Mexichem changed its name to Orbia Advance Corp. in September, saying it will shift its priorities to "advance life around the world" while addressing issues such as water scarcity through its products. CEO Daniel Martinez-Valle says the new approach should create value and "boost the company's sales and profitability, creating a virtuous circle of results that plays well with customers and attracts global investors interested in sustainability."

Oilfield services companies can continue to succeed despite the reduction of oil prices that began in 2014 by making changes that include the use of more digital technology and the elimination of "non-core business lines," says a Deloitte report. "Many oilfield service companies rely on the same business models that worked for $100 plus per barrel of oil, which are stifling innovation and efficiency today," says Duane Dickson of Deloitte.

Lombard Odier & Co.'s asset-management chief Hubert Keller says a renewed focus on environmental, social and corporate governance factors when making investment decisions could spark a revival in active fund management. "Whether it is in fixed income or equities -- if you want to apply sustainability you need judgment, which means more research, which means active investing," he said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued examination letters as it attempts to learn more about funds that tout themselves as being socially responsible. The initiative is focusing on the criteria used to determine whether an investment is socially responsible and how those criteria are applied, according to a source.

The intelligent use of data in business strategies is what will help set companies apart in modern commerce, states GSK executive Kurt Kendall. "Companies that are winning have the courage to move quickly, adapt to the continually changing competitive and consumer landscape, and be prepared to build for the future," he says.

Businesses of all sizes must create guidelines for the ethical use of technology regardless of the resources available, Daphne Leprince-Ringuet writes. She notes that more regulation and clear guidelines are needed to implement digital ethics on a broader scale.