zoo-bred…
Quick Hits Tropical Storm Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane as early as September 26, 2024. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for sixty-one counties across the state. Employers may want to consider their obligations to protect workers and maintain a safe workplace and begin preparations for the hurricane response. After developing over the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Helene is expected to…