Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/55878
From the Editors Lasting Impressions "I am confident that the simple fact that so many more people are searching for answers will lead to better and more complete solutions." — C.K. Prahalad The management education universe lost one of its stars as we were preparing this issue. When C.K. Prahalad died at age 68 in April, business leaders and academics honored his legacy and substantial contributions to the field. These contributions were lasting and wide- ranging, from his body of scholarly work to his attention to the world's poorest populations. He wrote the statement at the top of the page in his updated introduction to the fifth-anniversary edition of his book The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid. In Fortune, he promotes the idea of "creative capitalism," in which businesses target the world's emerging mar- kets. Some call this "conscious" or "connected" capi- talism. But whether one calls such strategies creative, conscious, or connected, Prahalad believed they would inspire a number of solutions, innovations, and "non- traditional opportunities" that would push business in new and exciting directions. There's no doubt that Prahalad made an impact on the way business leaders think and the way busi- ness schools teach—and impact is the central topic of this issue. We include an interview with CARE USA's CEO Helene Gayle, who hopes her organization will have impact by helping fulfill Prahalad's vision—to end global poverty via sustainable, community-based, business-driven solutions. In "Making an Impact" and "Rigorous, Relevant, Rewarded," we look at business schools that want to ensure that their faculty's research reaches and influences the right audiences. Finally, in "Brand & Deliver," we share the story of the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza Col- lege of Business, which created a campaign to inspire its entire community to research, teach, and reach out to the world in ways that directly reflect its mission and principles. Prahalad leaves the global community of corporations, nonprofits, governments, and business schools with big tasks to accomplish: to innovate, plan, and, most important, solve. But in Fortune, he writes that he is "excited and energized" by the changes that already have occurred, that he finds it "inspirational" to see the changes and creativity that are emerging from today's NGOs, multinationals, and developing economies. It's also inspiring to see the new ideas and research emerging from business schools every day. Prahalad has left his mark on the world. What mark will your school make? What will be its legacy? Are you excited to find out? ■ z 6 BizEd JULY/AUGUST 2010 COMSTOCK IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES RAQUITA HENDERSON