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  • 2015
  • Chapter
  • Leading Sustainable Change: An Organizational Perspective

The Role of Multiplier Firms and Megaprojects in Leading Change for Sustainability

By: Amy C. Edmondson, Martine Haas, John D. Macomber and Tiona Zuzul
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Abstract

In both the private and public sectors, organizations around the world face increasingly pressing questions about how to stimulate and manage change for long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the roles of multiplier firms and megaprojects in leading change for sustainability around the world, particularly in the context of the built environment. Multiplier firms are organizations that work with and offer ongoing sustainability solutions to a range of client organizations. Megaprojects are finite-duration initiatives involving multiple diverse entities in the design and delivery of a large-scale development, such as a brand new ecologically sustainable city. Drawing on four illustrative case studies of multiplier firms and megaprojects engaged in sustainability-related initiatives, we also explain the value of learning logic, in contrast to blueprint logic, for leading change for sustainability.

Keywords

Leading Change; Environmental Sustainability

Citation

Edmondson, Amy C., Martine Haas, John D. Macomber, and Tiona Zuzul. "The Role of Multiplier Firms and Megaprojects in Leading Change for Sustainability." Chap. 11 in Leading Sustainable Change: An Organizational Perspective, edited by Rebecca Henderson, Ranjay Gulati, and Michael Tushman. Oxford University Press, 2015.

About The Authors

Amy C. Edmondson

Technology and Operations Management
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John D. Macomber

Finance
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More from the Authors

    • Spring 2021
    • Stanford Social Innovation Review (website)

    Building Cities' Collaborative Muscle

    By: Jorrit De Jong, Amy C. Edmondson, Mark Moore, Hannah Riley-Bowles, Jan Rivkin, Eva Flavia Martínez Orbegozo and Santiago Pulido-Gomez
    • March 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Competitive Strategy in International Construction

    By: John D. Macomber and Emrah Ergelen
    • January 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Leading Culture Change at SEB

    By: Amy C. Edmondson and Elena Corsi
More from the Authors
  • Building Cities' Collaborative Muscle By: Jorrit De Jong, Amy C. Edmondson, Mark Moore, Hannah Riley-Bowles, Jan Rivkin, Eva Flavia Martínez Orbegozo and Santiago Pulido-Gomez
  • Competitive Strategy in International Construction By: John D. Macomber and Emrah Ergelen
  • Leading Culture Change at SEB By: Amy C. Edmondson and Elena Corsi
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