Publications

12 Nov 2001
Research & Ideas

Can Religion and Business Learn From Each Other?

and many responsibilities that aren't from the same person I am at home and in my church on Sunday, and I don't know how to navigate that transition.'" Business is made up of many relationships and... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

09 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

Incentives and Operational Excellence

delivery—for free. If you run the video store, you worry about the customer who comes in specifically to rent The Matrix but leaves annoyed and empty handed because the video isn't on the shelves today.... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

June 2011 (Revised April 2014)
Case

sweetriot 2.0

By: Christopher Marquis, Donna Khalife and Bobbi Thomason

In the fall of 2010, Sarah Endline, CEO and Founder of sweetriot, an organic chocolate company, was deciding the best way to grow her organic chocolate company, while keeping her chocolate physically and conceptually on the shelf. She wanted to grow the offerings and... View Details

Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship; Profit; Business Strategy; Business Growth and Maturation; Social Enterprise; Growth and Development Strategy; Experience and Expertise; Economic Growth; Organizational Culture; Mission and Purpose; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Food and Beverage Industry; New York (state, US)

25 Aug 2009
First Look

First Look: August 25

the industry. The lessons of entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders from the airlines can be applied to understanding any industry's evolution. Board of Directors' Responsiveness View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

12 Nov 2021
Op-Ed

Can Our Parenting Struggles Make Us Better Leaders?

they have an obligation to work proactively to further the company’s mission. Alaska Airlines, likewise, has become one of the most successful and well-regarded airlines by giving its frontline workers much... View Details

Keywords: by Ranjay Gulati; Air Transportation

03 Apr 2006
What Do You Think?

Has Globalization Reached Its Peak?

Summing Up The global corporation and globalization in general are poised to achieve new and different heights, if responses to this month's column are View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

July–August 2024
Article

Disclosing Downstream Emissions

By: Robert S. Kaplan and Karthik Ramanna

An increasing number of companies are using the E-liability carbon-accounting method as an important tool for tracking progress toward reducing global emissions in their supply chains. The system does not require formal accounting for downstream emissions—those... View Details

Keywords: Carbon Emissions; Environmental Accounting; Corporate Accountability; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Corporate Disclosure; Environmental Sustainability

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September 2016 (Revised February 2019)
Case

KaBOOM!: Play at Scale (A)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Sarah Appleby

A case on scaling social impact for nonprofits. Founded in 1995, KaBOOM! quickly became a nationally recognized nonprofit in building playgrounds with strong corporate partnerships and volunteer-organizing capabilities. Over the years, KaBOOM! developed new programs,... View Details

Keywords: Scaling Social Impact; Scaling; Nonprofit Scaling; Nonprofit Organizations; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Social Enterprise; Growth and Development Strategy; United States

March 2022 (Revised January 2023)
Case

Clara Wu Tsai and Brooklyn Loan Innovation

By: Archie L. Jones, Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Henry McGee

Philanthropist Clara Wu Tsai is committed to racial equity and investing in Brooklyn-based minority business owners. In the wake of the George Floyd murder, she decides to create a new initiative called the Social Justice Fund and commit an initial $50 million over 10... View Details

Keywords: Minority-owned Businesses; Racial Equity; Entrepreneurship; Race; Values and Beliefs; Small Business; Partners and Partnerships; Social Issues; Investment; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Decision Making; Brooklyn

12 Oct 1999
Research & Ideas

Rapid Response: Inside the Retailing Revolution

retailers require a rapid response from their suppliers. Indeed, a replenishment delivery time of no more than one to two weeks is now regarded as standard operating procedure. In their book, Hammond and her... View Details

Keywords: by James E. Aisner; Apparel & Accessories; Fashion; Consumer Products; Manufacturing; Retail

September 2011 (Revised February 2013)
Case

Trucost: Valuing Corporate Environmental Impacts

By: Michael W. Toffel and Stephanie van Sice

Trucost provided corporate environmental performance data and analysis to institutional investors and corporate managers, but after operating for a decade had yet to achieve profitability. Trucost was struggling to effectively differentiate its high quality products... View Details

Keywords: Competitive Strategy; Knowledge Use and Leverage; Distribution Channels; Investment; Measurement and Metrics; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Information; Value; Environmental Sustainability; Financial Services Industry

May 2007
Case

Westin Hotels and Resorts: Operations of a Lifestyle Experience

By: Frances X. Frei, Chekitan S. Dev and Laure Mougeot Stroock

Westin Hotels and Resorts adopted a new "lifestyle" brand strategy which provided guests with a new service experience. The dilemma Westin faced was how to operationally build a brand that delivered consistent service on intangible values. View Details

Keywords: Customer Relationship Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth Management; Brands and Branding; Service Operations; Value Creation; Tourism Industry

23 Apr 2020
Blog Post

Fireside Chats with Harvard Faculty: A COVID-19 Symposium

collective potential of US businesses to catalyze action and bolster the public sector in response to COVID-19. The Clinical Challenge of Managing a Pandemic View Video... View Details

25 Oct 2004
Research & Ideas

Planning for Surprises

do to make prevention of a potential disaster a priority in the face of competing priorities, and to mobilize a response in the face of concerted opposition for special... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

16 Jul 2018
Blog Post

3 Key Take-a-Ways From My Summer at Zalando

approach that the taskforce took to deal with the challenge, as diversity discussions can easily become very subjective and opinion-based. 2. Customer Care (CuCa) Experience Training One of Zalando’s core... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail

March 2007 (Revised October 2007)
Case

Alleviating Poverty and Malnutrition

By: Ray A. Goldberg and Kerry Herman

Deals with approaches to alleviating poverty and how firms, governments, and NGOs are able to work together to accomplish these goals. View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Nutrition; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business and Government Relations; Non-Governmental Organizations; Poverty; Welfare

January 2004
Background Note

Why Developers Don't Understand Why Consumers Don't Buy

By: John T. Gourville

Looks at the psychological biases developers bring to the new product development process. Identifies three reasons why developers may do a poor job of identifying the demand for an innovative, new concept or product: (1) the self-selection bias, (2) differing initial... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Innovation and Invention; Knowledge Management; Product Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Product Development; Perspective; Prejudice and Bias