How China can Reverse Its Economic Slump

Why did the Chinese central bank cut rates? The modest monetary easing of mid-August—just 10 to 15 basis points off short-term repo rates —is a limited response to a Chinese economy that is under serious downward pressure. Most, including myself, were expecting sustained momentum in the economy in 2023 to…

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Who is Winning the Tech Cold War

If world leaders learn only one lesson from the war in Ukraine, it should be that the ability to rapidly innovate—to invent, adopt, and effectively integrate new technologies—can have profound implications for combat outcomes. Outgunned and outnumbered, Ukrainians took a page from the U.S. playbook and turned to technology to…

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Market Entry Strategy: Mastering Business Expansion

Imagine a canvas where businesses paint their aspirations of growth and expansion. Market entry strategies provide the brushes, colors, and strokes required to bring those aspirations to life. These strategies are meticulously crafted blueprints that guide businesses in penetrating new markets, unearthing fresh customer bases, and solidifying their global footprint.…

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This is How you can make a strong start as a CEO

In this episode of the Inside the Strategy Room podcast, two authors of a recent article on the CEO transition discuss how incoming leaders can make the most of their first 12 months in the role. Carolyn Dewar, who co-leads McKinsey’s CEO excellence work, is a co-author of last year’s bestseller…

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The seat of the male libido. What?

A team of Stanford Medicine researchers have shown in male mice that a particular neuronal circuit is responsible for sexual arousal and for the actions and pleasure that ensue, opening avenues for treatment in men. The brain’s hardwired housing for male mammalian sex drive, behavior and reward looks to be…

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Biden Was Justified to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

The recent White House announcement that it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine was met with both criticism and applause. The administration defended its decision, noting that Russia has been using these munitions to attack Ukraine and that Kyiv has been asking for these munitions for self-defense purposes. They have…

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The importance of “Allies”

Alliances matter. Not even superpowers can go it alone. Today alliances around the world are shifting, and not always in America’s favor. To be sure, there has been some good news for the United States and its friends. The Ukraine War has revived NATO as an alliance and (largely) unified…

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‘Lockdown Fatigue’ Diminished the Effectiveness of COVID-19 Restrictions

In early 2020, as restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus swept across the world, concerns about “lockdown fatigue” followed closely in their wake. As early as spring and early summer in the U.S., media commentators worried that lockdown policies were chafing, and that a critical mass of weary rule-breakers could…

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EU Adopts Mandatory ESG Reporting Standards

In January 2023, the European Union adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires EU and non-EU companies with activities in the EU to file annual sustainability reports alongside their financial statements. These reports must be prepared in accordance with European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). On July 31, 2023,…

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Cross border M&A – Tips for international buyers doing deals in Canada

Doing an M&A transaction across borders means increased complexity and risk for the parties involved, but careful planning — guided by experienced advice — can help ensure nothing gets lost in translation. Our first set of 10 tips for U.S. professionals doing private M&A deals in Canada covers everything from…

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A new generation of work(ers)

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Zers are different from previous generations. Unafraid to speak up or break long-established taboos, a Gen Z team member might leave the office at 17.00 (five o’clock) sharp because they have football practice, even if there is more work to do. They might also…

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“So Cute!!” – Parenting a 3-Year-Old Robot

“RoboAgent is a critical milestone toward general robotic agents that are efficient learners, effective in novel situations and capable of expanding their behaviors over time,” said Vikash Kumar, adjunct faculty in the School of Computer Science(opens in new window)’s Robotics Institute(opens in new window). “Current robots are highly specialized and…

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Behind The Secret of the Barbie Movie’s Marketing Success

Many current TV shows and movies are reboots of existing franchises. Why has this one been so culturally omnipresent? The marketers at Warner Bros are being touted as geniuses, credited with the blockbuster success of the Barbie movie. The movie has already grossed $1 billion in box office sales, with…

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Access to “Health” – Just the beginning

As anyone with chronic disease knows, access to health care doesn’t always equate with equitable health care outcomes, says guest Alyce Adams, an expert in innovations in health policy. Too often, care delivery breaks down along racial and socioeconomic lines. Our focus should be on better outcomes for all people,…

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Employee Analytics – Productivity Dream or Micromanagement Nightmare

With more data available than ever before, why would any executive gamble on a hunch—especially for decisions that involve their own employees? An emerging field that uses data to study human behavior at work, “people analytics” is beginning to transform the workplace and significantly impact hiring and productivity, says Jeffrey…

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Words guide markets – Measuring monetary policy communication

Words matter as much as actions for central banks. Because changes in tone can presage shifts in monetary policy. We have created an index to measure and compare the tone of policy communication by the ECB and the US Fed. This ECB Blog post talks you through the findings. By…

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Make Your Case for Communication Upskilling

Companies say they desperately want employees who can communicate effectively — leaders tell me that all the time in workshops — but how many of them really mean it? It’s hard to find a job posting that doesn’t mention the communication skill set as a key requirement. And yet, when…

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Cooley Secures Landmark Victory – Whistleblower Safeguards for Charities

San Diego – August 4, 2023 – The California Supreme Court yesterday issued a landmark decision in Turner v. Victoria et al., which ensures essential whistleblower protections for more than 110,000 charities across California. Cooley represented plaintiff and appellant Debra Turner in successfully petitioning the court to review her case…

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Thinking the Implications of Generative AI in Retail 

Generative AI, also known as generative adversarial networks (GANs), is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) which has the potential to change the retail industry. This technology uses deep learning algorithms to generate brand new data and content based on user prompts. In contrast, other AI like reinforcement learning is…

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Karel van Wijk: Conquering the world out of his own kitchen

“I can quit whenever I want. That thought gives me peace of mind, joy in my work and certainty” Karel van Wijk embodies the modern-day tale of David and Goliath: he made his company, Advanced Valve Solutions successfully compete with the largest players in the energy industry, with the sale…

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DOJ Issues Proposed ADA Regulations For State and Local Government Websites

Almost precisely a year after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its intent to begin the rulemaking process to enact website accessibility regulations applicable to state and local governments under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the DOJ has published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to the Federal…

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How feed supplements can reduce methane emissions in agriculture

Mark van Nieuwland is the vice president of Bovaer, a methane-reducing feed additive, at Swiss-Dutch nutrition, health, and beauty company dsm-firmenich (DSM). Joshua Katz, a McKinsey partner and leader in the agriculture and private equity space, and Wilson Roen, a McKinsey consultant and sustainability fellow, talked with Mark about the…

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How a CEO’s personality affects corporate culture

Before he became an expert on corporate leadership, Charles O’Reilly spent five years in the U.S. Army. There he witnessed the stark divide between good and bad leaders and realized how much influence they had on the people who worked for them. Now a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford…

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Robots cause company profits to fall – at least at first

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, studied industry data from the UK and 24 other European countries between 1995 and 2017, and found that at low levels of adoption, robots have a negative effect on profit margins. But at higher levels of adoption, robots can help increase profits. According…

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Modern Slavery – A Reminder of Corporate Duties

Recent figures obtained by the BBC’s File on 4 have found that the number of modern slavery cases reported within the UK care sector has more than doubled in the past year. According to the figures, there were 109 potential victims exploited for personal or financial gain between January and…

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Coherent’s Chuck Mattera on growing a $5 billion company

Chuck Mattera, chair and CEO of Coherent, formerly II-VI, has spent a lifetime building businesses by harnessing breakthrough technologies. At Coherent, he has championed a strategy focused on acquisitions to achieve scale and deliver innovations in the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets. McKinsey’s André Andonian and Abhijit Mahindroo sat…

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Capital Gains Tax – how to avoid main residence relief traps

Main Residence Relief is a valuable Capital Gains Tax allowance which saved taxpayers around £26.7 billion in 2021. But there are some pinch points which it makes sense to be aware of – so you don’t get caught out. Peter Webb, our Head of Tax Advisory, looks at how to…

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What did the Romans do for us? Aqueducts and the art of Roman water management

According to the research, published in Science Advances, ancient water management traces are captured in the limescale deposits which built up on the walls and floor of the ancient Roman aqueduct of Divona (Cahors, France). Ancient water management traces are captured in the limescale deposits which built up on the…

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Delta, Porsche celebrate partnership with rare appearance of 918 Spyder

Combined, Dan Lavker and Anthony Grant have over a half-century of tenure with Delta.  As members of the Elite Services team, they craft memorable, premium experiences for customers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). You’ll often find them behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne, ferrying customers between connecting flights.…

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Fighting wildfire with AI

As we think about the growing wildfire season around the world and its impact on people and the planet, it’s easy to feel powerless. But AI can help. Wildfires are already breaking records in North America. So far this year, we’ve seen more than 28 million acres burned in Canada,…

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5 sound financial lessons you can teach your children or grandchildren this summer

The summer holidays are here and you may be wondering how you are going to keep your children or grandchildren entertained until they go back to school. You will likely be spending a lot more time with them taking trips together, going on family days out, or just relaxing at…

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Software-defined vehicles: the answer to truck driver shortages?

Although most truck OEMs acknowledge Software-driven vehicles as a new norm for the commercial vehicle industry, they still need to convince their customers that these vehicles will add value to their businesses – especially around the top three objectives of improved uptime, productivity, and fuel efficiency. Fredrik Almhöjd SDVs have…

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Toyota’s New Land Cruiser “250” Makes World Premiere

(Finally, a car that looks like a car) Presentation by Simon Humphries Good morning, everyone. The history of Land Cruiser, is a history of Toyota itself. Let me take you back exactly 72 years, when the Land Cruiser legend was born. It was the time of Kiichiro Toyoda, founder of…

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California Court Casts Doubt on Copyright Claims Relating to AI Images

Several U.S. courts are addressing lawsuits brought by artists alleging that AI-generated art infringes on copyrights held by the artists for their artwork. In one of those cases, a California federal judge recently indicated that he would dismiss the bulk of the plaintiffs’ complaint, while giving them a chance to…

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More and older cars in Germany

Cars are by far the most popular and important means of transport The car is still by far the most important means of passenger transport. According to the latest DAT report, 77% of those surveyed consider their own car indispensable for ensuring everyday mobility. In 2021, just under 87% of…

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What is Hyperlocalism, and What Does it Mean for Your Marketing Strategy?  

In our fast-paced and ever-changing market, understanding consumer motivations and preferences, specifically for younger generations, is key for organizations looking to remain profitable and relevant. For many CP companies, the growing trend of hyperlocalism is one way to achieve that success. So, what is hyperlocalism? What is Hyperlocalism?  Hyperlocalism refers…

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Why Do We Continue to Reward A, While Hoping for B?

Often the incentives we put in place to stimulate and reward performance produce unexpected behaviors. Causes vary from one individual to another, depending on what each of us values and what we are willing to do for the organization and the incentive. Misfires also occur because of policies that conflict…

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Finally, The Critics of Bidenomics Are Being Proven Wrong

Cynics often know the price of everything but the value of nothing. Remember how, just months ago, leading economic voices were predicting a catastrophic “Category 5 economic hurricane” this year? The astounding 2.4% GDP growth revealed this week, with plunging inflation, historically low unemployment, and corporate profit reports soaring past…

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