Tomorrow’s Corporate Reporting: A critical system at risk focuses on the systems architecture and the behaviours and values of its stakeholders. Not on the content of the ‘ideal corporate report’. By corporate reporting we mean all the mechanisms by which companies communicate their performance and activity to their stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on the flow of information into the investment community.The study looked at:What aspects of the system are preventing or supporting the effective development of corporate reporting? And what changes are needed to make the system fit for purpose for the future? During the research, 145 individuals provided evidence, were interviewed or engaged through roundtable discussions, representing 118 organisations from 22 countries across five continents. The report explains the components of the current system and highlights that very few, if any, stakeholders see it as a system – rather they see particular pieces of the jigsaw. The...

For our second 'Tomorrow's Adaptive Organisation' roundtable, Ian Powell, senior partner and chairman of PwC UK, shared his vision of leadership and culture with us.  Ian Powell told his story of being a leader in a professional services firm – how he is a ‘lifer’ at PwC, and gradually moved up through the organisation until he became chairman of the UK firm in 2008. Through his different experiences in varying roles, he developed his leadership approach based on authenticity and integrity.  The first part of the report develops his vision and culture of PwC, aiming to be iconic – ‘the number one in professional services, always front of mind’. The second part  focuses on the alignment between behaviours and values.

"I see HR as having a distinctive competence which, aligned with the other parts of the organisation, can make the whole stronger."Paul Drechsler, chairman and chief executive of Wates Group, developed his leadership skills and vision through interactions with inspirational leaders and a supportive HR department during the early stages of his career at ICI. Today Paul, as the chairman and chief executive of Wates Group, gets energised when he sees how the values of his organisation are lived through its people. But having values alone is not enough – they need to be evidenced-based and leaders need to embody them in their actions. HR plays a fundamental role in bringing the different parts of the business together and even sometimes ensures that leaders live the values of their organisation.