Publications

12 Aug 2013
Research & Ideas

‘Hybrid’ Organizations a Difficult Bet for Entrepreneurs

primarily by the sale of the glasses themselves. VisionSpring is what organization scholars call a "hybrid" social venture, since it combines the social welfare logic of a nonprofit and the commercial logic of a for-profit business. When... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

01 Dec 1996
News

Intellectual Debate: The Business of Business

should be the firm's only motivation if social welfare is to be maximized - provoked a round of spirited discussion centered on the social role and responsibilities of corporations. The next session, on "Ethics, Economics, and... View Details

April 2002 (Revised October 2002)
Case

The Blair Wealth Project: Antecedents and Prospects

By: Huw Pill and Ingrid Vogel

Discusses the macroeconomic and political situation in the United Kingdom from the end of World War II through 2001. Focuses on the interactions among macroeconomic performance, labor relations, the corporate governance system, and social services. In particular,... View Details

Keywords: Welfare; Corporate Governance; Labor and Management Relations; Government and Politics; Macroeconomics; United Kingdom

June 2018
Article

The Power of Workplace Rewards: Using Self-Determination Theory to Understand Why Reward Satisfaction Matters for Workers Around the World

By: Anais Thibault Landry and A.V. Whillans

How can workplace rewards promote employee well-being and engagement? To answer these questions, we utilized self-determination theory to examine whether reward satisfaction predicted employee well-being, job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and affective... View Details

Keywords: Workplace; Rewards; Motivation; Employees; Satisfaction; Motivation and Incentives; Welfare

October 2007 (Revised May 2008)
Case

World Economic Forum (A)

By: Tarun Khanna, Rakesh Khurana and Forest L. Reinhardt

Covers strategy and leadership. World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has created the world's most famous-and exclusive-global business conference, held annually in Davos, Switzerland, and backed by a formidable membership organization that includes many of the... View Details

Keywords: Conferences; Economics; Globalization; Leadership; Social Enterprise; Welfare; Strategy; Davos

Find at Harvard

October 2020 (Revised March 2022)
Case

The What Works Centre: Using Behavioral Science to Improve Social Worker Well-being (A)

By: Ashley V. Whillans and Shibeal O'Flaherty

This case describes the experiences of Michael Sanders—the Chief Executive of the What Works Center for Children’s Social Care—as he led the design and implementation of a program of research aimed at improving the social care system in the United Kingdom (UK) at the... View Details

Keywords: Non-cash Compensation; Behavioral Science; Employees; Welfare; Compensation and Benefits; Well-being; United Kingdom

February 1996
Case

Indianopolis: Implementing Competition in City Services

By: William J. Bruns Jr. and Roger Atherton

Mayor Stephen Goldsmith of Indianapolis introduces competition to provide city services and implementation of new bidding procedures and work practices in the Department of Transportation. Exhibits show how work methods changed and work control procedures control work... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Business Strategy; Welfare; Transportation; Change; Cost Management; Service Industry

2009
Book

Supercorp: How Vanguard Companies Create Opportunity, Profits, Growth, and Social Good

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter

Supercorp is based on a 3-year study involving more than 350 interviews in 20 countries to identify the leadership practices and operating methods of major companies seeking profitable growth through innovation that benefits society. For example, when the tsunami and... View Details

Keywords: Profit; Leadership; Mission and Purpose; Opportunities; Welfare

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2006
Chapter

The Microeconomic Foundations of Prosperity: Findings from the Business Competitiveness Index

By: Michael E. Porter, Christian H.M. Ketels and Mercedes Delgado-Garcia

Keywords: Microeconomics; Welfare; Competitive Advantage; Globalized Economies and Regions

01 Sep 2014
News

Alumni and Faculty Books for September 2014

growth. Four of the five papers in this year’s volume highlight the increasing role of the Internet and digitization in our understanding of the changing nature of innovation and entrepreneurship and the impact of innovation policy. Consumer Lending in France and... View Details

Keywords: faculty research; Alumni Research

08 Nov 2011
First Look

First Look: Nov. 8

especially on high-income young workers and (2) lowers average taxes on all young workers relative to older workers when private saving and borrowing are restricted. Finally, I calculate and characterize the welfare gains from age... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

2010
Working Paper

Prosocial Spending and Well-Being: Cross-Cultural Evidence for a Psychological Universal

By: Lara B. Aknin, Christopher P. Barrington-Leigh, Elizabeth W. Dunn, John F. Helliwell, Robert Biswas-Diener, Imelda Kemeza, Paul Nyende, Claire Ashton-James and Michael I. Norton

This research provides the first support for a possible psychological universal: human beings around the world derive emotional benefits from using their financial resources to help others (prosocial spending). Analyzing survey data from 136 countries, we show that... View Details

Keywords: Spending; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Happiness; Motivation and Incentives; Welfare; Uganda; Canada

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March 2006 (Revised November 2007)
Case

Manchester Bidwell Corporation (A)

By: James L. Heskett

The head of Manchester Bidwell Corp. ponders what it will take to replicate its social services in 100 cities across North America and internationally--an effort that ultimately would cost several hundred million dollars. View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Social Entrepreneurship; Leadership Style; Growth Management; Welfare; North and Central America