AGSB conference on "The Nature of Business - Green Innovation and Competitive Advantage"

The AGSB, through the leadership of the Dean Albert Buenviaje held, starting yesterday the conference on Green Innovation, December 4, 2012.  Leading the speakers were Fr. Jett Villarin, Ateneo President, Jesusthason J. Thampapillai, visiting professor National University of Singapore and Professor on Environmental Economics, and Ms. Gwendolyn Evers, Executive Director of New Initiatives and Outreach of San Diego State University.

Prof Dodo said said that Environmental Economics is not a preferred subjects of Economists but must be understood well by students who will eventually be private and public leaders.  The problem with modern economics is that the modern theory has discounted nature and environment in the equation:   only labor and capital exist and no cost is attributed to the former. He espoused that less is more (or good)

Ms Evers discussed what San Diego has done for its non degree course regarding green innovation.

Fr. Jett on the other hand cost issue, difficulty, and solutions to Green Innovation.  He proposed deeper study of Environmental Economics, use of modular technologies, competitive advantage with alternative financing (as in the case of solar panels in USA -  the new way to sell to the homeowners?), the issue of governance, and Kaplan's balanced score card.  It should include the environment (also be embedded in teaching  MBA, or in doing a business plan.)  

Some personalities who were there were former DOST Sec. William Padolina, now CEO of Euromed, and Dr. Ciel Habito, a noted economist