Insight

Here’s a look at some of the latest business knowledge from IESE Insight, the school’s research portal, which aims to keep you at the forefront of today’s ever-changing business environment.

Economics
The Most Competitive Economies
Eduardo Ballarín, Maria Luisa Blázquez

Finland was named the most competitive economy in the world (for the third year in a row) by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. Trailing the leading Scandinavian nation were the U.S., Sweden, Taiwan and Denmark. Led by Professor Eduardo Ballarín, IESE contributed to the Spanish data for the World Economic Forum’s report.

Leadership, Strategy and Change
Successful International Expansion
África Ariño, Joan Enric Ricart and Pankaj Ghemawat

More and more companies aspire to be international, or even global. Yet, an international presence does not automatically translate into value creation and competitive advantage. In the book Creating Value Through International Strategy, more than 30 experts, including IESE´s own África Ariño and Joan Enric Ricart and Pankaj Ghemawat of Harvard Business School shed light on the process of internationalization and propose a wide range of theoretical frameworks to analyze just how much value can be created.

Knowledge and Information
Knowledge Management Drives Business Performance
Rafael Andreu, Joan Baiget, Erica Salvaj

In a globalized economy, the best way to compete is by developing distinctive capabilities – knowledge that is specific to the company and hard to imitate. In the study “Knowledge Management and Competitiveness in Spanish Firms – 2003," authors Rafael Andreu, Joan Baiget, Erica Salvaj study the case of Spanish companies, which are beginning to realize that knowledge management can actually drive business performance.

Organizations and People
Integrating Immigrants
José Ramón Pin, Luis López Soriano and Ángela Gallifa

Though a hotly debated subject, the best way for immigrants to integrate in their host country is through employment. In the book Libro blanco sobre las mejores prácticas para la integración del trabajador inmigrante en las empresas españolas (White Book on Best Practices for the Integration of Immigrant Workers in Spanish Companies), Professor José Ramón Pin of IESE, Luis López Soriano and Ángela Gallifa de Irujo analyze the general state of immigration in Spain, Europe and the United States. They look at employment problems and relevant legislation. They conclude that while government, unions and NGOs play an important role in helping immigrants to integrate, the greatest responsibility lies with companies.

Economics
Making Real-Life Decisions Under Uncertainty
Manel Baucells, Cristina Rata

In a setting of risk, what makes a decision important? And how do the possible outcomes influence our choices? In an original work entitled "Framing and Stakes: A Survey Study of Decisions Under Uncertainty," research fellow Cristina Rata and Professor Manel Baucells of IESE analyze 261 real-life decisions to reveal what drives decision-making under uncertainty.