Management Topics in Sustainability and Design
Robert Eccles and Amy Edmondson
HBS 4865
This doctoral seminar is focused on identifying ideas on how to transform the U.S. design and construction sector so that that the structures it produces satisfy high standards in economic, design and sustainability outcomes. Buildings account for more than 35% of CO2 emissions and thus affect the sustainability of our society from an environmental perspective. The built environment also has more general sustainability implications for other environmental issues, like water, and social issues, like its affect on the surrounding community and the quality and productivity of the people who work in it. This built environment is the result of a design and construction industry which has seen relatively little change over the past 50 years. It is inefficient, often misses its deadlines, is rife with conflict and produces buildings and other structures that are far from sustainable in many definitions of the term. While most industries have undergone dramatic transformations over the years-variously driven by new technologies, changing customer demands and laws and regulations-this has not occurred here. In order to do this, we will explore a wide range of literature from the fields of organizational behavior, sociology, economics, strategy and design. Readings will include academic articles, HBS and other teaching cases, the occasional article from a business or design professional publication, and books and book chapters. About half of the classes, mostly towards the end, will have industry experts/practitioners as guests who are involved in various initiatives to develop a new and better model for design and construction. Students will be expected to spend some time in the field. The final paper will be on a topic mutually agreed upon between the student and the professor. Broad examples include a general theory of industry transformation, an analysis of a specific industry transformation with lessons to the design and construction sector, an analysis of the transformation of the design and construction sector in another country with lessons to the U.S., and how public policy can lead to industry transformation. Many other topics are possible. Every student will be responsible for co-leading the class discussions with the professor.
Enrollment limited to 10 students.