Publications

01 Jun 2017
News

Life in Lockdown

business idea. Now. Propped up on her elbows and staring at her laptop as ideas furiously dance in her head, she considers all possibilities. What about a monthly subscription box sent to a woman just before her period? Tampons.... View Details

Keywords: Jennifer Myers; photography by Chris Churchill

14 Jan 2014
News

Spreading the Seeds of Entrepreneurship

more than $1,000 from local citizens and businesses; it is taught only in and by local business venues; and it requires that each student start a business. The program also features a $100,000 venture fund,... View Details

Keywords: CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities); Educational Services; Agriculture; Manufacturing

05 Jun 2019
Research & Ideas

If Your Customers Don't Care What You Charge, What Should You Charge?

effects of competition have an advantage within their markets, says Alexander J. MacKay, assistant professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, who coauthored the study Consumer Inertia... View Details

Keywords: by Kristen Senz; Energy

January 1985 (Revised June 1993)
Case

Turner Construction Co.

By: Frank V. Cespedes

In June, 1984, a vice president at Turner Construction Co. must decide whether to approve a construction project being considered by one of Turner's territorial offices and how to manage that territory general manager's apparent reluctance to pursue another account... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Projects; Market Entry and Exit; Integration; Contracts; Marketing Strategy; Sales; Business or Company Management; Business Offices; Geographic Location; Construction Industry

December 1998 (Revised September 1999)
Case

Novartis: Betting on Life Sciences

By: Ray A. Goldberg, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Srinivas Sunder

The merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz produced genomic-based synergies for health care, agribusiness, and nutritional supplements. How to build on the strength of the individual divisions and provide synergies that would continue Novartis' leadership role is the question... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Divisions; Health Care and Treatment; Leadership; Product Positioning; Science-Based Business; Corporate Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry

19 Aug 2015
Research & Ideas

Codeacademy’s Delicate Work of Adding Monetization Without Crushing Mission

administration in the Entrepreneurial Management unit at Harvard Business School and a general partner at Flybridge Capital. He closely studies the startup environment and draws from his experience as a View Details

Keywords: Re: Jeffrey J. Bussgang; Technology

May 2013 (Revised September 2013)
Case

The Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement (PSA)

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Florian Bitsch

When discovered in the 1990s, the Kashagan oil field was the second largest oil field in the world. The project sponsors (equity investors) signed a 40-year production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Kazakh government in 1997, with the expectation the field would... View Details

06 Mar 2018

SVMP Webinar

This webinar will give students the opportunity to learn more about the HBS Summer Venture in Management Program,a one-week residential educational program for rising college seniors designed to increase diversity and opportunity in View Details

September 2015 (Revised February 2023)
Case

Emdeon's Acquisition of Change Healthcare: Innovating Transparency Solutions for Health Care Consumers

By: Regina E. Herzlinger, Jeet Guram and Aanchal Raj

Case describes acquisition of Change Healthcare, which provides health care cost and quality information, by Emdeon, a health information exchange, and discusses health care transparency. Emdeon is a billion-dollar company that has grown through acquisitions; at its... View Details

Keywords: Healthcare; Healthcare Industry; Healthcare Innovation; Health Care and Treatment; Acquisition; Integration; Analytics and Data Science; Mergers and Acquisitions; Competitive Strategy; Health Industry; United States

18 Sep 2017
News

Chronicling a Legacy of Alumni Social Impact

societal challenges. In today’s landscape, there are many ways in which to have an impact, including board service and volunteering; for-profit ventures with a social mission; nonprofit leadership; venture... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Educational Services; Health, Social Assistance; Management of Companies and Enterprises; Management; Scientific Research and Development Services; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Utilities; Water, Sewage and Supply Systems; Utilities

31 Mar 2011
News

Building an Online Swap Shop

on paper: ‘Yeah, sure, we’re just going to create demand here and supply here, and it’s all going to work out.’ Even now, we’re still dealing with big challenges.” Soon after launching in April 2010, thredUP received seed financing from Trinity Ventures, a boutique... View Details

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

17 Jun 2016
News

Minding God’s Money

business challenges in nonprofits with global operations, large staffs, and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in annual cash flow, Thomas comments, “The leadership I provide is behind the scenes. The best ministries understand... View Details

April 2007
Case

The Boeing Company: Moonshine Shop

By: Robert D. Austin, Richard L. Nolan and Shannon O'Donnell

Describes how the "Moonshine Shop," a group of plant-savvy creative generalists, is helping a great industrial company become more innovative. Chronicles the history of the Moonshine Shop, its successes and failures, and describes innovations they've helped put in... View Details

Keywords: History; Business Model; Saving; Programs; Creativity; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Research and Development; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Business Processes; Aerospace Industry

April 2006 (Revised October 2006)
Case

Best Buy Co., Inc.: Customer-Centricity

By: Rajiv Lal, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Irina Tarsis

With FY2005 sales of $27.3 billion, Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy Co., Inc. was the leading retailer of consumer electronics, home-office products, and related services in North America. Its operations included the distinct store formats Best Buy, Future Shop in... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Service Operations; Business Earnings; Financial Crisis; Failure; Business Model; Leadership; Segmentation; Value Creation; Electronics Industry; United States; Canada; Mongolia