Room for improvement
July 14, 2023
Consumers are expecting more from their customer experiences, and the government doesn’t always deliver as well as the private sector does. A recent McKinsey survey found that although non-White respondents use government services more than White individuals, their satisfaction rates are lower, senior partner Erez Eizenman and colleagues note.
Consumers are expecting more from their customer experiences, and the government doesn’t always deliver as well as the private sector does. A recent McKinsey survey found that although non-White respondents use government services more than White individuals, their satisfaction rates are lower, senior partner Erez Eizenman and colleagues note Households earning less than USD 50000 use government services two times more than those earning USD 200000, but are far less satisfied. Click through the interactive to see more results. and colleagues note. Households earning less than USD 50000 use government services two times more than those earning USD 200000, but are far less satisfied. Click through the interactive to see more results.
To read the article, see “How US government leaders can deliver a better customer experience,” June 9, 2023.
A coding boost from AI
July 21, 2023
When it comes to software development, generative AI can bring groundbreaking time savings. PaWhen it comes to software development, generative AI can bring groundbreaking time savings. Partners Martin Harrysson and Shivam Srivastava and colleagues find that AI can cut the time needed to document code functionality by 45 to 50 %, and can reduce completion time for writing code by 35 to 45 %, for example.
When it comes to software development, generative AI can bring groundbreaking time savings. Partners Martin Harrysson and Shivam Srivastava and colleagues find that AI can cut the time needed to document code functionality by 45 to 50 %, and can reduce completion time for writing code by 35 to 45 percent, for example and colleagues find that AI can cut the time needed to document code functionality by 45 to 50 , and can reduce completion time for writing code by 35 to 45 %, for example.
To read the article, see “Unleashing developer productivity with generative AI,” June 27, 202
Climate-friendly farming
July 20, 2023
Agriculture is a key consideration in global sustainability efforts: agricultural land accounts for half of all habitable land worldwide and 70 % of freshwater withdrawals. Reaching a 1.5°C pathway will require changes that extend well beyond the farm, according to partner Vasant Ganesan and co-authors. Sustainable food production, reducing food waste, and changing dietary practices may help achieve decarbonisation goals while also meeting global food needs.
To read the report, see “The agricultural transition: Building a sustainable future,” June 27, 2023.
Listen to the activists
July 19, 2023
Corporate boards often react defensively when activist investors start making demands. In many cases, however, companies could benefit by listening to what the outsiders have to say and using the opportunity for a clear-eyed view of their organization. Partner Joe Cyriac and colleagues find that activist campaigns tend to stop a long downward trajectory in company performance and correspond with excess shareholder returns that persist for at least 36 months.
To read the article, see “Barbarians at the gate?,” June 5, 2023.
Emissions buildup
July 18, 2023
The built environment ecosystem, encompassing everything from homes to highways, is responsible for about one-fourth of global greenhouse-gas emissions. The bulk of those emissions, at about 75 %, comes from space and water heaters, partner The built environment ecosystem, encompassing everything from homes to highways, is responsible for about one-fourth of global greenhouse-gas emissions. The bulk of those emissions, at about 75%, comes from space and water heaters, partner Brodie Boland and colleagues explain. Heat pumps alone could reduce these emissions by about 60 percent. Partner Brodie Boland he built environment ecosystem, encompassing everything from homes to highways, is responsible for about one-fourth of global greenhouse-gas emissions. The bulk of those emissions, at about 75 percent, comes from space and water heaters, partner Brodie Boland and colleagues explain. Heat pumps alone could reduce these emissions by about 60 %.and colleagues explain. Heat pumps alone could reduce these emissions by about 60 %.
To read the report, see “Building value by decarbonizing the built environment,” June 12, 2023.
Scooter race
July 17, 2023
As shared electric kickscooters (e-kickscooters) become ubiquitous around the world, cities are increasingly considering regulation. Partner Kersten Heinecke and colleagues analysed the top 100 global cities by population to see how the rules are affecting the market. They find four regulation archetypes: bans on the shared use of e-kickscooters (35 % of the top cities), regulation that limits the number of operating services (13 % ), some regulation but no limit on the number of players (23 % ), and no regulation (29 % ).
To read the article, see “Electric kickscooters have come of age. Regulators have taken notice,” June 7, 2023.