The digital landscape makes it clear that individuals are employing multiple sources of information, are members of diverse, sparsely-knit and specialized interest groups, and access both online and mobile applications via a wide range of media. We no longer function in small, local, interest-based groups, but rather society has moved toward a new social order, which Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman term networked individualism. This creates a need for each individual, social group, and corporation to make large investments of time, effort, and creativity into building, creating, and maintaining their unique social network. But, to what extent are digital networks relevant to the business world?
Fiscal Child Abuse American Style
By Laurence Kotlikoff & Scott Burns
President Kennedy said, “Our problems are man-made. Therefore, they may be solved by man.” Looking at America’s current horrendous fiscal situation, one might well add, “Man’s solutions have become his problems.” Indeed, many of our problems today can be described as cases of catastrophic success, where we have identified a major problem and fixed it. But, in doing so, produced a different and, potentially, much worse problem than originally existed.
The Business of Healthcare Innovation: Convergence in the Marketplace
The article is adapted from the author’s latest book ‘The Business of Healthcare Innovation‘ (Cambridge University Press, 2012)
Marketing Life Insurance in China: How Cultural Taboo Matters
How does a market for a new product emerge in the face of cultural barriers? Marketing life insurance in China has never been easy, as the topic of early death is a deeply ingrained taboo subject. Transnational and domestic life insurance firms, however, have pursued different strategies when dealing with local cultural resistance. While transnational firms have upheld a profit-oriented model and attempted to remove the local cultural obstacles, domestic firms have adopted a market-share approach as they try to accommodate local preferences. Interestingly, the rapid growth of the Chinese life insurance market can be largely attributed to the novice domestic players’ unconventional business strategies. The market that has emerged is one with a trajectory and characteristics distinct from those in Euro-American contexts. These characteristics highlight the strong influence of local cultures on market formation.
India’s Luxury – A Tale of Paradoxes
By Glyn Atwal & Soumya Jain
As the Indian luxury market enters the next phases of development, the rewards of this potentially massive market will continue to attract investment. However, India is not just another emerging market. The dynamics of the Indian luxury market challenge international luxury players to develop an Indian-driven strategy. The ability and willingness to connect with the Indian luxury consumer can make a difference between wining and losing a share of the luxury rupee. A new era beckons international luxury brands to plan strategically for the future and seize the market.
Between Heaven and the Deep Blue Sea: Kitimat’s strategic placement facilitates a growing economy
By Rose Klukas
“At Kitimat the setting for a good life must be hewn out of the unknown wilderness. Pioneers must become old-timers, bound to Kitimat by enthusiastic love of their town and its qualities. They must be given the utmost freedom to develop their lives. And so the plans of Kitimat, both operational and physical, have been developed to serve as a flexible setting for good living that is open to continuous growth and expansion.”
Logistics Clusters: The Feedback Loop Leading to Economic Growth and Jobs
By Yossi Sheffi
Governments around the world are investing in logistics clusters to encourage economic growth and create jobs. While the advantages of high-technology, knowledge-based clusters have been analyzed extensively, logistics cluster have not. A new book: Logistics Clusters: Delivering Value and Driving Growth (MIT Press, Cambridge MA, September 2012) fills the gap. This article looks at some of the factors motivating public sector investments in logistics clusters. It explains the mechanisms leading to their growth and some of the types of jobs created around such clusters.
Why Transfer Pricing is Key to Decision Making and Strategic Reviews
By Les Secular
This article looks at how Transfer Pricing can impact the bottom line on financial statements, particularly in the current global economic climate, and why management should consider transfer pricing when setting their strategy for the future and their need to adapt rapidly to change.
Dividends – Everything you know is wrong!
The world is constantly changing. We see it all the time. Yesterday’s league leaders become today’s relegation battlers. Alternative misfits become mainstream celebrity icons. What were once rich mines of natural resources dry up, while new sources of supply emerge in unexpected or newly explored places.
EDITOR'S PICK OF THE WEEK
The Performance and Transformation Orchestrator: The CFO’s New Mandate in the Age of AI
By Terence Tse
CFOs are evolving into AI-driven transformation orchestrators, balancing finance, technology, and strategy while upskilling teams, managing risks, and driving measurable business value.
A key insight from this year’s AI for CFOs event, organized...
