Insight
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Corporate reporting, 18 December, 2017
Lessons from Sweden in sustainable business
Research shows that Swedish companies set the bar high when it comes to sustainability reporting, by considering their impact on society and integrating sustainability into their business models.
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Ethics and culture, 14 December, 2017
Lead by example: the many benefits of ethical leadership
Ethical leadership can help avoid corporate crises if it is embraced by boards that are increasingly less tolerant of reputational risk.
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Board Essentials: M&A, 12 December, 2017
Five steps to ensuring an effective board merger
These best-practice insights on how to smooth the path to a successful board merger should help avoid problems and pitfalls of poor integration.
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Board Essentials: Risk management, 4 December, 2017
Ten simple ways boards can manage their risks better
Follow these ten tips on risk management and you'll be well on your way to preventing corporate disaster.
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Risk and reputation, 4 December, 2017
Risk management: prevention is better than cure
The real skill in risk management is not preventing past crises from recurring, but learning from them and identifying root causes to prevent them happening at all, explains Anthony Fitzsimmons of Reputability.
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Gender diversity in leadership, 1 December, 2017
There’s no merit in untapped female talent for board roles
We may know the benefits of gender diversity in theory, but in reality there are still too few women on boards. Setting targets and challenging unconscious bias could help, argues Fiona Hathorn, MD of Women on Boards.
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Climate change, 27 November, 2017
Every board has a role in the transition to a low-carbon economy
Climate change has placed a premium on moving to sustainable business models and a low-carbon economy. The task will need “positivity of purpose“ and “informed assessment“ of climate risks, writes Tom Delay of the Carbon Trust.
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Interview: Daniel Schmid on sustainable business, 24 November, 2017
Sustaining momentum: Daniel Schmid, SAP
SAP is a global trailblazer in sustainability. The German software giant’s Daniel Schmid reveals how other business leaders can follow suit.
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Employees on boards, 20 November, 2017
There’s still everything to gain from having workers on boards
Despite the government’s U-turn, there remains a good case for companies to bring employees into the boardroom, says Janet Williamson of the TUC.
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Interview: David Nussbaum on sustainability, 17 November, 2017
Well connected: David Nussbaum, Drax
Sustainability guru David Nussbaum has been appointed to the board of energy giant Drax, a company that he says is already on the right path to embracing the new, more responsible business environment in which we live.
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ESG reporting, 15 November, 2017
Too many ESG measures lead to reporting fatigue
Environment, social and governance have become critical issues in the way investors judge companies, but corporates face too many ESG measures suffering from too little standardisation.
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Data regulation, 14 November, 2017
Business data: why it now falls under the competition regulators’ spotlight
Possession of and access to data has become central to modern business. Nigel Parr of law firm Ashurst says it has become so important that it is now a key issue for competition watchdogs.
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Stewardship Code Japan, 13 November, 2017
Origins of investor stewardship and the Japan code
Abenomics brought a host of changes to Japan, not least the introduction of a new stewardship code for investors. The code is now being updated with new guidance, explains Kerrie Waring of the ICGN.
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Interview: Robert Swannell on sustainability, 9 November, 2017
A leading role for the future: Robert Swannell, M&S
As Robert Swannell departs Marks & Spencer as chairman, he tells Board Agenda that he is optimistic about the role of M&S and wider business in a more sustainable, engaged and happy society.
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Integrated reporting, 8 November, 2017
Non-execs need the right skills for effective integrated reporting
Integrated reporting is gaining in popularity, but it needs the right skills among non-executives if their credibility is to be enforced, writes Prof. Carol Adams, professor of accounting at Durham University.
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Diversity, 7 November, 2017
The barriers to getting more women on boards can be overcome
The barriers preventing women entering boardrooms in greater numbers are various and complex, but new recruiting policies, female networks and mentoring schemes can all be used to help women climb higher.
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Sustainable Development Goals, 6 November, 2017
Sustainable development means securing the future of business
It's time to recognise that sustainable development is a strategic issue that can secure the future of business, as well as securing a better future for people and planet, says Jonathan Labrey of the IIRC.
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Boardroom technology, 6 November, 2017
How technology could transform board evaluations
Reforms to corporate governance could require greater board evaluation, but this needn’t be a headache. Technology in the shape of an external evaluation tool can help give businesses an edge, especially in the collection and anonymisation of data.
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European culture survey, 6 November, 2017
European survey: boards struggle with culture
New research from Board Agenda, conducted in association with Mazars and INSEAD, reveals that while some boards recognise the value of corporate culture, a significant number are still grappling to give it adequate time and attention.
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Information security, 3 November, 2017
Why directors should learn to love cybersecurity
It’s time for boards to take control of their organisations’ cybersecurity at a time when the threat to data security has never been so severe.