Oxford Initiative on Rethinking Performance

Born out of the Mutuality in Business project,  the initiative seeks to establish a global centre of bold discussions, contemporary thought and innovative ideas around the operationalisation of purpose through holistic performance measurement and valuation.

Objectives:

• Research - Creating cutting-edge research to challenge conventional performance theory, measurement, and management.
• Engagement - Working with our partners to develop frameworks for the operationalisation of purpose and to discuss and test these ideas with a wide network of organisations and thought leaders.
• Outreach - Shaping thought and practice through novel teaching and outreach programmes, as well as regular convening for the creation of a global platform of discussion, on how to rethink performance.

We undertake cutting-edge research under the core streams of:

• Purpose relevance at system and investor level
• Management decision making and strategy
• Cost-accounting and measurement.

The Oxford Initiative on Rethinking Performance, along with the Global Solutions Initiative, are delighted to announce the launch of a blog series on Redirecting Business Performance.

The series is introduced in the opening blog, “Redirecting Business Performance”, by Colin Mayer and Dennis Snower, which describes the motives for launching this series and the objectives behind it.

The purpose of the series is to create an active and lively debate on how the goals of business in creating financial value and profits can be aligned with those of individuals, communities, and the natural world in human, social and environmental values.

Submissions of blogs for the series are welcome. They should be sent to both Kimberley Payne (Kimberley.Payne@sbs.ox.ac.uk) and Fernanda Ortega (fernanda.ortega@global-solutions-initiative.org). 

We aim to develop a framework for the measurement and operationalisation of corporate purpose. This will enable sustainable and long-term focussed business behaviour to thrive for the benefit of the economy, investors, planet and society.

In the last ten years, the role and purpose of companies have been redefined. Modern, prudent and long-term oriented companies now need to understand and demonstrate how they create (and destroy) value beyond financials. We examine how existing performance definitions, analyses and measurement systems need to be reshaped to truthfully reflect a company’s performance in relation to its corporate purpose.

To unravel this, the we focus on tensions that arise in relation to measurement and implementation at three levels:

1. Management – How to embed and operationalise corporate purpose in organisations through measurement, incentivisation and practice
2. Accounting – How to take into account the cost associated with positive and negative social and environmental externalities, impacts and dependencies that are produced by company operations
3. Reporting – How to connect internal measures of corporate purpose, management practices and corporate reporting on non-financial as well as financial impact.

• Neuberger Berman
• Asahi Europe & International
• Novartis AG
• Holcim
• Schroders
• MFS Investment Management
• BSI

We work with our member companies on specific research projects of mutual interest. Here are four examples of projects we are currently working on. 

• Asahi Europe & International
• Holcim 
• Novartis 
• Schroders

We invite your organisation to join a group of leading businesses to support and engage in an ambitious research programme around rethinking performance at Oxford. This is a unique approach to applied research that will create strong and lasting partnerships between academics and industry.

• Find out how to get involved
• Read our latest newsletter

• Jacob Schumacher, Affiliate Researcher
• Dimitris Giamos, Affiliate Researcher

If you are interested in partnering with us please contact kimberley.payne@sbs.ox.ac.uk