Publications

2007
Chapter

Microfinance: Business, Profitability, and the Creation of Social Value

By: Michael Chu

The chapter examines the development of microfinance from its NGO origins to the present stage in which it is characterized by regulated commercial institutions capable of superior financial returns. It then looks at the creation of social value under these... View Details

Keywords: Microfinance; Investment Return; Profit; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Social Enterprise; Non-Governmental Organizations; Perspective; Value Creation

March 2020
Article

Explaining the Persistence of Gender Inequality: The Work-family Narrative as a Social Defense Against 24/7 Work Culture

By: Irene Padavic, Robin J. Ely and Erin M. Reid

It is widely accepted that the conflict between women’s family obligations and professional jobs’ long hours lies at the heart of their stalled advancement. Yet research suggests that this “work-family narrative” is incomplete: men also experience it and nevertheless... View Details

Keywords: 24/7 Work Culture; Hegemonic Narrative; Social Defense; Work-family Conflict; Systems-psychodynamic Theory; Work-Life Balance; Personal Development and Career; Gender; Equality and Inequality; Organizational Culture

Read Now

January 2004
Background Note

Why Developers Don't Understand Why Consumers Don't Buy

By: John T. Gourville

Looks at the psychological biases developers bring to the new product development process. Identifies three reasons why developers may do a poor job of identifying the demand for an innovative, new concept or product: (1) the self-selection bias, (2) differing initial... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Innovation and Invention; Knowledge Management; Product Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Product Development; Perspective; Prejudice and Bias

May 2015
Case

China Yintai: Developing Shared Value in China

By: Christopher Marquis, Ying Zhang and Shiyu Yang

Under the leadership of CEO and President Shen Guojun, China Yintai was increasingly committed to philanthropic initiatives. Drawing upon his experience as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, Mr. Shen saw the urgent need to build bridges between business practices... View Details

Keywords: Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; China

Web

Social Enterprise - Faculty & Research

Organizational Change and Adaptation ; Leadership ; Social Enterprise ; Social Entrepreneurship ; Growth and Development Strategy ; Growth Management ; Rural Scope ;... View Details

2017
Gender Conformity & Nonconformity

Organizational Culture as Masculinity Contest: Developing and Validating a Climate Measure

November 1982
Article

The Social Psychology of Creativity: A Consensual Assessment Technique

By: T. M. Amabile

States that both the popular creativity tests, such as the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, and the subjective assessment techniques used in some previous creativity studies are ill-suited to social psychological studies of creativity. A consensual definition of... View Details

Keywords: Social Psychology; Creativity; Measurement and Metrics; Research; Perception; Theory

Article

The Social Contract Model of Corporate Purpose and Responsibility

By: Nien-he Hsieh

Of the many developments in business ethics that Thomas Donaldson has helped pioneer, one is the application of social contract theory to address questions about the responsibilities of business actors. In Corporations and Morality, Donaldson develops one of the... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact

21 Sep 2016
Research & Ideas

Shabana Azmi: Leveraging Bollywood Fame into Social Good

unique insights on how it worked, and how it has changed. And as a woman, a Muslim, and a social activist, she provides a powerful role model of diversity.” Excerpts from Azmi’s video interview with Rohit Deshpandé can be seen here, and a... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Motion Pictures & Video

2018
Book

Trust: Creating the Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries

By: Tarun Khanna

Entrepreneurs in developing countries who assume they will have the same legal, governmental, and institutional protections as their counterparts in the West will fail. To succeed, they need to build trust within the existing structures—and this book shows how it's... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Developing Countries and Economies; Trust

Winter 2021
Article

Dealmaking Disrupted: The Unexplored Power of Social Media in Negotiation

By: James K. Sebenius, Ben Cook, David A. Lax, Isaac Silberberg and Paul Levy

While social media has had profound effects in many realms, the theory and practice of negotiation have remained relatively untouched by this potent phenomenon. In this article, we survey existing research in this area and develop a broader framework for understanding... View Details

Keywords: Bargaining; 3D Negotiation; Negotiation; Conflict and Resolution; Social Media

16 Nov 2017
News

The Business of Social Justice

A born adventurer with a passion for social justice, Heidi Brooks (MBA 2003) uses her business savvy to effect social change. Since 2014 Brooks has served as chief operating officer of the Schott Foundation... View Details

Keywords: Jennifer Myers

March 2005 (Revised April 2005)
Module Note

A Relational Approach to Self-Assessment and Career Development

By: Monica C. Higgins

Describes the main ideas in a module on relational self-assessment as part of a course on self-assessment and career development or as part of a course on leadership and organizational behavior for MBA students or executives. Reflects a "relational" approach to career... View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Relationships; Leadership; Organizations; Behavior; Social and Collaborative Networks

18 Mar 2011
News

Social Networks Will Change Product Innovation

19 Jun 2013
News

Your Guide to Social Enterprise

Georgia Levenson Keohane Photo courtesy of Georgia Levenson Keohane What is social entrepreneurship? Is it simply an approach to business in which profit comes hand in hand with some positive social change?... View Details

Keywords: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations; Personal Services; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

Web

Case Studies - Social Impact Collaboratory

Courses & Case Studies Case Studies Middlebury College: Energy2028 (320029) by Brian Trelstad , Michael Norris and John McKinley APRIL 2020 (REVISED MAY 2021) Not all social change happens with new organizations. Middlebury College is one... View Details

07 Sep 2021
News

Embracing Activism for Social Change

much of her first post-HBS year managing the pilot. Resolving Crisis Situations Mendu and other members of the partnership developed a three-part initiative informed by the best practices they gathered from local stakeholders and... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg

August 2009
Case

SK Telecom: Pursuing Happiness through Corporate Social Responsibility

By: Christopher Marquis, Kwang Y. Ryu, Philip H. Mirvis and Bobbi Thomason

Since 2006, SK Telecom has worked to develop strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that are aligned with its business operations and corporate mission. The case tracks the original assessment process the company went through and successive... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Corporate Strategy; Telecommunications Industry; South Korea