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Business information services focus on added value to deal with difficult financial climate

The 2008 financial crisis has radically transformed the business information landscape, with senior information managers seeking to add value and manage costs. The survey found that companies are pushing for more strategic management of their information services, with a focus on appraising how to add value and managing vendors.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalBusiness Information Review·DateFeb 19, 2009

Risk management critical to corporate strategy

A recent study assesses how risk management impacts corporate growth and value, highlighting the importance of equity cushions in capital structures. Risk managers often focus on measurement rather than management, leading to inadequate advice for managing risks.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Applied Corporate Finance·DateJan 7, 2009

Green practices: When do corporations respond to stakeholders' pressure?

The study found that firms with powerful marketing departments adopted the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard in response to customer and competitor pressures. In contrast, firms with powerful legal departments were more likely to adopt government-initiated voluntary programs in response to regulator and NGO pressure.

SourceWiley·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateOct 23, 2008

New recommendations for better corporate portfolio management

The article proposes new best practices for corporate portfolio management, including revamping organizational structure and compensation systems to prioritize investor thinking. An independent group within companies can function like a SWAT team to support objective portfolio management.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Applied Corporate Finance·DateSep 25, 2008

Political views affect firms' corporate social responsibility

A new study finds that companies in Democratic states tend to have higher corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings than those in Republican states. The research analyzed the 2004 presidential election results of communities where corporate headquarters are located, revealing a correlation between political views and CSR ratings.

SourceWiley·JournalFinancial Review·DateSep 17, 2008

The language of luxury: Advertisers' language choices evoke different reactions

A new study reveals that multinational companies should advertise luxury goods in English, while necessities may be more effective in local languages. Multinational corporations marketing to bilingual populations must pay attention to language choices, as perceptions of ads change significantly with different languages.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateSep 15, 2008

US firms a role model for fair hiring standards, study says

A new study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign finds that US-based companies tend to follow their home-country hiring standards when doing business abroad, even in countries without anti-discrimination laws. This results in lower rates of gender and age discrimination compared to European and Asian firms.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of International Business Studies·DateJul 7, 2008

Video games can make us creative if spark is right

Researchers discovered that video games can boost creativity when players are highly energized and in a positive mood. Conversely, low arousal and negative emotions lead to the highest levels of creativity. The study suggests harnessing emotional elements in games to spark creative thought and problem-solving skills.

New workout 'paradigm' promises to preserve value in financially troubled companies

A new corporate reorganization paradigm promises to preserve value in financially distressed companies by efficiently transferring assets to their most efficient users. This market-driven process, facilitated by active investors like hedge funds and private equity firms, aims to minimize the impact of financial distress on businesses.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of Applied Corporate Finance·DateDec 19, 2007

Option-loaded CEOs swing for fences, but strike out more often

A study by Penn State professors finds that CEOs with stock option-heavy compensation packages lead companies to extreme performance, with more big losses than big gains. High levels of CEO stock options coupled with high investment spending produce a 'combustible combination' resulting in very extreme outcomes.

SourcePenn State·JournalAcademy of Management Journal·DateOct 15, 2007

Study shows impact of protests on stock prices

A new study by Sarah Soule and Brayden King found that protests related to labor or consumer issues provoke a more negative reaction from investors. Protests with greater levels of media coverage also have a stronger impact on stock prices, even if the actual size of the protest is small.

SourceCornell University·JournalAdministrative Science Quarterly·DateOct 8, 2007

Hackers get bum rap for corporate America's digital delinquency

A recent study by Phil Howard and Kris Erickson found that 60% of breached-record incidents between 1980 and 2006 were caused by organizational mismanagement, such as missing or stolen hardware. The number of reported incidents more than tripled in 2005 and 2006 after California's pioneering Notice of Security Breach law took effect.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication·DateMar 12, 2007

RAND study finds walking more likely in neighborhoods with more 4-way intersections

A RAND Corporation study found that neighborhoods with more four-way intersections and diverse businesses encourage walking. However, the impact of these factors on walking is not particularly strong, especially when housing density is low. The study suggests that urban design recommendations can help create walkable communities.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateFeb 27, 2007

Bank supervision may actually drive corruption, says economist

New research by Brown University Professor Ross Levine finds that powerful supervisory agencies actually lower bank lending integrity. Instead, strategies focusing on accurate information disclosure enhance efficiency and reduce corruption. The study suggests 90% of countries implementing Basel II regulations may face bad outcomes.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Monetary Economics·DateFeb 12, 2007