Op-Ed →
- 15 Feb 2012
- Op-Ed
Occupy Wall Street Protestors Have a Point
The concerns of the Occupy Wall Street movement are not far different from what business leaders have told professors Joseph L. Bower, Herman B. Leonard, and Lynn S. Paine. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Feb 2012
- Op-Ed
Once a Castle, Home is Now a Debtors’ Prison
Forget the notion of the home as "castle." Twenty-two percent of Americans owe more on their mortgages than the value of their homes. Nicolas P. Retsinas offers ideas for how these "debtors' prisons" can be turned into productive housing. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jan 2012
- Op-Ed
Where Green Corporate Ratings Fail
Many companies receiving high marks in environmental sustainability are hurting the planet in other ways, write professor Michael Toffel and executive Auden Schendler. Here's where green rankings fall short. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Dec 2011
- Op-Ed
Greater Fiscal Integration Best Solution for Euro Crisis
Ministers and central bankers are working to solve the debt crisis that threatens the European integration project. Is there hope? There is reason to be optimistic, according to Harvard Business School's Dante Roscini, a former investment banker. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 23 May 2011
- Op-Ed
Leading and Lagging Countries in Contributing to a Sustainable Society
To determine the extent to which corporate and investor behavior is changing to contribute to a more sustainable society, researchers Robert Eccles and George Serafeim analyzed data involving over 2,000 companies in 23 countries. One result: a ranking of countries based on the degree to which their companies integrate environmental and social discussions and metrics in their financial disclosures. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 28 Apr 2011
- Op-Ed
While Waiting for Japan’s Recovery, Let’s Enhance Supplier Competitiveness at Home
The Obama administration and US companies do not have to wait for Japanese suppliers to recover from earthquake damage, argues Harvard Business School professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Action can be taken now to ensure that America invests in growing our domestic stock of world-class suppliers. Key concepts include: A national campaign to enhance supply-chain partnerships could ensure that America invests in growing our domestic stock of world-class suppliers—an action that could also accelerate job creation. Big companies should target high-potential small companies as suppliers, providing them training, access to domestic and international business opportunities, and lower supplier costs through pooled purchasing or insurance. Because the concept does not require every company to do the same thing, and in fact simply asks companies to increase their efforts to do things already in their portfolio, it does not involve complicated coordination. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Apr 2011
- Op-Ed
HBS Faculty Comment on Environmental Issues for Earth Day
Harvard Business School faculty members offer their views on the many business facets of "going green." Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jan 2011
- Op-Ed
Funding Unpredictability Around Stem-Cell Research Inflicts Heavy Cost on Scientific Progress
Funding unpredictability in human embryonic stem-cell research inflicts a heavy cost on all scientific progress, says professor William Sahlman. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Dec 2010
- Op-Ed
Tax US Companies to Spur Spending
With traditional monetary and fiscal policy instruments to stimulate the economy seemingly exhausted, professor Mihir Desai offers a radical proposal: Use taxes to motivate corporations to spend a trillion dollars in cash. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Oct 2010
- Op-Ed
Export Competitiveness: Reversing the Logic
While the economic crisis has caused countries to revisit growth strategies, it has also raised serious concerns about whether the traditional strategy of export-led growth is producing the right answer. Harvard Business School's Christian Ketels argues that the focus of debate now needs to be on the actual policies that can increase competitiveness rather than exports per se. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 01 Mar 2010
- Op-Ed
A Golden Opportunity for Ford and GM
With Toyota caught in a downshift, competitors should make aggressive moves to capitalize, says HBS professor Bill George. For starters, they need to improve their auto lineups for the long term. He explains how Ford and GM can best navigate the industry landscape ahead. Key concepts include: For U.S. automakers to accelerate production while Toyota remains wounded is not a long-term strategy for success. The companies should cut costs while simultaneously transforming their organizations and revamping product lineups. Ford and GM could secure market share gains by investing windfall profits into making products more competitive for the next decade. In this regard, Ford has the jump on GM. Chrysler is missing a golden opportunity to revamp, reposition, and reorganize. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Feb 2010
- Op-Ed
Tragedy at Toyota: How Not to Lead in Crisis
"Toyota can only regain its footing by transforming itself from top to bottom to deliver the highest quality automobiles," says HBS professor Bill George of the beleaguered automobile company that in recent months has recalled 8 million vehicles. He offers seven recommendations for restoring consumer confidence in the safety and quality behind the storied brand. Key concepts include: Toyota Motor Corporation's problem is first and foremost a leadership crisis. It needs a credible leader with a strong, cohesive plan. Competitors Ford and GM are working to regain the market share they have lost to Toyota. Rather than blame floor mats and panicky drivers, as Toyota did when complaints first arose, it should have acknowledged that its vaunted quality system failed. Toyota should seize the opportunity to make radical changes to renew the company and restore consumers' trust. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Aug 2009
- Op-Ed
Where Cash for Clunkers Ran Off the Road
Marketing professor John Quelch says the federal government's "Cash for Clunkers" program was poorly run and failed to meet its main objectives, proving again the government has no business trying to shape consumer behavior. Join the discussion. Key concepts include: Cash for Clunkers was an unjustifiable drain on American taxpayers. The promotion stole largely from future sales with taxpayers subsidizing over half a million new car sales that would have occurred anyway. The federal government has no experience in such initiatives and proved itself incapable of forecasting demand associated with different incentive levels. Administration expenses might well reach 10 percent of total program costs. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Mar 2009
- Op-Ed
Credit is Not the Bogey
"As we attempt to jump-start the economy of 2009, we should recognize both the risks and the advantages inherent in a robust credit industry," write HBS lecturer Nicolas P. Retsinas and Eric S. Belsky. The director and executive director, respectively, of Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, they offer a prescription for making credit neither too easy nor too hard to get. Key concepts include: It is time to recalibrate the country's access to credit. Tight credit threatens to shut the safety valve of the low-wage sector of the economy. At the same time, open lines of credit should no longer be available to students with no income, just as mortgages should not be extended to buyers who cannot afford the payments. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Nov 2008
- Op-Ed
Selling Out The American Dream
The American Dream has been transformed from an embodiment of the country's core values into a crass appeal to materialism and easy gratification. One result: the current economic crisis, says professor John Quelch. The federal government isn't helping. Key concepts include: Underpinning the collapse of the housing bubble is a demand-side problem: the American Dream hijacked. Politicians on both sides have been equally culpable in defining the American Dream in material terms. Marketers also took advantage. Citizens who acted responsibly have seen the values of their homes and 401(k) plans collapse. Those who acted irresponsibly have barely been inconvenienced. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Aug 2008
- Op-Ed
The Time is Right for Creative Capitalism
Bill Gates has it right. Business is the most powerful force for change in the world right now and gives the idea of creative capitalism real power, writes Harvard Business School Professor Nancy F. Koehn. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 12 Aug 2008
- Op-Ed
Google-Yahoo Ad Deal is Bad for Online Advertising
A proposed advertising deal between Internet competitors Google and Yahoo would reduce competitiveness in the Internet advertising market, likely resulting in higher advertising rates, says Harvard Business School professor Benjamin G. Edelman. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Jul 2008
- Op-Ed
Why the U.S. Should Encourage FDI
American financial executives are courting foreign direct investors, particularly sovereign wealth funds, for new investments. Should these investments draw increased scrutiny from U.S. regulators? Harvard Business School professor Mihir Desai argues that most of these deals work out in America's best financial interest. Key concepts include: Foreign direct investors in the United States appear to systematically earn low returns on their investments in American corporate assets—less than what U.S. multinationals earn with their investments abroad. Rather than erecting barriers, America should be thanking foreign direct investors for investments that appear to be, on average, transferring wealth from abroad to the United States. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 Jul 2008
- Op-Ed
What Should Employers Do about Health Care?
Companies that cut health care costs without improving the overall value of care eventually pay a price in terms of employee absenteeism and chronic ailments. According to Harvard University professor and strategy expert Michael E. Porter and coauthors, the best way to truly reduce health care costs is to improve quality. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
Nitin Nohria: Why US Competitiveness Matters
Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria discusses the multidimensional quality of the American competitiveness problem, and why it matters to all. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.