Review of Harvard Business Review

Last month’s Harvard Business Review (HBR) included several really great articles and commentaries about business, sustainability, and “being green”.

Several of the authors suggest that instead of simply complying with environmental standards “organizations can turn sustainability into innovation’s new frontier – achieving competitive advantage and influencing economic recovery in much the same way that the breakthrough products and business models of computer companies led the way out of previous recessions.” (HBR, 10/09, p.55)

For example, Ram Nidumolu, C.K. Prahalad, and M.R. Rangaswami describe how their research of 30 corporations indicates that smart companies that view sustainability as innovation’s new frontier are yielding both significant bottom-line and top-line returns (p.56).

Other articles highlight how consumers can shape business strategies and how business actions through corporate social responsibility can shape consumer behavior and community action.

All in all it seems like things are starting to go in the direction of a transition toward global sustainability.

EJ Wensing

USVI

ejwensing@ecosphere.net