Managing uncertainty

Why are we constantly surprised by the emergence of crises such as the current financial meltdown, and what are the lessons that we can apply when tackling these? According to Mike Pich, Affiliate Professor of Operations Management and Entrepreneurship at INSEAD, it all boils down to risk and uncertainty – or at least a lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of risk.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Managinguncertainty090504.cfm?vid=238

Leadercast: Greg Case, CEO of Aon

When Greg Case, CEO of Aon, spoke at the INSEAD Leadership Summit in Europe two years ago, he warned that the magnitude and complexity of risk in the world today were increasing. As was shown by the financial crisis, he was right on the money. To manage risk better across financial institutions, Case says companies must break away from their silo mentality.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/LeadercastwithGregCaseofAon090504.cfm?vid=239

Rethinking what shareholder value means

By not ending too early, the current financial and economic crisis can actually be beneficial for shareholder value, says Urs Peyer, INSEAD associate professor of finance.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Rethinkingwhatshareholdervaluemeans090504.cfm?vid=240

Business leadership in a time of responsibility

Looking at the global economy today, we can see that a much greater proportion of the world operates under the philosophy called 'market capitalism,' observes Subi Rangan, associate professor of strategy and management, and the Shell fellow in business and the environment at INSEAD.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Businessleadershipinatimeofresponsibility090504.cfm?vid=241

The leadership diversity puzzle

They say it's never a bad time to invest in leadership. But is that still true, even during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression? Unilever, the food and personal care products giant, thinks so and is putting its money where its mouth is.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Theleadershipdiversitypuzzle090504.cfm?vid=245

Mutually dependent: Russia should be a partner in the Western Alliance

Should Russia join NATO? Sixty years ago, the trans-Atlantic military alliance was created to protect Western Europe and the United States from Soviet aggression. Now a leading expert on European security says the West should strengthen ties with the Soviet Union's successor, including membership in the 26-member alliance.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/RussiashouldbeapartnerintheWesternAlliance090504.cfm
?vid=242

Buyback investing: time to come in from the 'cold'?

---- by Urs Peyer and Theo Vermaelen, INSEAD -----

Many investors are wondering: is it time to take the plunge and go back into stocks? While no-one can predict the future, it is generally accepted that company insiders know more than outsiders. So, one way to check whether insiders have confidence is to check net insider buying data (insider purchases minus insider sales). However, such a signal is likely to be noisy, as in many cases insider sales are driven by personal reasons such as the need to sell stocks to finance consumption or pay off debt.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/BuybackInvesting090430.cfm

CSR in the Gulf: corporate philanthropy likely to remain key for now

---- by David Ronnegard, INSEAD ----

By now, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not only a familiar concept in many parts of the world, it has also become de rigeur in companies who appreciate the fact that CSR can make good business sense.

Led by the West, where the notion of CSR has been around much longer, many corporations have already moved past philanthropic donations and have integrated CSR into their corporate strategies and managerial practices.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/CSRintheGulfregion090504.cfm

Family conflict: trial by jury

---- by Randel S. Carlock, INSEAD ----

Last October, US real estate investment company Meritex Enterprises, owned by the McNeely family, was named family business of the year by Minnesota Business Magazine. While it is always thrilling to be honoured, the McNeely family’s success is even more remarkable because 30 years ago the family business, then known as Space Center Inc, was the subject of a bitter lawsuit that nearly destroyed the family and the business.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/contents/Familyconflicttrialbyjury090504.cfm

Pandemic: examining the limits of corporate social responsibility

How much responsibility does a company owe society and at what point does that responsibility end? That's the question examined in a timely INSEAD case study about corporate social responsibility called "Fighting the Flu: Tamiflu Stockpiling: A Pandemic Preparedness Policy."

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Pandemicexaminingthelimitsofcorporatesocialresponsibility
090504.cfm

Back in business

One way or other, the global financial crisis has brought distress to the lives of people, be it in the form of lost jobs, lower wages or losses on investments. There are a lucky few, however, for whom their business gets a boost when the economy goes down. These include the distressed asset buyers who stand to profit from the crisis, motivated by the same reason that drives bargain hunters to pick up cheap offers at fire sales. And the big question facing them now is: buy now or later?

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Backinbusiness090429.cfm

A hive of social activity: where French entrepreneurs benefit from collective intelligence

Behind the doors at no. 84 rue de Jemmapes along St Martin's Canal in Paris, social entrepreneurs are busy working on their own and with one another to find 'innovative solutions' aimed at bringing about change in society.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Frenchsocialentrepreneurs090427.cfm

Putting the squeeze on sustainability spending

In an economic downturn, budgets get cut – whether they be for training, travel, marketing or PR activities. But these cuts go well beyond the normal discretionary items. Where companies had recently started spending money to promote and enhance their sustainability, they are now refocusing their attention on cost-cutting instead.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/Puttingthesqueezeonsustainabilityspending090504.cfm

'Great Wall' stands in the way of China's economic ascent

Institutional inadequacies could prevent China from achieving its full economic potential despite its breath-taking growth in the past decade.

Unless Beijing succeeds in making "deep structural reforms" of its "relatively poor quality" institutions, income per capita in China might not break a 'Great Wall' barrier of US$12,000, warns Illian Mihov, INSEAD professor of economics.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/MihovonChina090504.cfm?vid=243

Tapping the uptapped: a winning strategy for emerging markets

Innovation is often a key driver to a company's success. Take Siemens, for example, which has a reputation for being innovative - and successful.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/SiemensstrategicdirectionforChina090505.cfm?vid=237

Bridging the Chinese talent gap

Despite making huge economic strides in the last three decades, China is still wanting in the area of human capital. Not enough local talent is being adequately groomed to keep up with the country's growth engine.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/BridgingChineseTalentGap.cfm?vid=236

Betting on a new marque in China as Detroit wanes

Layoffs. Output cuts. These are some of the buzzwords of today’s business world where just about everyone is trying to become as lean as possible to outlive a deep and prolonged recession most have never experienced until now. Taiwan’s Yulon Group, which has been assembling and selling cars for Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. since the 1950s, is trying for a second time to build a marque it can rightfully call its own.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/contents/TaiwanLuxgen090427.cfm