For several years, research tracking the physical and psychological state of employees has indicated an alarming increase in the rate of occupational diseases — with serious consequences for business performance. But the spiral of ill-health is not irreversible—all it takes to reverse the trend is a collective commitment to building work processes that are more respectful of individuals. Based on, among others, “Wellness is the Responsibility of Business as Well as Worker” by Ellen Galinsky (huffingtonpost.com, September 2009); “Investing in workforce health generates higher productivity” (towerswatson.com, November 2011); “Sitting all day: worse for you than you might think” by Patti Neighmond (npr.org, April 2011) and “Quel est l’état de santé des salariés en France en 2010?” {“What is the state of employee health in France in 2010?”}, a Sociovision survey for Malakoff Médéric (December 2010).

How can you cut prices without sacrificing quality? This is the challenge that Siemens’ 2005 SMART initiative was designed to overcome. The idea to meet the needs of consumers in emerging countries by designing products that are simple to use, easy to repair, and inexpensive.

How can the impressive do-it-yourself cultures of emerging countries give Western firms new inspiration? In environments characterized by resource constraints, Jugaad leads to greater creativity and translates into quicker to-market times and more effective responses to customer needs.Based on Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth by Navi Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu and Simone Ahuja (Jossey-Bass, May 2012), and the interview with Armin Bruck, CEO Siemens India, April 2012.

It is not a coincidence that that many companies in developing countries rely on frugal innovation to minimize their ecological footprint. Indeed, consumers in emerging countries like China and India are generally more sensitive to environmental protection than their Western counterparts. Based on “Emerging markets willing to pay more for ‘green’ products” by Sumner Lemon (InfoWorld, January 2010), “Ghana: Bamboo bikes in high demand” by Kofi Adu Domfeh (Africa News, March 2011), “Striving for Positive Water Impact” by PepsiCo & The Nature Conservancy, 2011, “Doing green business with emerging markets” from the 11th European Forum on Eco-Innovation (European Commission Environment, October 2011).

Thus far, CSR policies have not been noted for their overwhelming impact. On the whole, they remain a result of legal obligations or peripheral engagements. Wayne Visser suggests instead envisioning societal engagement as an integral part of strategy. Based on The Age of Responsibility, CSR 2.0 and the New DNA of Business by Wayne Visser (Wiley, February 2011) and an interview with Thomas Osburg, Director Europe Corporate Affairs at Intel, April 2011.

Ethical purchases are far less common than most surveys predict. What is behind this gap between intentions and reality? How can consumers' ethical values and their purchasing behaviors be reconciled? Based on “Values versus Value” by Timothy Devinney, Pat Auger and Giana M. Eckhardt (Strategy+Business, Spring 2011) and “Understand the Postrecession Consumer” de Paul Flatters and Michael Willmott (Harvard Business Review, Summer 2009).

The integration of “green” into company strategy doesn’t mean sacrificing growth and profit—much the opposite! Based on Better Green Business by Eric G. OLSON, Wharton School Publishing (November 2009), and the interviews with Peter Williams, CTO, Big Green Innovations, IBM, and Anne-Laure Denis, corporate environment manager, bioMérieux, May 2010.

What explains the succes of social entrepreneurs and how to follow their example? Based on the book by John Elkington et Pamela Hartigan, The Power of Unreasonable People, Harvard Business Press, February 2008 and the interviews with Emmanuel Marchant, executive vice-president of danone.communities (France) and Vikram Akula, CEO and founder of SKS Microfinances (India) February 2009.

Can we continue to categorically dismiss consumers in Southern countries at a time when companies are struggling to find new markets? Based on « Profitable Business Models and Market Creation in the Context of Deep Poverty: A Strategic View », by Christian Seelos and Johanna Mair, Academy of Management Perspectives, November 2007, and the interviews of Iqbal Quadir, founder and director of the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT (USA), February 2009.