Publications

05 May 2022
News

seemingly missing in Japan’s financial world. They couldn’t put their collective finger on it—not until, that is, they built their own VC firm. To be clear, the trio did not set out to create the first female-led venture capital firm in... View Details

27 Jul 2023
Blog Post

Buy big, sell small

conversations about layoffs and pay cuts we discussed in The Founder’s Journey course at HBS weren’t theoretical anymore. I wasn’t sleeping at night.” Scrambling for another small business–oriented tech startup idea—one that might take hold during a View Details

26 Sep 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, September 26, 2017

stylized facts about leverage and financial fragility for emerging market firms following the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Corporate debt vulnerability indicators during the Asian Financial Crisis (AFC) attributed to corporate financial... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

February 2010
Case

Shurgard Self-Storage: Expansion to Europe (Abridged)

By: Richard G. Hamermesh

Shurgard, a U.S.-based firm that rents storage facilities to consumers and small businesses, is considering financing options for rapid expansion of its European operations. Five years after entering Europe, Shurgard Europe has opened 17 facilities in Belgium, France,... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business Growth and Maturation; Multinational Firms and Management; Logistics; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Trade; Equity; Corporate Finance; United States; Europe

October 2005 (Revised February 2007)
Case

Red Flag Software Co.

By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Tarun Khanna, David Lane and Elizabeth Raabe

In 2005, just five years after its formal launch, Beijing-based Red Flag Software was the world's second-largest distributor of the Linux operating system and was expecting its first annual profit. On a unit basis, Red Flag led the world in desktops (PCs) shipped with... View Details

Keywords: Digital Platforms; Competitive Advantage; Applications and Software; Business Startups; Globalized Markets and Industries; Information Technology Industry; Distribution Industry; Beijing; United States

December 2002 (Revised April 2007)
Case

Cargill (A)

By: Ray A. Goldberg and Jose M. M. Porraz

Cargill is one of the world's leading marketers, processors, and distributors of agricultural, food, industrial, and financial products. In 1998, the company decided to develop a strategic intent to restructure and refocus the company. It did so in response to the... View Details

Keywords: Business Strategy; Agribusiness; Restructuring; Industry Structures; Global Strategy; Genetics; Demand and Consumers; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry

September 1992 (Revised November 1997)
Case

DHL Worldwide Express

By: John A. Quelch

The worldwide sales and marketing manager must determine the degree to which pricing strategy and tactics should be standardized or left to the discretion of the DHL subsidiary in each country. View Details

Keywords: Governance; Business Subsidiaries; Price; Marketing Strategy; Multinational Firms and Management; Sales; Shipping Industry

Keywords: Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries; Arts, Entertainment; Finance; Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support; Government; Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations; Personal Services; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

01 Sep 2011
News

Extraordinary People

getting the job done. Over the years he transformed Joh. A. Benckiser SE (JAB) from a small, privately held German company into a successful global powerhouse. In addition to serving as chairman and CEO of JAB, Harf’s many roles... View Details

01 Mar 2008
News

Alumni Books

four-year research program that spanned 25 industries, identifying long-term winners and what they do differently, Capon talked to marketing mavens from across the global economy and presents their insights in five broad groups: picking... View Details

Keywords: Noel Capon; Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information

August 2001 (Revised April 2003)
Case

International Trachoma Initiative

By: Diana Barrett, James E. Austin and Sheila McCarthy

In an effort to combat trachoma, a major eye disease, the Clark Foundation entered into a partnership with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. After a successful pilot project, a joint initiative was established (the Trachoma initiative) that has as its goal to eradicate the... View Details

Keywords: For-Profit Firms; Joint Ventures; Globalization; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Culture; Alliances; Partners and Partnerships; Non-Governmental Organizations; Health Industry