Publications

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11 Feb 2019
Research & Ideas

The Business of Saving the Planet

"The fact that the benefits of addressing the problem of climate change almost certainly outweigh the costs ... does not make concerted global action to address the problem easy." —Climate Change in 2018: Implications for Business If there is one positive... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Energy; Green Technology

March 2020
Case

Minneapolis Star Tribune

By: Joseph L. Bower, Elizabeth Hansen and Michael Norris

In the summer of 2019, Mike Klingensmith, CEO of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Twin Cities metro region’s largest newspaper, reviewed subscription trends and plans for future experimentation. The newspaper industry across the U.S. had suffered a steep decline for... View Details

Keywords: Financial Performance; Industry Evolution; Business Earnings; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategic Planning; Journalism and News Industry; Minnesota

September 1983 (Revised November 1984)
Case

Syntex Laboratories (B)

The recommendations of the consultants require a number of assumptions and modifications to be implemented by Syntex Labs. Presents the initial implementation plan of the company. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategic Planning; Salesforce Management; Pharmaceutical Industry

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

April 2002
Supplement

Grey Warner, Merck Latin America

By: Michael Beer

Grey Warner, the vice president of Merck's Latin America region, discusses the challenges raised in the case and the lessons learned. View Details

Keywords: Strategic Planning; Values and Beliefs; Change Management; Problems and Challenges; Management Teams; Pharmaceutical Industry; Latin America

20 Aug 2024
Book

Why Competing With Tech Giants Requires Finding Your Own Edge

traditional businesses may struggle to adapt to the constantly changing nature of ecosystem strategies. In his book, Smart Rivals: How Innovative Companies Play Games That Tech Giants Can't Win, Feng Zhu provides principles to help... View Details

Keywords: by Feng Zhu; Technology; Information Technology

01 Dec 2019
News

Shaping Leaders Who Understand Business and the Environment

ambitious efforts to institute new wood sustainability initiatives, and strategize about how Nike could use the World Cup to showcase its commitment to corporate responsibility. Toffel knows that today’s students can make a difference,... View Details

Keywords: April White

24 Apr 2006
Research & Ideas

Managing Alignment as a Process

like budgeting, should be part of the annual governance cycle. Whenever plans are changed at the enterprise or business unit level, executives likely need to realign the organization with the new direction. The alignment process, of... View Details

Keywords: by Robert S. Kaplan & David P. Norton; Apparel & Accessories; Fashion; Consumer Products; Retail

01 Mar 2003
News

“Culture Is Everything”

transforming IBM, talked about the key strategic decisions he made when he took the helm of the struggling company in 1993. Initially reluctant to take the top post, Gerstner, an outsider, determined that it was important to keep the... View Details

Keywords: IBM; Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing; Manufacturing

September 1983 (Revised October 1984)
Case

Syntex Laboratories (A)

A consulting project involving a mathematical model of the sales force indicates that Syntex Labs should nearly double the size of their sales force and drastically alter their allocation of sales effort to the product line and physician specialties. The questions are... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategic Planning; Salesforce Management; Pharmaceutical Industry

Career Coach

Peter Platzer

market. Having re-invented his career path multiple times, he is particularly adept in helping individuals navigate career changes also later in life. Work Experience: Entrepreneurship (CEO and co-founder of a space exploration company),... View Details

Keywords: Consulting; Entrepreneurship; Investment Management; Financial Services (All); Venture Capital; Financial Services (All)

31 Aug 2016
News

Managing McDonald’s Makeover

that the iconic brand is “keeping pace with changing tastes and habits.” The move was reportedly unexpected, given McDonald’s history of promoting from internal ranks. (Kempczinski was brought on last year.) In quickly tapping a relative... View Details

Keywords: Food Services and Drinking Places; Hospitality

2002
Casebook

General Management: Processes and Action: Text and Cases

By: David A. Garvin

Keywords: General Management; Learning Organizations; Implementation; Management; Cases; Strategic Planning; Decision Making; Change Management; Leadership Style; Organizational Culture

Find at Harvard

11 Apr 2007
Research & Ideas

Adding Time to Activity-Based Costing

foundations of strategic costing systems. The breakthrough came by combining an idea I had while writing Cost & Effect with an innovation developed by Steve Anderson, an HBS MBA, who was a student in my second-year elective, Cost... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert

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

February 2003 (Revised June 2006)
Case

Implementing the Nissan Renewal Plan

By: Michael Y. Yoshino and Masako Egawa

Carlos Ghosn, a former executive vice-president of Renault, became the COO of Nissan Motor Co., a troubled auto company in Japan when Renault bought 38% of the company in 1999. This case deals with how Ghosn turned the company around. Examines in considerable detail... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Change Management; Employees; Leading Change; Strategic Planning; Motivation and Incentives; Auto Industry; Japan