General Strategy - Publications - Faculty & Research

08 Apr 2015
What Do You Think?

Are Technology Companies Ripe for Disruption?

can actually use." Paul Hamilton-Smith opined that software companies "mostly subsist from their renewal revenue stream. That stream is generated by 'new and improved' software versions." And Julian Lowe commented that... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Computer; Technology

16 Aug 2010
Lessons from the Classroom

HBS Introduces Marketing Analysis Tools for Managers

purchasing life. The CLV formula incorporates metrics that capture the outputs of three key customer strategies that firms employ: asset acquisition (attracting new customers to the firm); asset maximization (maximizing the value the firm... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert

06 Apr 2016
Research & Ideas

Should Entrepreneurs Pitch Products or Ideas for Products?

In trying to secure financial backing for a new product, independent innovators generally face the question of how much to invest in development before showing it around. Should they create, say, a working prototype (and maybe even View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Motion Pictures & Video; Entertainment & Recreation; Banking

22 Jan 2014
News

High-Tech Immigrant Workers Don’t Cost US Jobs

Keywords: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support; Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support; Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

October 2018
Case

Innovation at the Utility: Consolidated Edison's Experience

By: Martha Crawford, Andrew Serpa and Jon Wofsy

In 2014, regulators in New York State released a bold vision for the future of the electric utility industry to try and stay ahead of larger trends of rising customer expectations, stagnant load growth, and climate change. In response, Con Edison created a Utility of... View Details

Keywords: Blockchain; Utilities; Consolidated Edison; Regulated Monopolies; Electricity Distribution; Innovation Strategy; Organizational Design; Energy; Energy Generation; Utilities Industry; Energy Industry

Citation

Educators

05 Dec 2012
What Do You Think?

Should Managers Bother Listening to Predictions?

highly reliable sources, are generally not believed unless they fit the company agenda." Others maintained that planning without prediction is impossible. After all, a plan is a prediction. As Vishu put it, "Managers should base... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

01 Dec 2009
News

Taking the Plunge

pursuing a strategy for the Washlet were “gung ho” and suggested a variety of tactics. Students liked TOTO’s “Clean is Happy” advertising campaign but generally agreed that the company needs to start by... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing; Manufacturing

12 Jun 2006
Research & Ideas

The Promise of Channel Stewardship

"Kash" Rangan, distribution channels are the hardest to change of all the elements of marketing strategy. Clearly, companies need a new strategy for going to market, he says. In his new book Transforming Your Go-to-Market... View Details

Keywords: by V. Kasturi Rangan & Marie Bell; Consumer Products

01 Oct 2001
News

Q&A: Orin Smith

people-watching, and the general ambience, it was extremely attractive to customers. Also, a key aspect of our strategy is to be preemptive; we get there ahead of the competition, and if we're a little late,... View Details

Keywords: Hanna, Julia; Hospitality; Food and Beverage Stores; Retail Trade

03 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

Making Money Making Movies

the momentum generated in the U.S. Buzz, it appears, quickly wears out. There is an important caveat. Our study suggests that foreign exhibitors—not foreign audiences—mostly drive this effect. Shortening release times can thus be a useful... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls; Entertainment & Recreation; Motion Pictures & Video

15 Dec 2008
Research & Ideas

The Surprisingly Successful Marriages of Multinationals and Social Brands

Green and Black's, and Coca Cola purchasing a significant interest in HonestTea.) As the authors write, "Making a virtuous mouse and rich elephant merger work is a delicate, but potentially high-value undertaking in terms of View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert; Consumer Products; Food & Beverage

Career Coach

Juan Leung Li

former HBS professors and one of the co-founders of RackSpace. Work Experience: TMT Leveraged Finance Investment Banking (J.P. Morgan), Corporate Development and Strategy / Business Development (McGraw-Hill Education), Early Stage Venture... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Angel Investing; Financial Services (All); Corporate Finance; Financial Services (All); Investment Banking; Financial Services (All); Venture Capital; Financial Services (All); Startup - Founder; Entrepreneurship; Startup - Joiner; Entrepreneurship; Technology

16 Apr 2012
Research & Ideas

The Inner Workings of Corporate Headquarters

Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. "Interdepartmental coordination doesn't tend to happen organically. It needs some intervention to create collaborative networks." “What corporate-level View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

01 Mar 2014
News

Faculty Q&A: The Future of Foreign Aid

Eric Werker You spent much of 2009 to 2011 in Liberia advising President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf while on leave from HBS. What did you learn from that experience? Good ideas and great strategies are cheap and easy; what's expensive and... View Details

Keywords: foreign aid; Government

18 May 2015
Research & Ideas

Advertisers Get Serious About Playing With Their Brands

many Facebook friends as possible. "Coke was proud to say it had more followers than any other brand," Deighton says. "But that lost favor." Next, online marketers deemphasized treating social media as a broadcast medium and instead focused on View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Advertising

10 Sep 2008
Research & Ideas

Long-Tail Economics? Give Me Blockbusters!

also worries that a company is at risk if sales depend too much on one or two megabrands that could run into lawsuits from generic competitors or regulatory challenges. On the other hand, the president of Warner Bros. (think Batman) aims... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch; Entertainment & Recreation; Pharmaceutical

Web

Online AI Course | HBS Online

diverse applications of AI, machine learning, predictive modeling, and data science Explore ethical AI-related challenges to implement it responsibly and manage risks Develop the skills and frameworks to shape your organization’s digital transformation View Details

26 Jul 2010
Research & Ideas

Yes, You Can Raise Prices in a Downturn

As economic turmoil continues, many companies are reconsidering their strategies with an eye toward going lean and slashing prices. And that might work for a few companies—but very few. Instead, companies should compete "on the basis... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Retail; Consumer Products

February 2015 (Revised March 2016)
Case

China Shenhua Energy Company

By: Forest L. Reinhardt, G. A. Donovan and Keith Chi-ho Wong

A leading Chinese energy firm, active in coal mining and electric power generation, analyzes coal-to-liquids technology in light of energy security and environmental concerns. View Details

Keywords: Environment; China; CO2; Coal Mining; Electricity; Sustainability; Energy; Strategy; Business and Government Relations; Energy Generation; Energy Sources; Environmental Sustainability; Energy Industry; Utilities Industry; China; Asia