Spring Break
Sustainability and HBS: Leader or Follower?
By: Kristi Jones (OC), Harbus Representative and Treasurer
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News
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So you thought Green Week was over, but the issue of sustainability is an ongoing concern-one that requires a collaborative effort by business, government, the social sector, and individuals. Although we often hear the word "sustainability" tossed around, the formal definition on Wikipedia describes it as "an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future." Upon first glance, the Harvard Business School seems to be quite forward thinking on the issue. I remember when I first visited the campus, my husband was enamored with the solar panels generating electricity on the roof of Shad. The numerous recycling receptacles throughout the hallways, dining facilities and classrooms were prominent. Once we moved into Soldiers Field Park, we received a blue recycling bag to collect recyclables to periodically drop off just outside the building. Even recently, we were given a new energy efficient light bulb from the Green Living representatives. In a variety of classes, issues of sustainability in the business sector have come up, and as future business leaders we will have to make important decisions that will impact our environment, economy, and citizens. So while we see and talk a lot about sustainability here, there are many moving parts and a general lack of clarity and vision regarding what HBS, in totality, is really doing to prepare us to be leaders in the Sustainability Age.
The Graduate Green Living group is one I have had a lot of interaction with through our on-campus housing, but they are only one of many groups working independently on sustainability issues at HBS. Student organizations are also very active, including the Business & Environment Club, Social Enterprise Club, Business Industry & Government and even the Student Association. The activity does not end with students: the HBS staff has been extremely active in the space over the past few years through the Operations Sustainability Program (which includes the Operations Green Team); many faculty have been quite active in the space, writing cases, leading field studies and even developing classes specific to this issue (case in point: the Business and the Environment class from Term 1). While it's wonderful that so many groups are working toward this goal of making HBS the center for leadership on the issue of sustainability, it can result in lack of communication and duplication of efforts. Increasingly prospective students, alumni, and the business community overall want to know what HBS is doing and how it can do more, but that can become increasingly difficult given the fragmented nature of the current approach and the general lack of direction and leadership.
The Graduate Green Living group is one I have had a lot of interaction with through our on-campus housing, but they are only one of many groups working independently on sustainability issues at HBS. Student organizations are also very active, including the Business & Environment Club, Social Enterprise Club, Business Industry & Government and even the Student Association. The activity does not end with students: the HBS staff has been extremely active in the space over the past few years through the Operations Sustainability Program (which includes the Operations Green Team); many faculty have been quite active in the space, writing cases, leading field studies and even developing classes specific to this issue (case in point: the Business and the Environment class from Term 1). While it's wonderful that so many groups are working toward this goal of making HBS the center for leadership on the issue of sustainability, it can result in lack of communication and duplication of efforts. Increasingly prospective students, alumni, and the business community overall want to know what HBS is doing and how it can do more, but that can become increasingly difficult given the fragmented nature of the current approach and the general lack of direction and leadership.
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