Publications

October 2018
Article

Strategy and the Strategist: How it Matters Who Develops the Strategy

By: Eric J. Van den Steen

This paper addresses primarily two questions. First, when (and why) should a company’s strategy be developed by its CEO versus by some outside analyst or other insider? Second, how does strategy interact with vision (in the sense of a strong belief about the right... View Details

Keywords: Strategy And Leadership; Strategy And Execution; Strategy; Leadership

August 2017
Article

A Formal Theory of Strategy

By: Eric J. Van den Steen

What makes a decision strategic? When is strategy most important? This paper formally studies these questions, starting from a (functional) definition of strategy as “the smallest set of choices to optimally guide (or force) other choices.” The paper shows that this... View Details

Keywords: Strategy Development; Strategy; Decisions

Nov 14 2016
Testimonial

Developing and Communicating Strategy

May 1999 (Revised December 2007)
Case

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Development Strategy

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Despite revenues in excess of $93 million in 1998, world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute constantly faces an operating shortfall and looks to its highly successful development office to help cover the deficit. The development office raises money annually (with a... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Capital; Revenue; Growth and Development Strategy; Mission and Purpose; Nonprofit Organizations

October 2001 (Revised March 2002)
Case

Siemens AG: Global Development Strategy (A)

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Describes how Siemens, the German electrical engineering giant, has developed and manages global R&D in its large Information and Communications Networks (ICN) division. In 1994, Siemens opened its Bangalore (India) center, which has now grown into one of its largest... View Details

Keywords: Global Strategy; Research and Development; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Product Development; Telecommunications Industry; Germany; Bangalore

October 2008
Background Note

The Concept of Development Strategy

By: Gary P. Pisano

Keywords: Growth and Development; Strategy

April 1979 (Revised April 1986)
Case

Mexico: Development Strategies and Performance

By: James E. Austin

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Growth and Development Strategy; Mexico

08 Jan 2020
Podcast

Unpacking Amazon’s workforce development strategy

Amazon in the summer of 2019 announced a sweeping five-year plan to bolster the skills of a third of its US workforce—close to 100,000 worker-learners. The plan includes apprenticeships, partnerships with local community colleges, and internal programs. As Amazon’s... View Details

08 Jan 2020
News

Unpacking Amazon’s Workforce Development Strategy

April 1999
Article

Software Development Strategy for the Internet Age: Lessons from Netscape's Cross-platform Development Strategy

By: M. A. Cusumano and D. B. Yoffie

Keywords: Applications and Software; Research and Development; Strategy; Internet and the Web; Learning; Web Services Industry

December 2019 (Revised November 2021)
Module Note

Managing the Strategy Development Process: Deliberate vs. Emergent Strategy

By: Clayton M. Christensen

October 1993
Background Note

Note on Developing Start-Up Strategies

Provides students with a workable framework for analyzing new ventures. Stresses the importance of matching analytical tasks to the type of venture contemplated. View Details

Keywords: Analysis; Business Startups

May 1987 (Revised March 1990)
Background Note

Development Strategies and Economic Performance

By: Bruce R. Scott

October 1984
Background Note

Developing and Communicating Strategy Goals

By: Joseph L. Badaracco Jr. and Richard R. Ellsworth

2010
Working Paper

Multinational Strategies and Developing Countries in Historical Perspective

By: Geoffrey Jones

This working paper offers a longitudinal and descriptive analysis of the strategies of multinationals from developed countries in developing countries. The central argument is that strategies were shaped by the trade-off between opportunity and risk. Three broad... View Details

Keywords: History; Competition; Multinational Firms and Management; Corporate Strategy; Developing Countries and Economies; Business and Government Relations

Read Now

August 1987
Article

Export Promotion as a Development Strategy

By: J. J. Rotemberg

Keywords: Growth and Development; Strategy; Trade

February 1997
Article

New Strategies for Inner-City Economic Development

By: Michael E. Porter

Keywords: Strategy; City; Economics; Growth and Development