Center for Social Innovation

Just Instincts

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2011

THE FAIR SOCIETY: The Science of Human Nature and the Pursuit of Social Justice by Peter Corning

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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The Elusive Craft of Evaluating Advocacy

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2011

The political process is chaotic and often takes years to unfold, making it difficult to use traditional measures to evaluate the effectiveness of advocacy organizations. There are, however, unconventional methods one can use to evaluate advocacy organizations and make strategic investments in that arena.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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It Takes Three to Tango

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Spring 2011

A European perspective on American civil society. A quick glance at the latest thinking about not-for-profit management and philanthropy reveals some profound differences between the ways American and European practitioners look at today’s major societal challenges.

Shelton Challenges U.S. Business and Education Leaders to Transform Schools

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Business, Education, Government

Calling education "the most important problem that we have to solve in this country," an official of the U.S. Department of Education warned that other nations are doing a better job than the United States of educating their young people.

Resource: News Article

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Under One Roof

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Spring 2011

One-stop centers offer a safer future for victims of domestic violence.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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The 2009 U.S. Auto Bailout Was Necessary, Argues Rattner

Believers in free market capitalism were appalled when the U.S. government spent $82 billion to bail out General Motors and Chrysler. But the money saved an important U.S. industry and averted a national economic catastrophe Steven Rattner, the man who led the rescue operation, told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

Resource: News Article

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Environment, Government

Stanford Energy Center Director Dan Reicher Testifies before Congress on Energy Regulations and Financing

Dan Reicher, executive director of Stanford University's Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, today testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power in a hearing on "EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations and Their Effect on American Jobs."

Resource: News Article

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Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment, Government, Leadership

McNutt Describes How Cowboys, Engineers, and Scientists Plugged the BP Oil Leak

When oil began gushing into the Gulf of Mexico last year, scientists, engineers, and operations workers all had different ideas about what to do. The biggest lesson may have been getting these different groups to work together, Marcia McNutt of the USGS told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

Resource: News Article

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Government, Leadership

A Sobering Look at Today's Federal Debt

The United States has recovered from high debt in the past but there are no easy solutions to today's estimated $14 trillion bill, panelists told a business school audience.

Resource: News Article

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Global Issues, Government, Leadership

Business Guys’ Unexpected Fame: They Wrote the Tea Party ‘Bible’

Two GSB alums who wrote about leaderless organizations find their ideas have resonated with groups ranging from the Tea Party to environmental organizations.

Resource: News Article

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Global Issues, Social Policy, Education, Environment, Government

Q & A: Jeffrey Sachs

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University professor and director of the Earth Institute, believes that we must lift a billion-plus people out of poverty while simultaneously reducing our impact on the environment.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Global Issues, Government Programs, Nonprofits, Philanthropy, Government, Nonprofit Management, Social Entrepreneurship

Fueling Growth

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

Riders for Health had won international acclaim for its novel approach to maintaining health transport vehicles in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet the organization was having trouble scaling its services at its first site: Gambia. Here is how the organization won both government support and private funding for its latest innovation.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Global Issues, Social Policy, Government

Doing Good by Being Bad

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

MOVING POLITICS: Emotions and ACT UP’s Fight Against AIDS by Deborah B. Gould

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Global Issues, Government Programs, Religion & Culture, Social Policy, Government

Faith Tempered by Reality

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

GOD’S ECONOMY: Faith-Based Initiatives and the Caring State by Lew Daly

Patience and Perseverance

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Global Issues, Government Programs, Nonprofits, Education, Government

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

What it takes to make change in the U.S. State Department.

Government, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Election Critical for Nonprofits, Giving

Nonprofits’ policy wish list for the new administration.

Resource: Blog Post

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Government, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

A Buyer’s Market for Change

Even in bad times, how can we afford not to make social improvements?

Resource: Blog Post

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The Extreme Cost of Extreme Politics

The 2009 presidential election was a divisive affair.

Resource: Blog Post

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Corporate Social Responsibility, Government, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

Heat Wave: Part 1

Clinton’s Global Initiative kicks off.

Resource: Blog Post

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The Democracy 2.0 Grant Summit: An Experiment in Collective Grantmaking

Millennial generation reps will create five technology projects that will reduce the influence of wealth and special interest groups in policymaking.

Resource: Blog Post

Video/Audio : All | Audio | Video

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Promoting Entrepreneurship Abroad

While the United States has been a leader in global entrepreneurship, other countries are also getting in on the act. But the movement abroad has not been without its struggles. In this panel discussion at a conference convened by the Hoover Institute at Stanford, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs talk about what it takes to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in a variety of countries. They look at challenges as well as lessons from nations that have been particularly successful in creating startups, such as India and Taiwan.

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Resource: Audio

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Growing Entrepreneurship in Italy

The U.S. government is working to grow the "ecosystem" for entrepreneurship abroad as a part of its international development efforts. In this audio lecture, Richard Boly, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, discusses how he managed a program of the U.S. embassy to promote entrepreneurship in Italy, a country steeped in bureaucracy and lacking engines of innovation. Speaking at a conference convened by the Hoover Institute at Stanford, he details efforts to connect entrepreneurs with the resources and role models they need to be successful.

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Resource: Audio

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Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth

International development is increasingly dependent on the entrepreneurship of local citizens. But has the U.S.-caused global recession robbed American business and government of the ability to persuade other countries to partake of the capitalistic entrepreneurial model? In this panel discussion, part of a conference convened by the Hoover Institute at Stanford, experts discuss the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth worldwide.

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Resource: Audio

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Government, Social Entrepreneurship

Social Entrepreneurship in Louisiana

How is New Orleans rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina? In this Stanford Center for Social Innovation sponsored presentation at the Social Enterprise Alliance 2009 Summit, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu discusses the role of tourism in the city's rehabilitation with Root Cause founder, Andrew Wolk. Landrieu details his work to found the nation's first government-run Office of Social Entrepreneurship, and emphasizes how New Orleans and the entire state are being strengthened by the development of their cultural assets.

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Resource: Audio

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Environment, Government

China's Environmental Sustainability Myths Dispelled

Like Russia, China has been a huge and inefficient user of energy for decades. Now, however, the country is cleaning up its act. In this audio lecture, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Mark Levine, Lawrence Berkeley Lab energy group director, dispels common American myths about China's energy and environmental practices, demonstrating that the country is becoming surprisingly progressive. He touches on areas such as subsidies, pricing, and emissions policies.

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Resource: Audio

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Environment, Government, Leadership

Al Gore: Leaders Must Supply Vision, Values & Goals

The Stanford Graduate School of Business View from the Top Series hosted former Vice President Al Gore where he spoke to over 600 students on leadership, solutions for the climate crisis, and sustainable capitalism.

Resource: Video

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A Behavioral Science Perspective on Why People Vote

The investigation into what messaging motivates people to vote and the effectiveness of facilitating a voting plan during a presidential election.

Resource: Video

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Global Education Conference

Business and technological innovations are pushing education everywhere to the brink of great change. What is the potential for global education today?

Resource: Video

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Pharmaceutical Innovation

What can pharmaceutical companies do to contribute to global health?

Resource: Video

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Education, Government, Leadership

GSB Black Business Student Association Award Winner Jim Shelton

James H. Shelton of the Office of Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education won the prestigious Tapesty Award for 2011.

Resource: Video

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Political Savvy

As educational leaders, how much time do we spend on political and policy issues? That question frames this 2010 NewSchools Summit session, which features an accomplished panel of educational reformers who provide insight on how to be politically savvy in the broader landscape. Focusing on the operational is not enough to drive impact and results to advance educational progress - leaders create systems of change when they devote energy and resources in political action and advocacy.

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Resource: Audio

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Transforming Public Education in the US

Challenging the status quo of the current state of our school systems, those at the top in Washington speak on federal education reform at the 2010 NewSchools Summit. In a conversation with NewSchools CEO Ted Mitchell, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor Congressman George Miller, discuss proposals to dramatically transform public education by scaling the impact of social innovations and applying result-oriented approaches.

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Resource: Audio

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Financial Crisis and a Changing Business World

The recent financial crisis has highlighted the interconnectedness among economies in today's world. In this audio interview, Stanford MBA student Lisa Scheible talks with James Wolfensohn, former president of World Bank, about how the crisis has changed the way global institutions and firms that are engaged in emerging market economies must operate to promote long-term development and prosperity.

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Resource: Audio

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Financial Crisis and a Changing Business World

The financial crisis started on Wall Street but continues to have a profound impact around the world. Among those affected are the poorest of the poor. In this audio interview, Stanford MBA student Joy Sun talks with Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute and a professor at Columbia University, about how the financial crisis is shaping international relations and countries' paths toward economic development.

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Resource: Audio

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Financial Crisis and a Changing Business World

How have some developing countries managed to overcome poverty? What kinds of economic and political decisions have led to their success? In this audio lecture Michael Spence, Nobel Memorial Prize Winner in Economic Sciences, discusses what the Commission on Growth and Development has learned about the characteristics of nations that have been able to advance economically despite the recent global financial crisis.

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Resource: Audio

Case Studies : All | Academic Cases

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Topics:

Transparent Markets: Promoting Public Values Through Private Enterprise

Luis Moreno Ocampo, an attorney who had fought human rights abuses in Argentina, views corruption in public procurement as the next major human rights issue. He established a company to collect and distribute information on public procurements to make the entire process more transparent.

Resource: Academic Case

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Corporate Social Responsibility, Government

San Diego Padres: PETCO Park as a Catalyst for Urban Redevelopment

The San Diego Padres’ ballpark was the first integrated sports facility/development project ever attempted. While it proved to be a huge success for the Padres, San Diego, and taxpayers, there were many obstacles that had to be overcome.

Resource: Academic Case

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The Competitive Advantage of India

India’s services sector had demonstrated that the country possessed the capacity to improve its global standing significantly. The question was whether India would capitalize on its success by addressing obstacles to growth, or miss the opportunity to enter the modern world.

Resource: Academic Case

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Angola's Mislaid Billions

This case focuses on corruption in Angola surrounding oil production. It discusses the involvement of nongovernmental organizations, oil companies, and internal organizations, as well as the Angolan response.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

Transparent Markets: Promoting Public Values Through Private Enterprise

Luis Moreno Ocampo, an attorney who had fought human rights abuses in Argentina, views corruption in public procurement as the next major human rights issue. He established a company to collect and distribute information on public procurements to make the entire process more transparent.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

Corporate Social Responsibility, Government

San Diego Padres: PETCO Park as a Catalyst for Urban Redevelopment

The San Diego Padres’ ballpark was the first integrated sports facility/development project ever attempted. While it proved to be a huge success for the Padres, San Diego, and taxpayers, there were many obstacles that had to be overcome.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

The Competitive Advantage of India

India’s services sector had demonstrated that the country possessed the capacity to improve its global standing significantly. The question was whether India would capitalize on its success by addressing obstacles to growth, or miss the opportunity to enter the modern world.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

Angola's Mislaid Billions

This case focuses on corruption in Angola surrounding oil production. It discusses the involvement of nongovernmental organizations, oil companies, and internal organizations, as well as the Angolan response.

Resource: Academic Case

Research Papers : All

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Governance in the Gullies: Democratic Responsiveness and Leadership in Delhi’s Slums

This ethnographic study examines the processes by which residents of Delhi's slums gain access to formal government services and develop their own (informal) modes of leadership.

Resource: Research Paper

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The Administrative Foundations of Self-Enforcing Constitutions

The article discusses the administrative foundations of self-enforcing constitutions. According to the authors, the challenge to reform under a constitution is that there is no theory to articulate the conditions under which constitutional rules successfully coordinate behavior.

Resource: Research Paper

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Government, Human Rights

Protest and Policymaking: Explaining Fluctuation in Congressional Attention to Rights Issues, 1960-1986

The authors reexamine the relationship between protest and policy change at the agenda-setting stage of policymaking. They find that protest, issue legitimacy, and issue competition account for variation in the number of congressional hearings granted to rights issues.

Resource: Research Paper

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Evaluating Effects of Tax Preferences on Health Care Spending and Federal Revenues

In this paper, the authors calculate the consequences for health spending and the federal budget of an above-the-line deduction for out-of-pocket health spending. These estimates are compared to those of past researchers. Implications on tax policy are discussed.

Resource: Research Paper

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Corporate Social Responsibility, Government, Human Rights

Reputation When Threats and Transfers Are Available

The authors present a model where a long-run player uses money transfers and threats to influence the decisions of a sequence of short-run players. The model is useful for the debate around judicial corruption.

Resource: Research Paper

Courses : All

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Homeland Security: Operations, Strategy, and Implementation: OIT 571

This course covers a variety of topics in homeland security. Among them are bioterrorism, influenza pandemics, nuclear security at ports and around cities, the biometric aspects of the U.S. VISIT program, the intersection of homeland security and immigration, and suicide bombings.

Resource: MBA Course

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The International Economy: Policies and Theory: MGTECON 334

This course gives students an understanding of international trade economics, and analyzes the political processes by which international trade policy is determined. It combines lecture and mini-case studies.

Resource: MBA Course

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Political Economy of Health Care in the U.S.: MGTECON 331

The purpose of this class is to provide students with the economic tools and the institutional and legal background to understand how markets for health care products and services work. The class utilizes case studies, lectures, and visits from individuals in the industry.

Resource: MBA Course

Innovators : All

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Ernie Ting (MBA '80)

Ernie Ting helps voters find relevant information to become more engaged in our democracy with the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.

Resource: Alumni

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Steve Westly (MBA '83)

Steve Westly reflects on his years as a public servant, including State Controller and CFO for the State of California, and his candidacy for Governor in 2006.

Resource: Alumni

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California Redistricting Panel Calls on Citizens Like Cynthia Dai, MBA '93

Cynthia Dai, MBA '93, joins panel redrawing districts for state government, Congress.

Resource: Alumni

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An interview with Peter Ohtaki (MBA '87)

As Executive Director of the California Resiliency Alliance (CRA), Peter Ohtaki has helped bring businesses and government together to improve disaster response and recovery.

Resource: Alumni

Topic :

Government Programs, Nonprofits, Social Policy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment, Government

An interview with Jeremy Sokulsky (MBA '04)

Jeremy Sokulsky is working with government land managers, environmental regulators and private conservation investors to restore Lake Tahoe clarity.

Resource: Alumni

Topic :

Government Programs, Nonprofits, Social Policy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment, Government

An interview with Peter Ohtaki (MBA '87)

As Executive Director of the California Resiliency Alliance (CRA), Peter Ohtaki has helped bring businesses and government together to improve disaster response and recovery.

Resource: Alumni

Topic :

An interview with Jeremy Sokulsky (MBA '04)

Jeremy Sokulsky is working with government land managers, environmental regulators and private conservation investors to restore Lake Tahoe clarity.

Resource: Alumni

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Addressing the K-12 Crisis

How can the Unites States get its K-12 schools out of their current crisis? In this panel, experts from various fields who are passionate about improving our kids' lives and our nation's future discuss why things are failing, what's working to make them better, and what the best options are, from teacher education to integrating technology. They spoke at the Global Education Conference at Stanford.

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Resource: Audio

Topic :

Government, Leadership

Does an Effective Media Reduce Politicians' Incentives to Pander to Voters?

Elections sometimes give policy makers incentives to pander — to implement policies that voters think are in their best interest even though the policy maker knows they are not, says Professor Kenneth Shotts. In general, an effective media reduces this tendency to pander, "but there are some exceptions to this general rule."

Resource: Research Paper

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