Competitiveness at a Crossroads

Jan   Rivkin; Michael E. Porter; Rosabeth M. Kanter

Report | 2013

Competitiveness at a Crossroads: Finding of Harvard Business School's 2012 Survey on U.S. Competitiveness

by Jan Rivkin, Michael E. Porter and Rosabeth M. Kanter

Abstract

Harvard Business School gleaned responses from nearly 7,000 alumni and more than 1,000 members of the general public. The survey not only provides an updated view of the U.S. business environment, but also illuminates specific actions that business leaders and policymakers can take to improve U.S. competitiveness. For example, across the political spectrum, business leaders and the general public strongly called on the President and Congress to put the federal budget on a sustainable path, reform the corporate tax code, improve America's infrastructure, address distortions of the international trading system and craft a responsible framework for developing new energy sources. The competitiveness of the United States is at a crossroads. Can America muster the will to restore its competitiveness?

Keywords: PK - 12 education; U.S. competitiveness; education; Competition; Education; Business and Community Relations; Business and Government Relations; United States;

Language: English

Format: Print

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Citation:

Rivkin, Jan, Michael E. Porter, and Rosabeth M. Kanter. "Competitiveness at a Crossroads: Finding of Harvard Business School's 2012 Survey on U.S. Competitiveness." Report, Harvard Business School, Boston, MA, February 2013.

Gun violence was a significant problem in America. Three Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellows Christy Wood, Russell Sternlicht, and Gareth Glaser each decided to do something about gun safety. They each used their professional and leadership experience to identify their own solutions to the issue. Wood created a set of principles for investments funds to pressure gun manufacturers and gun sellers within their portfolios to adopt safety standards. Sternlicht designed a membership-based lobbying and advocacy group in order to harness the power of mass movements to create positive change. And Glaser founded a smart-gun company whose product could help reduce certain types of deaths and injuries. Would any of these three innovations move beyond the historical gridlock on gun safety?

This is a teaching note to the original case: Gun violence was a significant problem in America. Three Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellows Christy Wood, Russell Sternlicht, and Gareth Glaser each decided to do something about gun safety. They each used their professional and leadership experience to identify their own solutions to the issue. Wood created a set of principles for investments funds to pressure gun manufacturers and gun sellers within their portfolios to adopt safety standards. Sternlicht designed a membership-based lobbying and advocacy group in order to harness the power of mass movements to create positive change. And Glaser founded a smart-gun company whose product could help reduce certain types of deaths and injuries. Would any of these three innovations move beyond the historical gridlock on gun safety?

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Competitiveness at a Crossroads: Finding of Harvard Business School's 2012 Survey on U.S. Competitiveness

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