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When businesses behave badly

A study found that firms tend to follow the pecking order theory, drawing down internal funds before relying on debt financing after negative E&S incidents. Firms with high CSR reputation are better able to cushion the impacts of such incidents. Financially constrained firms react differently due to limited access to equity markets.

Corporations directing our attention online more than we realize

A new study by University of Illinois researchers Harsh Taneja and Angela Xiao Wu found that corporations use 'nudging' techniques to influence online attention, often in hidden ways. The researchers analyzed clickstream data from a million people and identified common clusters of websites that reflect corporate ownership, partnerships...

Cutting surgical robots down to size

Researchers at Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard have developed a miniature manipulator that uses origami-inspired design to enhance precision and control during teleoperated surgical procedures. The new device enables surgeons to perform complex operations with increased accuracy and reduced tissue damage.

Ultrasonic technique discloses the identity of graphite

Graphite exhibits stronger interplanar bond strength than previously believed, with an elastic constant of nearly 50 GPa, due to a short-range correlation effect selectively strengthening the potential energy surface. This discovery was made using a new ultrasonic measurement technique on defect-free monocrystalline graphite.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateMay 21, 2020

Firms perceived to fake social responsibility become targets for hackers, study shows

A recent study found that firms perceived to fake social responsibility are no more likely to experience data breaches than those with strong CSR records. In fact, firms with seemingly disingenuous CSR efforts are at increased risk of breach. This 'greenwashing' phenomenon makes them attractive targets for security exploitation.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateMay 5, 2020

Investors punish for social irresponsibility depending on proportion of company execs with law degrees

Research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that investors react more severely to corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) when top management executives have a higher proportion of law degrees. Firms with an average proportion of law-trained executives among their leadership teams tend to receive less punishment, while those wi...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalBusiness and Society Review·DateApr 30, 2020

Study: 'Value instantiation' key to luxury brands' and social responsibility

A new study suggests that luxury brands can overcome the clash between self-enhancement values and social responsibility by showcasing philanthropic activities of celebrities like Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. This approach helps consumers reconcile their desire for status with a sense of altruism, leading to more favorable responses ...

Conservative boards more likely to dismiss CEO

A recent study by Singapore Management University found that conservative boards are more likely to dismiss CEOs who have engaged in financial misconduct. The researchers used a scoring system to assess the political ideology of board directors and found that liberal boards were less likely to take action against the CEO.

SourceSingapore Management University·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateDec 3, 2019

Large transnational corporations play critical role in global natural resource management

Researchers identified six corporate actions that can promote environmental stewardship: aligning vision, mainstreaming sustainability, license to operate, financing transformations, radical transparency, and evidence-based knowledge for action. These changes can be implemented by large corporations to ensure long-term sustainability.

SourceOregon State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateSep 16, 2019

How to improve corporate social and environmental responsibility

A new study suggests that NGOs can use targeted reports to encourage companies to adopt more responsible practices through vertical integration. This approach can help promote sustainable sourcing throughout industries, even in the face of high external pressure. By specifying both violating and non-violating firms in their reports, NG...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·DateJun 28, 2019

Rethink environmental regulations in Africa, study urges

A new Illinois study finds that Western environmental systems and regulations in Africa are not working as intended, leading to conflict between small-scale miners and multinational corporations. The researchers argue that domestic-level 'translators' have become part of the global system of governance, leading to a lack of translation...