EK's Profile

Dear Daniela,
Thanks a lot for your article. It sheds light on a very important problem that our world faces — providing banking/payment services to those who cannot connect to our regular banking system. This issue is particularly interesting to me as India, being a home to 1.2 billion people, has millions of people who don’t have access to the regular banking system. The use of such technologies can clearly help a lot in that sphere — given the fact that the mobile penetration in the Indian market is huge. People don’t have access to electricity, but they have a mobile phone, which they charge using tractor engines.

Regards,
EK.

Dear SBUX,
Thanks for your wonderful blog post. No wonder, after reading your article, I was compelled to go grab a Starbucks coffee myself.

It was interesting to see how Starbucks utilized the Mobile Order & Pay platform to streamline its operating model in a Starbucks outlet — in order to have a more predictable demand and smooth output, with reduced wait times. Honestly, I have never experienced long wait times, as the crew is very efficient in ensuring the line keeps moving. It was interesting to see how the Starbucks (although being a coffee brand), is focusing on more efficient delivery mechanisms by contemplating on drones technology.

Regards,
EK.

Dear Exxon,
Thanks for your interesting blog post.

You have touched on a very important topic on how the the digital revolution has severely dented the revenue streams of print media industry. Its evident that either one can ride the rising tide or risk drowning. Its interesting to see how NYTimes lays more emphasis on subscription revenues as compared to ad revenues. I believe that increasing the user base is definitely very important — as ad revenues are a byproduct of an increased or more engaged user base. If you can build the latter, the former will eventually turn up on your doorsteps.

Thanks.

Regards,
EK.

Dear RT,
Its such an interesting blog post. I must say that i was super thrilled to read this piece — thanks a lot for the same.

I particularly liked the motivation and the idea behind your blog entry. The things that i strongly resonate with are the use of paper-based cases in the HBS curriculum, instead of a tablet enabled learning environment — such as Onyx Boox Max that you mentioned. Having paper-based cases not only hurts the environment, but also its a logistical nightmare — not just for the distribution department but for the students as well. I wish, we could move to a more digital world at HBS, in the future.

I also liked the futuristic idea about usage of VR headsets inside the classroom — to move to a setting described in a case, and even create and enact role plays, centered around those cases.

Thanks.

Regards,
EK.

Dear RC,
Thanks for your comments.
I do see that the greatest gain is from limiting error and costly failures — as you very rightly mentioned. In fact, the current focus of Chevron and Schlumberger is aligned towards this very goal — to try and reduce failures. Schlumberger’s target is to achieve a 10-fold improvement in operational reliability by 2020.

As for “over-the-shoulder” analyss and feedback to field workers, a mechanism called as remote operations and operations support center, is already in place in Schlumberger. In fact, my last job description prior to school was working as a Operations Support Engineer, monitoring and supporting drilling operations within the Middle East region.

Regards,
EK.

Dear Walter,
Thanks a lot for your wonderful blog post on Amazon — it was an interesting read indeed. I was particularly curious to understand the economics behind Amazon’s business model and what role does technology play in Amazon’s future plans. It was interesting to read about the IoT enabled growth that Amazon wishes to capture. As there is a fierce competition raging between Amazon and Flipkart (Indian e-commerce giant started by former Amazon employees), it would be interesting to see how these two companies employ the IoT to outsmart the competition.

Regards,
EK

Dear Rajit,
Thanks for your blog post. It was interesting to see the references to Coca-Cola operations in India — which have been mired with sporadic controversies from time to time, due to rampant, unsustainable usage of groundwater resources. But, it was interesting to note that the company has achieved a 100% water equivalent restoration. My concern is, what is the quantifiable climate impact of these initiatives to achieve 100% water equivalent restoration? Are these steps causing more pollution? And, what is the impact of Coca-Cola’s packaging on the environment? Are they doing anything to improve the recycling of their packaging material?

Thanks.

Regards,
EK.

Dear DM,
Thanks for your blog post — it was an interesting read indeed.

Its interesting to see that ITC is a net positive on its carbon footprint since the past 10 years. I am sure this is a big role model example for other companies operating in this space, across the globe. But my concern is that, ITC is a company that still generates its sizable revenue from tobacco products such as cigarettes. Does the net carbon positive take into consideration the GHG emitted on burning of these tobacco products? Since the oil and gas industry is penalized for causing GHG emissions from usage of oil and oil products down the value chain, I was wondering whether the same logic is applied in the CPG and tobacco industry?

Thanks.

Regards,
EK.

Dear Akanksha,
Thanks for your blog post. I wrote a blog entry on the similar topic covering Shell — https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/shell-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-an-oil-major/.

Your blog was particularly interesting, as it pointed out on how the Oil majors and the entire Oil and Gas industry can make a definite impact in short-term towards reducing their impact on the climate. The oil and gas industry do need to diversify its operations, to encompass other sources of energy in their product mix — but, simply by changing the product mix between oil and gas can help us achieve substantial reduction in GHG emission in the early stage. It was interesting to see the efforts being placed by Shell into developing efficient Carbon Capture technologies. Carbon capture technologies can help industries capture CO2 emanating from their plans — thereby keeping their dependence on fossil fuels intact, but reduce their impact on climate. Such a move will keep the current interests of BP, Shell and the entire O&G industry intact.

Regards,
EK.

Dear Exxon,
Thanks for your blog post. I wrote a blog entry on the similar topic covering Shell — https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/shell-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-an-oil-major/.

I totally agree with your stand on focusing on long-term strategy rather than on short-term financial gains. The oil and gas industry needs to diversify its operations, to encompass other sources of energy in their product mix. Such a move would not only shield them from an oil shock, like the one we are currently facing, but also help them boost their top line. It was interesting to see the efforts being placed by Shell into developing efficient Carbon Capture technologies. Carbon capture technologies can help industries capture CO2 emanating from their plans — thereby keeping their dependence on fossil fuels intact, but reduce their impact on climate. Such a move will keep the current interests of Shell and the entire O&G industry intact.

Regards,
EK.

Dear Wiss,
Thanks for your blog post. It was an insightful article showcasing the challenges being faced by the US Ski industry.

Although, these additional summer activities being conducted by Vail would help plug the gap in its top line and bottom line and maybe even enhance its profitability, but the total carbon emission (just from winter activities) would rather increase even when the utilization of the resort during that time of the year goes down — reason being attributable to the snow-making machines, as mentioned by you. My question was, how can we make this process carbon efficient — do these machines run on fossil fuels or on electricity? Investing in machines that use natural gas or electricity would definitely help improve the carbon footprint. Additionally, technologies that could enhance the life of natural and artificial snow could help reduce the consumption of energy of these snow-making machines.

Regards,
EK.