Research Briefs

Environmental, health, and safety (EHS) problems and issues are more common following unexpected financial results

RESEARCH BRIEF - Environmental, health, and safety (EHS) breaches are more common when a firm is under-or over-performing financially.

In cause marketing campaigns, the language should match the cause

RESEARCH BRIEF - When requesting donations for cause marketing campaigns, the tone of the ask can boost donor participation by up to 33 percent or more depending on the social cause and dollars donated by up to 25 percent.

The risk of using jargon in ESG disclosure

RESEARCH BRIEF - For firms that actively manage their sustainability, jargon and complex sentences can depress environmental performance scores.

During product recalls, corporate citizenship may protect shareholder value

RESEARCH BRIEF - In the case of a product recall, firm investments in corporate citizenship are positively associated with shareholder value and can help protect against future recall-associated risk.

The trick to improving performance in online cause marketing campaigns

RESEARCH BRIEF - Increasing social pressure in online fundraising can increase customer donation frequency and amount.

On boards, women let women in

RESEARCH BRIEF - CEOs, top management teams, board-nominating committees appointed by the board chair, and other “gatekeepers” of corporate leadership have a significant role to play in increasing gender diversity on boards of directors.

Consumers equate supply chain with product quality

RESEARCH BRIEF - Negative supply chain news may harm consumer confidence in product quality, regardless of whether the news is related to quality of ingredients or materials.

Socially responsible investors positively influence portfolio company environmental practices

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms with higher socially responsible pension-fund investments are more likely to use renewable energy, use environmental criteria in selecting suppliers, and actively communicate their corporate citizenship outcomes.

For effective corporate citizenship communications, know your audience

RESEARCH BRIEF - When unsure of audience attitude, avoid a promotional tone.

Women CFOs bring lower stock price crash risk

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies with women CFOs have a lower risk of stock price crash than those with men CFOs.

Supply chain disclosure cuts costs and boosts profitability

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies that actively communicate and disclose information about their supply chain are more likely to cut costs and increase profitability.

Rewards motivate consumers to recycle

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies that wish to invigorate their product recycling programs should consider offering a reward to consumers in return for trade-ins, such as a discount on their next purchase or a donation to charity.