Publications

May 2005
Case

Merck: Conflict and Change

Tracks Merck's efforts to adapt to changes in the pharmaceutical industry. Key challenges include adapting Merck's internally focused, science-led culture to a more open environment, where marketing performance has become increasingly important. Examines Merck's... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Conflict and Resolution; Pharmaceutical Industry

November 1992
Background Note

Note on Service Mapping

By: James L. Heskett

Illustrates a simple technique for diagramming operations flows in service companies. Can be used to help structure analysis and discussion of cases involving sequenced operations. View Details

Keywords: Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Operations; Business Processes; Organizational Structure; Service Industry

August 2002
Case

Trilogy University

By: Thomas J. DeLong and Michael Paley

In early 2001, Trilogy Software faced a slowdown in its business, a large number of unsuccessful customer deployments, and an overall weakening in the enterprise software market. In response, the company revamped its business model and restructured the organization.... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Organizational Design; Alignment; Restructuring; Organizational Structure; Change Management; Business Strategy; Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Information Technology Industry

March 2022
Technical Note

Ethical Analysis: Society

By: Nien-hê Hsieh

How should managers determine and deliver on their responsibilities to society? This note summarizes prevailing approaches to this question and outlines an approach centered on what distinguishes society from other key constituencies, such as investors or customers.... View Details

Keywords: Social and Collaborative Networks; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Organizational Structure; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Ethics; Analysis

November 2003 (Revised February 2011)
Case

Sanford C. Bernstein: The Fork in the Road (A)

By: Boris Groysberg and Anahita Hashemi

Soon after the death of the firm's legendary founder, the individuals then serving as chairman and as president--Lewis A. Sanders and Roger Hertog, respectively--talked about the future of their firm. Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., a private investment firm, had grown... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Performance Expectations; Competitive Advantage; Valuation

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01 Mar 2009
News

A Modern-Day Classic

“Pathbreaking.” That, in one word, is how HBS professor Ranjay Gulati describes the impact of Organization and Environment. The book was published in 1967, reissued by Harvard Business Press in 1987, and won the Academy of Management’s... View Details

Keywords: Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information

Web

History | Social Enterprise | Harvard Business School

entrepreneurs moving their organizations from start-up to growth phase. 2019 Celebrated SEI's 25th anniversary with the Frontiers of Change convening of over 300 alumni, faculty, leaders in the field, students and staff. Published... View Details

Web

Field Course: Transforming Health Care Delivery - Course Catalog

involve novel technologies, fundamentally different approaches to care delivery, a rethinking of incentives, and new roles for individuals and organizations throughout the health care sector. This course will equip students with... View Details

08 Nov 2010
Research & Ideas

How to Fix a Broken Marketplace

on the cadaver waiting list. “We deal with much more complicated games than the game theory usually deals with.” They sent the paper to several kidney surgeons. The medical director of the New England Organ Bank met with Roth to pursue... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Health

November 5, 2013
Article

How to Turn Around Nearly Anything

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter

In turbulent times, turnarounds are increasingly a fact of life. Some companies need to be rescued from the brink of extinction, but that’s not the only kind of turnaround. Others need a course correction while still profitable, or a momentum shift because of... View Details

Keywords: Turnarounds; Change; Purpose; Team Building; Voice; Positivity; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Value; Assets; Mission and Purpose

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May 2012
Case

Evergreen Natural Markets 2012

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Paul S. Myers

Evergreen Natural Markets is a successful food retailer located in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. Having grown through acquisition, it has a reputation for improving the companies it purchases while retaining previous management. This strategy has succeeded due... View Details

Keywords: United States; Operating Systems; Acquisitions; Strategy; Human Resource Management; Consolidations; Retail Trade; Food; Growth Management; Organizational Culture; Consolidation; Acquisition; Business Processes; Retail Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Las Vegas; Western United States

December 2001 (Revised November 2002)
Case

John Smithers

By: Nitin Nohria and Todd Jick

Describes an ill-fated effort to institute a total quality program. Using the vantage point of one of the managers selected to be a quality instructor, the case traces the rise and fall of the quality effort during its very brief existence over the course of six... View Details

Keywords: Quality; Change Management; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Culture; Failure

March 2001 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Corning 1983-1996: Transition at the Top

By: Michael J. Roberts and Michael L. Tushman

Focuses on Jamie Houghton's efforts to revitalize Corning from 1983-1996, including the development of a very strong set of values and culture. The issue centers around Roger Ackerman's rise to president, then chairman/CEO, and his drive to both change the business... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Organizational Culture; Management Teams; Strategy