Hybrid work is here to stay. Here are 7 ways to manage your workforce

Hybrid work may be the new norm, but there’s nothing standard about its implementation — yet. At this juncture, managers need to think creatively and futuristically to fully reap the benefits of a hybrid workforce rather than just tolerate it.

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At the inaugural Thinker-Fest 2023 conference, sponsored by the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, a panel of experts delved into the implications of and opportunities for the future of hybrid work. Here are seven pieces of advice forfor leading teams that are partially or fully remote.

Look at outcomes, not output. When COVID-19 hit, teams needed to work nimbly and asynchronously, with less focus on process and more on the big picture. Competent leaders will maintain that perspective...

5 ways to drive sustainability in procurement

With sustainability priorities becoming one of the biggest components of a company’s reputation, they can often be the competitive edge needed to become the brand of the choice.

Procurement plays a pivotal role in ensuring sustainability goals become reality, especially since a business’ environmental footprint is largely tied to their suppliers. But cost pressures and other risks can make it difficult for many teams to know where to start.

Below are five key steps to drive sustainability:

1. Make sustainable procurement compulsory

For existing products, it may take time to switch to sustainable options...

Buckle up! A new class of materials is here

Usually, the two characterizations of a material are mutually exclusive: something is either stiff, or it can absorb vibrations well -- but rarely both. However, if we could make materials that are both stiff and good at absorbing vibrations, there would be a whole host of potential applications, from design at the nano-scale to aerospace engineering.

Buckling does the trick.

A team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam has now found a way to create materials that are stiff, but still good at absorbing vibrations -- and equally..