Publications

December 2002 (Revised February 2015)
Case

Jim Sharpe: Extrusion Technology, Inc. (Abridged)

By: H. Kent Bowen and Barbara Feinberg

Jim Sharpe, 10 years after receiving his MBA from Harvard and working for others, has finally become his own boss and 100% owner of manufacturer of aluminum extrusions. After 10 months of an unfunded search, he acquires the business in an LBO and prepares to face his... View Details

28 Feb 2005
Research & Ideas

How to Harness Auction Fever

organizations diagnose and solve the various types of trust problems that they face internally and externally. I also study issues related to international and ethno-political conflict (e.g., the effects of terrorism on the prospects of negotiation, the determinants of... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls; Web Services; Technology

January 2010
Case

Five and Six Dulles Station

By: Arthur I Segel

Cricket Real Estate Advisors needs to decide if they should invest in a proposed joint venture development with Buddy Holly & Associates. Holly is a successful northern Virginia office developer who plans to develop two buildings containing 232,750 rentable square... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Joint Ventures; Markets; Accounting Audits; International Finance; Agreements and Arrangements; Change; Strategic Planning; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Financial Management; Real Estate Industry

October 2000 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Richard Spellman (B)

Presents the final version of the agreements introduced in the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Contracts; Agreements and Arrangements; Internet and the Web; Executive Compensation; Personal Development and Career; Business Startups; Management Teams

April 2006 (Revised March 2007)
Case

Drexel Burnham Lambert (A): "The Smartest People on Wall Street Can be Had"

By: Boris Groysberg, Anahita Hashemi and Brendan Reed

In February 1990, Drexel Burnham Lambert declared bankruptcy amid a slew of scandals. Equities chief Arthur Kirsch hoped to keep his high-performing 600-person team intact. Could he find a company that would take on such a massive group hire? Competitors were already... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Decision Choices and Conditions; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Selection and Staffing; Leadership; Negotiation; Groups and Teams; Power and Influence; Society

Find at Harvard

October 2001 (Revised March 2006)
Case

Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project (A), The

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Carrie Ferman

On June 6, 2000, the World Bank's and IFC's board of directors was scheduled to vote on whether to approve funding for the $4 billion Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline project. Although the project presented a unique opportunity to alleviate poverty in... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Negotiation; Ethics; Social Issues; Economic Sectors; Investment; Cost vs Benefits; Project Finance; Developing Countries and Economies; Corporate Finance; Mining Industry; Chad; Cameroon

11 Oct 2017
Research & Ideas

The House Wants to Squelch Voices of ‘Small’ Shareholders. Research Shows Those Voices Matter.

statement, in which case shareholders can vote on whether the company should adopt the change; negotiate with the shareholder to come up with a mutually acceptable solution to the beef; or formally contest the shareholder’s proposal by... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel

27 Oct 2014
Research & Ideas

The Coffee Economy That Bloomed Out of Nowhere

set out to surmount the Soconusco's geographical isolation. He sent surveyors to assess the region, he negotiated the approval of an international port, and he arranged for an international shipping company to stop there once a month.... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Food & Beverage; Agriculture & Agribusiness

23 Nov 2010
First Look

First Look: November 23

company, faces many strategic issues. CEO Per Lofberg is in the midst of negotiating a partnership with a major pharmacy benefit management company. As part of these negotiations, Lofberg must decide whether the time is right for such a... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

08 Sep 2003
Research & Ideas

A Bold Proposal for Investment Reform

Stock exchanges as auditors? The stock exchanges should be responsible for hiring and firing auditors, negotiating their fees, and overseeing the outcomes of the audits themselves, say Healy and Palepu. As they see it, the exchanges have... View Details

Keywords: by Ann Cullen; Financial Services

22 Mar 2011
First Look

First Look: March 22

Recruiting Andrew Yard (A) Brian J. Hall, Nicole S. Bennett, and Sara del NidoHarvard Business School Case 911-028 This case describes a compensation negotiation between a global HR director and a candidate for a high-level executive... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

20 Jul 2010
First Look

First Look: July 20

long-term contracts based on negotiated "benchmark prices" to contracts based on spot prices, usually forcing mining companies to pay for shipping. Second, for Brazil's charismatic president, Lula, a former union leader, Vale's... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

February 2019 (Revised January 2021)
Case

Quiksilver Inc. and Oaktree Capital Management

By: Kristin Mugford and Mike Harmon

Sports lifestyle company Quiksilver filed for bankruptcy in September 2015. Oaktree is considering an additional investment in the company to facilitate the restructuring. Students must consider whether Oaktree should invest given the risks of the turnaround... View Details

Keywords: Bankruptcy; Bankruptcy Reorganization; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Acquisition; Restructuring; Debt Securities; Transformation; Decision Making; Borrowing and Debt; Investment Return; Crisis Management; Negotiation; Retail Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Consumer Products Industry; France; United States

July 2002 (Revised August 2003)
Case

Unilever Superannuation Fund vs. Merrill Lynch, The

By: Andre F. Perold and Joshua Musher

In 2001, the Unilever Superannuation Fund sued Merrill Lynch for damages of 130 million British pounds. Over the period 1977 to 1998, the Unilever Fund had significantly underperformed the benchmark, and its trustees contended that the poor returns resulted from... View Details

Keywords: Investment; Lawsuits and Litigation; Performance Evaluation; Agreements and Arrangements; Customer Relationship Management; Risk and Uncertainty; Asset Management; Risk Management; Legal Liability; Financial Services Industry; United Kingdom