Publications

January 2015
Case

Chevron Under Fire

By: George Serafeim, Rebecca Henderson and Christine Snively

Oil giant, Chevron, faced numerous challenges on environmental, social and governance (ESG) grounds in the first decade of the 21st century, including some major lawsuits and actions by NGOs. The case describes those challenges and raises questions about what is the... View Details

Keywords: Carbon Tax; Oil And Gas; Environment; Drilling; Governance; Business or Company Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Corporate Strategy; Environmental Sustainability; Energy Sources; Mining Industry; Energy Industry

August 2011
Supplement

John Fahey, President and CEO of National Geographic Society, In-Class Comments, 2/11/11

By: David Garvin

In January 2010, John Fahey, president, CEO, and chairman of the board of trustees' executive committee of the Washington, D.C.-based National Geographic Society (NGS), must decide how best to organize the 121-year old mission-driven organization for a world of... View Details

Keywords: Transformation; Leadership Style; Business or Company Management; Brands and Branding; Sales; Environmental Sustainability; Business Strategy; Web Sites; Publishing Industry; Washington (state, US)

28 Jun 2016
First Look

June 28, 2016

businesses. The strategy literature uses real option theory to explain the transition to scale, but does not consider the complex relationships between corporate ventures and their parent organizations. By comparing six longitudinal cases... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

08 May 2019
Blog Post

Top-Notch Talent Begets Top-Notch Talent

a variety of dynamic, in-demand work engagements). But many times, the greatest ideas arise out of opportunity. And often, the best businesses are created to address a market gap. In this case, it was both. Cheney had spent six years post HBS working in View Details

13 Apr 2010
First Look

First Look: April 13

trade reasonably close to their intrinsic value. In place of earnings forecasts, management should provide information about the company's strategic goals and main value drivers. They should also discuss the risks associated with the View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

01 Mar 2017
News

The Middle Way

the words: “Great Bear Rainforest: Partnership. Balance. Certainty.” Trailing behind the drummers was a line of speakers representing indigenous coalitions, the lumber industry, environmental groups, and the provincial government,... View Details

Keywords: Dan Morrell; photos by Kamil Bialous

05 Oct 2009
Research & Ideas

The Vanguard Corporation

They differentiated themseves in the marketplace by centering their strategy around social and environmental responsibility. They said, they don't want to be a "green" bank—they are a for-profit... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

01 Dec 2013
News

Plugged In

pretty surreal," says Camargo. But the day after the show, the reality of the challenge ahead of him remained: How, exactly, do you sell America a high-end electric car? 1. DITCH THE OLD PITCH The first wave of electric vehicles had a dual View Details

Keywords: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Manufacturing

01 Sep 2020
Cold Call Podcast

How to Launch a New Biosciences Product: Start Small or Dive in?

Keywords: Re: Jeffrey J. Bussgang; Pharmaceutical; Biotechnology

Teaching Interest

Overview

21st Century Energy — Dr Crawford teaches this EC course, which exposes students to business models and management diilemmas, all along the energy value chain — from oil sands and pipelines, to coal and natural gas, hydro and nuclear, wind and solar, to biofuels. The... View Details

November 2019 (Revised June 2020)
Case

Indigo Agriculture: Harnessing Nature

By: Marco Iansiti, Michael W. Toffel and James Barnett

Indigo Agriculture used a digital-enabled research and development (R&D) process to launch its initial product, microbial coatings for agricultural seeds, which increase crop yields while reducing the need for fertilizers. In doing so, the company developed direct... View Details

Keywords: Carbon Sequestration; Operations; Supply Chain; Social Enterprise; Product Development; Distribution Channels; Business Strategy; Digital Platforms; Environmental Sustainability; Science-Based Business; Climate Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Green Technology Industry; United States; Massachusetts

February 2020
Supplement

Indigo Agriculture: Harnessing Nature

By: Michael W. Toffel and James Barnett

Indigo Agriculture used a digital-enabled research and development (R&D) process to launch its initial product, microbial coatings for agricultural seeds, which increase crop yields while reducing the need for fertilizers. In doing so, the company developed direct... View Details

Keywords: Operations; Supply Chain; Social Enterprise; Product Development; Distribution Channels; Business Strategy; Digital Platforms; Environmental Sustainability; Science-Based Business; Climate Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Green Technology Industry; United States; Massachusetts

September 2024
Case

TechEnergy Ventures: Innovating Through Corporate Venture Capital

By: Rebecca Karp and Lena Duchene

This case examines TechEnergy Ventures, the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of the Techint Group, and its role in scaling innovation within the energy sector. Founded in 2021, TechEnergy Ventures operates with a mandate to invest in disruptive technologies to... View Details

26 Feb 2008
First Look

First Look: February 26, 2008

Toffel Periodical:Journal of Economics and Management Strategy (forthcoming) Abstract Ratings of corporations' environmental activities and capabilities influence billions of dollars of "socially... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

24 May 2011
First Look

First Look: May 24

The prizes encouraged competition and medals were particularly effective. The boost to innovation we observe can only be partly explained by the re-direction of existing inventive activity. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/11-118.pdf The... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

03 Jun 2008
First Look

First Look: June 3, 2008

examining performance over time, comparing adopters to non-adopters, and incorporating strategies to overcome selection bias. Evaluations that meet the highest methodological standards are critical to inform the debates about this new... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

07 Dec 2010
First Look

First Look: Dec. 7

http://hbr.org/2010/10/unleashing-the-power-of-marketing/ar/1 Institutional Pressures and Organizational Characteristics: Implications for Environmental Strategy Authors:Magali A. Delmas and Michael W.... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 2013
Teaching Plan

Marks and Spencer: Plan A (TP)

By: David Bell and Michael Norris

Teaching Note for 509029. View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Strategic Planning; Environmental Sustainability; Competitive Advantage; Retail Industry

October 2007
Article

Opinion: Place Your Bets on the Future You Want

By: Forest Reinhardt

This piece posits that success in a carbon-constrained world will be determined by innovation and acumen, requiring companies to make bold moves. View Details

Keywords: Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Innovation and Invention; Knowledge Use and Leverage; Leadership; Success; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Competitive Advantage