Research Briefs

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms that invest in employee relations better positioned to achieve innovation.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms with stronger corporate citizenship performance produce longer and more readable sustainability reports.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Following natural disasters, people are most likely to respond to solicitations for charitable donations when the communication acknowledges their donation history and/or is issued by a local organization (or local chapter of a national organization).

RESEARCH BRIEF - While women are underrepresented on corporate boards across the world, there are certain factors that increase gender board diversity. Factors such as civic entitlements, societal equity, and access to education and health care all increase board gender diversity.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Immediately after viewing emotionally affecting communications, individuals are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors and donate to sustainability causes.

RESEARCH BRIEF - When CEO's indulge in higher levels of risk-taking behavior—such as exercising executive stock options—corporate citizenship performance suffers—which negatively impacts financial performance.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Both internal and external stakeholder pressure prompts company leadership to make changes to environmentally sustainable practices. Internal stakeholders—such as employees—tend to expect their companies to integrate environmental practices into internal decision-making, while external stakeholders—such as communities and unions—look for transparent communication about environmental efforts.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Evidence in this research points out the critical role corporate citizenship activity plays in financial performance when cash is tight, and that good governance results in higher firm corporate citizenship ratings.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Overall, human resource policies that support LGBT employees result in higher firm value, productivity, and profitability. Such diversity & inclusion policies can especially increase firm value and profitability in companies that require highly skilled R&D employees, as well as increase productivity in companies operating within states that lack antidiscrimination laws.

RESEARCH BRIEF - When tracking environmental sustainability indicators reported to CDP, this research determines that companies should set ambitious, absolute targets and use long-term timelines in order to achieve lower GHG emissions.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Gender diversity on a company’s leadership team is associated with a range of positive firm outcomes, including enhanced diversity, corporate governance, product development, and community performance.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies should make sure to tailor their cause marketing campaigns to balance discount and donation levels to maximize participation and reach campaign goals.