- 22 Dec 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Dove: Maintaining a Brand with Purpose
Unilever’s Dove soap became a brand with purpose when it launched the “Campaign for Real Beauty” to combat media-driven stereotypes of female beauty. Can Dove maintain both its market position and social impact in the future? Senior Lecturer, Mark Kramer discusses his case, “Dove and Real Beauty: Building a Brand with Purpose.” Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 03 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
Cut Payroll Costs with Transparency, Fairness, and Compassion
As cost-cutting continues across the turbulent economy, companies are challenged to be creative when managing their human capital, say Boris Groysberg and Sarah Abbott. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 24 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Accounting for Product Impact in the Consumer Finance Industry
A framework and method for measuring and monetizing product impact across industries, applying it to two competitors in the consumer finance space.
- 13 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Long-Run Returns to Impact Investing in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies
Examination of every equity investment made by the International Finance Corporation, one of the largest and longest-operating impact investors, shows this portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 by 15 percent.
- 27 Oct 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Growing a Manufacturing Company with a Social Mission
Nehemiah Manufacturing turned a social mission of hiring convicted felons into a competitive advantage. In this podcast, Michael Chu discusses the challenges and opportunities of combining profit with social impact. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 01 Oct 2020
- What Do You Think?
Are CEOs the Wrong Leaders for Stakeholder Capitalism?
SUMMING UP: Who bears responsibility for fostering "stakeholder capitalism" to better serve societal goals? Directors? Shareholders? CEOs? Employees? Readers offer their own views to James Heskett. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 10 Aug 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Collaborating During Coronavirus: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Nature of Work
This study of 16 cities is the first large-scale analysis of how digital communication patterns have changed in the early stages of the pandemic. The overall pattern of more meetings and more emails points to a spillover of virtual communication beyond normal working hours.
- 29 Jul 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
What Jobs Are Being Done at Home During the COVID-19 Crisis? Evidence from Firm-Level Surveys
At least 16 percent of American workers will switch from office-based settings to working at home at least two days per week after COVID-19 subsides. This has significant implications for companies, employees, and policymakers alike.
- 07 Jul 2020
- Research & Ideas
Market Investors Pay More for Resilient Companies
During a market collapse, investors will pay up for companies considered resilient in their response, according to George Serafeim. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Jun 2020
- Book
Capitalism Is More at Risk Than Ever
Almost a decade after writing Capitalism at Risk, Joseph Bower, Herman Leonard, and Lynn Paine argue that not enough companies are stepping up to fix big global problems. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 22 Jun 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Iterative Coordination and Innovation
Do Agile methodologies promote innovation? Results of a field experiment with Google show that increasing the frequency and goal orientation of stand-up meetings reinforces integration and value but reduces specialization and novelty in outcomes.
- 05 Jun 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Anchor Investors Help Impact Funds Succeed
3Questions A startup fund's ability to attract a major first investor is a signal to others that the investment pool is just fine for entering. Shawn Cole and Rob Zochowski answer questions about anchor investors. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 08 May 2020
- In Practice
Nonprofits Hurt by COVID-19 Must Hoard Cash to Hold On
Experts from Harvard Business School's Social Enterprise Initiative offer advice to nonprofits struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 08 May 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Corporate Environmental Impact: Measurement, Data and Information
This paper proposes a methodology for investors, companies, or regulators to use established environmental resources, reasonably accessible in the public domain, to measure an organization’s environmental impact from operations. These measurements contain information that is different from environmental ratings widely used by investors and other stakeholders.
- 01 May 2020
- What Do You Think?
Does Remote Work Mix with Organizational Culture?
SUMMING UP: Readers who themselves work from home think differently about how organizations should respond to remote work initiatives. James Heskett sums up the dicussion. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 27 Apr 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Remote Work Changes What We Think About Onboarding
COVID-19 has turned many companies into federations of remote workplaces, but without guidance on how their onboarding of new employees must change, says Boris Groysberg. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 22 Apr 2020
- Research Event
How Investors Are Sizing Up Climate Change’s Risks—and Opportunities
What are the financial implications of rising seas and extreme weather? Asset managers and risk experts gathered at Harvard Business School to discuss how they’re evaluating climate risk in their portfolios. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 09 Apr 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Social Entrepreneurs Can Increase Their Investment Impact
Grants or investments? Philanthropic organizations have multiple funding tools available, but choosing the wrong one can dilute the benefits, according to research by Benjamin N. Roth. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
The New Rules for Remote Work: Pandemic Edition
Welcome to the new world of remote work, where employees struggle to learn the rules, managers are unsure how to help them, and organizations get a glimpse into the future. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
How 'Small C' Change Can Beat Large-Scale Rebuilding
Many business leaders are convinced that large-scale change is necessary to bounce back from difficult times. But a professional soccer team's surprise success shows that smaller measures can work better, write Boris Groysberg and colleagues. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.