The latest research from the Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs 2023 Survey Report finds that geopolitical risk and uncertainty are once again perceived to be the greatest short-term category of risk to global businesses, having risen to the number-one slot in last year’s survey as the continuing war in Ukraine and heightened East-West tensions embed these threats. Climate change is the second most significant risk, specifically reflecting deep concerns over the impact of the environment, but with growing political resistance in … “Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey 2023 | Report”
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Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
Corporate Affairs professionals believe that using AI and digitization is the biggest opportunity available to global businesses.
With increased pressure from regulators and stakeholders, two-thirds of Corporate Affairs professionals are now worried about being accused of “greenwashing” or making exaggerated environmental claims, up from just over half in 2022. This sharp increase in concern suggests that Corporate Affairs professionals are taking the consequences of greenwashing more seriously. New regulations, increased awareness of environmental issues, and the threat of investor pressure may lead many companies to become more cautious in their communications to avoid reputational damage and other repercussions of making … “Insight of the Week: Fear of Greenwashing Accusations Rises Among Corporate Affairs Professionals”
In our annual survey of global Corporate Affairs professionals, GlobeScan partners with Oxford University’s Saïd Business School to understand global trends, priorities, challenges, and best practices in the arena of Corporate Affairs. We recently hosted a webinar to discuss the key findings from our 2023 survey, featuring special guest panellists from Syngenta, AB InBev, and Vodacom South Africa. Highlights of the Annual Survey:
Who are the leaders and why are they seen as trendsetters in corporate affairs? Together with findings from the Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey, we are sharing our insights and advice on the crucial role and responsibilities of the Corporate Affairs function in today’s complex world. The first e-Brief in our new series explores ‘Defining Corporate Affairs Leadership.’ We take a look at what it takes to achieve recognition from peers, and how Corporate Affairs teams can continue to evolve … “What Defines Corporate Affairs Leadership in 2022? A GlobeScan e-Brief Report”
A strong majority of Corporate Affairs professionals across the world believe that societal expectations for purposeful leadership from companies will grow in the coming years. Responding to these growing societal expectations will likely mean more focus on corporate purpose and demonstrations of a positive impact on society. Source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey of 221 Corporate Affairs and corporate communications professionals across 23 countries
In our annual survey of global Corporate Affairs professionals, GlobeScan partners with Oxford University’s Saïd Business School to understand global trends, priorities, challenges, and best practices in the arena of Corporate Affairs. Our latest survey took place in the context of businesses having to come to terms with new challenges that have arisen from high inflation, post-COVID ways of working, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Geopolitical risk and uncertainty has become the number one Corporate Affairs priority since last … “Report: Geopolitical Risk and Uncertainty is the Number One Corporate Affairs Priority”
Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Roles Are Increasingly Focused on Social Context for Business
Considering how the context within which the Corporate Affairs function has changed in recent years, Corporate Affairs professionals report that capturing the social context within which business operates has grown in prominence compared to three years ago. Other activities that are increasing in prominence are addressing climate risk and an increasing focus on good internal communications. This suggests that the Corporate Affairs function is evolving to better address sustainability and ESG issues as a part of daily activities. Source: Oxford-GlobeScan … “Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Roles Are Increasingly Focused on Social Context for Business”
In a world where broad-based social movements are progressively mobilising around issues such as diversity, inclusion, equality, and corruption, Corporate Affairs professionals are increasingly recognising the impact of political populism and the growing polarisation and instability that it brings. The uncertainty it introduces is seen as a rising concern. Since 2020, these risks have grown, with nearly half of Corporate Affairs professionals expressing this as a risk to business, up significantly from last year. Source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs … “Insight of the Week: Political Populism and Polarisation Is Increasingly Seen to Be a Risk to Business”
Unilever, Anglo American, Apple, BP, and Nestlé are viewed as being the leaders in Corporate Affairs according to the 2022 Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey. The Corporate Affairs function plays a strong role as a convenor working with stakeholders inside and outside of the company. Along with the role being well integrated across an organization, stakeholders point to managing business risk, having a clear purpose, a coherent narrative, and stakeholder engagement as key factors for being a recognized leader in Corporate Affairs. Source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global … “Insight of the Week: Top Ten Corporate Affairs Leaders”
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As companies communicate more about environmental and social topics, they also face scrutiny about their actions and impacts. Where there is a perceived disconnect between statements of intent and actual activities, accusations of greenwashing soon follow. According to Corporate Affairs professionals, just over one in five organizations have been accused of greenwashing in the past. This is particularly common among respondents in Europe (32%) and the consumer products/retail sectors (41%). Source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey 2022, n=221, 2022
Oxford and GlobeScan convened a panel and roundtable discussion on 8 December with members of the Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Council. The event featured some global public opinion insights on the shifting expectations of the global public regarding the Climate Agenda by Chris Coulter, GlobeScan CEO, and perspectives from Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Head of Corporate Affairs & Chief Sustainability Officer, Reckitt, on experiences at and key takeaways from COP26. The session was moderated by Rupert Younger, Director, Oxford University Centre for Corporate … “Impact of COP26 on the Corporate Affairs Function”
A majority of Corporate Affairs professionals – nearly three-quarters – feel that their company is interested in taking a public advocacy position on issues. This view is shared by experts across industries, with a stronger appetite for corporate activism in the food, agriculture, and forestry sector (80%). Those in financial and professional services perceive a slightly lower interest in corporate activism from their organizations (67%). This suggests that companies are increasingly aware of their role in managing global challenges and … “Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Professionals Indicate an Appetite for Activism Among Companies”
Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Professionals Perceive Growing Trust Among Their Stakeholders
Four in ten Corporate Affairs professionals now feel they are building stakeholder trust that their business operates in society’s best interest, a significant increase from a year ago. This could be due in part to positive feedback companies have received as a result of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened trust in business may also indicate the successes of stakeholder engagement in working to better understand societal and environmental impacts. Data source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey Report 2021
ESG also Dominates the List of Corporate Affairs Functional Priorities 15th July 2021 – ESG performance tops the list of Corporate Affairs risk priorities globally for organisations (46%), according to a new survey report launched today by the University of Oxford and GlobeScan. Corporate Affairs experts point to climate change as the most-pressing ESG issue for global businesses over the next two years followed by net zero / carbon emissions and inequality in society. Pandemic management (32%) is the second-highest … “Report: ESG Performance Tops List of Corporate Affairs Risk Priorities Globally for Organisations”
As part of a new Global Corporate Affairs partnership, Oxford University and GlobeScan are working together to help senior executives and corporate affairs leaders around the world to develop the contribution and improve the impact of the corporate affairs function. In our inaugural Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey 2020, we captured the views of Corporate Affairs Professionals on issues and themes of relevance to the function. Key research findings are summarized below. Most Pressing Global Risks to Business The most pressing … “Report: Delivering Enhanced Insights to Help Corporate Affairs Professionals Improve the Impact of the Corporate Affairs Function”
The risk environment that faces global business is usually well mapped, from an operations perspective. Yet, this operational readiness masks a lack of preparedness in front of other types of external risks – ones that are more unpredictable and macro-societal in nature. On March 21, Christophe Guibeleguiet (co-CEO) and Lionel Bellier (Associate Director) from GlobeScan, and special guest Cécile Duprez-Naudy, Global Advocacy Lead at Nestlé hosted ‘Building Social Capital in a Volatile and Uncertain World’: an engaging 30-minute webinar discussion around … “Espresso Webinar Recap | Building Social Capital in a Volatile and Uncertain World”
The uncertain landscape in which businesses operate has become increasingly susceptible to the risk of social polarization. Once solely the remit of government authorities, responding to social polarization is now also likely to become part of business responsibilities. In a recent GlobeScan survey, 92 percent of corporate affairs practitioners see social polarization as representing at least a moderate risk to business in general, and nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) see it as a great risk. Although corporate affairs practitioners are increasingly … “What Can Business Do to Address Social Polarization?”
The risk environment that faces global business is usually well mapped, from an operations perspective. Yet, this operational readiness masks a lack of preparedness in front of other types of external risks – ones that are more unpredictable and macro-societal in nature. On March 21 at 12 pm EST / 4 pm GMT, we invite you to join Christophe Guibeleguiet (co-CEO), Femke de Man (Director), and Lionel Bellier (Associate Director) from GlobeScan, and special guest Cécile Duprez-Naudy, Global Advocacy Lead … “Upcoming Espresso Webinar | Building Social Capital in a Volatile and Uncertain World”
The impacts of political, economic, and social instability are dominating the external environment in which companies operate. Among growing material risks, social polarisation is now emerging as a core area that companies need to prioritise, with nearly seven in ten corporate professionals viewing it as a great risk to business. The potential risks of a polarised society are manifold, but three main areas emerge as being highly associated with polarisation: instability, greater economic inequality and slowdown, and eroding trust. In … “Social Polarisation: Insights from Corporate Professionals – Spanish Report”
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Opinions and Insights from Corporate Professionals 5th December 2017 – The impacts of political, economic, and social instability are dominating the external environment in which companies operate. Among growing material risks, social polarisation is now emerging as a core area that companies need to prioritise, according to findings from GlobeScan’s new global survey of corporate affairs professionals. Nearly seven in ten corporate professionals view social polarisation as a great risk to business. The potential risks of a polarised society are … “Social Polarisation: A New Risk to Integrate for Business | Report”
A Global Survey of Corporate Affairs Professionals The impacts of political, economic, and social instability are dominating the external environment in which companies operate. Among growing material risks, social polarisation is now emerging as a core area that companies need to prioritise, with nearly seven in ten corporate professionals viewing it as a great risk to business. The potential risks of a polarised society are manifold, but three main areas emerge as being highly associated with polarisation: Instability Greater economic … “Social Polarisation: Opinions and Insights from Corporate Professionals | Report”
9 November 2016 – A recent self-assessment by corporate affairs professionals of how much their corporation is trusted by stakeholders depicts a context of uncertainty. Only one in five (21%) believes their company holds a very high amount of trust to operate in the best interest of society, according to findings from GlobeScan’s new global survey of corporate affairs professionals. They are countered by the same proportion who report their stakeholders have very little or no trust at all in their … “Trust is Increasingly Managed Like a Risk and Redefines the Approach to Business by Corporate Affairs Professionals”