Case 1 Marquis and Almandoz Can an ethical bank support...

EXPERIENCE HBR.ORG Case Study The Experts Christopher Marquis is an associate professor at Harvard Business School. Juan Almandoz is an assistant professor at lESE Business School, in Barcelona. Can an Ethical Bank Support Guns and Frac king? by Christopher Marquis and Juan Almandoz Ken LaRoe, chairman and CEO, First Green Bank A John Replogle, president and CEO, Seventh Generation | B | HBRs fictionalized case studies present B l dilemmas faced by leaders in real companies and offer solutions from experts. This one is based on the HBS Case Study First Green Bank: Bringing Bloom to Desert Landscapes (case no. 9-413-073), by Christopher Marquis and Juan Almandoz. It is available at HBR.org. s the founder and president of a new†¦show more content†¦Two other board members agreed with her about the gym, so Jay had scaled back those plans. Twin Debates Neitha had been the one to solicit the first problematic loan application. Shed been talking to the head of a Colorado engineering company that developed pumping sys124 Harvard Business Review April 2014 tems used in hydraulic fracturing—fracking—and wanted to expand into making the polymers, emulsions, and surfactants the industry relies on. These materials, the executive said, would be significantly less toxic than those currently in use. Though ambivalent about fracking in general, Neitha had recommended that the executive approach Rocky Mountain Green Bank. But on hearing about the opportunity, Neithas fellow directors were divided. One side touted the economic and employment smoking in public areas were a perfect example, he said: Many of them went into effect before the dangers of secondhand smoke had been proved. So if it looks bad, it is bad. Jay thought ruefully. Hoping for a more nuanced perspective. Jay went next to the pastor, the Reverend Clyde Dahlberg, who, to Jays surprise, advocated a completely evidence-based approach: Make two columns, one for adverse environmental impacts, one for the positives, he said In some ways, it was just the type of loan the bank needed: Field Force was a solid performer, a growing source of local jobs, and a good corporate citizen. benefits of fracking, while the other inmatter-of-factly. Figure out a way to