Three students in the Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change (MSLOC) program were recently selected for a special nationwide project on "Economic Innovators." Katherine Bower, Mandy Cheung and Kristine Nirdlinger are researching a socially responsible company to create a case study for use in business schools across the country.
The nonprofit organizations Net Impact and the Hitachi Foundation are leading this project to teach about organizations that have positive social impact by improving the lives of lower-income employees. The case study and teaching notes that the MSLOC students develop will be published and used in courses at leading graduate schools. "The intent is to encourage MBA curricula to feature more socially responsible case studies," notes MSLOC assistant director Terri Cramer.
The requirements of the project are that the company must generate impressive business performance and also expand opportunities for workers earning less than $40,000 a year. The MSLOC students plan to research a company in the health care industry. They will identify and analyze an organization that has implemented initiatives addressing its lower-income employees. "We are going to look at socially responsible companies that provide training programs to impoverished workers," says Cheung.
Bower, Cheung and Nirdlinger were selected through a highly competitive application process as one of the Economic Innovator project's two teams. MSLOC instructor Mark Clare, a researcher, writer and consultant with 20 years of experience in knowledge management, technology and business strategy, is serving as their faculty advisor.
The students' interest in the project grew out of their MSLOC course work and their commitment to social responsibility in business. Cheung explains, "I wanted to be part of this project because the case study will provide best practices for other companies and be used for MBA school materials. It is highly related to my work in MSLOC because this is an opportunity to help transform the business school curriculum and inspire future leaders."
Nirdlinger agrees, "This project was of particular interest to me because it focuses on a lot of the key concepts we learn about in the MSLOC program. I have always been interested in organizations that address social need and am very interested in studying organizations that have initiatives that address social issues, even if the mission of their organization is not to address these issues."
Bower sees the timing for this project as especially fortunate. "I'm excited to work on the Economic Innovators project because it gives the three of us an opportunity to put our new knowledge into practice while promoting organizations that are creatively exploring ways to benefit employees. I feel that this study is particularly relevant given the current economic climate, and I hope that our research will motivate future executives to follow others' leads," she notes.
The MSLOC three students will not only see their case study published but will also present their work at the 2009 Net Impact Conference. Net Impact and Hitachi will feature the case studies in publications and outreach efforts to universities and the business community.
Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to growing a community of leaders who use business to improve the world. The Hitachi Foundation is an independent nonprofit philanthropic organization, founded by Hitachi Ltd. to improve the well-being of socially and economically isolated people in the United States.
Last Modified: 4/5/10