Client: Accenture Green Cloud Advisors
“Green Cloud” refers to sustainable cloud solutions that have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of data storage and at the same time create new business transformation opportunities. To achieve relevant cloud migration benchmarks, all stakeholders need to recognize that the transition to sustainable cloud is complex and understanding the nuances of its design, implementation, and measurement is key to unlocking its business value potential.
The company needed an education partner to collaborate on fostering innovation and ensuring meaningful impact. In 2021, Accenture convened 40 of the firm’s client-facing senior team leaders in a live online MIT Sloan Executive Education program designed to equip Accenture executives with the insights and tools they would need to champion sustainable cloud solutions.
Over the next two years, nine cohorts of participants representing a broad range of industries—including banking, insurance, communications and media, life sciences, aerospace and defense, technology, utilities, automotive, energy, consumer goods, and travel—attended two-to-three hour sessions over 10 days during one month.
“It takes real ingenuity to both build a greener cloud and use the cloud to enable greener business practices,” says Jason Jay, the program Faculty Co-director and the Director of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative. “Accenture is used to solving complex business problems like this, and the participants asked thoughtful and critical questions throughout the program, and really worked to apply the lessons to their firm and their clients.”
Reimagining Sustainability and Transforming Businesses
CEOs are placing sustainability at the forefront of their agendas, acknowledging its critical role in safeguarding companies amidst growing uncertainty, according to a CEO study* on sustainability by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture. The report reveals a significant shift, with 98% of CEOs now embracing their responsibility to drive sustainability within their organizations.
For Accenture to become the go-to partner for Green Cloud solutions, showcasing its technical expertise was not enough. The Green Cloud Advisors needed to deepen their understanding of the broader implications of cloud migration and be able to communicate the value and opportunities of Green Cloud to their clients—both technically and strategically. Green Cloud has the potential to drive energy efficiency and sustainability in data storage, and, as a result, enable organizations to unlock new sources of value through cloud-enabled business models, as well as product and service innovations.
Diverse Industry Representation
Over 300 client-facing senior team leaders participated in the program, representing a broad range of industries including banking, insurance, communications and media, life sciences, aerospace and defense, technology, utilities, automotive, energy, consumer goods, and travel. Applying program insights to different industries has the potential to greatly amplify the effect of sustainable cloud solutions.
Applied Learning, Real-World Projects, Climate Simulation
Participants engage in group projects to ensure that the knowledge gained in the program is tested or applied in practice. This practical experience allows participants to directly apply their learning to real-world scenarios, enhancing their problem-solving skills and deepening their understanding of Green Cloud solutions.
“The green transition is an extraordinarily difficult task and there are many competing theories on what businesses should do,” explains Roberto Rigobon, the Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and a Professor of Applied Economics at MIT Sloan. “One of the great benefits of teaching Accenture executives is that we evaluated how those theories can affect what businesses actually do—how the theories are applied in practice and how effective they are in reducing emissions. To us, it’s a great value to bring together those who develop the theories and those who implement them.”
A highlight of the experience was the EnRoads global climate simulation that allowed participants to test and explore various climate solutions. EnRoads simulates how such policies as electrifying transport, pricing carbon, and improving agricultural practices influence factors like energy prices, temperature, air quality, and sea level rise and, in turn, affect our ability to control, limit, or reverse global temperature rise. This simulation set the context for the program by illustrating the state of our world. It led to further discussions on how our policies, business decisions, and individual behaviors can contribute to the climate solution.
The focus on Green Cloud solutions aligns with the growing global emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact. Accenture is capitalizing on this momentum to bring about positive change for a sustainable future.
Participants saw a lot of value in their education experience, noting that the program was well-rounded and presented both academic and practical perspectives, as well as real work experience, which made the content real, new, and relevant.
* “Reimagining the Agenda: Unlocking the Global Pathways to Resilience, Growth, and Sustainability for 2030,” a report by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture