Sergio Lazzarini
Professor of Sustainability and Strategy, Ivey Business School, Western University
Chafi Haddad Senior Research Fellow, Insper
I study the strategy and governance of organizations pursuing social impact, which encompass diverse actors such as impact-oriented private enterprises, public (state-owned) organizations, and public-private collaborations.
For a list of my publications and ongoing projects, please check my Google Scholar page and updated CV. I also occasionally post some comments on my LinkedIn page.
Below some new projects and highlights:
Engaging Workers in the Gig Economy
Using data from sales teams in the cosmetics industry, we show that promoting the general skills of contract workers via corporate training increases their productivity and retention. Key to this result is to frame the training as a way to foster a long-term relationship. New paper with Thomaz Teodorovicz, Sandro Cabral and Anita McGhan accepted for publication in the Strategic Management Journal.
Private Entrepreneurs Need Capable Governments
In this new book I argue that privatization of critical public services is an option but cannot be framed as a way to replace ineffective governments. Rather, it requires the presence of capable governments setting clear goals, addressing potential hazards of private engagement, and exploring plural paths of improvement. Excerpts here and here.
Private-Like Public Organizations
Public organizations often underperform private firms, but the presence of skilled managers and workers fosters best practices and attenuates this gap. New paper accepted at Organization Science (with Thomaz Teodorovicz, Sandro Cabral and Leandro Nardi), comparing public and private schools in Brazil.
Can Corporations Save the Amazon Rainforest?
Some companies have engaged and shared rents with local communities in the Amazon rainforest to procure unique inputs. In this paper with Leandro Pongeluppe, Dirk Boehe and Michael Cook we argue that such strategies require strong moral guidelines complementing instrumental objectives to profit from those operations.
Monetizing Impact
In this report we compare alternative methodologies to assess the economic value of impact strategies, including a discussion of ethical dilemmas involved in the monetization of impact.