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Turkey earthquake central fault line

Cultivating resilience in the face of organisational crises hinges on the foundation of a clear strategy, heightened awareness and robust reserves.

Sports stadium nestled in greenery

The Rugby World Cup and other global tournaments can set the stage for both sporting excellence and sustainability.

lightbulbs in a row

Recent findings on online marketplace dynamics, new market creation, trust in AI, diversity in corporate boards and consumer choices.

empty road surrounded by vegetation

Including information about your career journey can help convey warmth in written professional introductions.

Spotting Accrual Anomaly

Focusing on the right information can pay dividends for any investor.

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Strategy

A First Step Towards Resilient Organisations

Ekin Ilseven

Cultivating resilience in the face of organisational crises hinges on the foundation of a clear strategy, heightened awareness and robust reserves.

Responsibility

How Sporting Events Can Score Big on Sustainability

B. Fulton, L. F. Monteiro

The Rugby World Cup and other global tournaments can set the stage for both sporting excellence and sustainability.

Marketing

INSEAD Insights: September 2023 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on online marketplace dynamics, new market creation, trust in AI, diversity in corporate boards and consumer choices.

Career

It's the Journey, Not the Destination

N. Klein, R. E. Lim

Including information about your career journey can help convey warmth in written professional introductions.

Economics & Finance

Pay Attention to the Details

Shiwon Song

Focusing on the right information can pay dividends for any investor.

Family Business

The Power of Distinct Owners as Value Catalysts

M. Massa, L. Van der Heyden, K. Taraporevala

Uncovering the unique elements owners need to achieve business success and resilience.

Strategy

A Nondisruptive Approach to the Environment

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne, M. Ji

Companies can help the transition to a greener economy without sacrificing their financial interests.

Economics & Finance

Deflation Woes: Can China Avoid Japanification?

Pushan Dutt

What the world’s second-largest economy could do to stop its spiral into economic stagnation.
1 comment

Marketing

How Tech Transforms Luxury Brands’ Value Proposition

David Dubois

Luxury brands are increasingly leveraging technology to reduce uncertainty and enrich experience throughout the customer journey.

Economics & Finance

Covid-19 Furloughs Helped Firms Thrive

M. Bennedsen, B. Larsen, I. Schmutte, D. Scur

Even keeping low-wage workers on the payroll yielded benefits after Covid-19 restrictions ended.

Marketing

How Luxury Consumers Can Seem More Authentic

S. Jung, A. J. Yap, C. Chen

Consumers can mitigate the negative social consequences of wearing luxury items by publicly revealing their passion for the products or brands.

Strategy

Mastering the Game: The Advantage of AI Training

Henning Piezunka

In the same way chess computers gave players a competitive edge, AI has the power to elevate skills and enhance performance.

Economics & Finance

Managing Systemic Risks in Tech: Lessons from Finance

F. Candelon, D. Martinez, P. Nathanial, T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden

The financial sector's track record in risk management offers invaluable lessons for the tech industry.

Responsibility

Frameworks and Focus Are Essential for Change

Ilian Mihov

The crucial role business schools must play in building a better world.

Entrepreneurship

How Founding Conditions Impact Start-Up Success

D. C. Motley, C. E. Eesley, W. W. Koo

Diverse founding teams formed in unpredictable environments tend to perform better in similar subsequent conditions.

Strategy

Inside the Black Box Crucial to Megaproject Success

S. Shekshnia, V. Vyas

Despite their importance to the global economy, most megaprojects fail to be delivered on budget or schedule. Here’s how managers could improve on that dismal record.

Responsibility

Unravelling the Link Between Socioeconomic Status and Obesity

P. Chandon, M. Langlois

A longitudinal study conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that stress plays a key role in explaining why obesity is more common among the poor than the rich.
1 comment

Career

Pursuing Purpose After Early Retirement

W. Jiang, C. Harbour, A. Tirard

Individuals who achieve financial independence seek greater purpose and meaningful work to enrich their lives.

Operations

Why Has the Humanitarian Sector Been Slow to Localise?

L. Frennesson, L. Van Wassenhove

Despite a collective strategic intent to localise, progress has been slower than expected.

Operations

Is Transshipment More Cost-Effective Than Hubs?

Enver Yücesan

Drones, self-driving vehicles and other technologies have made shipping stock between locations a viable alternative to obtaining them from a centralised facility.

Leadership & Organisations

Letting Go of the Urge to Rescue

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Exploring the motivations behind our need to help others and embracing a balanced approach to offering assistance.

Strategy

How LLMs Can Change the Way We Strategise

E. Ilseven, Y. Doz

LLMs have notable limitations when it comes to strategy formulation, but deliberately imperfect prompts can challenge conventional thinking.

Operations

What Businesses Can Learn From Humanitarian Operations

Luk Van Wassenhove

Navigating uncertain and dynamic environments and overcoming resource and information scarcity are nothing new to humanitarian organisations.

Strategy

Democracy, Defence and Conflict in the Age of AI

Rachel Eva Lim

How can we ensure that AI fosters, rather than undermines, democratic values?

Strategy

Must AI Accuracy Come at the Cost of Comprehensibility?

F. Candelon, T. Evgeniou, D. Martens

Companies looking to integrate AI in their operations should think twice before turning their backs on simpler, more explainable AI algorithms in favour of complex ones.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Stop Going It Alone

Michael Jarrett

Negotiating radical organisational change needs to be a collective effort.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Better Geographic Investing Begins With an Inclusive Index

Bernard Dumas

A novel stock return index can help portfolio managers make more informed investment decisions and better manage risks.

Marketing

Customer Engagement in a Circular Economy

W. Ulaga, C. Senn

Embracing circular business models unlocks opportunities for companies to engage with customers, optimise resource utilisation and ensure a sustainable future.

Strategy

The Importance of Strategic Minds

Y. Doz, K. Wilson

Directors and CEOs need to develop specific traits to effectively navigate strategic issues and help shape the future of companies.
1 comment

Operations

Navigating Trust and Safety in the World of Generative AI

T. Evgeniou, J. Dunn, A. Hunsberger

The new generation of artificial intelligence can help defend against online harms – if we can effectively manage the risks.

Strategy

How AI Can Improve Human Performance

F. Gaessler, H. Piezunka

AI training enhances strategic skills, especially in lower-skilled individuals. But it isn’t a perfect substitute for human training partners.

Economics & Finance

Why Demographics Matters More Than Ever for Businesses

C. Zeisberger, D. G. Munro

How understanding expanding and shrinking population subsets could help business and investors identify opportunities to pursue and pitfalls to avoid.

Career

The Psychological Strategies of Influencers

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Understanding the psychology behind why influencer marketing works.
1 comment

Strategy

ChatGPT and AI Disruption: Is Consulting Next in Line?

Phil Parker

Consultants need to up their game to match algorithms’ ability to provide affordable strategic due diligence.

Economics & Finance

US-China Ties: Damage Controlled But Obstacles Ahead

Pushan Dutt

Even before the top US diplomat headed to China this week, talk of a new Cold War was unhelpful. Still, Washington and Beijing have their work cut out steering their relationship back on course.

Responsibility

Beliefs and Emotions Shape Our Sustainability Journey

Marc Le Menestrel

How exploring our beliefs, emotions and identities can guide us and others towards a more sustainable future.

Career

A Holistic Approach to Navigating the New Workplace

Mark Mortensen

How to foster a thriving and sustainable workplace culture to contend with the realities of the new office.

Strategy

Developing AI With a Growth Mindset

T. Ojanperä, T. Vuori, Q. Huy

Nurture AI like you would a child.
1 comment

Operations

The Road Ahead for XR Technology in Business Education

INSEAD Knowledge

How business schools can navigate the challenges and maximise the impact of immersive learning using VR.

Responsibility

Business Not as Usual: Companies Stepping Up in Crisis

B. Urlu, E. G. Gülserliler, L. Van Wassenhove

In times of humanitarian disasters, the private sector must step up. Businesses can hardly be functional when society comes to a halt.

Strategy

Leveraging Generative AI for Digital Transformation

Chengyi Lin

Opportunities and risks for companies incorporating generative AI as part of their digital transformation strategies.

Leadership & Organisations

Governance in the Age of Technological Innovation

Geraldine Ee

With new technologies redefining the global business ecosystem, how can boards navigate these changes and reinvent their business models?

Responsibility

From Super-Sized to Superior Gratification

Pierre Chandon

Why we need to focus on eating as pleasure if we want to start eating healthier.

Responsibility

Thoughtful Consumption for Well-Being and Sustainability

H. Plassmann, S. Rangan, E. Hansmeyer

Understanding consumer behaviour is key to making fashion more sustainable.

Strategy

Five Key Insights for Positive-Sum Innovation

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne

With the right tools, businesses can innovate and achieve growth without negatively impacting society.

Career

Reinventing Yourself After a Setback

F. Godart, A. Tirard, C. Harbour

How to survive a significant career defeat and rebuild your professional and personal life.
4 comments

Strategy

Super Apps in Asia, “Everything App” in the US?

Guoli Chen

All-in-one apps that dominate China and other Asian markets may soon materialise in the United States, albeit with significant variations.

Operations

Scaling Innovation in Genetics and Precision Medicine

Rachel Eva Lim

How biotech start-ups can identify and solidify their customer base, scale their operations and unlock the full potential of precision medicine.

Entrepreneurship

What All Tech Start-Ups Need to Succeed

T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden, Y. Lechelle

Governance exists to help tech entrepreneurs prevent value destruction from day one.

Responsibility

When Shareholders Share, the Business Benefits

Claudia Zeisberger

Offering company ownership to every employee can help reduce inequality.

Career

A Flexi-Work World Needs New Performance Appraisals

Chengyi Lin

Adopting the right metrics could help align objectives and encourage more companies to embrace flexible work arrangements.

Strategy

Recognising Possibility in Uncertainty

N. Furr, S. Furr

If we frame uncertainty in a different way, we might embrace the possibility it brings instead of fearing it.

Career

Retirement and Beyond: The Last Days of Executives

Jose-Luis Alvarez

How to plan for the end of the professional life and a smooth transition to retirement.

Economics & Finance

The Future of Energy Transition and Climate Finance

Lily Fang

What more can companies and investors do to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Operations

Planning Matters: Coordination in Humanitarian Relief

I. Parsa, L. Van Wassenhove

In disaster response, humanitarian operations take place under high levels of stress and time pressure. There is no room for bureaucracy and ambiguity.

Leadership & Organisations

How Women Leaders Benefit From Using Humour

Ella Miron-Spektor

New research suggests that being funny helps leaders gain influence, and that women benefit more than men from using humour in public speaking.
1 comment

Career

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

A roadmap for identifying and overcoming the self-defeating habits that hold you back.
1 comment

Strategy

An Alternative Path to Innovation and Growth

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne

How leaders can innovate and achieve growth without displacing industries, companies or jobs.

Strategy

Intellectual Honesty Is Critical for Innovation

Nathan Furr

Here’s how to balance psychological safety and intellectual honesty for better team performance.

Responsibility

Without Shared Values and Goals, Tech Regulations Won't Work

T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden

The world needs to harmonise goals and values in order to rein in the potential harm technology can cause.

Operations

Can Companies Thrive in Permanent Beta?

Luk Van Wassenhove

When digital service providers come under pressure to put new and innovative services in the market fast, how does it affect the way companies measure service performance?

Strategy

ChatGPT vs. Hybrids: The Future Depends on Our Choices

Phil Parker

Imposing the equivalent of a worldwide moratorium on generative artificial intelligence is absurd. But developers might want to pause and reflect on what they hope to achieve before releasing AI applications to the public.

Career

Why Career Conversations Matter

W. Jiang, C. Harbour, A. Tirard

Meaningful discussions between managers and employees build stronger individuals and organisations.

Strategy

How Will ChatGPT Shape Business, Society and Employment?

Geraldine Ee

Will next-generation AI systems such as ChatGPT deliver the productivity boost modern economies need – and are we ready for it?

Entrepreneurship

The Power of Governance for Tech Start-Up Success

T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden, Y. Lechelle

Lessons from a serial entrepreneur on why good governance is crucial for tech start-ups to succeed.

Leadership & Organisations

How Corporate Thought Leadership Drives Business Success

Pawel Korzynski

What makes an organisation an opinion leader and how it affects business revenue.
1 comment

Strategy

How to Effectively Engage Stakeholders

Lite Nartey

Strategies for identifying key players, managing stakeholder networks and creating joint value.

Leadership & Organisations

Joint Strategic Decisions: Do We All Need to Agree?

H. Piezunka, O. Schilke

How organisations’ decision-making rules affect the way individual managers vote.

Economics & Finance

What Comes After the Fall of Silicon Valley Bank?

INSEAD Knowledge

The bank’s collapse could have significant implications for monetary policy and banking regulations.

Strategy

The Social Costs of Not Sharing Fake News

Asher Lawson

Not engaging with fake news online has its social costs; individuals are therefore forced to choose between spreading misinformation and social exclusion.

Economics & Finance

The Costs of Fuelling Economic Growth

Robert (Bob) Ayres

A study of ten large global economies shows that exergy – not human labour – is the primary driver of GDP growth. Existing production models cannot explain growth.

Operations

Humanitarian Versus For-Profit Operations: When Lines Blur

L. Van Wassenhove, I. Parsa, K. Aral

What are the repercussions when humanitarian organisations adopt a commercial structure?

Leadership & Organisations

Why the World Needs Ambidextrous Leaders

Charles Galunic

What the launch of ChatGPT can teach executives about leading in disruptive times.

Operations

How Large Mergers Can Benefit Smaller Players

Xabier Barriola

Joint ventures between dominant incumbents can create opportunities for smaller firms to enter the market and capture market share.

Economics & Finance

Why Did Silicon Valley Bank Collapse?

L. Fang, K. Snellman, C. Zeisberger, D. G. Munro

Risky investments and a lack of regulatory oversight contributed to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
1 comment

Responsibility

We Need to Talk About the Carbon Budget

Beatrice Weder di Mauro

With the release of the IPCC’s latest report confirming that the world is alarmingly far from achieving global climate goals, governments must set mandatory emissions targets for the private sector, establish a robust global carbon market, and distribute the global carbon budget and emissions rights fairly.

Responsibility

Bringing DEI into the Core of Our Institutions

M. Akinola, Z. Kinias, M. Norton, B. Kessler

Implementing DEI concepts effectively in business-school classrooms requires support from both institutions and the wider community.

Strategy

For MNCs, Big Decisions About China Are on Ice

Hellmut Schütte

Western multinationals have put important moves on hold amid political and economic uncertainty.

Leadership & Organisations

How to Rapidly Test New Organisation Designs

Phanish Puranam

Instead of blindly adopting industry best practice, companies can use gamified randomised control trials to pilot new organisation designs.

Operations

Circularity in Practice: Case of a Zero-Waste Island

A. Atasu, I. Gill

Implementing sustainable solutions has everything to do with influencing behaviour, as shown in the Just Go Zero project on the Greek island of Tilos.

Strategy

How Conspiracy Talk Helps People Make Sense of the World

Henrich Greve

Sharing Covid-19 conspiracy theories on online social networks helped individuals cope with fear and uncertainty during the pandemic.

Career

Transcending the Victim Mentality

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

How to overcome feeling like a victim and create a positive, hopeful attitude to life.

Economics & Finance

Will ESG Investing Solve Our Pressing Problems?

Lily Fang

ESG or sustainable investing suffers from a principal-agent problem. Far more impact will be achieved when business leaders incorporate sustainability into business decisions.

Leadership & Organisations

It Doesn't Have to Be Lonely at the Top

Narayan Pant

Tips for leaders to gain valuable, actionable and informed feedback from their peers.

Career

What Machine Learning Tells Us About Gender Stereotypes

Rachel Eva Lim

Machine-learning models offer insights into how putting women in leadership positions affects gender stereotypes in the workplace.

Marketing

Five Ways to Optimise Your Subscription Model

W. Ulaga, M. Mansard

With more global distributors launching subscription models, retailers and consumer-packaged goods manufacturers must level up their offerings to stand out from the crowd.

Responsibility

Transformative Change Starts With Responsible Research

I. Mihov, E. H. James

Responsible research can help businesses and leaders gain a competitive and sustainable edge in today’s volatile markets.

Economics & Finance

The World Economy in 2023: A Recession Year?

INSEAD Knowledge

How current market and economic conditions will shape the year ahead.

Entrepreneurship

Local Innovation as a Driver of Global Development

Prashant Yadav

To achieve critical development goals, we need to champion local, innovative solutions to social problems.

Operations

Nonstop Flights Can Foster Global Firm Innovation

D. Bahar, P. Choudhury, D. Y. Kim, W. W. Koo

Nonstop flights can be a vital facilitator of innovation between international companies and their subsidiaries.

Responsibility

How Organisation Design Can Rescue the SDGs

Phanish Puranam

We're not on track to meet any SDGs by 2030. Organisation designers can help.
4 comments

Strategy

Demystifying China’s Internet Giants

Guoli Chen

A behind-the-scenes look at what makes or breaks China’s Big Tech flagbearers and their foreign exploits.

Career

What’s Behind the Tech Layoffs?

C. Lin, A. Fatás, H. Bresman, M. Mortensen, W. Jiang

INSEAD faculty on the state of the labour market and what’s to come for firms and employees.

Responsibility

How (Not) to Respond to a Humanitarian Crisis

L. Van Wassenhove, I. Parsa, B. Urlu, K. Aral

Recognising post-disaster realities can enable individuals, media and organisations to help the Turkey-Syria earthquake victims more effectively.

Career

Why Managers are Kinder to Women in Workplace Reviews

L. Jampol, A. Rattan, E. Wolf

Employers are nicer to women because of the stereotype that women are “warmer”. Here’s why that’s a problem.

Marketing

Cutting Through the Metaverse Hype

P. Zemsky, C. Poole, N. Bokil, C. Smith

The barriers to mainstream metaverse adoption and the key opportunities and challenges it presents.

Economics & Finance

China is Back: What Its Reopening Means for the World

L. Fang, C. Lin, G. Chen, X. R. Luo, B. Zhou, A. Fatás

What the world economy, businesses and investors could expect from China’s return to the fray.
1 comment

Marketing

How Slow-Motion Video Ads Make Products More Luxurious

S. Jung, D. Dubois

Slowing down the speed of video ads can boost consumers' desires for the featured product or brand.

Responsibility

The Impact of Investor Gender on Female Founders

K. Snellman, I. Solal

Female-led start-ups backed only by female venture capitalists have a harder time raising follow-on capital.

Entrepreneurship

China’s Internet Giants: The Nuts and Bolts of Going Global

G. Chen, J. Li

The lowdown on how ByteDance, Shein and Xiaomi succeeded outside of China while WeChat failed.

Career

Can the Grammys’ Best New Artist Curse Be Undone?

S. Harrison, N. Askin, L. Hagtvedt

Groups can stay creative and successful over time – if they don’t chase further acclaim.

Leadership & Organisations

ChatGPT and the Future of Business Education

P. Puranam, P. Dutt, P. Wibbens, A. Ovchinnikov, V. Sevcenko, T. Evgeniou, P. Parker

How ChatGPT can help – and hinder – research and learning at business schools.

Leadership & Organisations

How Storytelling Makes You a Better Leader

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Purposeful storytelling isn’t show business, it’s good business.
1 comment

Responsibility

Five Global Trends in Business and Society in 2023

K. Le Goulven, I. Mihov, M. Stabile

INSEAD faculty weigh in on the greatest threats and opportunities for the year ahead.

Entrepreneurship

Solving Grand Societal Challenges Through Creative Organisation Design

A. Szerb, I. Kivleniece, V. A. Aggarwal

Combining for-profit entrepreneurship with a non-profit social mission through novel organisation design can achieve scale and impact.

Leadership & Organisations

Why Hierarchies in Organisations Aren’t All Bad

P. Puranam, Ö. Koçak, D. A. Levinthal

Hierarchical structures can be useful even for teams that need to be agile.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Leading Change in Turbulence: Case of Discovery Inc.

J. Petriglieri, G. Petriglieri, M. Soldi

In this video, Marinella Soldi shares ways to navigate the turbulent waters of digital transformation and why it is important to tackle both the strategic and cultural facets of change.

Strategy

Only Fools Rush In: Pitfalls of Hasty Problem-Solving

Asher Lawson

Research into mindless maths reveals why it’s crucial to take your time when approaching a problem.
1 comment

Career

How to Work Out What Your Employees Really Want

INSEAD Knowledge, M. Mortensen

A holistic approach to understanding employees’ needs.

Strategy

Three Key Global Strategy Challenges Companies Face

Felipe Monteiro

Multinationals are adapting and redesigning their global strategies in response to mounting pressures.

Marketing

When Feeling Good Feels Morally Wrong

S. Lin, T. Reich, T. Kreps

After witnessing human suffering, people believe it is more appropriate to prolong negative emotions than repair their mood.

Leadership & Organisations

When Two Isn’t Always Better Than One

M. Bikard, K. Vakili, F. Teodoridis

Receiving outsized credit can encourage individuals to work together even when it results in lower-quality output.

Marketing

Putting a Price on Private Data

G. Tomaino, K. Wertenbroch, D. Walters

People value their private data higher in cash than in digital goods or services.
2 comments

Marketing

Healthy Eating Interventions That Work

P. Chandon, K. L. Haws, P. J. Liu

Mutually beneficial solutions for the food industry, health and the environment.

Family Business

A Career in the Family Business: Duty or Choice?

M. Bennedsen, C. Harbour, A. Tirard

Would-be joiners of family businesses can have their cake and eat it – if they get the ingredients right.

Responsibility

In Times of Chaos, Know Yourself

Marc Le Menestrel

Self-aware leaders see the beauty in chaos and look within to find meaningful solutions.

Operations

Twitter's Remarkable Mission in a Divided World

T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden

Good governance is key to ensure that exceptional people, organisations and countries realise their full potential.

Leadership & Organisations

Our Best of 2022: Making Sense of an Uncertain World

INSEAD Knowledge

This year’s trending articles offer insights ranging from how to work and manage better to what the economy might hold in 2023.

Responsibility

Confronting Climate Change in Africa

V. D. Rao, P. Yadav

Experts discuss how the climate emergency is impacting Africa – and how leaders across the continent are taking action to mitigate it.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

How to Break Free From Herd Mentality

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Nurturing independent thought can help us overcome dangerous sheeple behaviour and groupthink.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

In the US, Owning a Home May Not Lead to a Better Life

Pierre Mabille

Policies meant to help lower-income Americans purchase homes may be perpetuating the Black-white wealth gap.

Strategy

After the Guns Fall Silent, What Then?

Douglas Webber

Would an end of Russia's invasion of Ukraine result in lasting peace for the region?
1 comment

Strategy

Managing in an Unimaginable World

José Santos

Business leaders can leverage serendipity to help their companies deal with far-reaching market shocks.

Career

The Problem With Being Too Easy-going

A. Barasch, K. Woolley, P. J. Liu

Failure to express your preferences in everyday situations can make you seem less likeable and even slightly less human.

Operations

How Biotech Firms Can Improve Cross-Functional Collaboration

O. Schiltz, R. Lehman

Optimising the R&D-to-commercialisation handover process is crucial for the survival of young biotech companies.

Economics & Finance

After the Fall, What’s Next for Crypto?

INSEAD Knowledge

Amid the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, Lily Fang, Antonio Fatás, Peter Zemsky and Jason P. Davis unpack why it happened and where crypto could go from here.
3 comments

Career

Collaborations That Are Bad for Business but Benefit Employees

H. Piezunka, T. Grohsjean

Sharing a partner with competing companies hinders the success of firms but helps employees’ careers.

Operations

Stakeholder Perspectives on Right-to-Repair Laws

E. Gulserliler, A. Atasu, L. Van Wassenhove

Laws to protect consumers and the environment could be a game-changer for businesses and prompt change in business models.

Strategy

Creating Your Blue Ocean Through Noncustomer Analysis

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne, M. Ji

Adopting a blue ocean perspective can allow you to reach beyond your existing industry’s customers.

Strategy

Can AI Help You Strategise Better?

P. Puranam, P. Sen

Machine learning algorithms can uncover intricate patterns in big data and enable managers to strategise with more confidence.

Operations

Do Unconventional Offices Promote Creativity?

M. Sosa, S. Lee

It is widely assumed that unconventionally-designed offices stimulate creativity. But that isn’t always the case – sometimes they may even impede innovation.
1 comment

Responsibility

The Future of Food: New Tech to Save the World

Rachel Eva Lim

Could innovative, tech-driven solutions be key to fixing our broken food systems?

Leadership & Organisations

Live Abroad to Excel in the Language of Leadership

INSEAD Knowledge

Leaders with broad multicultural experiences are better communicators and lead more effectively, particularly in multinational teams.

Career

How Much Control Do You Really Have Over Your Career?

Charles Galunic

Chance events may have a greater impact on career trajectories than we think.

Entrepreneurship

Crypto 3.0 Will Be More Human

Jason P. Davis

At a recent INSEAD event, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed technologies to manage online identities, preserve privacy and ensure the responsible use of AI.
1 comment

Operations

Should Companies Allow Returns of Customised Goods?

Anton S. Ovchinnikov

Allowing customers to return customised products can be a win-win for both consumers and business.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

How to Change Someone’s Mind

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Powerful storytelling can awaken curiosity and challenge people to shift their outlook.
1 comment

Career

Why It Pays to Be Sceptical About Behaviour Tests

Felix Jan Nitsch

Using such techniques to assess individual personality traits such as rationality might overstate their potential.

Leadership & Organisations

The Really Simple Steps to Creating an Innovation Engine

Lee Seok Hwai

All companies need to do is give employees permission to generate ideas and nudge them in the right direction – then get out of the way, said Ben Bensaou in a Thinkers50 webinar.

Responsibility

GHG Emissions Reduction: Scientific Rigour and Stakeholder Engagement

A. Atasu, A. Cselotei

How a step-by-step approach to sustainability helped INSEAD ensure meaningful results.
1 comment

Career

The World’s Most Talent Competitive Countries, 2022

B. Lanvin, F. Monteiro

Mounting talent inequalities could become a significant roadblock to reaching key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Leadership & Organisations

Navigating the New World of Work

Rachel Eva Lim

Firms need to focus on building an inclusive environment and a culture of trust to overcome the challenges of remote or hybrid work.

Economics & Finance

The Importance of Soft Skills in Driving Productivity

M. Guadalupe, B. Ng

The economy of the future requires a workforce with strong soft skills. Investing in these crucial skills can result in increased productivity.

Economics & Finance

The Road Ahead for Venture Capital

Katy Scott

In this Thinkers50 webinar, Claudia Zeisberger provides insights into the state of the venture world in today’s climate of unprecedented uncertainty.

Economics & Finance

China’s Economy: Dragon in Turbulence

Pushan Dutt

Anaemic growth and a crippling economic war with the United States weigh on Xi Jinping even as he cements his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao.

Marketing

How to Get More Value from Less Food

Pierre Chandon

Marketing focused on the multisensory properties of food can encourage people to eat less and experience more pleasure.

Career

The Power of Networking in the New Economy

F. Godart, A. Mears

In today’s gig economy, fleeting ties can be valuable to the career of the gig worker.

Economics & Finance

Can Fintech Be a Force for Good?

Geraldine Ee

In this Thinkers50 webinar, Lily Fang discusses how the meeting of finance and technology could unleash a transformative force towards more inclusive financial services.

Strategy

A World at War With Putin’s Regime

Ludo Van der Heyden

To defend democracy, the civilised world needs to stand with Ukraine in securing victory and continue to engage and pressure Russia to reform itself.

Responsibility

Americans Underestimate the Impact of Voter Suppression

G. Tomaino, Z. Carmon, A. Mazar, W. Wood

Voting suppression is on the rise, but many Americans fail to anticipate the harm of seemingly minor voting restrictions.
4 comments

Economics & Finance

A Perfect (Macroeconomic) Storm

Antonio Fatás

The outlook for the world economy next year doesn’t inspire optimism.

Responsibility

Responsible AI Has Become Critical for Business

C. Zeisberger, A. Bose

Investors need to prioritise the ethical deployment of AI – too much is at stake if they don’t.

Responsibility

Rising to the ESG Challenge: Towards Effective Governance

Geraldine Ee

Boards can drive the ESG agenda effectively by identifying what is material to their organisation and being willing to adapt along the way.

Strategy

How to Design for Disruption

A. Chadha, S. Hasija

Why a structured approach can turn a volatile world into a growth opportunity.

Strategy

Speed Kills: Why Some MNCs Fail to Pay Attention to Quality

Quy Huy

When managers are too fixated on quick financial results, ethics and service tend to take a backseat.

Leadership & Organisations

Embracing Diversity With a Growth Mindset

K. Kuwabara, J. Cao

Getting along with others is about more than just having things in common.

Leadership & Organisations

Why Communication Breaks Down

P. Puranam, Ö. Koçak

As workplaces become more diverse and work becomes more distributed, it is more important than ever to converge on a common code for effective communication.

Career

The Hidden Power of Workers From Humble Backgrounds

C. Harbour, W. Jiang, A. Tirard

Businesses need to do more to level the playing field for socioeconomically disadvantaged workers.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Banning Payment for Order Flow May Benefit No One

B. Zhou, M. Baldauf, J. Mollner

Increased regulations could result in reduced market liquidity and a negative impact on retail traders.

Leadership & Organisations

Why The World is Attracted to Neo-Authoritarian Leaders

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Leaders like Donald Trump do not rise in a vacuum. But what draws people to authoritarian rulers?
1 comment

Career

The Pandemic Has Dealt a Blow to Gender Balance

Zoe Kinias

Here’s what business leaders can do about it.

Economics & Finance

Affordable Homes for the Poor Can Boost Collective Well-Being

Pierre Mabille

For all their much-studied drawbacks, affordable housing policies can be a net positive for the aggregate welfare of city dwellers.

Strategy

Thinkers50: The Upside of Uncertainty

Rachel Eva Lim

In this Thinkers50 webinar, Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr share practical tools for navigating life’s ambiguities.

Strategy

Will China’s Internet Giants Conquer the World?

G. Chen, J. Li

Dissecting the success and strategies of Chinese internet firms as more of them venture overseas.

Responsibility

Countering Climate Change With “Greener” Economics

Robert Ayres

Truly understanding the fundamental role of energy in the economy is key to a more sustainable future.
2 comments

Operations

The Coming of Age of Humanitarian Logistics

Luk Van Wassenhove

We are closer than ever to a holistic supply chain management approach now that the humanitarian sector has recognised the importance of logistics.

Marketing

NFTs as a Force for Good: The Savvy Salamanders

A. Rane, P. Kireyev

How a group of MBA students built a community of crypto pioneers and a unique approach to fundraising. 

Leadership & Organisations

How to Show Compassion Without Compromising on Performance

M. Mortensen, H. K. Gardner

Many leaders think they have to choose between delivering results and supporting employees’ needs. They don’t – but doing both sustainably requires careful navigation.

Economics & Finance

Casting a Wider Net in OTC Trading: For Better or Worse?

S. Glebkin, B. Y. Zhou

Simultaneous multilateral search for quotes may not always lead to the best deal in over-the-counter trading for dealers and the market.

Economics & Finance

A China Blockade of Taiwan Will Hurt Us All

Pushan Dutt

The global economy will bear the consequences of an all-out economic war between the United States and China should the latter try to shut off Taiwan.

Economics & Finance

Biden’s Misguided Tax on Share Buybacks

Theo Vermaelen

The Biden administration’s ideological distaste for companies purchasing their own stock may do more harm than good.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Could Living Near the Office Make You a Better CEO?

M. Bennedsen, M. D. Amore, B. Larsen

Besides enjoying a shorter commute, living close to the office may allow CEOs to boost ties with employees and the firm’s bottom line.

Career

Ten Steps Towards a More Fulfilling Life

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

The journey towards a more fulfilling existence starts within you.

Strategy

Four Elements of Successful Stakeholder Communication

Lite Nartey

Firms can enhance cooperation and reduce conflict by understanding the different dimensions of stakeholder dialogue.

Leadership & Organisations

What Religion Teaches Us About Great Leadership

Elizabeth Florent Treacy

What can guiding figures and best practices in Judaism, Islam and Catholicism tell us about leadership?
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

The Special Bond Behind Every Brilliant Idea

M. Lazar, E. Miron-Spektor, J. Mueller

The way we view ourselves shapes the way we develop and connect with our own ideas.

Marketing

Online Feedback Requests Are Effective, Even if Ignored

M. Rubin, D. Perez, G. Oestreicher-Singer, L. Zalmanson

Requesting feedback from online users can influence their behaviour, even when the requests go unanswered.

Strategy

In Age of Deglobalisation, MNCs Need Closer Ties to Thrive

Q. Huy, C. Moschieri, D. Ravasi

Cultivating relationships with local communities and other stakeholders will help multinationals counterbalance increasingly powerful governments.

Operations

Better Human-AI Collaboration May Depend on Workflow Design

P. Puranam, R. Mehra

Improving how humans work with algorithms could simply be a matter of redesigning workflow.

Entrepreneurship

Corporate VC Is Booming, but Is It What Your Start-Up Needs?

N. Sauvage, C. Zeisberger, M. Varadan

A guide to choosing the right corporate investment for entrepreneurs.

Responsibility

Bob Ayres at 90: Key Insights on Energy in the Economy

The Organising Committee of the Bob@90 Conference

Groundbreaking observations on the fundamental role energy and materials play in the economy.
6 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Paradox Mindset: The Source of Remarkable Creativity in Teams

E. Miron-Spektor, K. Emich, L. Argote, W. Smith

Teams are more successful if they embrace internal differences and explore conflicting ideas instead of glossing over them.

Marketing

A “Human” Understanding of the World Through AI

David Midgley 

Information search could be made less biased and more holistic through the lens of empathy.

Operations

Making Sense of Attribution in Online Advertising

Antoine Desir

While online advertising has grown rapidly, methods to justify marketing spend on digital platforms have yet to catch up.
1 comment

Marketing

How to Shoot for the Holy Grail of Social Media Marketing

Abhishek Borah

Quality, consistent and simple messaging is what will bring in sales. The rest is just noise.
2 comments

Strategy

Can We Get Better at Navigating Uncertainty?

Nathan Furr

What innovators have learnt that empowers them to face the uncertainty of new pursuits.

Leadership & Organisations

The X Factor in Crafting New CXO Roles Successfully

J. L. Alvarez, S. Svejenova

CXO roles have proliferated in recent decades, making it difficult for some title holders to find their footing in an ever-changing C-suite landscape.

Marketing

Healthy in the Wrong Way: When Food Marketers Don’t Listen

P. Chandon, R. Cadario

The meaning of “healthy” is constantly evolving, and food marketers are not always meeting consumers’ expectations.

Responsibility

The Importance of Gatekeepers in Impacting Real Change

F. Godart, G. Hsu, G. Negro

How a social movement and an influential magazine successfully challenged the morally problematic use of fur in fashion.

Leadership & Organisations

Why Leaders Won’t Stop Waging Wars

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

War brings out the worst in people and destroys the very foundations of humanity.

Career

How to Find Fulfilment by Taking a Step Down

W. Jiang, C. Harbour, A. Tirard

Three stories of professionals who bucked the trend and found greater meaning in their work life.
1 comment

Operations

Empowering Public Health Leaders in Africa

L. Van Wassenhove, P. Lalvani

A unique programme to foster leadership and supply chain skills through public-private capacity-building efforts.

Marketing

Consumer Streaks Are Motivating – The Key Is Keeping Them Alive

A. Barasch, J. Silverman

People often go out of their way to repeat a behaviour if it is logged and highlighted to them.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Finding Meaning in Life

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Create a compelling self-narrative based on the five pillars that influence the way we experience meaning.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Too Many ESG Funds Mislead Investors

Theo Vermaelen

Regulatory reckoning with ESG funds does not go far enough.

Responsibility

Building Momentum in the Energy Transition: Key Insights from Davos and Beyond

Atalay Atasu

If the nascent energy transformation is to take off, business and government must work together to promote circular systems.

Leadership & Organisations

Organising in the Metaverse: Five FAQs for Managers

V. F. He, P. Puranam

An explainer on how social interaction in all its forms might take place in the virtual universe.
1 comment

Operations

Making Humanitarian Operations More Sustainable

Luk Van Wassenhove

Do good intentions always lead to good outcomes? Experience shows that the lack of coordinated response can lead to future humanitarian and sustainability challenges.

Strategy

Why the Customer Isn’t Always Right

Alixandra Barasch

Consumer behaviour on food-logging tools reveals initial expectations don’t match actual experience.

Career

What Good Could Come After Financial Success?

B. Vissa, L. K. Hans

All of society would benefit if successful entrepreneurs used their skills to promote positive social change.
1 comment

Operations

Mind the Inventory Risk: Price Paradox Under Competition

A. Ovchinnikov, H. Pun, G. Raz

In competitive environments, operational innovation could well be the answer to inventory risk.

Leadership & Organisations

What the World Can Learn From Nordic Boards

S. Shekshnia, S. B. Jensen, L. Engstam

Proactive, engaged and democratic, corporate boards in Nordic countries are well-placed to deal with today’s increasingly complex operating environments.

Operations

Are Our Supply Chains Ready for the Next Global Health Crisis?

Prashant Yadav

We need resilient healthcare supply chains to prepare for the next global health emergency. Here’s how to do it.

Leadership & Organisations

Has Hybridity Killed Teamwork?

C. N. Hadley, M. Mortensen

The time has come to check whether the benefits of teamwork still outweigh the costs.

Marketing

Unlock the Full Value of Your Business Relationships

Christoph Senn

A fruitful relationship starts with asking the right – and sometimes difficult – questions.

Strategy

The Rising Importance of Value Innovation for Creating New Growth

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne, M. Ji

With limited resources at hand, companies need to stay smart and efficient when it comes to investing in innovation.

Strategy

Overcoming Competitive Pressures: “Making” vs. “Milking”

P. B. Zemsky, A. A. Costa

A fresh take on the classic theme of generic business strategies.
1 comment

Responsibility

Not All Heroes Wear Capes. They May Just Have More Willpower

Amit Bhattacharjee

We instinctively see people with stronger self-control as more virtuous and more capable of realising good intentions.

Career

Burnout Won’t Prevent Itself

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

While people make sure to charge their phones, they don’t always take the time to recharge themselves.

Leadership & Organisations

What It Means to Lead in a Multipolar World

H. Falcão, M. Le Menestrel

By overcoming our fears and creating a brave space for dialogue, we can relate and lead better in the new multipolar world.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Don’t Kill Share Buybacks

A. Bonaimé, T. Vermaelen

New proposed restrictions on companies buying back their own stock would likely backfire.
1 comment

Career

The Pitfalls of Flaunting Your Social Status

A. Barasch, S. Srna, D. Small

Ditch the luxury logos if you want to be seen as a cooperative team player.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Psychological Safety Unlocks the Potential of Diverse Teams

H. Bresman, A. C. Edmondson

The dissimilar backgrounds of diverse team members often result in clashes unless care is taken to create a psychologically safe environment.
2 comments

Career

How Can Managers Use AI to Find the Right People?

S. Black, P. van Esch

Eight recommendations to help firms win the war for talent.
3 comments

Strategy

Stop Labelling Negotiations as Win-Win or Win-Lose

Horacio Falcão

Too many people have an either naïve or fatalist view of these terms, which have become so misunderstood that we should perhaps even discard them.

Operations

Unfinished Business: Co-Creating Solutions With Beneficiaries

Atalay Atasu

Under severe budget constraints, how can NPOs manage the trade-offs between offering variety versus serving more beneficiaries?

Career

The Problem When Bankers Marry Social Workers

Winnie Jiang

When you and your romantic partner disagree about the meaning of work, it reduces your odds of quickly landing a job should you find yourself unemployed.

Family Business

Preserving the Multiplicity of Voices in French Fine Wines

Antoine Duvauchelle

An INSEAD conference for family-owned French wine estates reveals important lessons for the continuity of excellence in other sectors.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Taming Your Inner Critic

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Eight concrete ways to lead a more contented life.

Responsibility

Climate Change Gets Up Close and Personal for Board Members

Ron Soonieus

Shell’s directors are the first to face legal action for mismanaging climate risk. Two new INSEAD reports offer advice to board members seeking to avoid the same fate.

Career

How Family-Work Conflict Keeps Us Glued to Our Mobile Phones

C. Trombini, M. Magni, M. Ahuja

Torn between family obligations and work, many people can’t resist working on their phones after hours, creating a downward spiral for their well-being and home life.

Responsibility

Biodiversity: Why Should Business Care?

Elisa Dierickx

Unlike the climate crisis, biodiversity loss is just starting to get the attention it deserves.

Leadership & Organisations

Creating People-Centric International Organisations With AI

R. McLachlin, K. Tatarinov, T. Ambos, P. Puranam

The United Nations is both a fascinating playground for artificial intelligence applications and a showcase of AI implementation problems and solutions.

Strategy

ENGIE: Powering the Energy Transition With Data

P. Boza, T. Evgeniou, M. Sarkar

What does it take for a utility company to develop a data- and AI-driven software business?
1 comment

Operations

Designing a Circular Business Strategy That Works

Luk Van Wassenhove

To avoid costly mistakes due to overly optimistic assumptions, a good understanding of the market and the product is needed.

Economics & Finance

Sales Numbers Are Up? It May Only Be Inflation

O. Binz, E. Ferracuti, P. Joos

Managers need proper information systems to decipher the real causes of any bump in sales revenue and decide whether investments are required.

Family Business

When Two Leaders Collide, the Result Can Be Less Fraud

Y. Guo, X. R. Luo, D. Li

When the head of a family firm ranks lower in the family hierarchy than another leader at that firm, the misalignment can help prevent fraud in the emerging market context.

Operations

Putting Covid-19 Testing to the Test

Prashant Yadav

The pandemic has underscored the chronically poor testing capacity and calls for diagnostics strategies at the national level.

Leadership & Organisations

Rethinking the Role of Leaders in the Creative Process

S. Harrison, E. Rouse

A strong vision and a more disciplined approach can actually equal more creative results.
1 comment

Operations

Want to Help Ukrainian Refugees? Don't Send Random Stuff

Luk Van Wassenhove

An open letter urging well-intentioned donors to think twice before inadvertently doing more harm than good.
5 comments

Entrepreneurship

Venture Capital Crucial to Push for ‘Ethical’ AI and Tech Standards

T. Evgeniou, C. Zeisberger

Venture capitalists’ role as funding source and mentor of tech start-ups makes them uniquely placed to press for more responsible use of technology.

Leadership & Organisations

In Praise of Dictators: A Satire

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Liberal democracies are on the decline.
1 comment

Entrepreneurship

Escaping the Survival Trap

Martin Gargiulo

Why expanding your network is crucial for long-term creative success.

Entrepreneurship

The Start-Up Blind Spot That Trips New Ventures

Phanish Puranam

Having a great business plan is not enough. Start-ups also need good organisation design.

Responsibility

Business Schools Can Help ‘Break the Bias’ for Women

Zoe Kinias

Institutions like INSEAD are uniquely equipped to address systemic biases.

Leadership & Organisations

How Conversations About Work Affect Closeness

Spencer Harrison

'The 36 Questions That Lead to Love’ can teach us something about fostering connectedness and trust in the organisation.

Strategy

Russia’s War on Ukraine: First Lessons and Outlook

Michael A. Witt

Russia loses big, China gains, and win-lose becomes a new normal.
18 comments

Operations

‘Tech for Good’ Needs a ‘Good Tech’ Approach

T. Evgeniou, L. Van der Heyden

Responsible practices using tested processes must be the focus when creating new technology.

Entrepreneurship

A Foot in the Door: Strategies to Connect With Investors

Balagopal Vissa

Even modestly connected entrepreneurs are six times more likely to succeed in accessing early-stage investors – if they push the right buttons.

Leadership & Organisations

Into the Mind of White-Collar Criminals

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

What society and business schools can do to stop corporate crimes.

Leadership & Organisations

Gratitude Is More Powerful Than You Think

C. Trombini, P. M. Tang, R. Ilies

Regular appreciation and thanks from service users can make a huge difference in the lives of burnt out essential workers.

Leadership & Organisations

Senior Leaders As Chief Reframing Officers

Ben M. Bensaou

The important role of leaders in giving their employees the space and permission to get creative.
1 comment

Responsibility

ESG in the Air

L. F. Monteiro, G. Szulanski

How the airline industry is riding a transformation to sustainability.

Economics & Finance

Where a Firm’s Value Truly Lies

F. Belo, M. A. Vitorino

A new approach to uncovering the sum of all the parts of a modern firm.

Leadership & Organisations

Making Sure That Everyone Knows Their Place

A. Yap, N. Madan, P. Puranam

Why formal structures and greater diversity create status disagreements and how to fix the issue.

Responsibility

Lessons in Sustainable Change Management: #deCOALonize Kenya

W. Mungai, L. White, Z. Kinias

The campaign to prevent the construction of a coal power plant on an idyllic island in the Indian Ocean.

Leadership & Organisations

Should Employees Be Allowed to Choose What They Want to Do?

P. Puranam, M. Raveendran

The degree of specialisation is the deciding factor.

Responsibility

Six Global Trends in Business and Society

I. Mihov, K. Le Goulven, M. Stabile

A stark look at the risks business education must address in 2022.
1 comment

Strategy

Negotiating With a Team? Skip the Chit-Chat

R. Swaab, R. B. Lount Jr., S. Chung, J. M. Brett

Team negotiators may achieve higher joint gains when they first discuss superordinate goals that either team can’t achieve without the help of the other.

Leadership & Organisations

Meditating Away a Guilty Conscience

A. C. Hafenbrack, M. LaPalme, I. Solal

Mindfulness meditation can make one feel less bad about moral violations as well as lessen the desire to make amends.
1 comment

Strategy

A Simple Guide to Charting the Evolution of an Ecosystem

A. Shipilov, F. Burelli

Capture key changes and pivots with a timeline.

Leadership & Organisations

Carpe Diem: Don’t Postpone Your Dreams

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Far from a hedonistic cry, carpe diem instructs us to live a life of meaning.
1 comment

Marketing

Why Facebook Is Rebranding Itself as Meta

Klaus Wertenbroch

Is the tech company dodging bad publicity or creating a gatekeeper economy?
2 comments

Strategy

Could Green Methanol Be What China Needs to Reach Net Zero?

Quy Huy

Methanol produced with solar and wind energy is a clean and cheap alternative fuel that could slash China’s emissions by as much as 80 percent.
2 comments

Strategy

A Sociological Take on Creativity: Believe in the Unexpected

Frédéric Godart

Amid the relentless pursuit of creativity, it may be time to reconsider how we define it.

Leadership & Organisations

AI: A World of New Opportunity and Risk

T. Evgeniou, K. Firth-Butterfield, A. Sarkar, C. Zimmerman

A new toolkit for C-suite execs on how to responsibly adopt artificial intelligence.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Middle Managers: The Forgotten Heroes of Innovation

Ben M. Bensaou

The importance of building a support network to implement promising ideas.
3 comments

Responsibility

Can Private Equity Make Money While Doing Good?

Claudia Zeisberger

With the right tools, investors can help prevent an impact investing debacle.

Strategy

ESG Strategy in Action

C. Lin, T. Smoor

Lessons from translating a global water conservation strategy into a coherent and impactful action plan.

Strategy

The Power of Collective Intelligence

Nathan Furr

Lessons from an ant colony.
1 comment

Operations

Using the Global Goals as a Systemic Approach to Relief

M. Besiou, A. Pedraza-Martinez, L. Van Wassenhove

With the UN SDGs as a guide, how can non-profits and NGOs do their work while considering long-term impact?

Responsibility

The Devil Is in the Details When Assessing Circular Solutions

A. Atasu, V. Agrawal, S. Ülkü

Identifying the right blend of circular economy strategies is vital for economic and environmental returns.

Strategy

Our Best of 2021: Managing Change in Tumultuous Times

INSEAD Knowledge

This year's top articles look at adaptation, resilience and how we all manage change.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

How Nasdaq’s Board Diversity Rule Creates Potential for Real Change

F. Henderson, Z. Kinias, C. Zeisberger

The new rules requiring qualitative and quantitative disclosure about board diversity will better inform investors and (hopefully) spur further progress.
3 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Seven Ways to Put Procrastination Behind You

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Don’t chalk it up to a lack of motivation.

Strategy

Why Businesses Should Negotiate Prices With Customers

H. Falcao, A. Komaromi

In most scenarios, B2C companies have more to gain by bargaining than not.

Responsibility

The Hidden Cost of Solar Energy

A. Atasu, S. Duran, L. Van Wassenhove

The current recycling capacity for solar panels can’t cope with an influx of customers prematurely discarding their existing panels for cheaper, more efficient models.
1 comment

Responsibility

Leading Climate Strategy From the Board

R. Soonieus, L. Besland, A. Breeden

Many boards fail to walk the talk when it comes to fighting climate change. Here are some straightforward solutions for directors.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

China’s Urban Rich and the Quest For Common Prosperity

L. Yang, S. H. Lee

The key to closing China’s income gap lies in education and bolstering the ranks of its professionals, the meteoric rise of its urban elites in recent decades suggests.

Responsibility

Race to Zero: Biz Schools Must Supercharge Firm Engagement

K. Le Goulven, I. Mihov, M. Stabile

Mixed outcomes from COP26 mean business schools must step up to help business leaders accelerate the transition to a net-zero global economy.

Economics & Finance

The Unexpected Role of PE Firms in Reducing Within-Firm Pay Inequality

Lily Fang

The incentives that drive PE firms have an interesting by-product: a reduction in income inequalities, such as the gender wage gap.

Leadership & Organisations

The Pursuit of Purpose May Be Harming Your Organisation

Winnie Jiang

People who see their work as a calling tend to be regarded as better employees, with unintended consequences for co-workers as well as their organisation.
1 comment

Responsibility

Should Firms Encourage Their Customers to Vaccinate?

P. Kireyev, V. Choudhary, Z. Liu

Private firms can boost their bottom line while promoting pro-social information.

Responsibility

New Variants Show Why the World Urgently Needs Vaccine Equity

Prashant Yadav

Delivering more vaccines to low- and middle-income countries is vital if we want to limit the emergence of new coronavirus variants.

Family Business

A Different Kind of Family Firm Hiding in Plain Sight

Morten Bennedsen

The link between ownership and control is tenuous in a certain type of family firm.

Strategy

Negotiators Should Decrease Concessions Across Rounds

K. S. Tey, R. Swaab, M. Schaerer, N. Madan

Signalling your bottom line reduces your counterparty’s ambitions.

Responsibility

Why Allyship Is Key to Gender Balance

I. Mihov, Z. Kinias

To achieve equity, both men and women must advocate for it.

Marketing

Why Investors’ Memories May Be Bad for Their Wealth

D. Walters, P. Fernbach

How positive bias can lead overconfident investors to inflate the size of their wins and forget their losses.

Leadership & Organisations

Post-Pandemic, Firms Need Chief Social Connectivity Officers

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

In this new hybrid working environment, people shouldn’t go to the office to stare at their computer, but to connect.

Responsibility

Using Corporate Social Initiatives to Build a Purpose-Driven Organisation

C. Bode, M. Rogan, J. Singh

An impact-driven intrapreneurial venture can be a useful stepping stone for changing a company’s DNA, but its unintended consequences need to be managed carefully.

Economics & Finance

How DBS Became the ‘World’s Best Bank’

V. D. Rao, R. Speculand

The Singapore titan’s tech-charged quest to take the banking out of banking has paid off handsomely.
5 comments

Responsibility

The Circular Economy: From Enthusiasm to Realism

A. Atasu, L. Van Wassenhove

Circularity for circularity’s sake is not the goal – sustainability is.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Innovation Is Everyone’s Business

Ben M. Bensaou

Offering employees the tools and motivation to create ideas is the key to an innovative organisation.

Economics & Finance

A Sign of the Times: The ESG Buyback

Theo Vermaelen

Using ESG sensitivities to market financial products.

Operations

Boosting Vaccine Production Needs the Right Degree of Flexibility

P. Yadav, A. Désir

The unequal access to Covid-19 vaccines stems from production shortfalls. Building more flexibility into manufacturing processes can help – here’s how.

Responsibility

What Does the Microfinance Debate Imply for Impact Investing?

P. Dutt, J. Singh

A flexible, outcome-focused approach is the best way to achieve societal goals.

Operations

Improving Women’s Access to Mobile Family Planning Services

Luk Van Wassenhove

Cash-strapped NGOs could reach more clients in rural areas – at no extra cost – by basing their visit frequency on data instead of habits.

Responsibility

Companies Must Put Equality at the Heart of the Race to Zero

K. Le Goulven, M. Stabile

Singular pursuit of net-zero by 2050 could exacerbate inequality and derail our chances of a climate-resilient future.

Responsibility

The Sustainability Imperative for the Legal Profession

N. C. Smith, R. Soonieus

Lawyers should step up to help the world seize its “last best chance”.

Leadership & Organisations

Aligning Individual and Organisational Values

M. Guadalupe, Z. Kinias, F. Schloderer

How employees’ personal values fit within their organisation.
1 comment

Operations

How to Create a Safe (and Open) Online Space

F. Candelon, L. de Franssu, T. Evgeniou

Regulatory and business challenges must be met for an internet that is both safe and allows for freedom of expression.

Career

Performance Reviews Need a Brand-New P&L

Chengyi Lin

Is your firm’s performance review process helping or hindering progress for your high potentials?
2 comments

Career

The World’s Most Talent Competitive Countries, 2021

L. F. Monteiro, B. Lanvin

The pandemic revealed strengths and weaknesses in how nations develop and retain talent.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Covid Has Accentuated Our Every Vice

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Of all seven deadly sins, leaders need to guard against pride.

Strategy

An Unintended Side-effect of Hedge Fund Activism? Human Capital Loss

Philipp Meyer-Doyle

When hedge fund activism triggers an exodus of key employees, everyone loses.

Leadership & Organisations

The Politics of Influence in Top Management Team Meetings

M. Jarrett, F. Liu, S. Maitlis

Interactions between the chief executive and other members of the top management team appear to follow distinct scripts. Managers who take note can boost their standing or stay out of harm’s way.

Operations

When the Problem Isn’t the Problem

L. Van Wassenhove, P. Yadav

Private healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries may not have all medical supplies in stock, but collaboration mitigates individual clinic level shortages. Policy design should not ignore this.

Entrepreneurship

What to Do With Contrarians?

H. Piezunka, V. Aggarwal, H. Posen

Even when they are wrong, those who think differently add value to an organisation.
1 comment

Marketing

Marketing Automation: Utopia or Dystopia?

Klaus Wertenbroch

Firms must take consumer psychology into account and resist the temptation to maximise short-term profits at the cost of consumers.

Economics & Finance

Trust, Social Capital and the Bond Market Benefits of ESG

Hami Amiraslani

Although ESG-oriented investments are becoming increasingly common, their benefits are often only realised during certain time periods. So, when do these investments deliver economic payoffs?

Responsibility

Recognising and Confronting Racism in Europe

Felicia A. Henderson

Systemic racism is not only an American problem. The European experience demands a different kind of anti-racist conversation.
1 comment

Strategy

The Importance of Incorporating Innovation in a Firm

R. Noyes, L. F. Monteiro

In this INSEAD Knowledge podcast, the author describes lessons from his work with innovation and multinationals.

Leadership & Organisations

Is Stargazing Your Preferred Management Style?

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

For too many leaders, astrology acts as a crutch that gives them a false sense of control in an uncertain world.
6 comments

Entrepreneurship

The World’s Most Innovative Countries, 2021

Bruno Lanvin

Tracking innovation around the globe in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

Leadership & Organisations

Three Steps to Optimising Your Firm’s Hybrid Work Strategy

Mark Mortensen

You need a strong process to reconcile the needs and wants of your various stakeholders.

Strategy

If Your Company Were a Political Party, Which Would It Be?

Ayman Jawhar

Four simple questions will tell you where your organisation stands on today’s wide-ranging ideological spectrum.

Marketing

We All Want to Be Good – Then Life Happens

Stephanie Lin

Starting with the best of intentions, people overestimate their ability to follow through.

Strategy

Five Lessons From Xiaomi’s Path to Smartphone Supremacy

Chengyi Lin

Xiaomi’s leadership team idolised Steve Jobs. Now, it seems the student has become the master.
3 comments

Leadership & Organisations

When Authenticity Means Conflict: Towards a Truly Inclusive Organisation

Natalia Karelaia

Rightfully celebrated, authenticity in the workplace may have some limitations.

Operations

Why Targeted Lockdowns Could Be Better for Everyone

D. F. Ciocan, D. Iancu, S. Zoumpoulis

Covid lockdowns may be with us for a long time to come, but they could be made sharper, less painful and possibly even more effective.

Economics & Finance

When Scandal Hits, It Pays to Resemble the Villain

Ivana Naumovska

Financial wrongdoing by a single firm often batters its industry peers. Managers and investors may yet profit by using a granular lens to identify a handful of firms that will emerge stronger.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

What Distinguishes the Super Rich From the Rest of Us

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Peeking into the inner theatre of the seriously wealthy.

Strategy

How the “Butterfly Effect” Can Harm Firm Performance

I. Stern, G. Chen

Firms need to develop appropriate HR risk management strategies to lessen the impact of unanticipated employee departures.
1 comment

Marketing

How Social Media Makes for Happier Families

David Dubois

There is a hydraulic relationship between domestic happiness and exposure to social media content opposite to our views.

Strategy

Research Hacks to Help You Negotiate Anything

Alena Komaromi

Even zero-sum negotiations can turn into a win-win.

Strategy

Strategising for Success in Winner-Take-All Industries

Phebo Wibbens

Wild differences in performance within a market are largely shaped by that market’s dependence on resources.

Leadership & Organisations

Cancelled by Association: How Stigma Spreads in Different Cultures

Tianyu He

The tendency to stigmatise others for misdeeds committed by family members appears to extend to even acquaintances and is stronger in close-knit cultures.

Marketing

How Tech Can Make You Happier, Fitter and More Popular

Alixandra Barasch

Three rules to optimise the influence of your smartphone on your well-being.

Leadership & Organisations

The Essence of Agility and Resilience After Covid

P. Zemsky, S. Hasija

Navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty takes a careful combination of technology and talent.

Leadership & Organisations

How “Mind-Body Dissonance” Leads to Creative Thinking

Li Huang

Hacking human evolution to unlock innovative potential in our brains.

Economics & Finance

In Global Trade, Familiarity Breeds Commerce

Pushan Dutt

Given time and experience, even countries far apart in geography and culture can build strong trade links.

Career

Pursuing the Arts After a Career in Business

A. Tirard, C. Harbour

How three mid-career professionals leveraged their business skills as they became full-time artists.

Marketing

The Neuroscience of Eating

B. Kessler, H. Plassmann

An entire biological ecosystem – encompassing complex connections between our gut and brain – underpins our daily food choices.
2 comments

Career

To Find Your Dream Career, Show Your Unconscious Who’s Boss

K. Min, E. van de Loo

The social pressures you think are holding you back are most likely your own projection.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

How the Afterglow of Victory Boosts Future Performance

Miguel Sousa Lobo

When we perform well together, we feel less tense with each other, and when we feel less tense with each other, we perform better.

Leadership & Organisations

Six Steps to Overcome Shame

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

As old as time and very much universal, feelings of shame can lead to self-destructive behaviour in even the best of leaders.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

The Missing Millennial Homebuyers

Pierre Mabille

Property prices fell during the Great Recession, but millions of millennials in the US still couldn’t afford their first homes. Here’s why – and how we could tackle the next housing crisis better.

Marketing

How Executives Should – and Shouldn’t – Engage With Customers

C. Senn, N. Capon

When done the right way, customer engagement can turn into a lucrative opportunity.
2 comments

Strategy

Are You Asking the Right Questions of Your Data Team?

C. Zimmerman, T. Evgeniou, D. Kelly, J. Weng

Asking great questions is perhaps the most underappreciated skill of great data-driven leaders.
2 comments

Strategy

Xiaomi’s Road to Internet-of-Things Dominance

A. Chattopdhyay, H. Yang, J. Ma

The key to building the world’s largest IoT company? A novel collaboration-based strategy of “strategic coalescence”.

Entrepreneurship

How Entrepreneurs Solve the Big Fish vs. Big Pond Dilemma

Henning Piezunka

Collaboration with a partner is not strictly a two-way affair; instead, prospective partners take the entire competitive landscape into account when forming ties.

Responsibility

Developing Quality Conversations About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

M. Akinola, E. Kelly, Z. Kinias, M. Norton

Organisations – including business schools – are increasingly focused on expanding their DEI capabilities. Consider these best practices for productive conversations around DEI.

Leadership & Organisations

Three Dimensions of Leadership Agility

Renita Kalhorn

There is one certainty in a VUCA world: The solution that works today may not work tomorrow.
2 comments

Strategy

CEOs Who Play to Type Win the Market

Guoli Chen

An important CEO attribute that shapes firm strategies such as mergers and acquisitions is uncovered.

Entrepreneurship

The Hidden Hazards of Smart Device Medical Advice

B. Babic, T. Evgeniou, S. Gerke, G. Cohen

Diagnostic mobile medical apps call for increased regulatory intervention, even if they do not dispense advice or treatment.

Leadership & Organisations

Marked for Disruption, Deep in Denial: Law Firms at a Crossroads

A. Fruehmann, R. Lehman

The greatest threat to the survival of law firms isn’t technological, but psychological.
3 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Mixing Business and Pleasure for Competitive Advantage

E. Miron-Spektor, M. Lazar

A recent study shows how entrepreneurial team formation can be improved by combining two established strategies.

Leadership & Organisations

The Complex Psychology of Covid-19 Compliance

Wilson Cyrus Lai

Three main psychological factors helped determine whether people responded to first-wave Covid restrictions with deference or defiance.

Entrepreneurship

How Should Humans Collaborate With AI?

Phanish Puranam

When bringing algorithms and employees together, businesses should respect rather than ignore human preferences.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Two CEOs, No Drama: Ground Rules for Co-Leadership

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

The co-CEO model can actually work. Here’s how.

Economics & Finance

How Africa Could Astonish the World

P. Yadav, V. D. Rao

Already the most dynamic and youngest continent, Africa could be the world’s next growth miracle – with the right type of leadership.
1 comment

Operations

How Online Product Reviews Affect Market Share

H. Cho, M. Sosa, S. Hasija

To find out how user-generated content affects your bottom line, you need a fine-tuned strategy for data analysis.
4 comments

Family Business

Professionalising the Family Firm

R. Noyes, M. Bennedsen

A conversation about the opportunities and threats that spur families into action.
2 comments

Strategy

A ‘Lab in the Field’ Approach to Evidence-Based Management

P. Puranam, J. Singh, H. Rao

Simplified experimentation in the field may be the best of both worlds, provided its results are viewed with the proper perspective.

Strategy

A Blue Ocean Compass for Your Post-Covid Strategy

W. C. Kim, R. Mauborgne, M. Ji

Four questions to help you rethink industry logic and existing practices to prepare for a powerful comeback.
2 comments

Responsibility

Encouraging Sustainability: Why the Business Case Isn’t Enough

M. Le Menestrel, J. Rode, N. Heinz, G. Cornelissen

The business case for pro-environment investments makes sense intuitively, but appealing to executives’ sense of responsibility might work better.

Strategy

The Relationships That Create Successful Acquisitions

Laurence Capron

A study of start-up acquisitions shows important patterns on both sides lead to a successful integration.

Operations

How a Second Opinion Could Help Curb the Opioid Crisis

Michael Freeman

Altering management decisions early in the process can have a significant impact on long-term opioid use.

Economics & Finance

Rethinking Capitalism: The Power of Creative Destruction

P. Aghion, I. Laporte

With the proper safeguards, creative destruction – the process by which the new replaces the old – remains the way to greater economic growth and prosperity.

Leadership & Organisations

Your Leadership Toolbox: A Coaching Approach

Iffet Türken

How you can use tips from coaches to adapt to a world in flux.

Entrepreneurship

The New Normal for Innovation

Quy Huy

We’re entering a deglocalised world where firms must ceaselessly innovate in order to survive.

Economics & Finance

When American Firms Misbehave, Chinese Companies Pay the Price

Ivana Naumovska

“Guilt by association” in US financial markets appears to be driven by investors’ prejudice against Chinese firms.

Leadership & Organisations

Without Psychological Safety, Hybrid Work Won’t Work

M. Mortensen, A. C. Edmondson

People managers have their work cut out for them.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

When Do Managers Have an Information Advantage Over Analysts?

Theo Vermaelen

The role of network centrality in timing buybacks.

Strategy

Why Do Innovation Outposts Fail?

L. Felipe Monteiro

The steps multinationals can take to create a brokerage environment that fosters innovation.

Responsibility

Nudging Kids to Their Highest Potential

H. Plassmann, B. Kessler

How a top global NGO uses behavioural science to support parents and educators in some of the most challenging contexts.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

There Goes the Neighbourhood: Legalised Marijuana and Property Values

Lin Tian

When a recreational marijuana dispensary opens, it depresses property prices in its immediate vicinity.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Our Addiction to Charismatic Leaders Needs to Stop

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

The antidote to narcissistic leaders who coast on their charisma is a paradigm shift in education.
9 comments

Responsibility

Three Ways Digitalisation Changes Corporate Responsibility

N. C. Smith, L. Lankoski

The Fourth Industrial Revolution changes the 'who', 'whom' and 'what' of corporate responsibility.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Make the Internet Moderate Again

Nadav Klein

Extremist opinion looms larger when the moderate majority stays silent online. But there’s a simple and cost-free way to balance out the discourse.

Leadership & Organisations

Four Steps to Securing Your Leadership Mandate

Michele L. Gorgodian

Stop hiding your leadership light under a bushel. Achieving the legitimacy you deserve in your organisation entails a sequential process.
7 comments

Strategy

Building and Leading Your Organisation’s Data Capability

C. Zimmerman, T. Evgeniou, G. Lotan, S. Bala

The most impactful data teams can think strategically while delivering technically.

Leadership & Organisations

The Competencies and Constraints That Determine Leadership Success

Pawel Korzynski

A novel management theory looks past individual leaders to constraints that might limit their effectiveness.

Economics & Finance

Social Capital Makes the Difference Between ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Buybacks

S Huang, K Snellman, T Vermaelen

Executives who respect both the letter and the spirit of ethical norms aren’t born – they’re shaped by their home communities.

Family Business

Why Family CEOs Outperform Their Non-Family Predecessors

Morten Bennedsen

Pitfalls and solutions for non-family chief executives.

Strategy

The “Frenemy” Effect: When Strategic Alliances Go South

Javier Gimeno

How to fuel – and cool – competitive wars.

Responsibility

All Hands on Deck for the Circular Economy

B. Kessler, L. Van Wassenhove

The key to achieving zero-waste is a systems approach where all stakeholders – including academics – work together to the same ends.

Responsibility

From Band-Aid to Deep Impact: Building Effective Social Sector Organisations

Jasjit Singh

Making a real difference requires combining your passion with a problem-solving mindset and a rigorous approach.

Career

Breaking Bad: Humanitarians Who Went Corporate

C. Harbour, A. Tirard

How three professionals who started in purpose-driven organisations continued to do good after migrating to “the other side”.

Strategy

Simple Rules for the Post-Pandemic World

Nathan Furr

Learning and using rules of thumb makes a difference both during crises and when opportunity knocks.

Entrepreneurship

How to Tell the Age of an Innovation

H. Greve, I. Naumovska, V. Gaba

All innovations make the journey from “eureka” to “meh”. But they don’t do so according to fixed rules.

Career

The Connections Between Love and Work

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Seven lessons about relationships that could save your career.

Responsibility

DEI When We Need It the Most

V. D. Rao, C. Trombini, Z. Kinias

Covid-related setbacks require redoubled DEI efforts, but are companies delivering?

Marketing

Weight Loss Surgery Reduces Susceptibility to Food Marketing

H. Plassman, P. Chandon

Behavioural and neuroscience research by INSEAD and Sorbonne Université suggest bariatric surgery does a lot more than just help patients lose weight.

Entrepreneurship

How Silicon Valley Ate Itself – and What Comes Next

A Madhavji, S Hasija, M Grandinetti

The Valley’s pre-eminence isn’t going anywhere, but its special gloss has faded. And that’s a good thing, for both society and the future of innovation.

Family Business

When Nepotism Pads CEO Pay: Evidence From Indian Family Firms

Balagopal Vissa

Poor corporate governance in emerging economies allows some publicly listed family firms to use CEO pay to exploit corporate resources at the expense of minority shareholders.

Leadership & Organisations

Four Ways Today’s Teams Are Making Us Lonely

M. Mortensen, C. Hadley

They say it’s lonely at the top. But in the workplace, even team members are feeling lonely.

Strategy

Do CEOs Matter?

S. H. Lee, G. Chen

Conditions that underpin the power and impact of chief executives vary widely, with remarkable results.

Leadership & Organisations

A Seven-Step Choreography for Thriving Teams

V. Dominé, F. Coluccia

Changes at team level will never take hold unless individuals’ objectives and behaviours are synchronised with those of the group.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Keeping Meaning Alive as Your Workload Surges

Winnie Jiang

These days, we’re all expected to do more. But that doesn’t mean the psychological fulfilment we get from our work has to suffer.

Strategy

Three Key Steps to Prepare for Data and AI Leadership

C Zimmerman, K Walsh, J McMillan, T Evgeniou

To harness the potential of new technology, today’s data-driven business leaders must also be politicians and communicators.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Why Some Employees Improve Their Creativity and Others Don’t

Ella Miron-Spektor

How our beliefs about creativity explain our ability to improve and sustain it over time.

Entrepreneurship

Who’s Afraid of the Experience Economy?

Benjamin Kessler

Great brand experiences drive better business outcomes, during the pandemic and beyond.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Can Managers Who Wear Many Hats Be Trusted?

Henrich Greve

The more diverse your goals are, the greater the temptation to muddy the waters on performance.
1 comment

Strategy

Testing Google’s Claim of Quality

Hyunjin Kim

Research suggests that, by using a tying strategy, dominant platforms may be able to gain traction in new markets with a lower quality product than what is offered.

Leadership & Organisations

Bluebeard Revisited: Knowledge Is Power

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Long seen as a cautionary tale about women’s curiosity, it should be reinterpreted as the story of a woman’s emancipation.

Strategy

What Makes Business Ecosystems Succeed?

Andrew Shipilov & Francesco Burelli

Our framework guides you through the forces driving Airbnb and other ecosystem-based businesses.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

From Fear to Enlightenment: Building Resilience During Covid Year One

Lionel Frankfort

The four tools and strategies top leaders used most to convert stress and anxiety into positive energy.
1 comment

Entrepreneurship

Using Science to Enhance the Customer Experience

Chiara Spina

Hypotheses and experimentation are helping the Saudi government transform the way it serves customs users.
3 comments

Operations

Putting People at the Centre of Operations

Guillaume Roels

The field of operations management has deep roots in developing effective processes for people. How can we encourage further growth in this area?

Leadership & Organisations

The Darker Side of Organisational Life

Cultural change is not for the faint-hearted or the politically correct.
3 comments

Entrepreneurship

How the Rural-Urban Divide Plays Out on Digital Platforms

Wesley Wu-Yi Koo

Urban entrepreneurs on digital platforms have access to better offline information, which gives them an edge over rural entrepreneurs.

Strategy

What Yelp Reviews Can Tell Us About the State of the Economy

Hyunjin Kim

Data from online sources like Yelp can help you take the pulse of local business activity in the absence of updated official statistics.

Entrepreneurship

Regulating the ‘Wild West’ of Token-Based Business

A Madhavji, M Massa, M Madhavji

Evolving standards of crypto regulation may actually result in sharper oversight than is common in the non-token world.

Economics & Finance

Reverse Mergers Went Bust. Will SPACs Follow?

Ivana Naumovska

Despite current exuberance, the signs don’t augur well for “blank cheque” companies.

Leadership & Organisations

How to Tame a Belligerent Colleague

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

Antagonistic behaviour is usually rooted in low self-esteem.

Economics & Finance

Who Wins the Market: The Swift or the Smart?

Bart Zhou Yueshen

Both speed technology and information are vital trading inputs.

Leadership & Organisations

Strategy and Leadership Lessons From the ‘Notorious RBG’

C. Lin, F. A. Henderson, Z. Kinias

As the business world increasingly strives to be a catalyst for social justice and societal progress, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s work provides many valuable lessons for leaders.

Strategy

The Fundamentals of Transforming from Matrix to Agile

Y. Doz, M. Guadalupe

Nothing less than an evolution of strategy, structure, processes, people and technology will do.
3 comments

Strategy

How Happiness, Anger and Anxiety Can Help You Negotiate

Don’t suppress your emotions – harness them to negotiate better.

Economics & Finance

Can State and Shareholder Capitalism Combine?

The structural “liabilities” of state-owned enterprises can, in fact, be creative assets that privately owned firms can emulate.

Economics & Finance

What It’s Like to Be a Gig Worker During a Pandemic

M. Stabile, A. Roulet

How precarious workers balance financial uncertainty, health risks and mental well-being in the age of Covid-19.

Leadership & Organisations

Cooking Up a Creative Community

Li Huang & Spencer Harrison

A recipe based on INSEAD research.

Leadership & Organisations

The Next Decade Will Be a Leadership Game Changer

Stanislav Shekshnia

Success begins with a clear-eyed understanding of the trends that will define the years to come.
1 comment

Career

A Post-Mortem on Product Management

Ayman Jawhar

Treating product management as a role, rather than a culture all its own, deadens its meaning and impact.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

The Group Dynamics That Define Well-Functioning Boards

Vincent H. Dominé

There is an intangible aspect to successful boards that cannot be captured by curating the right CVs.

Career

Social Media Helps Global “Dream Teams” Come Together

P. Korzynski and G. Mazurek

Academic international collaboration is now evolving beyond conferences or formal networks as constantly improving social media connects more researchers.

Strategy

Not Everyone Can Be Agile

Y. Doz, M. Guadalupe

An essential checklist for Agile aspirants.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

Prospects and Pitfalls for the Post-Pandemic Organisation

Phanish Puranam

Big changes are coming for organisations and organisation designs. Whether they will be for good or ill depends on how leaders confront three key possibilities uncovered by the pandemic.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

What It Means to Embark on a Journey of Change

Isabelle Laporte

Many executives have a nagging sense that something is amiss in their lives. But not all of them find the courage – or the tools – to tackle what needs fixing.
3 comments

Responsibility

How Disempowerment Drives Demand for Risky Skin-Lightening Products

Zoe Kinias & Jasjit Singh

Empowering darker-skinned women in emerging markets acts as a buffer against a toxic combination of sexism, colourism and economic disadvantage.

Leadership & Organisations

What’s Style Got to Do With Strategy?

Frédéric Godart

Careful calibration of aesthetics and style can elevate companies and individuals above the competition.

Strategy

The Five Essential Roles of Corporate Ecosystems

Andrew Shipilov & Francesco Burelli

Most firms that try to build an ecosystem would be better off joining an existing one. The first step is for them to know where they would fit.
2 comments

Career

How LGBTQ+ Employees Can Embrace Authenticity

Antoine Tirard & Claire Harbour

Four professionals with different sexual orientations and gender identities describe their journeys.

Leadership & Organisations

What Ails Corporate Executive Committees?

Jose-Luis Alvarez

Fragmentation among top leadership teams is widespread. CEOs should pay heed – and sharpen their most important strategy execution tool.

Strategy

Nokia’s Reinvention Was Emotionally Driven

Q. Huy, T. Vuori

No less than start-ups or SMEs, large organisations can accomplish a radical strategic shift – if they can regulate managers’ raw emotions in the aftermath of failure.

Strategy

Can the Subscription Economy Save Financial Services?

Wolfgang Ulaga & Michael Mansard

The traditional FSI business model is looking threadbare – and not only because of the pandemic. Some players are seeking new territory by transitioning to subscriptions.
1 comment

Operations

Overcoming Barriers to Supply Chain Agility

A. Gumaledar, S. Hasija, P. Padmanabhan

A careful look at how some firms responded to the Covid-19 crisis reveals a new, more effective supply chain frontier.

Entrepreneurship

Why Firms Should Care About the Career Stage of China’s Officials

X. R. Luo, D. Wang

Tasked with a broad range of objectives, government officials will prioritise different ones depending on their career stage and mobilise firms accordingly.

Responsibility

How Boards Can Steer Companies to “Build Back Better”

N. Craig Smith & Ron Soonieus

The momentum for sustainability is strong despite misgivings over current financial strains. Few businesses can afford to ignore it.

Operations

How the SDGs Can Change Your Organisation, From the Inside Out

A Atasu, M Sosa, L Van Wassenhove

Put the framework at the heart of your sustainability strategy. Start by using it to audit your internal resources.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Why Universal Basic Income Should Be President Biden’s Top Priority

Robert Ayres & Jeroen van der Bergh

An updated system of income and taxes would alleviate the worst crises the United States faces, including climate change. What’s more, we’ve got the numbers to prove it can work.
9 comments

Responsibility

Healing the Social Wounds of Injustice

Michael Jarrett

Sigmund Freud’s concept of the pleasure principle offers clarity on how to repair fragmented societies in the aftermath of destructive populism.

Leadership & Organisations

How the Discomfort of Paradox Can Unlock Creativity

Rachael Noyes

The transformative power of holding the tension of opposites and learning to live with contradiction.

Marketing

The Digital Transformation of the “Mad Men” Model

D. Dubois, J. Teoh

The ad agency business needs to reinvent itself and embrace the two key challenges of the coming decade.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

Teams in Evolution – and Revolution – After the Pandemic

H. Bresman, M. Mortensen

How sensemaking can help you cope with unplanned, constant changes in your team.

Responsibility

The Three Dimensions of Social Impact

Jasjit Singh

When it comes to making a difference, thinking “bigger is always better” leads to tunnel vision – especially for social enterprises.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

In Bad Times, Decentralised Firms Outperform Their Rivals

P. Aghion, I. Laporte

When there’s increased turbulence, delegating power improves sales and productivity, boosting a firm’s chance of survival.
2 comments

Leadership & Organisations

What Servant Leadership Is Not

There’s no magic formula for servant leadership, but there are a few common misconceptions about what it means to put your team’s needs first.
5 comments

Strategy

The Post-Covid Future of “Everything as a Service”

Wolfgang Ulaga

The tough lessons of 2020 will provoke two major developments in B2B, having to do with technology and people.

Leadership & Organisations

Our Best of 2020: Leadership Between Two Worlds

INSEAD Knowledge

This year's top articles take stock of the Covid-19 crisis, its future impact and the way forward.

Strategy

Don’t Confuse Platforms with Ecosystems

A. Shipilov, F. Burelli

A beginners’ guide to high-value business models.
3 comments

Operations

Product Development: When to Crowdsource and When to Commit

The decision should be based on a holistic view of the project and its supply chain environment.

Economics & Finance

Doing Good: Where Sustainable Investing Gets It Wrong

Lucie Tepla

A high sustainability rating does not necessarily equate to real sustainability impact (and profit).

Operations

How Operations Can Stop Labour Violations Before They Happen

S. Hasija, N. Taneri

Three business characteristics can serve as leading indicators of possible human-rights abuses in the making.

Entrepreneurship

Is There a Scientific Formula For Start-up Success?

Chiara Spina

Founders make fewer mistakes and pivot in the right direction when they learn to challenge their own assumptions and experiment continuously.

Entrepreneurship

How Start-ups in Emerging Markets Succeed Despite Scarcity

Balagopal Vissa

When the going gets tough, bring on improvisation and learning.

Marketing

Why Putting Your Phone Away Isn’t the Answer

Alixandra Barasch

Interaction on social media during an event increases our enjoyment in the moment and beyond.
1 comment

Leadership & Organisations

How Technology Threatens Mental Health – Especially if You’re Inauthentic

P. Korzynski, C. Rook, E. Florent Treacy, M. F. R. Kets de Vries

When the personality you show the world doesn’t match your true self, it can sap the energy you would otherwise need to deal with technostress.

Operations

What Fuels Rumours and How to Put Them Out

Enver Yücesan

Unfounded rumours can be spread far and wide by anyone who knows their way around social media. We can’t stamp it out but we can – and should – fight fire with fire.