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Responsibility

The Power of Public-Private Partnerships

W. Ulaga, M. Adade

How both sectors can collaborate to tackle global challenges.

Operations

How to Boost Health Product Supplies in Developing Regions

Prashant Yadav

Are development banks and philanthropic foundations using the right incentives to encourage global life sciences companies to cater to underserved markets?

Responsibility

Business Case for Sustainability: The Stakeholder Perspective

Atalay Atasu

If the environment were the new business stakeholder, could we still afford to ignore it?

Responsibility

Four Global Trends in Business and Society in 2024

K. Le Goulven, M. Stabile, F. Veloso

Climate change, geopolitical crises, social instability and income and wealth inequality are threats to business – but they also pose opportunities for impact.

Responsibility

The Risks and Rewards of Community-Driven Business Models

J. Singh, A. Adbi and M. Lee

Understanding the hidden dangers of leveraging social capital in low-income communities.

Leadership & Organisations

INSEAD Insights: January 2024 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on enhancing experiences, gender wage transparency, long-term planning, networks and the dangers of flattery.

Career

What 2023 Taught Us: The Rules Are Always Changing

INSEAD Knowledge

This year's top trending articles explore how we can keep pace with a world in flux.

Entrepreneurship

AI Is Coming for All Our Jobs... Or Is It?

Rachel Eva Lim

How leaders, employees and organisations can better prepare themselves for the impact of AI.

Leadership & Organisations

INSEAD Insights: November 2023 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on human morality, publishing cycles, manufacturing in low-income markets, virtual assessments in acute care services and sarcasm.

Strategy

Shareholder Activism at What Price?

Philipp Meyer-Doyle

Financially driven campaigns waged by institutional investors against companies can lead to more workplace illness and injury.

Responsibility

Making Radical Change a Business Sustainability Imperative

N. Craig Smith

Companies need to take risks if they want truly impactful results.

Responsibility

Why We Haven’t Fixed Gender Inequality at Work

Alexandra Roulet

Research by Claudia Goldin, the 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, offers ground-breaking insights about a long-standing problem.

Operations

How Anti-Discriminatory Measures Can Worsen AI Bias

Anton S. Ovchinnikov

Removing gender-related data from machine-learning models may paradoxically harm women instead of protecting them.

Career

INSEAD Insights: October 2023 Research Picks

Lily Fang

Recent findings on bias in employee evaluations, shareholder activism, children’s mental health, the meaning of work and knowledge weighting.

Responsibility

ESG Is Not Impact

Jasjit Singh

ESG efforts are essential for reducing harm, but it is not the same as striving for a net positive impact.

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.

Responsibility

Frameworks and Focus Are Essential for Change

Ilian Mihov

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

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

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?

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.

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.
1 comment

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.

Responsibility

When Shareholders Share, the Business Benefits

Claudia Zeisberger

Offering company ownership to every employee can help reduce inequality.

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.

Strategy

How to Effectively Engage Stakeholders

Lite Nartey

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Strategy

Three Key Global Strategy Challenges Companies Face

Felipe Monteiro

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

Responsibility

Biodiversity: Why Should Business Care?

Elisa Dierickx

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

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.

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

Responsibility

Business Schools Can Help ‘Break the Bias’ for Women

Zoe Kinias

Institutions like INSEAD are uniquely equipped to address systemic biases.

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.

Responsibility

ESG in the Air

L. F. Monteiro, G. Szulanski

How the airline industry is riding a transformation to sustainability.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Responsibility

Why Allyship Is Key to Gender Balance

I. Mihov, Z. Kinias

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

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.

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

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

Doing Good: Where Sustainable Investing Gets It Wrong

Lucie Tepla

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

Responsibility

Foundations for Gender Balance Can Be Built at Home

Z. Kinias, V. D. Rao

If we want a robust economic recovery and a fairer world, we must stem the tide of women fleeing the Covid-19 workforce.

Responsibility

Transforming a Supply Chain Into a Social Enterprise

Amitava Chattopadhyay

Creating sustainability initiatives that can scale requires innovative balancing of social impact and profit seeking.

Responsibility

The All-Too-Real Consequences of Military War Games

Decades of US naval drills on a Puerto Rican island may have inflicted untold collateral damage. Armed forces everywhere should learn the lesson.

Responsibility

Understanding the Origins of White Denial

Felicia Henderson & Zoe Kinias

Even as the existence of systemic racism becomes increasingly apparent, complacency is returning among white people. But research provides tools for reviving white racial consciousness, by remembering and celebrating common humanity.

Responsibility

When CSR Is Mostly for Show

X. R. Luo, D. Wang

Under pressure to be good corporate citizens, politically endorsed firms in emerging markets often prefer to cut a cheque for a cause than adopt greener practices.
1 comment

Responsibility

Can Zoom Be a Tool for Teaching Anti-Racism?

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

Leverage today’s technology to help correct systemic problems.

Responsibility

A Post-Covid Social Contract

Karien van Gennip

How we can manifest “the next world” that serves us all.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

Corporate Funding Gap and the Role of Fintech

N. Maneri, J. Dermine

Financing for small and medium enterprises is limited in many parts of the world. Is P2P lending the magic bullet to narrow the funding gap?

Responsibility

Unearthing the Roots of Systemic Racism

F. Henderson, Z. Kinias

Dislodging deep-seated racism will require a comprehensive long-term strategy on the part of leaders, organisations and business schools.
1 comment

Responsibility

Making the “New Normal” Better for Women

How individuals and organisations can keep progressing towards gender balance, in our profoundly disrupted world.

Responsibility

Disruption as a Force for Good? Gender Balance and COVID-19

Zoe Kinias & Vinika D. Rao

The pandemic may disproportionately affect women around the world – but it need not imperil the hard-earned progress towards gender balance.

Strategy

How the SDGs Can Power Innovation

L. Felipe Monteiro

Risk-averse industries like the energy sector should use the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as the inspiration for new challenges.

Strategy

Blending Public and Private Value Creation at Natura

Aline Gatignon & Laurence Capron

One major, home-grown firm in Brazil offers a successful, impactful business model to overcome skill and talent scarcity.

Responsibility

In Times of Crisis, You Can Help More Than You Think

Amit Bhattacharjee

If you’re reading this, you probably have the wherewithal to help others hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
1 comment

Responsibility

COVID-19: What Every Business Can Do to Help

Katell Le Goulven

How large corporations, SMEs and society can work together during this time of crisis.
1 comment

Responsibility

Collaboration Unlocks Global Health Solutions

Rachael Noyes

Business is a force for good in global healthcare when partnered with academia and non-profits.
1 comment

Responsibility

The Force for Good Spectrum: Using Business as a Tool

Jasjit Singh

It is time to move beyond the debate between “win-win” and “trade-offs”. The right avenue for achieving social impact depends on the setting.

Responsibility

Climate Change: Evading the “Too Late, Too Costly” Trap

T. Baig, V. D. Rao

A new crop of rational, well-groomed climate sceptics is pushing a persuasive brand of defeatism that the world cannot afford.
5 comments