Publications

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July 2021 (Revised July 2024)
Course Overview Note

Social Entrepreneurship and Systems Change

By: Brian Trelstad and Preeti Varma

Systems thinking is a discipline that emerged in the 20th century as a way to understand the complex interrelationships among various players and dynamics within an industry or field that resist simple, reductionist thinking. The big challenges we face play out in... View Details

Keywords: Systems Thinking; Social Entrepreneurship; System; Change

May 2017 (Revised January 2020)
Case

Webasto Roof Systems Americas: Leadership Through Change (A)

By: Francesca Gino and Paul Green

Webasto Roof Systems, Americas, the North American subsidiary of Germany-based Webasto Group, limped into 2014 in poor financial and operational shape. The company's early optimism emerging from the financial downturn had proven naive, and now, five years later, the... View Details

Keywords: Culture Change; Change Management; Leading Change; Crisis Management; Organizational Culture; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; North and Central America

13 Jun 2021
News

Leading Systemic Change

May 2020
Teaching Note

Danone: Changing the Food System

By: David E. Bell, Federica Gabrieli, Daniela Beyersdorfer, Amy Klopfenstein and Aldo Sesia

Teaching Note for HBS No. 520-053.
This is a teaching note for the case “Danone: Changing the Food System?” The case examines the efforts of one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies to resolve the social, environmental, and economic issues within... View Details

Keywords: Food; Goods and Commodities; Agribusiness; Animal-Based Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Environmental Management; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Europe; France; Paris

April 11, 2017
Article

Systems Change in a Polarized Country

By: Mark R. Kramer

A growing number of U.S. foundations are adopting practices based on systems change to achieve their goals in the current political environment. View Details

Keywords: Political Polarization; Foundations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; United States

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November 2019 (Revised April 2020)
Case

Danone: Changing the Food System

By: David E. Bell, Federica Gabrieli and Daniela Beyersdorfer

Emmanuel Faber, Chairman and CEO of the food and beverage company Danone, believed that humankind had only ten years to bend the curve on climate change and restore the biodiversity that the global food and agricultural ecosystem was critically dependent on. Upon... View Details

Keywords: Animal-Based Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Food; Nutrition; Quality; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Business Model; Food and Beverage Industry; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; France

July 2005 (Revised February 2007)
Background Note

Principles of Family Business System Change

By: John A. Davis

Identifies several practical principles to keep in mind when changing a family business system. View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Change Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation

Fast Answer

Social Entrepreneurship & Systems Change

255, 255);">Our Portfolio" tab outlines funding areas. New Profit - venture philanthropy organization that invests in breakthrough leaders and systems change initiatives View Details

24 Apr 2014
News

Systemic change makes organizations stronger

Joanna M. Jacobson (MBA 1987), founder/managing partner of Strategic Grant Partners, discusses leading organizations through systemic change. (Published April 2014) View Details

27 Sep 2021
Blog Post

Working to Change the Food System

Using microbes to produce foods is nothing new. However, using microbes to replace commodity crops and serve as a pillar in our food production system is fairly uncharted waters. My partner Max is a Technology Development Fellow and... View Details

28 Jan 2025
Video

‘Everything is connected': Systems change at work

12 Jun 2014
News

The Power of Profit in Advancing Systemic Change

November 2011
Background Note

The Change Wheel: Elements of Systemic Change and How to Get Change Rolling

By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Keywords: Change Management

1984
Book

Organization Change and Development: A Systems View

By: Michael Beer

January 1993 (Revised February 1994)
Background Note

New Information Systems Leaders: A Changing Role in a Changing World

By: Lynda M. Applegate and Joyce J. Elam

Keywords: System; Leadership; Change

Find at Harvard

26 Mar 2009
News

Finland Seeks Systemic Changes in Health Care

December 1992
Article

New Information Systems Leaders: A Changing Role in a Changing World

By: L. M. Applegate and Joyce J. Elam

Keywords: Information Technology; System; Leadership; Change

Find at Harvard

January–February 2022
Article

Operational Disruptions, Firm Risk, and Control Systems

By: William Schmidt and Ananth Raman

Operational disruptions can impact a firm's risk, which manifests in a host of operational issues, including a higher holding cost for inventory, a higher financing cost for capacity expansion, and a higher perception of the firm's risk among its supply chain partners.... View Details

Keywords: Operational Risk; Operational Disruptions; Information Asymmetry; Control Systems; Operations; Disruption; Risk Management