Publications

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September 1988 (Revised January 1989)
Case

Unisys: The Merger of Burroughs and Sperry

Mike Blumenthal, CEO of Burroughs, successfully executes the merger of Burroughs and Sperry in 1986. The case discusses the putting together of the two firms in a fast time period in order to achieve cost savings, high earnings, and an integrated culture. Blumenthal... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Organizational Structure; Mergers and Acquisitions; Consolidation

01 Jun 2017
News

Drawing on the Crowd for Innovative Problem-Solving

of business and society is changing not only how we work and live, but also how we tackle the toughest issues. Lakhani oversees the Crowd Innovation Lab, a Harvard University initiative focused on crowdsourcing. He conducts field... View Details

09 Feb 2009
Research & Ideas

Uncompromising Leadership in Tough Times

performance? What are principled choices its leaders must make if they are serious about building such a firm? What are the means for changing an average company into a HCHP company? What are the key design features of such a firm? In our... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

2005
Chapter

The Price of Progress: Structually Induced Inaction

By: Scott Snook and Jeffrey C. Connor

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Outcome or Result

27 Apr 2009
Research & Ideas

Building Businesses in Turbulent Times

opportunities. And while oil prices continue to rise and fall, energy services firms are seeing rapid growth—especially those firms that provide services to both traditional and emerging clean technology energy sectors. When approaching View Details

Keywords: by Staff

November 2020
Teaching Note

Unilever's Response to the Future of Work

By: William R. Kerr and Bailey McAfee

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 820-104. View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Human Capital; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Structure; Transformation; Human Resources; Consumer Products Industry; Europe

April 2002 (Revised September 2002)
Case

Transformation of Seattle Public Schools, 1995-2002

Investigates the reform of the Seattle Public Schools from 1995 to 2002. To initiate reform in 1995, the district hired John Stanford, an Army general, and Joseph Olchefske, an investment banker, as the district's superintendent and chief financial officer,... View Details

Keywords: Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Organizational Structure; Education; Business Strategy; Public Administration Industry; Education Industry; Seattle

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05 Jan 2022
News

Untapped Potential

Courtesy Tom Ferguson “Climate change is really water change,” says Tom Ferguson (MBA 2014). From the deadly floods that deluged western Europe in the summer of 2021, to the once-in-a-century drought conditions that have ravaged Brazil... View Details

January 1985
Case

Turning Around Alcan Europe (B): Patrick Rich's Two Years as CEO-Europe

Traces the efforts of Patrick Rich, CEO of Alcan Europe, to bring the company into a stable, profitable situation after having lost $120 million in 1982. Focuses on a wide variety of issues, including setting objectives and strategies for the region, creating... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategic Planning; Organizational Structure

May 1989 (Revised September 1989)
Case

Jacobs Suchard: Reorganizing for 1992

By: Robert G. Eccles Jr.

Jacobs Suchard, the Swiss-based coffee and chocolate producer, is preparing for the common market and EEC 1992. At the time of the case, the company is still organized toward independent, local country markets, and believes it must move toward a more global... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Expansion; Organizational Structure; Markets; Global Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; Switzerland

12 Mar 2012
Research & Ideas

Crowded at the Top: The Rise of the Functional Manager

It's getting a little less lonely at the top. So says recent research that reports a dramatic change in the top management structure of large US firms. According to a survey of some 300 Fortune 500... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel

25 Mar 2021
Research & Ideas

Steer Clear of the Blind Spots That Derail Experiments

made a series of changes and created a process for analyzing bias. Had the executives considered how to account for unintended consequences in their outcome metrics—and perhaps engaged a diverse user group to understand their... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

March 2004 (Revised May 2004)
Case

Jack Smith (C): Becoming a Toyota Manager (II)

Jack Smith had a stellar career at Chrysler managing major design teams and manufacturing plants before deciding to join industry leader and benchmark Toyota. It is his first day on the job; what will his orientation entail? Cursory walkthroughs and introductions... View Details

Keywords: Transition; Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Personal Development and Career; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry

March 2004 (Revised May 2004)
Case

Jack Smith (B): Becoming a Toyota Manager (I)

Jack Smith had a stellar career at Chrysler managing major design teams and manufacturing plants before deciding to join industry leader and benchmark Toyota. It is his first day on the job; what will his orientation entail? Cursory walkthroughs and introductions... View Details

Keywords: Transition; Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Personal Development and Career; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry

March 2004 (Revised May 2004)
Case

Jack Smith (A): Career Launch at Toyota

Jack Smith had a stellar career at Chrysler managing major design teams and manufacturing plants before deciding to join industry leader and benchmark Toyota. It is his first day on the job; what will his orientation entail? Cursory walkthroughs and introductions... View Details

Keywords: Transition; Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Personal Development and Career; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry

June 2000
Case

Rebirth of the Swiss Watch Industry, 1980-1992 (B): Hayek and Thomke at SMH

By: Michael L. Tushman and Daniel Radov

Describes the course pursued by Hayek, Thomke, and others in the formation of SMH. Discusses the new strategy and its implementation, charting the dramatic recovery of the large Swiss watchmakers. Ends with an exploration of Hayek's efforts to build on SMH's successes. View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Organizational Structure; Cost Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Alignment; Success; Asia; Hong Kong

01 Jun 2016
News

3-Minute Briefing: Derek Bouchard-Hall (MBA 2004)

When I graduated from Stanford, I had the opportunity to travel with an elite amateur team doing bike races, or I could go join a structural design firm in Pittsburgh. That was my choice. I chose to race bikes. I love the sport. I love... View Details

Keywords: April White; photographed by Scott Clark

July 2011
Teaching Note

The National Geographic Society (TN)

By: David A. Garvin

Teaching Note for 311-002. View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Organizational Structure; Sales; Leading Change; Society; Internet and the Web; Adaptation; Change Management; Media; Washington (state, US)