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  • 2010
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future?

By: Annissa Alusi, Robert G. Eccles, Amy C. Edmondson and Tiona Zuzul
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:26
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Abstract

Two trends are likely to define the 21st century: threats to the sustainability of the natural environment and dramatic increases in urbanization. This paper reviews the goals, business models, and partnerships involved in eight early "ecocity" projects to begin to identify success factors in this emerging industry. Ecocities, for the most part, are viewed as a means of mitigating threats to the natural environment while creating urban living capacity, by combining low carbon and resource-efficient development with the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to better manage complex urban systems.

Keywords

Communication Technology; Investment; City; Infrastructure; Business and Government Relations; Environmental Sustainability; Urban Development; Information Technology; Green Technology Industry; Real Estate Industry

Citation

Alusi, Annissa, Robert G. Eccles, Amy C. Edmondson, and Tiona Zuzul. "Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future?" Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 11-062, December 2010. (Revised January 2011, March 2011, April 2011.)
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About The Authors

Amy C. Edmondson

Technology and Operations Management
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Tiona W. Zuzul

Strategy
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More from the Authors
  • Outcome and Process Frames: Strategic Renewal and Capability Reprioritization at the Federal Bureau of Investigation By: Ryan Raffaelli, Tiona Zuzul, Ranjay Gulati and Jan Rivkin
  • Daiichi Sankyo: Steering a Global Organization By: Tiona Zuzul, Amy C. Edmondson and Cat Huang
  • Responsive Working at PepsiCo UK (B) By: Amy C. Edmondson and Nancy Boghossian Staples
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