The Global ESG Monitor is a new initiative to assess the environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency of companies around the globe. The Global ESG Monitor examines ESG reports from over 140 companies that are listed on some of the world?s largest stock market indices. It challenges business to never cease looking for ways to be more open and transparent with their stakeholders.
Why transparency matters
The Global ESG Monitor is established on the belief that corporate transparency is the foundation to solving local, regional, and global sustainability problems.
Greater transparency:
Improves corporate accountability towards stakeholders and society at large.
Helps companies to identify and address existing and potential sustainability impacts.
Increases the available data that can be used to solve sustainability problems.
Builds trust and supports partnership between the private, public and civic sectors.
The ESG Monitor was first conducted by cometis and KOHORTEN starting with an analysis of DAX® and MDAX®-listed German companies. Following this initial pilot study, cometis and KOHORTEN designed a proprietary analysis method to be used in future studies ? the GESGM ASSAY?.
Recognising that ESG issues do not stop at the border, cometis and KOHORTEN (Germany) formed an international partnership with Currie (Australia) and Xenophon Strategies (USA) in 2020, and the research has become global. It now covers three continents and over 250 companies from six of the world?s largest stock market indices.
If interested, both reports (Global Report and Ranking) can be ordered free of charge:
Wiesbaden, 2020: We are happy and very proud! KOHORTEN research in the museum: The Caricatura Museum Frankfurt is currently showing “40 Years of TITANIC – The Final Title Exhibition” and is dedicating a showcase to editorial KOHORTEN research that we conducted for the Titanic around 40 years ago. Since this project, we have carried out at least 300 other editorial projects for various customers and publishers. Always gives us a lot of pleasure!
Teachers doubt the sustainability of the German education system
Students largely digitally incompetent
Teachers make insufficient use of digital techniques
Poor curricula and infrastructure
Wiesbaden, June 2020 Digital skills are becoming increasingly important, but are falling by the wayside in the German education system. More than three-quarters (78%) of teachers are convinced that the German education system is not sustainable. This is shown in a study by the KOHORTEN Institute and NOAA PARTNERS. The researchers interviewed 150 teachers of secondary schools I and II throughout Germany.
Students: Extensive digital incompetence
An overwhelming majority of teachers (88%) are convinced that students should be taught how to use digital media and the Internet today. At the same time, two thirds (66%) of those surveyed complain that schools are doing too little. Teachers rated the students’ ability to evaluate digital information particularly poorly, with only a “Four+” (grade 3.7). Students can hardly distinguish between credible information and untrustworthy information. Director of Studies and KOHORTEN Managing Director Ariane Hofstetter “Without the competence to evaluate information, there is a growing danger that students will fall for fake news.
Teachers miss important basic technical knowledge of the digital world (grade 4.1) among their students. Knowledge of data protection (grade 3.8) and the use of digital media tools also need to be greatly improved. Only the students’ ability to communicate digitally is considered good by the teachers (grade 2.4). Digitization expert Christian Massmann: “The deficits are also a threat to the competitiveness of German companies. After all, future employees need a profound understanding of digital processes”.
Teachers: digital technologies are hardly ever used
It is not only the students who are showing deficits. Even the teachers are not on ball level, according to head of studies Hofstetter. For four out of five (82 %) of the teachers, digital teaching means merely playing digital illustrative material – mostly YouTube videos – in class. The teachers want to use them to make their lessons more entertaining. The possibility of using digital instruments to apply or control what they have learned in practice is hardly ever missed by teachers. Only one third (35%) use these instruments. “This is regrettable, as it would allow teachers to support their students very individually,” Hofstetter said. Many digital instruments – such as assessment solutions in companies, for example, where the degree of difficulty increases with each correctly answered task – are still completely unknown in German schools.
Curricula and infrastructure: mostly insufficient
Despite the digital pact, teachers rarely (34%) have the impression that digitization enjoys the importance it deserves. For example, around 40 percent of schools have not yet set up WLAN. Many teachers do not feel sufficiently prepared for the digitization of teaching and the teaching of digital skills. Half (49%) of the teachers describe the preparation provided by the school system as inadequate or at best just sufficient. At the same time, the teachers are open-minded. Head of the study Hofstetter: “Most teachers would like to participate in further digital training.
Fundamental changes required
“The deficits in the digitization of schools require fundamental changes in the school system,” says digitization expert Massmann. Every second teacher agrees and calls for new teaching concepts. “Those who only purchase digital equipment are jumping short. Teachers need qualifications. They must first be familiarized with the technical possibilities. Then they should learn to use the digital instruments in class in a practical way. In addition, the ministries of education and cultural affairs must incorporate into the curricula essential practical content on the opportunities and risks of digitization. Massmann: “It is only with such concepts that schools can make meaningful use of the funds required from the Digital Pact.
About the study
The study was based on an online survey of around 150 teachers at secondary levels I and II. Expert interviews with teachers and decision-makers* in companies as well as a connected desktop research served as a preparatory stage. Based on this preparatory work, the online questionnaire for the main survey was created. The study participants were predominantly female, aged between 30 and 49 years. All disciplines were represented. The natural sciences, mathematics, German and social studies were particularly frequent.
Wiesbaden, 2020: In an elaborate study, KOHORTEN, together with the investor relations agency cometis AG, examined the ESG reporting of all DAX and MDAX companies. The ‘ESG Monitor 2020’ highlights quality issues in sustainability reporting.
The study covered companies listed in the DAX and MDAX stock indices in December 2019. Companies based outside Germany were also included. The non-financial statements in the annual report (NFE) and the separate non-financial reports (NFB) were examined. A total of 113 reports were available for analysis.
The focus is on questions such as:
How important is ESG in companies, how is sustainability understood on the issuer side?
In what form do DAX and MDAX companies report?
(format, concept, scope, language of publication, deadline)
What is the difference between NFE (non-financial statement in the annual report) and NFB (separate non-financial report)?
How does ESG reporting differ in DAX and MDAX?
What role do ESG ratings play in ESG reporting?
What attempts are made to standardize ESG reporting and make it comparable?
How important are the traceability and measurability of ESG data for reporting?
How are goals and priorities defined?
Which topics are covered?
How is the non-financial information prepared?
How is ESG reporting organized in the company?
What has changed or will change in the future?
The study concept comprises three perspectives:
Analysis of the ESG reporting of DAX and MDAX companies by a team experienced in the financial markets:
The data collection tool developed for this purpose comprised around 180 survey points, which were systematically evaluated for NFE and NFB. Individual exploration by representatives from the IR and sustainability departments of the issuers (DAX and MDAX). The aim of this qualitative exploration was to explore the conditions under which ESG reporting is produced and to develop an additional depth dimension for the interpretation of the results from the analysis of ESG reports.
Research on the status quo of ESG reporting: historical development, definitions of sustainability, actors in ESG reporting, laws, regulations, guidelines, ESG financial instruments, support for companies
The results of the ‘ESG Monitor 2020’ are available in two versions:
ESG Monitor 2020 – The Report. A descriptive presentation of the findings
ESG Monitor 2020 – The Ranking: Ranking of the Best ESG Reports
If you are interested, both reports can be ordered free of charge.
Information is an important basis for decision-making in all marketing and sales activities. Information is needed along the entire management decision process: From the analysis phase, through the conception and implementation phase to the control phase.
The central success factor for effective marketing and targeted sales is a uniform basis of key figures. With its help, the success of marketing & sales measures can be measured and optimized.
Within the scope of market research projects, these key figures can then be measured regularly and monitored with the help of key figure controlling.
If you are interested, the reference book can be requested through us.
KOHORTEN expands market research for financial services and sustainability
We are pleased to have won another expert for our team in Verena Hofstetter. Verena brings along industry experience from around two decades of insurance. She was last active as range chief for selling management with the #Inter insurance and as a business guide of the #Nord-OstseeVermittlungsgesellschaft, the #adinovo, the #Sach- und Kapitalvermittlungsgesellschaft as well as a lecturer at the #DHBW.
Her topics are sales strategies, customer satisfaction, cancellation prevention and CX management.
Above all, I am excited about the change of perspective, because with KOHORTEN I am looking at an industry in which I have worked for many years and in which I see great potential for research.
Welcome on board Verena!
Verena can be reached directly at v.hofstetter@kohorten.com from 01.01.2021.
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