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The Biggest Obstacles to Innovation in Large Companies

Harvard Business

. “Any time you start something new like [an innovation initiative], that cuts across many areas, there’s a potential for people feeling like you’re in their backyard,” says Michael Britt, a senior vice president who heads the Energy Innovation Center at Southern Company, a major utility operator.

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Severe Weather Threatens Businesses. It’s Time to Measure and Disclose the Risks

Harvard Business

Research shows that abnormal weather disrupts the operating and financial performance of 70% of businesses worldwide. In the apparel sector, for instance, the unusually warm winter temperatures across Europe and the U.S. last year triggered shortfalls in sales, store closures, and job cuts.

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A Refresher on Discovery-Driven Planning

Harvard Business

I talked with Rita McGrath, a professor at Columbia Business School, who together with Ian MacMillan, of the University of Pennsylvania’s business school, developed this classic methodology for planning innovation. ” Step 3: Define operational requirements. ” But new ventures are uncertain from the start.

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7 Charts Show How Political Affiliation Shapes U.S. Boards

Harvard Business

Boards of companies operating in the consumer discretionary industry have a disproportionately high representation of Democrats, while boards operating in the industrials and energy and utilities industries skew more Republican. METHODOLOGY. We did not find any notable differences by age group or education.