How to Use Group Dynamics to Stamp Out Ugly Politics

Have the followers of Machiavelli introduced corrosive politics at your organization? Learn how the signals and actions of the group can corral these subversive behaviors.

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When More Than Facts Are Needed: ACLU Case Study

Mark Twain once said that "A lie can travel half-way round the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." One reason that a lie circulates quickly is a lie is often "sticky" or memorable while the truth is often boring. To set the record straight, truth needs to use "sticky" communication techniques to connect with its audience.

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Use Change Management to Get Out The Vote

Voting, like many of our work-related programs, could benefit from better change management. Using voting as a case study, learn how to increase adoption of your program by making it easier, more compelling and socially supported.

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How to Present Complex Data to Consumers

It is often difficult for shoppers to select food that is healthy for them and the planet. Mark Bittman from the New York Times proposed a new food label to provide information to make it simpler. It makes for a good case study on how to present complex data.

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Olympic Statistics: 3 Tips on How to Use Data Effectively

The recent Olympics provide a few lessons on how to use and abuse statistics.

A little used statistic --- per-capita --- puts the medal count in perspective. From this angle, the standing of the U.S. drops significantly.

We will also review how statistics may be mathematically incorrect leading to false analogies.

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3 ways IT can support greener behaviors

Behavioral change can yield impressive progress in sustainability initiatives, if you can encourage lasting change. Pair traditional behavior programs with the right technology and the results can be tremendous.

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5 Companies, 5 Different Takes on Employee Engagement

From Fairmont Hotels to Google, companies of all sizes, in all industries, are looping their employees in to their sustainability efforts. These are some of the most innovative and successful organizations.

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What Saving Lions Can Teach Us About Green Business

The experience of one scientist in Namibia in resettling lions in a populated area sheds light on how to manage change -- and resistance to change -- to help you sell green projects at your company.

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PACE Part 2: Accelerating the Pace

Adoption of PACE funding, like most sustainability efforts, requires engaging multiple and diverse constituents.

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SAP Execs Commute Green

Part 8 of Commuting Series: 

SAP executives support gold medal effort

In preparation for the scores of visitors that would arrive for the Olympics, Vancouver’s transit authority asked for a commitment from businesses to reduce traffic by at least 30%.

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Olympic Legacy – UCLA’s Gold Medal Commute Program

In the months preceding the 1984 Summer Olympics, employers in LA were encouraged by the Southern California Transportation Authority to find ways to reduce travel during the Olympics. The University of California at Los Angeles seized the challenge and established its commute program that currently attracts 47% of its employee population. Read more >>

Green Messaging: Ignored or Heeded?

Are your green and sustainable communications able to cut through the clutter? Do they resonate and persuade the employee to take action? For more effective social marketing techniques, a great book to consult is “Made to Stick”. Read more >>

Stanford: Going the Extra Mile For a Greener Commute

In 2002, Stanford had to shift more commuters to alternative methods or it would be forced by Santa Clara County to make a huge investment in traffic mitigating infrastructure to support its expansion plans. Read more >>

You Can Lead A Horse To Water...

I was chatting with a sustainability leader at a high tech company and she shared the challenge of eliminating bottled water.  That got me thinking about a way to engineer a campaign using principles from social marketing. The examples relate to switching from bottled water, but the principles apply to most change management activities.Read more >>

HP Lives Green

Recently I spoke with HP's Debbie Ledbetter, who helped to establish HP's corporate initiative, "Live Green". Live Green is an active out-reach and education program for employees on energy conservation and environmental impact at work and at home. Read more >>

Juniper's Commuters Go Public

In the SF Bay area, transportation contributes 50% of the GhG (greenhouse gas) and nearly 30% for U.S. Consequently commuting is an important component for any company's sustainability program. Juniper was recognized in 2008 for its improvement of commuting by Acterra. The strategies deployed by Juniper are simple and available to any business. Read more >>

Cisco's Green Czar Leads Green Product Design

Between the groups of school children visiting the local recycler, there is a group of PhD’s from Cisco taking their own field trip. Their objective is to gain insights on how to design products that are easier to recycle. This is just one of the many innovative programs that Cisco’s “Green Czar” Paul Marcoux established. Read more >>

Get On the (Google) Bus

Google has launched two innovative programs, the Google bus service and a small fleet of hybrid cars in addition to more traditional commuter programs. Given that transportation accounts for more than 50% of the greenhouse gases that are emitted in the Bay Area as reported by the Bay Area Air Quality Management Board, Google’s efforts on commuting is an important contribution.

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Paperless Office, Really!

Back in the last millennium, the paperless office was heralded a number of times with great fanfare. After each such pronouncement that the paperless office had finally arrived, paper use increased.But I have seen Nirvana at one of my clients, Cisco. Read more >>