Warwick Business School's Core Insights

Businesses have been turned upside down by the pandemic and, though restrictions are slowly being lifted, navigating a world still coming to terms with a new normal has left traditional strategy tools found wanting for many, while Russian's invasion of Ukraine has added a new layer of uncertainty.Christian Stadler, Professor of Strategy, reveals a new strategy-making method - open strategy. He discusses its real world application with Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East, who has guided the company through these unprecedented times.Join Core Insights host Audrey Dias as she discusses with the pair how open strategy can help companies deal with these uncertain and turbulent times.

The global pandemic saw the global economy effectively put on hold as lockdowns across the globe saw all but essential work frozen. Core Insights host Audrey Dias talks to Ana Galvao, Professor of Economic Modelling and Forecasting, and Paul Fisher, Ex-Bank of England Economist and Honorary Professor at Warwick Business School, to find out how the recovery is going and when the global economy will return to pre-pandemic levels. Read more from Professor Galvao on Post-COVID: When will the UK economy recover?

With the threat of COVID-19 continuing to affect our lives, working remotely or hybrid working seems to be a fact of life for many office-based workers. So what does this mean for the future of the office? Do organisations really need one?Maja Korica, Reader in Management and Organisation, and Toby Benzecry, founder and CEO of Workplace Futures Group, discuss the future of the office in a post-pandemic world with Core Insights host Audrey Dias. Dr Korica is researching the future of work, while Toby's company advises organisations on how an office can boost motivation and productivity. Read more from Toby on Does office design affect a firm's performance?

Host Audrey Dias talks with Neil Stewart, Professor of Behavioural Science and Rafael Batista, former Head of Behavioural Research at Commonwealth Bank, about how the finance industry is using nudges to help customers with their money. Professor Stewart has done pioneering work on credit cards and is forcing the industry to think again about how it persuades customers to pay off their debt. While Rafael used behavioural science nudges to help Commonwealth Bank build a better relationship with their customers. Read more on the subject with these articles from Professor Stewart on Is your credit card statement nudging you into more debt? and  Why using direct debits may add to your credit card bill. And you can find out more about Rafael's journey with behavioural science in this feature Change Maker: Rafael Batista nudging for good in banking.

Join host Audrey Dias as she explores the tricky conundrum that often hits social enterprises and green start-ups as they seek to grow their business: should they compromise their ideals?Deniz Ucbasaran, Professor of Entrepreneurship, has researched this area and details her findings and a process that green entrepreneurs and social enterprises can go through to find the right balance. She is joined by Hugh Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Ugly Drinks, whose start-up is taking on the fizzy drinks giants with a healthy alternative. Find out more by read Professor Ucbasaran's article The authentic founder - how to stay true to your values.

Core Insights host Audrey Dias asks Michael Bradshaw, Professor of Global Energy, and Joan MacNaughton, Trustee of The Climate Group and an Executive Chair at the World Energy Council, if the world is building back greener as it recovers from the pandemic. Many governments have laid out plans to reach net zero by 2050 following the pandemic, but is this really happening or is it, as Greta Thunberg says, "all blah, blah, blah..."?For more on this topic read Professor Bradshaw's article Will there be a green recovery from the pandemic?