Pundits love a political horse race, parsing the latest polls to predict who might win an election. And in the final runup to the US presidential contest, these forecasts can influence markets and shape public opinion and policies.But as America heads to the polls in November, new research warns forecasters…
For the first time ever, the Michelin guide has released its ‘keys’ for hotels in the UK & Ireland; part of its refresh for their hotel section. They see it as delivering the same level of recommendation for hotels, as it does for restaurants, with the keys equating to the…
How to effectively design, implement, and evolve a Target Operating Model A Target Operating Model (TOM) serves as the blueprint for how an organisation should function to achieve its goals. This article explores key elements such as strategy, value chains, enterprise architecture, roles, culture, and performance. It provides practical insights…
Marketers are naturally creative and have always thought outside the box in terms of how to be more efficient while delivering products and services. Many have started to look at how AI may increase their brand visibility. The approach has always been to craft messaging and communicate through storytelling in…
Leadership is never easy—not for nothing did Shakespeare write, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” The job of leader may seem even more imposing these days given a range of micro- and macro- social, economic, and geopolitical forces. But amid the challenges, there is always the opportunity for…
In September 2024, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marked their first anniversary, and rumours of marriage have intensified. It is reported that the couple has discussed needing a Prenuptial Agreement before getting engaged, with Swift’s net worth estimated at $1 billion and Kelce’s at $70 million. Though most of us…
Developing a clear and strategic brand is essential for businesses aiming to stand out and connect with their target audience. A strategic brand consultancy not only helps companies craft a brand that aligns with their mission but also ensures it resonates with customers and distinguishes itself from competitors. Whether you’re…
As Cybersecurity Awareness Month marks its 21st year, it’s clear that this year stands out. Phishing emails have become more convincing, and fraud has increased, making cyberattackers seem legitimate—as if they were Microsoft support or even the fraud detection services from your bank.1 And threat actors are taking advantage of…
The world is knee-deep in a housing crisis. According to the United Nations, 1.6 billion people – one in every five – lack adequate housing, and the number could rise to 3 billion by 2030. It is a problem that plagues rich and poor countries alike, from Burundi to the…
In 1602, the Dutch East India Company became the first-ever publicly traded business and began issuing dividends – a portion of the company’s profits paid to shareholders. According to Investment Week, shareholders received a shipment of nutmeg and pepper as payment. Over 400 years later, dividends – now paid in…
German exports to Eastern European countries and the US have fully compensated for the weaker development of exports to China. The increase of exports to Eastern Europe has mainly been driven by Poland, which alone has reached a share of 6% in total German exports in 2024 YTD – and…
Competition, albeit latent, can be both counterproductive and beneficial for the project. Until recently, Russia was sceptical about the Trans-Kyrgyz Railway project, reasonably believing that this project would not be a global competitor to the Trans-Siberian Railway, despite the shorter, but more complex route to Europe. Russian Railways were even…
Toyota City, Japan, and Santa Cruz, CA, October 2, 2024―Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota; NYSE: TM) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (Joby; NYSE: JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of…
In the dramatic arts, training artists and actors holds as much importance as teaching tools for expression, according to Carnegie Mellon alumni with ties to Broadway. “Arts education allowed me to see that there was not one way to be, not one way to learn, not one way to process…
As the climate crisis accelerates, the Net Zero Stocktake 2024 identifies a commitment gap across cities, states and regions, which is holding back the necessary economy-wide transition. The Net Zero Tracker’s annual assessment of the intent and integrity of global climate commitments, shows only a modest increase in net zero targets…
As the Ducati Lenovo Team powers up for a potential hat-trick in the 2024 MotoGP World Championship, they’re shifting gears in a new era where data, not just fuel, drives the race. In high-performance racing, where every millisecond counts, the two companies are now shaving off seconds every race thanks…
Image of computer and coffee mug By: John W. Egan and Minh N. Vu Seyfarth Synopsis: A recent decision holding that web-only businesses cannot be sued over the accessibility of their website under the ADA is the first of its kind in the Southern District of New York and may…
Drasi is Microsoft's new open-source project that simplifies change detection and reaction in complex systems, enhancing real-time event-driven architectures. Drasi is a new data processing system that simplifies detecting critical events within complex infrastructures and taking immediate action tuned to business objectives. Developers and software architects can leverage its capabilities…
On October 3, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued new guidance concerning the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) by updating and expanding on the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that Seyfarth's CTA Task Force has covered in the past. Key updates include clarifications on who…
Quick Hits The Washington Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision requiring a hospital to compensate employees for missed meal periods, not only with the time worked but also with an additional thirty minutes of pay per missed break, as a remedy for depriving them of their statutory break…
The tale begins in 1995, when two brothers, Ievgen and Sergiy Grygorovich, sparked by the gift of a computer from their father, pursued their dream of game development. What started as a modest endeavor—a small group working out of a two-room apartment—would grow into a powerhouse recognized worldwide for hits…
As AI advances, we all have a role to play to unlock AI’s positive impact for organizations and communities around the world. That’s why we’re focused on helping customers use and build AI that is trustworthy, meaning AI that is secure, safe and private. At Microsoft, we have commitments to…
The world needs more productivity growth. As a recent McKinsey Global Institute report argues, it’s the best possible antidote to wealth inequality, inflation, and exploding debt and could provide crucial funding for the net-zero transition and improved living standards. It’s also what every company needs. Yet productivity growth has largely…
In a groundbreaking initiative, Elixirr joined forces with Hiizzy, an innovative real estate platform, to transform the way people buy and sell homes. Hiizzy, a property marketplace free of estate agents, was born from frustration with the traditional housing market. The platform empowers homeowners and buyers to take control of…
Spiritual health, often overlooked in holistic well-being, deserves greater attention. While physical health has traditionally been the main focus and mental and social health are gaining recognition, spiritual well-being plays a critical role in enhancing overall health. McKinsey Health Institute’s (MHI) global survey of 41,000 people finds that spiritual health…
The Maine Attorney General’s Office recently announced that it has convened an 11-person working group of industry stakeholders to develop recommendations for legislation to establish an entity with rulemaking and enforcement authority “to ensure cyber-secure access to motor vehicle-generated data to owners and owner authorized independent repair facilities for maintenance,…
Stop multitasking. Budget your time. Put down your phone. From juggling your family’s personal commitments to urgent work projects, the start of a new academic year can bring seasonal overwhelm. But it can also offer an opportunity to reflect: How to do things better, achieve more balance, and set more…
What will it take for the consumer goods industry to turn its fortunes around? Once a leader in total shareholder returns (TSR), the industry has fallen from the top to the bottom quartile in TSR performance. This episode of the McKinsey on Consumer & Retail podcast examines the reasons for that…
How do different emotions impact everyday life? And what are the kinds of experiences we want and need—in the classroom, at work, and in our own developmental trajectories—to be able to deepen our emotional wisdom so we can make better decisions and have healthier relationships? In this episode of Learning…
If Donald Trump terminates the new national emergency declared via Executive Order 14024, then all those included in the SDN on its grounds will be excluded. This also applies to sectoral sanctions. The sanctions imposed by the Obama administration with respect to the Ukrainian issue, digital security and other issues…
Quick Hits A Supreme Court of Korea opinion provides employers with useful insights into just cause for dismissing an employee based on poor performance. The court found that a former employee, who had been with the employer for more than twenty-five years, had received poor performance reviews for more than…
If you really want to understand the future of work, look at the companies that are going all in on AI. That’s what Jared Spataro, Chief Marketing Officer of AI at Work here at Microsoft, tasked his team to do. What they found: AI-native startups fold the technology into all…
Customers are important, but companies must also consider their workforce when making their technology accessible, says Jared Clayton.
The study looks at player data from 67,328 gaming sessions from 8,695 players in 39 countries, analysing their mood before and during gameplay Across 162,325 in-game mood reports from players of the popular game PowerWash Simulator (PWS), the average player reported a more positive mood during play than at the…
On October 14–15, the Valdai Discussion Club and the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University will hold a Russian-Chinese conference in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University is one of the largest institutes in…
Executive summaryThe automotive industry has been a stronghold of the European economy for decades but is now facing disruption from electric mobility. In 2023, the industry contributed $1.9 trillion in gross value added (GVA), with technology and car exports creating $620 billion in value. Electric mobility could add $240 billion…
Research Highlight Banning GenAI tools won’t work. Leaders should set guidelines that let employees experiment: This mitigates risks while opening the door to organizational gains, research shows. Nick van der Meulen and Barbara H. Wixom October 03, 2024 Reading Time: 10 min Matt Harrison Clough / Ikon Images The Research…
Quick Hits The bill would have required developers of large AI models made available to the public to take specific steps to ensure that they did not cause critical harm. It would have imposed employment protections for developers’ employees who blew the whistle about potential dangers. The legislation was one…
Join us this World Teachers' Day as we express our gratitude for educators everywhere. There aren't enough words to truly capture the essence of what teachers do every day. As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2024, we find ourselves reflecting on the immeasurable contributions of educators around the globe. Observed…
The narrative surrounding generative AI (gen AI), a moon shot, once-in-a-generation innovation, is that it could utterly reinvent how businesses—consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) companies among them—are run. CPG leaders are heeding the call. In a 2024 survey of CPG leaders, 71 percent said they adopted AI in at least one business function…