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• Case | HBS Case Collection | January 2020 (Revised April 2020)

  Fossil Fuel Divestment

  Michael W. Toffel and Sarah Gulick

  The president of Harvard University is facing growing pressure from students, alumni, and other climate change activists that are urging the university to divest its multi-billion dollar endowment from fossil fuel companies. The case summarizes the arguments for and against Harvard divesting, examining past examples of Harvard’s investment decisions and the financial implications of divestment.

  Keywords: divestment; Higher Education; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Public Opinion; Education Industry;

  Citation:

  Toffel, Michael W., and Sarah Gulick. "Fossil Fuel Divestment." Harvard Business School Case 620-093, January 2020. (Revised April 2020.)  View Details

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• Teaching Plan | HBS Case Collection | April 2020

  Malcolm Turner at Vanderbilt

  David G. Fubini, Amy Klopfenstein and James Barnett

  This teaching plan serves as a supplement to the case “Malcolm Turner at Vanderbilt,” HBS 420-024. The case examines the early decisions of Vanderbilt University’s new athletic director, Malcolm Turner. A newcomer to college athletics, Turner made a series of large-scale decisions shortly after he stepped into the role, such as firing men’s basketball coach Bryce Drew and investing in facilities upgrades. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s chancellor resigned several months into Turner’s tenure. At the conclusion of the case, Turner must decide whether to push forward with his plans for Vanderbilt athletics, or wait until the new chancellor is hired. Specifically, he must decide whether to make changes to the university’s struggling football season, including whether to retain football coach Derek Mason. The teaching plan includes a sample discussion plan, suggested assignment questions, and a sample board plan. It also provides information about Turner’s resignation from Vanderbilt, which took place approximately six months after the conclusion of the case.

  Keywords: Organizations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Sports; Planning; Strategic Planning; Education; Higher Education; Leadership; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Education Industry; Sports Industry; Tennessee;

  Citation:

  Fubini, David G., Amy Klopfenstein, and James Barnett. "Malcolm Turner at Vanderbilt." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 420-081, April 2020.  View Details

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• Supplement | HBS Case Collection | February 2020

  Indigo Agriculture: Harnessing Nature

  Michael W. Toffel, James Barnett, Michael W. Toffel and James Barnett

  Indigo Agriculture used a digital-enabled research and development (R&D) process to launch its initial product, microbial coatings for agricultural seeds, which increase crop yields while reducing the need for fertilizers. In doing so, the company developed direct relationships with farmers, in contrast to typical agricultural supply chains that use intermediaries. The company then launched a marketplace platform to link growers directly to crop buyers, again disintermediating the market. Indigo Agriculture is now considering launching an initiative to incentivize farmers to engage in regenerative agricultural practices by setting up a carbon market that could pay them for sequestering carbon into their soils. If scaled globally, the idea could sequester as much as one trillion tons (a teraton) of carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere into agricultural soils, but pursing the idea has many risks.

  Keywords: Operations; Supply Chain; Social Enterprise; Product Development; Distribution Channels; Business Strategy; Market Platforms; Environmental Sustainability; Science-Based Business; Climate Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Green Technology Industry; United States; Massachusetts;

  Citation:

  Toffel, Michael W., and James Barnett. "Indigo Agriculture: Harnessing Nature." Harvard Business School PowerPoint Supplement 620-110, February 2020.  View Details

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