World Environment Day, held annually on June 5, puts a spotlight on the pressing environmental challenges of our times and is a great opportunity for people all around the globe to discuss efforts to protect and restore the Earth. Established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1972 and led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023. Over the past five…
By: Peter Caillard Peter Caillard asks why road construction projects suffer from the same disputes time and time again, and what can be done to straighten out the bends? Building roads for the betterment of transportation links remains a cornerstone of the economic growth strategies of many developed and developing nations. Road construction can be a complicated endeavour and every project is unique, but with thousands of years of experience…
India is considered one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world as it provides advanced medical technologies and infrastructure, a low waiting period, and skilled doctors, all at an affordable cost. Therefore, both non-resident Indians and foreigners flock to India for assisted reproductive remedial measures, such as surrogacy. Surrogacy was legalised in India in 2002 through the National Guidelines for the Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of Assisted Reproductive…
SEOUL, June 5, 2023 — LG Electronics (LG) has joined RE100 (Renewable Energy 100), a global initiative advocating for businesses to convert to 100 percent renewable energy for all their electricity requirements. The decision to become an RE100 member is yet another example of its strong commitment to sustainability and to fulfilling its responsibilities as a global corporate citizen. The company has finalized plans to convert all its business sites…
▲ CEO and Head of DX (Device eXperience), Samsung Electronics Just like how we are always on the move, the lifestyles and the values of consumers are also constantly changing. With growing demand for smart homes and a sustainable future, consumers have shown that they no longer see functionality alone as the main priority when considering their appliance needs. Now, how an appliance makes life more sustainable, connected and stylish…
Much has been written about the negative impact of the food system on the health of the planet and people, from the harmful effect that intensive agricultural practices have on the natural environment to the looming global health crisis resulting from unhealthy eating habits. Many people believe that the food industry can do more to tackle the problems with food production, such as incentivising suppliers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices,…
What you need to know The SCC dismissed Nova Chemicals Corp.’s (Nova) appeal in an 8-1 decision. This case considered accounting of profits as a remedy for patent infringement and provided some much-needed guidance on how to determine if a non-infringing option exists, and whether to use it in the calculation of the profits to be disgorged by the infringer. The SCC upheld the award of springboard profits to Dow…
Many consider workflow to be a necessary evil. But it is necessary, and I will make my case in this post. I highly recommend working through the requirements for workflow and including it in your initial site build or rebuild. However, not all of us have that luxury – and that’s okay. The great thing about workflow in Sitecore is that at the end of the day, it is just another…
Seyfarth Synopsis: Companies have been following with interest the Harvard and UNC cases that address affirmative action in the context of higher education. Both cases were argued before the Supreme Court on October 31, 2022 and rulings are expected very soon. In anticipation of the Court’s decisions, Seyfarth is highlighting key areas of interest for employers. Overview of the UNC and Harvard Cases The two cases are Students for Fair…
The holiday shopping season may be a few months away, but marketers are already planning for it. And this season, it’s all about rewarding existing customers for their loyalty with personalized offers that make them feel special. For the last few years, we’ve seen consumers move away from their favorite brands, first due to availability, then price. In fact, 71% of consumers admit they’ve switched brands in search of better…
On June 1, 2023, in a resounding 8-1 decision, the United States Supreme Court granted employers an important victory by holding that the National Labor Relations Act and prior precedent did not preempt a state court tort action against a labor organization that sanctioned a work stoppage that was timed deliberately to destroy the employer’s property. By allowing the state court action to proceed, the Supreme Court in Glacier…
One lesson for software companies has become abundantly clear during the last 18 months: pricing needs to be on the C-suite’s agenda. Before then, the industry had been growing so fast for over a decade that executives and investors tended not to view individual product margins as an overriding concern. Now, however, that has all changed. After years of rapid growth, the industry faces economic uncertainty, increased capital costs as…
Have you seen the recent pictures of Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket in the style of Balenciaga or Elon Musk holding hands with AOC? If so, these were created using Midjourney, an artificial intelligence (AI) art generator which can be used to create images from text descriptions and prompts. The use of AI systems like Midjourney, as well as others such as ChatGPT, Dall-E, Github Co-Pilot and Stable Diffusion,…
Working from home or working alone? – Activate a healthier culture by supporting employee well-being Much has shifted during the past few years. Hybrid and remote working have gone from unique to mainstream. People have been asked to do more and respond in unexpected ways to meet new community and customer needs. Time together as a team connecting has reduced, and a sense of greater purpose for the organisation may…
In our ongoing exploration of assistive technologies, we have witnessed the remarkable advancements that have revolutionized accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Today, we shift our focus to cognitive assistive technologies, an innovative field that aims to enhance digital accessibility for individuals with cognitive impairments. These technologies play a crucial role in empowering individuals to navigate and engage with digital content effectively, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities. Join us as we…
A small, picturesque village on the Mediterranean coast isn’t usually what comes to mind when we think of the typical birthplace for a global tech unicorn. But Croatia-based Infobip has grown into a global communications giant reaching more than seven billion mobile devices and “things” in more than 200 countries and generating close to $2 billion in revenue. Amid a generative AI revolution, Infobip is helping companies change how their…
How Much Do Most Companies Spend on Training and Development? The 2021 Training Industry Report published by Training Magazine indicated the average company spent $1,071 per employee on training in 2021. When looking at the average based on size: Small companies (100-999 employees) spent the most per employee at $1,433, even though they decreased their spending by over $200 per employee from the previous year. Mid-sized companies (1,000-9,999 employees) nearly…
Calling all companies: it’s time to bolster your brand fan base. This year’s Salesforce Connections event (June 7-8 in Chicago) is all about building powerful, lasting customer connections with meaningful interactions — or as we like to call it, creating customer magic. At Salesforce Connections, you’ll learn how to use technology to grow your customer relationships. You’ll see how using artificial intelligence (AI) and data-powered insights can help you work…
For anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for editing snappy short-form videos, TikTok can offer the chance to make some cold hard cash. After all, there’s a huge audience on this thriving social media platform, eager to be entertained (and maybe even spend some money in the process). In 2023, TikTok ranks as the 6th most-used social media platform worldwide, with over 3 billion downloads and 50 million…
In this day and age, business and technology have merged into one inseparable entity, and they collaborate hand in hand to propel both long-term growth and evolutionary change. There is no exemption made for Human Resources (HR). Today, the role of human resources (HR) extends far beyond the basic transactional activities it once performed and has transformed into a strategic driver responsible for analyzing and improving employee performance. This transition…
As the financial services industry continues to evolve, companies are looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition and increase their market share. One way to do this is by leveraging the power of generative AI. Generative AI is an advanced form of artificial intelligence that can create content from scratch, taking the burden off of manual labor and allowing companies to focus on their core business. As a…
In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Lucia Rahilly chats with McKinsey partners Emily Field and Bryan Hancock, as well as senior partner Bill Schaninger, about their new book, Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 18, 2023). The authors discuss the critical impact of middle management in vision creation, coaching, and skill development, and share…
Between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, TikTok, Snapchat and more, keeping track of all of your brand’s social media accounts can feel like herding cats (and it’s not nearly as cute). But you don’t have to go at it alone. There are lots of apps, platforms and websites out there for properly managing multiple social accounts. This includes schedulers, reporting tools, and social media management software that ensures you’re engaging with…
Samsung’s Biometric Card IC is an all-in-one security solution that offers biometric cards a variety of things they need to make everyday transactions safer and more convenient. This new fingerprint security chip was selected as a winner of the CES 2023 Best of Innovation Awards in the Cybersecurity & Personal Privacy category. Let us take a look at how this groundbreaking technology can help people solve one of the world’s…
Creating viable strategies for talent acquisition in today's ever-changing business environment is essential to driving organizational growth and ensuring the organization's resilience against unknown future difficulties. Here is how you can develop this long-term advantage over your competitors. Accept the Challenge of Leveraging the Power of People Analytics Utilizing people analytics is the first step in the process. It is possible for data-driven insights about your workforce to have a…
What happens when the CEO of your organization suddenly resigns or retires? Are you confident that there is someone ready to step up and fill the leadership gap? That is why succession planning is vital to every organization. Succession planning can help ensure a smooth transition of leadership and maintain continuity in the face of unexpected changes. Starting a succession plan can be daunting, but the first step is to…
French translation (Lire la version française) As we have shared, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will not be available to people accessing Facebook and Instagram in Canada if Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is passed into law. As we prepare to comply with the legislation, we are announcing today that we will begin tests on both platforms that will limit some users and publishers from…
My organization urgently needs to execute a new strategic initiative, but I’m not confident that my current staff members have the skills and drive required. How can I field a championship team when I don’t have any all-star players? It’s easy for managers to succumb to a scarcity mentality and believe that their people aren’t good enough — but it’s important not to nurture this mindset. When we look closely…
CUSTOMER CENTRICITY: A PROVEN SOURCE OF REVENUE Customer centricity might seem like a secondary concern for banks – but it isn’t. Some firms may view customer experience (CX) initiatives as a trade-off and prioritize other outcomes that they see as having a clearer link to value, such as cost reduction or revenue growth. This may lead to customer experience initiatives being deprioritized or underfunded during budget season. However, studies have…
1. What’s software-as-a-service? Software-as-a-Service, also known as SaaS, is a web-based model that allows internet access to data from any device. The SaaS solution connects users to data stored in the cloud so that you can use it like an on-premises app but running through a web interface or mobile app. SaaS models are usually licensed on a subscription basis you renew monthly or annually. 2. What are the advantages…
Life sciences companies are putting more thought and strategy into utilizing cloud solutions not only for their enterprise systems, but for their laboratory and quality systems as well. The cloud, simply put, is the ability to access servers, software, and databases over the Internet. This works by using a virtual machine (VM) that acts as a physical computer with its own hardware that users can access via a web browser.…
A multinational, multibillion-dollar manufacturing company with 30+ subsidiaries was facing several imminent retirements at the C-level. Each case required a decision: promote, move, or hire. The organization had a strong “promote from within” culture and talent strategy and sought to accommodate the retirements by either elevating current employees to new roles or moving people laterally. In some cases, the retirements and necessary placement decisions were several months out, while others…
Lately, new AI tools like ChatGPT have been so impressive that employees are clutching their purse strings. Not too long ago in human history, we were gaping in awe of the revolutionary assembly line and wondering if any of us would ever work again – but look at us now. While there are certainly benefits to regulations and caution surrounding the unknown, it is not the first time nor the…
Building social media security awareness at work may not be as exciting as, say, developing TikTok engagement strategies. But it’s still a critical function for social teams at organizations of all sizes. That’s because social media threats don’t just impact your brand’s social accounts. If they aren’t handled, security risks can infiltrate an entire organization. They can even threaten the safety of your company and customers. To protect your brand…
Are you ready to tap into ChatGPT social media success? Social media managers have suffered too long with tedious, manual tasks. Caption writing, image sourcing, responding to followers…the list goes on. Luckily, ChatGPT, a conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tool that generates human-like content, promises to make social media success more attainable. Streamline your workflows, automate tasks, and never worry about finding the perfect caption again. Here’s how you can get…
Generative AI is the shiny object that’s making many of us wonder how fundamentally it will change our work. It even begs the question whether “old school” chatbots have a future. The short answer is that, yes, chatbots do have a purpose in this new world of large language models (LLM) and generative AI. And, if you want to deliver a great customer experience, you’ll still be able to with…
One of the most well-known issues in business is the lack of alignment between sales and marketing. In fact, some companies have even begun to merge their sales and marketing teams. Both teams must work together but struggle to communicate and often lose respect for one another. Sales may blame marketing for poor lead quality, while marketing blames sales for not following up on marketing-qualified leads from their latest campaign.…
Regardless of industry or what you’re selling, delighting your customers is key to your success — where trust, personalization, and seamless interactions intersect. But pleasing your customers isn’t just about meeting their needs — you need to be one step ahead. In fact, 62% of customers expect businesses to anticipate their needs. But making customers happy is often easier said than done. The sheer volume of data and the fact…
Why drive to your neighboring city or region when you can fly? Over the past 30 years or so, the standard response has been because driving is cheaper, more convenient, and probably faster door to door. That may not be true for much longer, however. Advances in aerospace technology, new attitudes about travel, and a growing ecosystem of established players and startups could drive a resurgence in regional air mobility.…
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many companies have implemented flexible work patterns in pursuit of better employee experience, real estate cost savings, and more sustainable operations. However, a McKinsey survey of real estate and employee experience executives from 50 companies reveals that most firms have only scratched the surface. The survey asked how far along companies are in implementing 12 practices McKinsey has identified as key to developing effective and…