Science
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- 13 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
The European Commission’s Sustainable Corporate Governance Report: A Critique
The European Commission commissioned a report on sustainable corporate governance that purports to find serious problems of corporate short-termism. The report is wholly flawed: it conflates time horizon problems with externality problems, mismeasures investment and its financing, and proposes ineffective, possibly harmful reforms.
- 02 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Accounting for Organizational Employment Impact
Impact-weighted accounting methodology standardizes previously disparate measures of impact, in this case the impact of employment. This paper’s methodology and analysis of Intel, Apple, Costco, and Merck shows the feasibility of measuring firm employment impact for insight into firm practices and performance. Closed for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 20 Sep 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Updating the Balanced Scorecard for Triple Bottom Line Strategies
Society increasingly expects businesses to help solve problems of environmental degradation, inequality, and poverty. This paper explains how the Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Map should be modified to reflect businesses’ expanded role for society.
- 01 Sep 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
How to Launch a New Biosciences Product: Start Small or Dive in?
C16 Biosciences wants to replace palm oil, a major contributor to deforestation, with a lab-grown substitute. But CEO Shara Ticku faces a tough decision in bringing the product to market. Jeff Bussgang discusses his case study. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 29 Jul 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Two Case Studies on the Financing of Forest Conservation
Case studies about The Conservation Fund and Sonen Capital highlight three broad lessons about fresh approaches to the ownership and management of forestland.
- 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.
- 12 Jun 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Corporate Resilience and Response During COVID-19
Investors look for evidence during a market crisis that a company is resilient. This study includes findings that challenge the notion that companies need to adopt practices that hurt their employees because investors want them to do so.
- 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
- 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
- In Practice
COVID-19’s Hard Lessons Might Prepare Business for Climate Change
We asked experts from the HBS Business and Environment Initiative how the coronavirus crisis might change the way companies think about sustainability. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Apr 2020
- Book
Fighting Climate Change Requires a New Capitalism
Tackling one of the biggest crises of our time—climate change—requires leaders to embrace a new vision of business, argues Rebecca Henderson. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 29 Apr 2020
- Book
The Key to Powerful Social Change: Small Villages
When institutions let us down, look for leadership outside of hierarchies, says Rosabeth Moss Kanter. These leaders "don’t wait to be asked; they just get moving." Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 28 Apr 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Is the Healthiest Building in the World Worth the Rent?
Some people call 425 Park Avenue, New York, the healthiest building in the world. But will tenants pay a premium for better air and environmental friendliness? John Macomber and Joseph Allen discuss their recent case study and new book. 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.
- 20 Apr 2020
- Book
Why COVID-19 Raises the Stakes for Healthy Buildings
Like it or not, humans have become an indoor species, so buildings have a major impact on our health. That's why the Healthy Building Movement is gaining momentum, say John Macomber and Joseph Allen. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 18 Feb 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Global Ocean Trust: Protecting the Blue Planet in New Ways
Following a successful career in finance, Torsten Thiele has devoted himself to the challenging cause of ocean conservation and stewardship. Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Thiele discuss strategy for solving one of the world's biggest problems. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 18 Feb 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
A Preliminary Framework for Product Impact-Weighted Accounts
Although there is growing interest in environmental, social, and governance measurement, the impact of company operations is emphasized over product use. A framework like this one that captures a product’s reach, accessibility, quality, optionality, environmental use emissions, and end of life recyclability allows for a systematic methodology that can be applied to companies across many industries.
- 23 Jan 2020
- Research & Ideas
Businesses Need a 'Catalyst' to Make CSR Practices Stick
Despite best intentions, many corporate social responsibility programs fail. One answer: Companies need community partners to sustain work over the long term, says Robert Kaplan. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
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.