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Educators: Learn to boost inclusion all year long during AANHPI Heritage Month

Each May in the United States, we observe Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, taking the time to reflect on the experiences and contributions of the AANHPI community. Schools nationwide greet the faces of AANHPI students every day, embodying the rich diversity and cultural tapestry of our classrooms. In fact, every county in the United States has an AANHPI presence. The Pew Research Center projects the…

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When Managers Set Unrealistic Expectations, Employees Cut Ethical Corners

In the 1990s, when Harvard Business School Professor Lynn S. Paine was researching and writing about examples of corporate misconduct, she hoped more businesses would take decisive action to root out fraud and other unethical behavior.Many companies have since formed ethics and compliance programs designed to boost responsibility, yet corporate misconduct has persisted—and in many ways worsened, often to the tune of billions of dollars in losses. Perhaps that’s because…

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Embracing Subscription-Based Models to pioneer the Circular Economy Transition

Ready, Set… Go Circular!In the ever-evolving landscape of commerce, businesses are increasingly pivoting towards sustainable practices. Among the myriad of strategies, subscription-based models (SBMs) have emerged as a beacon of sustainable innovation. These models enable organisations to participate in the Circular Economy, where products are purposely designed to be better reused, refurbished and repurposed, thus decreasing the impact on our landfills and reducing energy and material usage. By intertwining convenience,…

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DHS Relaxes Employment Authorization Rules for Ethiopian and Palestinian F-1 Students

Quick Hits DHS announced relaxed employment authorization standards for Ethiopian and Palestinian F-1 students who are eligible for work authorization. During the school year, work-authorized Ethiopian and Palestinian F-1 students may increase the number of hours worked and reduce their school course load. Students who utilize this benefit will still be maintaining their status despite not having a “full course of study.” On April 12, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security…

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BRICS+: The Path to a New World Order

By working together, the BRICS+ nations have shown that multipolarity can work, notwithstanding differences amongst them. This has been achieved while those adhering and aligning with unipolar efforts at enforcing homogeneity flounder amid the realities of an international political economy in flux. The global CoVID-19 pandemic and vaccine apartheid showed the world that the current hegemonic forces in world affairs are only interested in their own interests, and that the…

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The Anomalies of Disruption

Topics Innovation Disruption Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Paolo Beghini/Ikon Images On his office door, Clayton Christensen — who at one point I called my teacher, mentor, boss, colleague, coauthor, and, most importantly, friend — had a handcrafted sign saying, “Anomalies Wanted.” Like a good scientist, Christensen believed that the things you…

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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rejects Compensation Plan Allocating Commissions to Overtime and Premium Pay

Quick Hits The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that a retailer’s commission-based compensation plan violated the Massachusetts Wage Act by paying commission-based sales employees their overtime and Sunday premium pay out of their earned commissions. The retailer used a compensation plan that functioned like an advance on sales employees’ future commissions, with sales employees being paid three different types of advances and charged with a “negative…

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Unlocking the power and potential of generative AI for advertisers and publishers

Over the last year, we’ve seen how Microsoft Copilot is transforming how people interact with the web. It’s influencing behavioral shifts that are reshaping how businesses of all sizes connect with their audiences. People are making purchase decisions faster, reducing the journey from nearly 30 days to just over 20 when using Microsoft Copilot. In addition, one of our unique ad formats in chat, multimedia ads, has seen triple the…

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Have You Had Enough?

(Illustration created using image generated by Midjourney, an artificial intelligence tool.)Last month, I posted a column in HBS Working Knowledge titled, “What’s Enough to Make Us Happy?” Over the last few months, I’ve been asking myself the same question: “What’s enough?” My answer, as it turns out: Twenty-four years and 287 columns on a variety of management-related topics, my record as of this month. This month marks my last column…

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Switzerland in International Rankings

Global minimum tax, unresolved relations with the EU, shortage of qualified personnel, the banking crisis: the risks for Switzerland as a business location seem countless. For years, there have been warnings of a deterioration of framework conditions – even Avenir Suisse occasionally joined in. But what is the real state of Switzerland’s competitiveness and quality as a business location? In this regard, rankings comparing countries are an important source of…

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UK: How much will I get fined if I don’t comply?

Following the threat of significantly larger penalties since 2018 (the enhanced fines under the General Data Protection Regulation as compared to the legislation that went before), companies have asked us time and time again, “what is my financial risk for data protection non-compliance in the UK?” The publication of the Information Commissioner Office’s new fining guidance offers some clarity on this question; including a published methodology the ICO will use…

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INSEAD Insights: April 2024 Research Picks

New research by INSEAD faculty explores the potential downsides of anti-corruption efforts and the various ways incumbent firms successfully defend themselves against new technologies that could displace them. Another paper examines how job candidates self-censor when negotiating pay at firms that frame the work in terms of its social impact. Other published articles delve into the impact of short-term-oriented data on financial forecasting, and what happens when entrepreneurs use scientific approaches.1.…

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Beware of Fake Corporate Restructuring Groups

Our firm receives dozens of calls from small public companies that have been misled by rogue advisors claiming they do restructurings, debt remediation and turnarounds. We won’t name who the advisors are here, but these names may find their way into lawsuits filed in federal courts soon. Many small public companies trading on the OTC Markets that carry convertible and other debt are easily baited by groups offering to resolve…

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Identifying Needs for Hospitality, Gaming, and Leisure Companies

The hospitality, gaming, and leisure industries encompass diverse businesses such as hotels, resorts, casinos, theme parks, and entertainment venues. Companies in hospitality, gaming, and leisure face various challenges, including fluctuating consumer demand, competitive pressures, regulatory requirements, and operational complexities. Navigating these challenges requires strategic planning, innovation, and operational excellence. Management consultants play an essential role in supporting companies in the hospitality, gaming, and leisure sectors by providing industry expertise, strategic…

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FTC Non-Compete Ban: What You Need to Know

On April 23, 2024, the FTC announced its Final Non-Compete Clause Rule (“Final Rule”), which bans post-employment non-compete clauses between employers and their workers. The Final Rule becomes effective 120 days after being published in the Federal Register (Effective Date).[1] As of the date of this paper, the Final Rule has not been published in the Federal Register. Key Provisions Scope: The Final Rule prohibits an employer from entering into,…

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Explore insights from the AI in Education Report

The swift rise of generative AI is reshaping how schools approach creation, problem-solving, learning, and communication. Your schools are in a pivotal moment when critical thinking and metacognitive skills are more important than ever as new technology develops.As we continue to learn, Microsoft believes it is important to share our early findings from our AI in Education Report. In this report, we highlight insights from our research, as well as…

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[Interview] The Future of Healthcare Fits on Your Wrist

Dr. Hon Pak, SVP and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics sat down with Samsung Health Advisory Board members in early spring 2024 at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul to discuss the future of health and how wearables powered by AI will play a big role in driving the industry forward. Dr. Michael Blum, M.D., CEO and co-founder of medical analysis platform, BeeKeeper AI, former…

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Growing Clarity: FinCEN Continues to Update Beneficial Ownership Reporting FAQs

On April 18, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released further guidance regarding to Corporate Transparency Act compliance (CTA) by updating and expanding the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Rule (FAQs). Importantly, the updates provide insight on BO access by foreign governments, law enforcement and financial institutes. 1. Understanding Beneficial Ownership Reporting A beneficial owner is an individual who either…

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Podcast: CEO Julie Sweet takes us inside Accenture’s AI journey

MOLLY WOOD: Today I’m talking to Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, enhance citizen services, and much, much more. Julie joined Accenture as general counsel after a long career in law, and in 2019, she became the firm’s first female CEO in its 35-year history. Last year,…

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The 2024 European Elections: Continuity and Changes

The next European elections will see the struggle for power increase, and the way in which European government is conceived will change. It is realistic to foresee a transition phase, in which the certainties of the past and the new visions being established will coexist, Dario Velo writes. The EU will have elections in 2024. The campaigns have already begun, but the new ways in which they are developing make…

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Valdai Club to Hold Its Fourth Annual Central Asian Conference

On May 14–15, 2024, the Valdai Club will hold its fourth annual Central Asian conference, titled “Russia and Central Asia: Development and Security in a Changing World” This time, the conference will be held in Ufa (Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Tsyurupa St., 7).Experts from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are invited to participate in the conference. Radiy Khabirov, Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which is hosting the…

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Embracing AI in Patent Law: Navigating the USPTO’s Latest Guidance

The USPTO’s recent guidance on AI usage marks a critical moment for legal practitioners. This document emphasizes the necessity for both technical and human oversight in mitigating the risks associated with AI tools. The agency is committed to leveraging AI’s benefits across society while ensuring that these technologies do not compromise the integrity of legal processes. The guidance clarifies that existing USPTO rules and regulations fully apply to AI-assisted activities.…

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AI Data Drop: What the future workforce really cares about

Since our customers first started using Microsoft Copilot, we’ve been closely studying how people use it at work and what their behaviors can teach us about adopting and rolling out AI broadly—and we want to share what we’re learning with leaders who are looking to drive AI adoption with their own people. Last month, we told you about the 11-by-11 tipping point. Now, another 11-week insight: fresh data shows that…

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Deion Sanders’ Prime Lessons for Leading a Team to Victory

Leaders intent on boosting team performance could learn from the old-school, military-style approach of Deion Sanders, a former star athlete and now the unorthodox coach behind the revival of two college football teams.“When I’m teaching executives, most of them say they want to hold their subordinates accountable, but they have no clue how to do that,” says Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer Hise Gibson in explaining what drew him to…

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How to Navigate Token Launch Risks

Another way for projects to avoid legal uncertainty in the U.S. is to eliminate the possibility of the public investing in their tokens. To accomplish this, projects can issue transfer-restricted tokens (TRTs) or use off-chain “points” instead of tokens. TRTs use the ERC-20 standard to limit who can hold a token and where it can be sent, while points more closely resemble airline miles. Both TRTs and points are typically non-transferable…

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5 Rules for Token Launches

I can’t emphasize this enough: Communications, regardless of how inconsequential or innocuous they may appear, can make or break a project. A single errant statement by a CEO can put an entire project at risk.  Projects should tailor strict communications policies to the nuances of their token launch strategy. So let’s break this down using strategies from the token launch framework: Decentralize This strategy is all about ensuring that purchasers…

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Getting Ready to Launch a Token: What You Need to Know

Organizational structure can significantly influence the success of a token launch, and define how the project operates well into the future. There is no one-size-fits-all structure, so the process of choosing one must start several months ahead of a token launch. Even the most straightforward structure needs to be in place before launch to ensure compliance with any regulatory and tax obligations tied to issuing the initial token.A typical structure…

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The intriguing question of Chinese growth

It was as though the country was hitting back after Fitch Ratings downgraded its sovereign rating from “stable” to “negative” as a result of concerns over its medium-term growth outlook, the impact of the real estate crisis and the sustainability of its public finances. Moody’s came to the same conclusion last December. Standard & Poor’s is the only agency to have confirmed China’s outlook as stable this year. Responding to…

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Sunrise, Sunset: New York State 2025 Budget Brings New Paid Prenatal Personal Leave and Sunset Date for COVID-19 Paid Leave

What You Need to Know: Governor Kathy Hochul approved the Fiscal Year 2025 New York State Budget (the “NYS 2025 Budget”) on April 20, 2024. Several leave-related topics affecting private employers are impacted by the NYS 2025 Budget. Most notably, a new paid prenatal personal leave entitlement was added to Section 196-b of the New York Labor Law, i.e., the New York State Paid Sick Leave Law. Beginning January 1,…

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The New Jersey Mini-WARN Act Amendments—One Year Later

Quick Hits A surge in NJ WARN notices issued in the months prior to the April 10, 2023, effective date of the amendments suggests employers expedited terminations to avoid the new mandatory severance requirements of the amended law. At least three significant NJ WARN lawsuits are pending that may resolve open questions addressing remote work, statewide aggregation, technical terminations in the sale of business context, and other uncertainties. NJ DOL…

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Robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ could help treat a range of neurological conditions

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, combined flexible electronics and soft robotics techniques to develop the devices, which could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain, or the control of prosthetic limbs.Current tools for interfacing with the peripheral nerves – the 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord – are outdated,…

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Are Boards Forward-Thinking Enough in this Disruption Era?

The old assumption that the past informs the future no longer holds true in an era marked by unparalleled speed and deep-rooted uncertainty. Corporations today face an environment that require boards to recalibrate their governance approach. Indeed, our collaborative board research with BCG, Heidrick & Struggles and INSEAD has identified significant challenges in long-term strategic planning. For example, while directors generally recognise trends and potential shifts in areas like sustainability, only 10…

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Civilisational Development and the Limits of Reason

Reason and individualism are important components of civilisational development, although they are not the only components. The key focus for discussions about the development of civilisation should therefore be the limits of reason. Is the pre-modern heavy luggage slowing down development, or is it the foundational building block of civilisation as the primordial instincts of human nature cannot be transcended? The relationship between the modern and the pre-modern is the…

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Effective Leaders Articulate Values — and Live by Them

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 Values lie at the heart of effective leadership, serving as the foundation for decisions and organizational cultures. Yet in the lecture halls, meeting rooms, and offices where we teach leadership, we regularly see a muddiness around how to think about…

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FTC Approves Rule Banning Non-Competes With Workers

This afternoon, the FTC voted to adopt a proposed final rule banning most non-competes with workers in the United States. The final rule provides that it is an unfair method of competition—and therefore a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act—for employers to enter into non-competes with workers. The Commission found that non-competes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in labor markets by inhibiting efficient matching between workers and…

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Supreme Court Questions Whether FAA Allows Courts to Dismiss Lawsuits Sent to Arbitration

Quick Hits The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case over whether federal courts have discretion to dismiss lawsuits once the claims are compelled to arbitration. The decision could resolve a 6-4 circuit split with the majority holding that district courts must stay lawsuits pending arbitration, and a minority holding that district courts may dismiss. The Supreme Court held oral arguments in Smith v. Spizzirri, a case asking the…

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Microsoft Cloud strength fuels third quarter results

Microsoft Cloud Strength Fuels Third Quarter ResultsREDMOND, Wash. — April 25, 2024 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the following results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year:·        Revenue was $61.9 billion and increased 17%·        Operating income was $27.6 billion and increased 23%·        Net income was $21.9 billion and increased 20%·        Diluted earnings per share was $2.94 and increased 20%“Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new…

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Arthur Caplan: Medicine’s Toughest Ethical Questions

Howie and Harlan are joined by Arthur Caplan, Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics and founding head of the division of medical ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to discuss the ethical failings of the pharmaceutical industry and how a community-focused ethos prioritizing justice and protection of the vulnerable would have reshaped the COVID response. Harlan reports on developments in synthetic proteins. Howie recognizes World…

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Is Strategic Stability Possible in a Multipolar World?

On April 24, 2024, the Valdai Club held an expert discussion about the problems and challenges which affect strategic stability. Moderator Oleg Barabanov called this topic extremely relevant, pointing out that, in addition to the global aspect associated with Russian-American relations, it has begun to acquire a regional dimension. He also emphasised that now, strategic stability both in the media and in expert circles is being interpreted more and more…

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