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A Bentley University and Gallup survey on businesses' role in making a positive impact on society and the environment found that despite some differences across demographics, overall consumers feel that companies should take action to minimize their environmental impact but that large companies in particular aren't doing enough. The author suggests several actions companies can take to improve their environmental sustainability performance.

Investors and regulators are increasingly pushing for greater diversity on boards, but many companies' efforts to do so, known as board refreshment, are falling flat. Vague terms, loose requirements, and CEO influence work against change and favor the status quo. Meaningful refreshment requires organizations to articulate specific intentions and guard against too much CEO input.

Integrated reporting, a new development in the reporting landscape, seeks to concisely communicate a firm's value through a more holistic picture that integrates financial and non-financial information. This practice is in its infancy in the United States and Europe, with many firms unsure of what integrated reporting is, what its benefits are, and even how to set it up. Drawing upon transcripts from 19 unstructured panel interviews at a global symposium on the subject, we discuss the business case for integrated reporting, as well as the multitude of challenges a firm faces when beginning its integrated reporting journey. We also summarize experiences and tips from interviewees on the need for integrated thinking, the most effective use of the International Integrated Reporting Council's framework, the best way to obtain high-quality data, the ideal audience of such reports, and the options for report assurance.