The situation Our customer is a large enterprise with a portfolio spanning financial and insurance products and services. At the centre is a key piece of infrastructure, supporting more than 30 internal and customer-facing applications. This platform is a complex array of business logic, policies, and multiple interfaces, creating a…
Structural changes in workforce composition and how we work have dominated the headlines since the COVID pandemic and received much research attention. Most of the analysis has focused on remote working, the gig economy, hybrid models, and the astounding growth of the contingent workforce which today is over 50% larger…
Seyfarth Synopsis: Businesses with arbitration programs often oppose the issuance of notice in FLSA collective actions on the ground that many potential recipients have binding arbitration agreements precluding them from participating in a case. The majority of federal appellate courts have not yet addressed whether arbitration must be addressed…
Buying life insurance can be a long, uncomfortable process for consumers. Northwestern Mutual, a 166-year-old company, decided to change the paradigm by building an automated, efficient, and clear solution. In this episode of the McKinsey on Insurance podcast, Eli Larrea, a senior partner in McKinsey’s Boston office, sat down with…
Over the past few months, I have shared more than 30 personal stories that helped shape my professional journey through my ‘Series of an Entrepreneur’. And as I’ve seen in the responses, these experiences, and accompanying lessons, transcend far beyond the consulting industry. We all experience failures, make missteps, endure…
Picture this: a world where workplace culture is transformed not just by well-known DEIB influencers, but by unexpected heroes who wield the power of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in their own unique ways. DEIB are increasingly recognized as crucial components of a successful workplace culture, and we recognize…
Deep tech — the innovative use of emerging physical technologies enabled by digital technologies to solve large-scale problems — has the potential to create transformative growth opportunities for businesses. By tapping into these advanced technologies, leaders are better positioned to address large-scale problems and reshape entire markets. Consider the impact…
Our Deep Dive series features our technical experts who give you an inside look at how we are solving complex infrastructure challenges for our clients from across the world. This week, we are highlighting our global director of urban analytics from our Buildings + Places business and how he and…
When it comes to women’s representation in the US workplace, the public sector continues to have a clear edge over corporations. However, new McKinsey research finds that governmental organizations may struggle to keep leading the way toward gender parity. The latest edition of our annual Women in the Workplace report…
Why did I bother coming in? – Reimagining the role of the office and our working patterns It’s a no-brainer that the expectations of the workforce have shifted so dramatically that different working patterns are now no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a non-negotiable. Organisations need to quickly adapt to…
In many cases, fintech providers themselves will also need to ensure compliance with certain regulatory regimes as well as helping their customers to do so. In this article, we provide an overview of some key regulations fintech providers should be aware of when offering services to their regulated customers, including…
When a client has asserted a claim against someone and we are unable to negotiate a voluntary resolution, we have to start thinking about plan B—filing a lawsuit to vindicate the client’s rights. Invariably, the client’s first questions are: how much will it cost, and how long will it take?…
Sooner or later, most successful companies face the challenge of updating a cherished old product. Make no changes, and you risk becoming irrelevant to new customers. Change too much, and you may alienate your most loyal customers. So how do you leverage a historically strong brand with sensitivity to heterogeneous…
Few new technologies have taken the tech, business, and academic world by storm quite like ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot developed to perform everyday tasks such as answering questions, writing code, or drafting cover letters. A range of plug-ins have allowed for even more applications of this tech, further driving…
Authentication in AEM as a Cloud Service is a critical aspect of securing the platform. It also ensures that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and functionality. In this blog post, we will explore the different authentication options available in AEM as a Cloud Service for author environment,…
Master trusts – Applicability of Pension Adjustment Orders (“PAOs”) An ongoing issue in respect of master trusts is the applicability of pension adjustment orders (“PAOs”) made prior to a scheme transferring to the master trust. These orders would have been made by the Court in relation to the original pension…
Increasingly, many small-cap and microcap public companies are failing to secure stockholder approval of critical proposals, particularly for reverse stock splits and authorized share increases. With heavy concentration of shares held in street name (i.e., by retail investors in US brokerage accounts), these companies historically have relied on brokerage firms…
Semiconductor wafers are the basis of the integrated circuits so crucial to most of today’s technology. The wafers’ packaging—whether metal, plastic, ceramic, or glass—connects them to their environment and protects them from chemical contamination and damage from light, heat, and impacts. Compared with the front-end process of designing and fabricating…
Hydrogen-derived green energy is widely perceived as a potential game-changer in tackling climate change. With the pressure to reduce global emissions and achieve temperature targets, it is the focus of numerous innovators, businesses, and financial institutions. Increasingly, the question of green hydrogen is coming to the fore in both the…
EU Commission publishes the first list of very large platforms to fall under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) stricter regime The European Commission has confirmed 19 online platforms and search engines identified as ‘very large online platforms’ (VLOPs) and ‘very large online search engines’ (VLOSEs) for the purposes of…
The Metaverse and its associated technology have raised concerns from its inception. But the objections often take short-term, attention-grabbing views that discount the potential of the technology, and the need for early adoption for any emerging tech or business looking to innovate in the space. So, whilst this recent critique…
We speak to companies every day who don’t believe the UK’s R&D incentive schemes apply to them. In reality, the definition of R&D for tax purposes covers a much broader range of activities than you might think, and some of your everyday activity could likely qualify as well. The schemes…
Greg Campbell assesses the impact of the May 2023 local elections, held in 230 councils in England, and draws out key lessons and questions. When a party leadership projects a number of election losses, they believe the reality will be appreciably less bad so they can claim a ‘victory’. Greg…
In today’s interconnected digital world, data privacy and cybersecurity have become crucial concerns for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Introduction In today’s digital landscape, data privacy and cybersecurity have become paramount concerns for individuals, businesses, and governments. Safeguarding personal information and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are essential to…
The business benefits of moving from customer-centric to customer-driven strategy Businesses talk a big game about customer needs, specifically the ways their particular products can meet those needs. We call this the ‘customer centric’ approach which puts the customer 'at the heart of everything a business does’. While this seems like…
Companies worldwide are launching interventions to create innovative organizational cultures that support effective responses to shifts in their business environments. But many well-intentioned programs aimed at cultural change fail to affect employees in a meaningful way, leaving organizations unfit for transformation despite having invested hundreds or even thousands of employee…
It appears the metaverse is dominating conversations and news headlines more and more, but perhaps for all the wrong reasons. You’ve probably seen some of the latest updates, like Zuckerburg burying the metaverse and Microsoft saying “see ya” to it. While there is truth to these updates and they are,…
In today’s digital age, technology has transformed the way we live, work, and interact with the world. However, not everyone benefits equally from these advancements. Many individuals with disabilities face barriers to accessing and utilizing digital platforms and technologies. This is where assistive technology and digital accessibility come into play,…
Seyfarth Synopsis: In a published decision, a California Court of Appeal has ruled that a hospital’s decision to terminate an employee for failing to comply with its flu vaccine mandate did not violate California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibition on disability discrimination. Hodges v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The…
In 2022, the beauty market—defined as skincare, fragrance, makeup, and haircare—generated approximately $430 billion in revenue. Today, beauty is on an upward trajectory across all categories. It has proven to be resilient amid global economic crises and in a turbulent macroeconomic environment. Beauty is now an industry that many people,…
People are funny. We reason with ourselves that we want the truth, but we prove time and again that we prefer being lied to. If your gut reaction to that statement is defiance, there is a strong chance that you’re lying to yourself about your own emotions. This article isn’t…
Inflation continues to moderate in multiple regions and countries but remains high, and central banks look set to maintain a path of interest rate interventions. However, interest rates and sentiment are weighing on growth projections and the picture is somewhat patchy, with growth in some emerging economies such as China…
The British workforce is experiencing a noticeable shift. Even before the pandemic, the UK had been grappling with productivity problems. Now, the post-pandemic landscape has brought new challenges such as ‘burnout’, ‘quiet quitting’, and ‘Great Fatigue.’ This has led to questions about a motivation freefall in the workforce. It’s not…
17 March 2023 Consumers and investors are increasingly focused on how seriously companies take their responsibilities to society and sustainability. Amit Nagpal, Partner at Aetha Consulting, says that environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting will provide the metrics by which investors, companies and their customers judge performance and how sustainability…
When was the last time you really had fun shopping? According to a recent Squire Patton Boggs report, entertainment is “the most important aspect of a meaningful retail experience.” Moreover, younger shoppers care even more about their experience while shopping. In response, retailers continue to find new ways to bring…
Commercial real estate (CRE) has long enjoyed a reputation for being a good hedge against inflation, yet even industry veterans might be hard-pressed to explain exactly why. Has it delivered better real (inflation-adjusted) returns during inflationary periods than at other times? Has it outperformed other asset classes during inflationary periods?…
Recent years have seen private individuals and NGOs increasingly using the courts to enforce rights in the climate sphere. This seems to be a trend that is only going on one direction and represent a risk of which Governments and corporates alike are going to need to be increasingly aware.…
Bed Bath & Beyond (BB&B) finally filed for bankruptcy on April 23, 2023, after surviving a near-death experience earlier in the year thanks to a last-minute equity infusion from an opportunistic investor. The termination of that agreement and the subsequent failure to raise sufficient capital through new share issuance and…
Looking into the AI crystal ball 14 March 2022 by Linda Sheehan With 2023 in full swing, it is clear that AI will continue to play an increasingly significant role in the business landscape. The demand for AI solutions and data-driven insights is on the rise, as businesses of all…
Chances are, you’re hearing a lot of hype around AI. However, there’s a fine line between hype and distraction. To keep up in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, it’s critical that consultants understand how AI can enhance and facilitate their work. In fact, we predict that professionals who learn and…