Robert Simons

Baker Foundation Professor
Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus

Robert Simons is a Baker Foundation Professor at Harvard Business School. For over 35 years, Simons has taught accounting, management control, and strategy execution courses in both the Harvard MBA and Executive Education Programs. For 2023/24, he is teaching a second-year MBA course titled “Changing the World” which analyzes the life choices of influential leaders. He also co-chairs (with Professor Robert Kaplan) "Driving Corporate Performance," an executive education program for general managers and financial executives.

For anyone interested in learning more about his work on strategy execution, Simons has developed a multimedia course on Strategy Execution for Harvard Business School Online. This course—open to the general public—consists of 40 hours of material delivered over an eight-week period. Participants can complete the coursework on their own time.

Simons has also published a 15-module series for classroom teaching on Strategy Execution available through Harvard Business School Publishing. In addition, an online app, Job Design Optimization Tool, is available free-of-charge from Harvard Business School Publishing. This tool can be used to design, or test the design of, any job in any organization.

In 2021, The Case Centre (U.K.) named Simons the number two best-selling business case author in the world.

Simons’ books include Seven Strategy Questions: A Simple Approach for Better Execution (2010) and Levers of Organization Design: How Managers Use Accountability Systems for Greater Performance and Commitment (2005). In addition, he has written Levers of Control (1995) that describes how effective top managers balance innovation and control. This book won the Notable Contribution to Management Accounting Literature award.

In addition to his books, Simons' ongoing research into the relationship between business strategy, organization design, and management control systems has been published in journals such as Harvard Business Review, Capitalism and Society, Sloan Management Review, Strategic Management Journal, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Contemporary Accounting Research, and Journal of Accounting Literature.

His most recent academic paper co-authored with Professor Antonio Dávila, “How Top Managers Use the Entrepreneurial Gap to Drive Strategic Change,” was published in the European Accounting Review in 2021.

A Canadian CPA, Simons earned his Ph.D. from McGill University. Simons has served as a consultant to many companies on topics related to strategy execution, organization design, performance measurement, and strategic control. He has testified as an expert witness in U.S. Federal Court and before State Public Utility Commissions.

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Professor Simons is currently studying how executives make their businesses more competitive using innovative structural designs and performance measurement systems. He has a number of ongoing research projects on this topic, and teaches MBA and executive education courses on Strategy Execution. Simons also studies how influential leaders make life choices that allow them to have outstanding personal success.

Keywords: Strategy Execution; Organization Design; Management Control Systems; Performance Measurement; Competitiveness

Mastering Strategy Execution

Professor Robert Simons’ research encompasses three areas of management accountability that are the foundation for successful strategy execution: organization design, performance measurement and control, and risk management. In addition, Simons is interested in the role of management and management education in society. Professor Simons’ publications in each of these areas are listed below.

I. Strategy Execution - Imperatives

Simons has summarized key strategy execution issues in the following book and related article:

Simons, R. Seven Strategy Questions: A Simple Approach for Better Execution, Harvard Business Review Press, 2010.

Simons, R. “Stress-Test Your Strategy,” Harvard Business Review (November 2010): 92-100.

Simons, R. “Choosing the Right Customer,” Harvard Business Review (March 2014): 48-55.

II. Strategy Execution Series

A complete and detailed review of the topics that managers must master to execute strategy successfully is contained in Simons’ 15-part Strategy Execution Series published by Harvard Business Publishing. The 15 modules titles are:

Managing Organizational Tensions
Building a Successful Strategy
Using Information for Performance Measurement and Control
Organizing for Performance
Building a Profit Plan
Evaluating Strategic Profit Performance
Designing Asset Allocation Systems
Linking Performance to Markets
Building a Balanced Scorecard
Using the Job Design Optimization Tool to Build Effective Organizations
Using Diagnostic and Interactive Control Systems
Aligning Performance Goals and Incentives
Identifying Strategic Risk
Managing Strategic Risk
Using the Levers of Control to Implement Strategy

III. Organization Design for Executing Strategy

Simons’ work focuses on understanding the role of organization design as a key determinant in the successful execution of strategy.

Simons studies four key variables—customer definition, critical performance variables, creative tension, and commitment to others—that serve as the basic inputs to effective organization design. Using an integrated framework, his work shows how managers can design unit structures, diagnostic control systems, influence networks, and shared responsibilities to build a foundation for profitable growth. This work is reported in the following materials.

Software Application:

A free software tool – Job Design Optimization Tool – is available for public use at hbsp.harvard.edu/jdot.

The user guide for this tool is “Strategy Execution Module 10: Using the Job Design Optimization Tool to Build Effective Organizations.”

Books and Articles:

Simons, R. Levers of Organization Design: How Managers Use Accountability Systems for Greater Performance and Commitment, Harvard Business School Press, 2005.

Simons, R. “Creating High-Performance Jobs,” Harvard Business Review 83, no. 7 (July-August 2005): 54-62.

Case Studies:

“Agero: Enhancing Capabilities for Customers.” Harvard Business School Case 113-001

“Asea Brown Boveri.” Harvard Business School Case 192-139.

“ABB: Accountability Times Two (A).” Harvard Business School Supplement 192-141.

“ABB: Accountability Times Two (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 192-142.

“DIENA.” Harvard Business School Case 102-001.

“J Boats, Inc.” Harvard Business School Case 197-015.

“Siebel Systems: Organizing for the Customer.” Harvard Business School Case 103-014.

“Organizing for Performance: Four Vignettes.” Harvard Business School Case 117-062.

IV. Performance Measurement and Control for Executing Strategy

Simons’ research in a variety of industries illustrates how innovative firms apply the levers of control to ensure profitable, sustained growth. By analyzing core values, risks to be avoided, critical performance variables, and strategic uncertainties, Simons’ work shows managers how to use beliefs systems, boundary systems, diagnostic control systems, and interactive systems to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, yet protect the firm from unanticipated franchise risks. This work is represented in the following publications:

Books and Articles:

Simons, R. Performance Measurement and Control Systems for Implementing Strategy. Prentice Hall, 2000.

Simons, R. and A. Davila. “How High Is Your Return on Management?” Harvard Business Review (January-February 1998): 71-80.

Simons, R. “Corporate Performance.” In The Handbook of Technology Management, edited by Richard Dorf. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 1998.

Simons, R. “Control in an Age of Empowerment.” Harvard Business Review 73, no. 2 (March 1995): 8-88.

Simons, R. Levers of Control: How Managers Use Innovative Control Systems to Drive Strategic Renewal. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1995.

Simons, R. “How New Top Managers Use Control Systems as Levers of Strategic Renewal.” Strategic Management Journal 15 (1994): 169-189.

Simons, R. “The Strategy of Control: How Accounting Information Helps to Formulate and Implement Business Strategy.” CA Magazine (March 1992): 44-50.

Simons, R. “Strategic Orientation and Top Management Attention to Control Systems.” Strategic Management Journal 12, no. 1 (1991): 49-62.

Simons, R. “The Role of Management Control Systems in Creating Competitive Advantage: New Perspectives.” Accounting, Organizations and Society 15, nos. 1-2 (1990): 127-143.

Simons, R. “Analysis of the Organizational Characteristics Related to Tight Budget Goals.” Contemporary Accounting Research 5, no. 1 (1988): 267-283.

Simons, R. “Accounting Control Systems and Business Strategy: An Empirical Analysis.” Accounting, Organizations and Society 12, no. 4 (1987): 357-374.

Simons, R. “Planning, Control, and Uncertainty: A Process View.” In Accounting and Management: Field Study Perspectives, edited by W. J. Bruns Jr. and R. S. Kaplan. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1987.

Simons, R. and K. Merchant. “Research and Control in Complex Organizations: An Overview.” Journal of Accounting Literature 5 (1986): 183-203. (with K. Merchant)

Case Studies

“American Red Cross Blood Services: Northeast Region.” Harvard Business School Case 190-078.

“ATH Technologies, Inc.: Making the Numbers.” Harvard Business School Case 117-012.

“Automatic Data Processing: The EFS Decision.” Harvard Business School Case 190-059.

“Automation Consulting Services.” Harvard Business School Case 190-053.

“Becton Dickinson--Designing the New Strategic, Operational, and Financial Planning Process.” Harvard Business School Case 197-014.

“C3: Driven to Succeed.” Harvard Business School Case 119-004.

“Cafes Monte Bianco: Building a Profit Plan.” Harvard Business School Case 198-088.

“Central Maine Power Co.: Goals and Objectives Program (A).” Harvard Business School Case 190-065.

“Central Maine Power Co.: Goals and Objectives Program (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 190-105.

“Citibank: Performance Evaluation.” Harvard Business School Case 198-048.

“Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.: Planning and Control System.” Harvard Business School Case 187-081.

“Compagnie du Froid, S.A.” Harvard Business School Case 197-085. Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila.

“Cross Country Group, The: A Piece of the Rock (B).” Harvard Business School Case 100-044.

“Google to Alphabet: 10 Things We Know to Be True.” Harvard Business School Case 116-029.

“Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems.” Harvard Business School Case 198-076.

“Henkel: Building a Winning Culture (A).” Harvard Business School Case 112-060.

“Henkel: Building a Winning Culture (B).” Harvard Business School Case 115-040.

“IBM Corp.: “Make It Your Business” (A).” Harvard Business School Case 190-137. “IBM Corp.: “Make It Your Business” (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 190-138.

“Marriott Corp.: The Internal Audit Function.” Harvard Business School Case 191-007.

“Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sales Force Incentives (A).” Harvard Business School Case 190-103.

“Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sales Force Incentives (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 190-122.

“MCI Communications: Planning for the 1990s.” Harvard Business School Case 190-136.

“Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (A).” Harvard Business School Case 191-002.

“Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 192-027.

“Polysar Limited.” Harvard Business School Case 187-098.

“Purity Steel Corporation, 1995.” Harvard Business School Case 197-082.

“Tennessee Controls: The Strategic Ranking Problem.” Harvard Business School Case 191-083.

“Turner Construction Co.: Project Management Control Systems TN.” Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-124.

“USA Today.” Harvard Business School Case 191-004.

“Vyaderm Pharmaceuticals.” Harvard Business School Case 101-019.

“Walker and Company: Profit Plan Decisions.” Harvard Business School Case 197-084.

V. Risk Management

In the area of risk identification and control, Simons has studied how various types of risk—including operational risk, asset impairment risk, and competitive risk—can destroy business reputations and franchises. This work is represented in the following publications:

Books and Articles:

Kaplan, Robert S., Anette Mikes, Robert Simons, Peter Tufano, and Michael Hofmann Jr. “Managing Risk in the New World.” Harvard Business Review 87, no. 10 (October 2009): 68–75.

Simons, R. Performance Measurement and Control Systems for Implementing Strategy. Prentice Hall, 2000, Chapters 12 and 13.

Simons, R. “How Risky Is Your Company?” Harvard Business Review 77, no. 1 (January-February 1999): 85-94.

Harvard Case Studies:

“American Cancer Society: Access to Care.” Harvard Business School Case 109-015.

“ATH Technologies, Inc.: Making the Numbers.” Harvard Business School Case 117-013.

“Atlanta Schools: Measures to Improve Performance.” Harvard Business School Case 114-001.

“Bausch & Lomb, Inc.: Pressure to Perform (A).” Harvard Business School Case 109-074.

“General Electric: Compliance Systems.” Harvard Business School Case 189-081.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (A).” Harvard Business School Case 189-009.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-010.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (C).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-011.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (D).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-012.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (E).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-013.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (F).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-014.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (G).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-015.

“General Electric: Valley Forge (H).” Harvard Business School Supplement 189-016.

“Hamilton Financial Investments: A Franchise Built on Trust.” Harvard Business School Case 198-089.

“Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits.” Harvard Business School Case 197-038.

“Merck: Managing Vioxx (A).” Harvard Business School Case 109-080.

“Merck: Managing Vioxx (B).” Harvard Business School Case 109-081.

“Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (A).” Harvard Business School Case 191-002.

“Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 192-027.

“Pfizer: Letter From the Chairman (A).” Harvard Business School Case 110-003.

“Pfizer: Letter From the Chairman (B).” Harvard Business School Case 110-004.

“Sydney IVF: Stem Cell Research.” Harvard Business School Case 109-017.

“Tennessee Controls: The Strategic Ranking Problem.” Harvard Business School Case 191-083.

“Westchester Distributing, Inc. (A).” Harvard Business School Case 191-118.

“Westchester Distributing, Inc. (B).” Harvard Business School Supplement 191-119.

VI. Role of Management in Society

Simons also studies and writes about the role of management and management education in society. This work is represented in the following publications:

Simon, R. “The Business of Business Schools,” Mimeo, October 2011.

Simons, R., H. Mintzberg, and K. Basu. “Memo to CEOs: The Five Half- Truths of Business.” Fast Company 59 (June 2002): 117-121.

Mintzberg, H, R. Simons, and K. Basu. “Beyond Selfishness.” Sloan Management Review 44, no. 1 (fall 2002): 67-74.

Changing the World: Life Choices of Influential Leaders

This project studies the life choices made by a variety of people who have left a lasting legacy. Using biographical data, we are examining the choices that high-impact individuals faced in their lives and the paths they chose to follow. The leaders we study come from business, science, the arts, government, humanitarian organizations, education, sports, and entertainment. Their personal lives and values are wide-ranging—and, at times, controversial. However, they all have one thing in common: they are famous because they changed the world in significant ways.

The goal of the project is to uncover commonalities among these high-impact individuals: What skills did they choose to invest in early in their careers? How did they allocate their time? What did they choose not to do? How did they balance the pressures of career and family? What critical goals did they set for themselves? How did they leverage their energy and creativity? How did they discover new opportunities and new ways of seeing the world?

The search for patterns in choices among these prominent historical figures will challenge students or anyone interested in making a difference to think through the choices that they may want to make (or not make) in their own lives and careers.

Keywords: Leadership Style; Personal Characteristics; Work-life Balance; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Success

In 2021, The Case Centre (U.K.) named Simons the number two best-selling business case author in the world.

Featured Work

Job Design Optimization Tool

The free, online Job Design Optimization Tool (JDOT) can be used to design, or test the design of, any job in any organization. Use the tool with the following guide: Strategy Execution Module 10: Using the Job Design Optimization Tool to Build Effective Organizations.

Strategy Execution Series

The 15-module Strategy Execution series forms a complete course that teaches the latest techniques for using performance measurement and control systems to implement strategy. Module notes can be used individually or as a set. Modules 1 - 4 set out the foundations for strategy implementation. Modules 5 - 10 teach quantitative tools for performance measurement and control. Modules 11 - 15 illustrate the use of these techniques by managers to achieve profit goals and strategies. Each module note is accompanied by a list of recommended case studies that further illustrate the reading's key concepts using current, real-life examples. The series is accompanied by the new online Job Design Optimization Tool (JDOT).

Self-Interest: The Economist's Straitjacket

This paper examines contemporary economic theories that focus on the design and management of business organizations. In the first part of the paper, a taxonomy is presented that describes the different types of economists interested in this subject—market economists, regulatory economists, and enlightened economists—and illustrates the extent to which each tribe has been captured by the concept of self-interest. After arguing that this fixation has caused—and is likely to continue to cause—significant harm to our economy, the paper then presents an alternative approach based on a theory of business and discusses the implications for research and teaching.

Choosing the Right Customer

All companies claim that their strategies are customer driven. But when “customer” means any number of entities in a company’s value chain—consumers, suppliers, retailers, even internal units like R&D—managers tend to lose focus, and their firms become vulnerable to competitors who have clearly defined who they serve and how.

In this article, Robert Simons of the Harvard Business School presents a framework that can help companies develop strategies that are truly customer-centric.

Seven Strategy Questions

To stay ahead of the pack, you must translate your organization's competitive strategy into day-to-day actions that will enable your company to win in the marketplace. This means channeling resources into the right efforts, striking a balance between innovation and control, and getting everyone to pull in the same direction. How do you accomplish all this?

How to Stress-Test Your Strategy

An Interview with Robert L. Simons

What are the biggest problems companies face in executing their strategies? Robert Simons explains why management teams must ask themselves tough questions, like "What could cause our business to fail?"

The Business of Business Schools: Restoring a Focus on Competing to Win

As business leaders worry about the decline of American competitiveness, business schools are responding by changing their curriculums. But are the topics and approaches taught in today's business schools part of the solution or part of the problem? In this paper, I explore the possibility that four trends in current MBA curriculums—theory creep, mission creep, doing well by doing good, and the quest for enlightenment—are teaching students to be uncompetitive in today's global markets. If this hypothesis is true, I argue that business school curriculums should be re-centered around the tough choices needed to compete—and to win.

The Entrepreneurial Gap: How Managers Adjust Span of Accountability and Span of Control to Implement Business Strategy

This HBS working paper focuses on the relationship between business strategy, organization structure, and diagnostic control systems. The project analyzes data from 75 field studies to illustrate how managers adjust span of accountability and span of control to motivate different levels of innovation and entrepreneurial behavior. Six propositions are derived inductively about when, why, and how managers make these choices.

Levers of Organization Design

How Managers Use Accountability Systems For Greater Performance And Commitment

The design of an organization—the accountability system that defines roles, rights, and responsibilities throughout the firm—has a direct impact on the performance of every employee. Yet, few leaders devote focused attention to how this design is chosen, implemented, and adjusted over time. Robert Simons argues that by viewing design as a powerful and proactive management lever--rather than an inevitable outcome of corporate evolution—leaders can maximize productivity across every level of the organization.

Levers of Control

How Managers Use Innovative Control Systems to Drive Strategic Renewal

Based on a ten-year examination of control systems in over 50 U.S. businesses, this book broadens the definition of control and establishes a critical bridge between the disciplines of strategy and accounting and control. In addition to the more traditional diagnostic control systems, Simons identifies three new control systems that allow strategic change: belief systems that communicate core values and provide inspiration and direction, boundary systems that frame the strategic domain and define the limits of freedom, and interactive systems that provide flexibility in adapting to competitive environments and encourage organizational learning. These four control systems, according to Simons, will provide managers with the basic levers for pursuing strategic objectives.

Most Recent Publications

Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 1: Managing Organizational Tensions." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-101, August 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Quiet Logistics (A)." Harvard Business School Case 115-001, October 2014. (Revised June 2015.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Quiet Logistics (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 115-003, October 2014. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Choosing the Right Customer." Harvard Business Review 92, no. 3 (March 2014): 48–55. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Henkel's CEO Kasper Rorsted: On Building a Winning Culture." Harvard Business School Video Supplement 114-703, October 2013. (Revised October 2013.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Atlanta Schools: Measures to Improve Performance." Harvard Business School Case 114-001, December 2013. (Revised September 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "The Business of Business Schools: Restoring a Focus on Competing to Win." Art. 2. Capitalism and Society 8, no. 1 (January 2013). View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Henkel: Building a Winning Culture." Harvard Business School Case 112-060, February 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Agero: Enhancing Capabilities for Customers." Harvard Business School Case 113-001, February 2013. (Revised March 2013.) View Details

Books

Simons, Robert L. Seven Strategy Questions: A Simple Approach for Better Execution. Harvard Business Review Press, 2010. View Details
Simons, R. Levers of Organization Design: How Managers Use Accountability Systems for Greater Performance and Commitment. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2005. View Details
Simons, R. Performance Measurement and Control Systems for Implementing Strategy. Prentice Hall, 2000. View Details
Simons, R. Levers of Control: How Managers Use Innovative Control Systems to Drive Strategic Renewal. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1995. View Details

Journal Articles

Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "How Top Managers Use the Entrepreneurial Gap to Drive Strategic Change." European Accounting Review 30, no. 4 (2021): 583–609. View Details
Kaplan, Robert S., and Robert Simons. "My Favorite Slide: The Entrepreneurial Gap Applied to Health Care." NEJM Catalyst (March 8, 2017). (Blog Post.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "The Business of Business Schools: Restoring a Focus on Competing to Win." Art. 2. Capitalism and Society 8, no. 1 (January 2013). View Details
Simons, Robert. "Stress-Test Your Strategy: The 7 Questions to Ask." Harvard Business Review 88, no. 11 (November 2010): 93–100. View Details
Kaplan, Robert S., Anette Mikes, Robert Simons, Peter Tufano, and Michael Hofmann Jr. "Managing Risk in the New World." Harvard Business Review 87, no. 10 (October 2009): 68–75. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Designing High-Performance Jobs." Harvard Business Review 83, nos. 7/8 (July–August 2005). View Details
Mintzberg, Henry, Robert Simons, and Kunal Basu. "Beyond Selfishness." MIT Sloan Management Review 44, no. 1 (fall 2002): 67–74. View Details
Simons, Robert, Henry Mintzberg, and Kunal Basu. "Memo to CEOs: The Five Half-Truths of Business." Fast Company, no. 59 (June 2002): 117–121. View Details
Simons, Robert. "How Risky Is Your Company?" Harvard Business Review 77, no. 1 (January–February 1999): 85–94. View Details
Simons, R., and Antonio Davila. "How High Is Your Return on Management?" Harvard Business Review 76, no. 1 (January–February 1998): 71–80. View Details
Simons, R. "Control in an Age of Empowerment." Harvard Business Review 73, no. 2 (March–April 1995): 8–88. View Details
Simons, R. "How New Top Managers Use Control Systems as Levers of Strategic Renewal." Strategic Management Journal 15, no. 3 (March 1994): 169–189. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "The Strategy of Control: How Accounting Information Helps to Formulate and Implement Business Strategy." CA Magazine (March 1992), 44–50. View Details
Simons, R. "Strategic Orientation and Top Management Attention to Control Systems." Strategic Management Journal 12, no. 1 (January 1991): 49–62. View Details
Simons, R. "The Role of Management Control Systems in Creating Competitive Advantage: New Perspectives." Accounting, Organizations and Society 15, nos. 1-2 (1990): 127–143. View Details
Simons, R. "Analysis of the Organizational Characteristics Related to Tight Budget Goals." Contemporary Accounting Research 5, no. 1 (fall 1988): 267–283. View Details
Simons, R. "Accounting Control Systems and Business Strategy: An Empirical Analysis." Accounting, Organizations and Society 12, no. 4 (1987): 357–374. View Details
Simons, R., and Kenneth A. Merchant. "Research and Control in Complex Organizations: An Overview." Journal of Accounting Literature 5 (1986): 183–203. View Details

Book Chapters

Simons, R. "Corporate Performance." In Technology Management Handbook, edited by Richard Dorf. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1998. View Details
Simons, R. "Planning, Control, and Uncertainty: A Process View." In Accounting and Management: Field Study Perspectives, edited by W. J. Bruns Jr. and R. S. Kaplan. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1987. View Details

Working Papers

Simons, Robert. "Self-Interest: The Economist's Straitjacket." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 16-045, October 2015. (Revised January 2019.) View Details

Cases and Teaching Materials

Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "John F. Kennedy: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-046, September 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Robert McNamara: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-050, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Mahatma Gandhi: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-048, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Nelson Mandela: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-049, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Shirley Sun. "Muhammad Ali: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-043, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Henry Ford: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-047, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Ayn Rand: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-051, August 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Shirley Sun. "Albert Einstein: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-044, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Steve Jobs: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-032, October 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Ronald Reagan: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-031, September 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Margaret Thatcher: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-030, September 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Katharine Graham: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 125-029, September 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Katharine Graham: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 124-035, March 2024. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Robert McNamara: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 124-036, December 2023. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Nelson Mandela: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 124-034, October 2023. (Revised July 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Albert Einstein: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 123-025, June 2023. (Revised November 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Ronald Reagan: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 123-024, February 2023. (Revised November 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Steve Jobs: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 123-022, January 2023. (Revised May 2023.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Shirley Sun. "Margaret Thatcher: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 123-021, October 2022. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "John F. Kennedy: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 122-088, March 2022. (Revised October 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "P.T. Barnum: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 122-076, February 2022. (Revised October 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Carolyn Deller. "Henkel: Building a Winning Culture (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 122-055, February 2022. (Revised October 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Leonard Bernstein: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 122-056, January 2022. (Revised July 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Sarah Breedlove: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-060, February 2021. (Revised July 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Jackie Robinson: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 122-042, January 2022. (Revised August 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Mahatma Gandhi: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-069, April 2021. (Revised February 2023.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Helen Keller: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-071, March 2021. (Revised August 2023.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Ayn Rand: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-070, March 2021. (Revised January 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "James Bryant Conant: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-068, March 2021. (Revised June 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Henry Ford: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-063, February 2021. (Revised June 2023.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Marie Curie: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-059, February 2021. (Revised September 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Walt Disney: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-056, February 2021. (Revised January 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Muhammad Ali: Changing The World." Harvard Business School Case 121-053, February 2021. (Revised October 2024.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Mary Kay Ash: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-046, March 2021. (Revised October 2023.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Bill Wilson: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-048, March 2021. (Revised June 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Dwight D. Eisenhower: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-047, January 2021. (Revised July 2022.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "C3: Driven to Succeed." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 119-705, April 2019. View Details
Simons, Robert. "C3.ai—Driven to Succeed." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 119-066, February 2019. (Revised March 2021.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and George Gonzalez. "C3.ai—Driven to Succeed." Harvard Business School Case 119-004, August 2018. (Revised October 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Sarah Abbott. "Verona Group (Brief Case)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 918-532, June 2018. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Sarah Abbott. "Verona Group." Harvard Business School Brief Case 918-531, June 2018. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Jennifer Packard. "Quiet Logistics: CEO Bruce Welty Discusses New Robotics Company." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 118-701, August 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "Quiet Logistics (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-052, June 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "Organizing for Performance: Four Vignettes." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-063, June 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Organizing for Performance: Four Vignettes." Harvard Business School Case 117-062, June 2017. (Revised October 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "Google to Alphabet: Two Job Opportunities." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-066, June 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies Case Series." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-018, May 2017. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 117-017, May 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 117-016, May 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 117-015, May 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 117-014, May 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies (A): Making the Numbers." Harvard Business School Case 117-013, May 2017. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "ATH Technologies: Making the Numbers." Harvard Business School Case 117-012, May 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "The Kursk Submarine Rescue Mission (Supplement)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-055, June 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Kathryn Rosenberg. "Pfizer: Letter from the Chairman (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 110-067, June 2010. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Cafes Monte Bianco - Varying Interest Solution." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 117-702, April 2017. (Revised August 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Cafes Monte Bianco - Fixed Interest Solution." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 117-701, April 2017. (Revised August 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Jennifer Packard. "The Strategy Execution Series." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-116, March 2017. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 15: Using the Levers of Control to Implement Strategy." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-115, December 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Annelena Lobb. "Google to Alphabet: Ten Things We Know to Be True." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 117-030, January 2017. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 10: Using the Job Design Optimization Tool to Build Effective Organizations." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-110, December 2016. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 14: Managing Strategic Risk." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-114, November 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 12: Aligning Performance Goals and Incentives." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-112, November 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 9: Building a Balanced Scorecard." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-109, November 2016. (Revised March 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 11: Using Diagnostic and Interactive Control Systems." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-111, November 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 8: Linking Performance to Markets." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-108, November 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 7: Designing Asset Allocation Systems." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-107, November 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 6: Evaluating Strategic Profit Performance." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-106, October 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 5: Building a Profit Plan." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-105, October 2016. (Revised February 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 4: Organizing for Performance." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-104, September 2016. (Revised January 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 3: Using Information for Performance Measurement and Control." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-103, September 2016. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 2: Building a Successful Strategy." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-102, August 2016. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Strategy Execution Module 1: Managing Organizational Tensions." Harvard Business School Module Note 117-101, August 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Annelena Lobb. "Google to Alphabet: Two Job Opportunities." Harvard Business School Exercise 116-046, June 2016. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Annelena Lobb. "Google to Alphabet: Ten Things We Know to Be True." Harvard Business School Case 116-029, June 2016. (Revised December 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Henkel: Building a Winning Culture (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 115-040, June 2015. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Agero: Enhancing Capabilities for Customers." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 114-093, June 2014. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Atlanta Schools: Measures to Improve Performance." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 114-062, June 2014. (Revised February 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Atlanta Schools: Measures to Improve Performance." Harvard Business School Case 114-001, December 2013. (Revised September 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Henkel's CEO Kasper Rorsted: On Building a Winning Culture." Harvard Business School Video Supplement 114-703, October 2013. (Revised October 2013.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Agero: Enhancing Capabilities for Customers." Harvard Business School Case 113-001, February 2013. (Revised March 2013.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Craig Chapman. "Luotang Power: Variances Explained, Spreadsheet for Instructors (Brief Case)." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 913-536, January 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Craig Chapman. "Luotang Power: Variances Explained, Spreadsheet for Students (Brief Case) ." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 913-535, January 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Craig Chapman. "Luotang Power: Variances Explained (Brief Case)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 913-534, January 2013. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Craig Chapman. "Luotang Power: Variances Explained." Harvard Business School Brief Case 913-533, January 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Dovernet." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 113-011, July 2012. (Revised February 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Henkel: Building a Winning Culture." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 112-087, June 2012. (Revised February 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Dovernet." Harvard Business School Case 112-061, April 2012. (Revised February 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Henkel: Building a Winning Culture." Harvard Business School Case 112-060, February 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert, and Michael Mahoney. "Raleigh & Rosse: Measures to Motivate Exceptional Service." Harvard Business School Brief Case 114-353, October 2011. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Michael Mahoney. "Raleigh & Rosse: Measures to Motivate Exceptional Service (Brief Case)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 114-355, October 2011. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Kathryn Rosenberg. "Continental Media Group: Business Highlights." Harvard Business School Case 110-087, June 2010. (Revised April 2011.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Tennessee Controls: The Strategic Ranking Problem." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-199, May 1991. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Dale Geiger. "Tennessee Controls: The Strategic Ranking Problem." Harvard Business School Case 191-083, February 1991. (Revised November 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Hilary Weston. "Automation Consulting Services." Harvard Business School Case 190-053, November 1989. (Revised April 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Kathryn Rosenberg. "Pfizer: Letter from the Chairman (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 110-004, May 2010. (Revised June 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Westchester Distributing, Inc. (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-172, April 1991. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, Antonio Dávila, Kathryn Rosenberg, and Jennifer Packard. "Compagnie du Froid, S.A." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-035, November 1997. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Kathryn Rosenberg. "Sydney IVF: Stem Cell Research." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 110-092, June 2010. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Continental Media Group: Business Highlights." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 110-090, June 2010. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Natalie Kindred. "Pfizer: Letter from the Chairman (A)." Harvard Business School Case 110-003, July 2009. (Revised May 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-081, April 2009. (Revised April 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (F)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-085, April 2009. (Revised April 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Robert Boxwell. "Westchester Distributing, Inc. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 191-118, January 1991. (Revised March 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Robert Boxwell. "Westchester Distributing, Inc. (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 191-119, January 1991. (Revised March 2010.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Dávila. "Compagnie du Froid, S.A." Harvard Business School Case 197-085, March 1997. (Revised August 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "American Cancer Society: Access to Care." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 109-016, January 2009. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Kathryn Rosenberg. "American Cancer Society: Access to Care." Harvard Business School Case 109-015, November 2008. (Revised October 2009.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (A)-(G)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 109-087, June 2009. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (A)." Harvard Business School Case 109-080, April 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-082, April 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-083, April 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-084, April 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Bausch & Lomb, Inc.: Pressure to Perform (A)." Harvard Business School Case 109-074, March 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Natalie Kindred. "Merck: Managing Vioxx (G)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-086, April 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Bausch & Lomb, Inc.: Pressure to Perform (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 109-075, March 2009. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-011, January 1989. (Revised March 2009.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (F)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-014, January 1989. (Revised March 2009.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., Kathryn Rosenberg, and Natalie Kindred. "Sydney IVF: Stem Cell Research." Harvard Business School Case 109-017, January 2009. (Revised February 2009.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Kathryn Rosenberg. "ATH MicroTechnologies, Inc. Case Series." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 108-097, May 2008. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Siebel Systems: Organizing for the Customer." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 105-079, June 2005. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Indra Reinbergs. "Bausch & Lomb, Inc.: Pressure to Perform (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 104-040, September 2003. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Return on Management." Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing Class Lecture, 2003. Electronic. (Faculty Lecture: HBSP Product Number 385XC.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Davila. "Siebel Systems: Organizing for the Customer." Harvard Business School Case 103-014, September 2002. (Revised January 2013.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra Reinbergs. "DIENA." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 103-006, October 2002. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., Antonio Davila, and Afroze A Mohammed. "Becton Dickinson--Designing the New Strategic, Operational, and Financial Planning Process." Harvard Business School Case 197-014, July 1996. (Revised December 2001.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Birch Paper Company TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-057, June 1999. (Revised December 2001.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra Reinbergs. "DIENA." Harvard Business School Case 102-001, September 2001. (Revised October 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra A. Reinbergs. "Vyaderm Pharmaceuticals: The EVA Decision." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 101-043, March 2001. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra A. Reinbergs. "Vyaderm Pharmaceuticals: The EVA Decision." Harvard Business School Case 101-019, October 2000. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra Reinbergs. "Cafes Monte Bianco: Building a Profit Plan." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 101-044, November 2000. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Automation Consulting Services." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-030, May 1991. (Revised March 2018.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Cafes Monte Bianco: Building a Profit Plan." Harvard Business School Case 198-088, January 1998. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Indra A. Reinbergs. "The Cross Country Group: A Piece of the Rock (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 100-006, March 2000. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems." Harvard Business School Case 198-076, April 1998. (Revised May 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Indra Reinbergs. "Walker and Company: Profit Plan Decisions TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 100-005, July 1999. (Revised March 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Indra Reinbergs. "Cross Country Group, The: A Piece of the Rock (A)." Harvard Business School Case 199-044, March 1999. (Revised March 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Polysar Limited." Harvard Business School Case 187-098, February 1987. (Revised February 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Purity Steel Corporation, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 197-082, March 1997. (Revised November 2013.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.: Planning and Control System." Harvard Business School Case 187-081, May 1987. (Revised February 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Ramsey Walker. "Walker and Company: Profit Plan Decisions." Harvard Business School Case 197-084, June 1997. (Revised February 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Indra Reinbergs. "Cross Country Group, The: A Piece of the Rock (B)." Harvard Business School Case 100-044, January 2000. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "ABB: Accountability Times Two (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 192-142, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Christopher A. Bartlett. "Asea Brown Boveri." Harvard Business School Case 192-139, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Asea Brown Boveri: The ABACUS System." Harvard Business School Case 192-140, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "ABB: Accountability Times Two (A)." Harvard Business School Supplement 192-141, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "J Boats, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 197-015, August 1996. (Revised December 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "MCI Communications: Planning for the 1990s." Harvard Business School Case 190-136, March 1990. (Revised November 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "Automatic Data Processing: The EFS Decision." Harvard Business School Case 190-059, November 1989. (Revised November 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "A Note on Identifying Strategic Risk." Harvard Business School Background Note 199-031, December 1998. (Revised December 2014.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Hamilton Financial Investments: A Franchise Built on Trust." Harvard Business School Case 198-089, April 1998. (Revised November 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "Turner Construction Company: Project Management Control Systems." Harvard Business School Case 190-128, March 1990. (Revised October 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sales Force Incentives (A)." Harvard Business School Case 190-103, March 1990. (Revised October 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (A)." Harvard Business School Case 191-002, July 1990. (Revised October 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits." Harvard Business School Case 197-038, December 1996. (Revised October 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Citibank: Performance Evaluation." Harvard Business School Case 198-048, December 1997. (Revised October 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Asea Brown Boveri: The ABACUS System TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-055, June 1998. (Revised July 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.: Planning and Control System." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 188-029, September 1987. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Polysar Limited." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 187-198, November 1987. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., Alex C. Sapir '97, and Indra Reinbergs. "Bausch & Lomb, Inc.: Pressure to Perform." Harvard Business School Case 198-009, April 1998. (Revised June 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Dávila. "Citibank: Performance Evaluation." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-047, March 1999. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "J Boats, Inc." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-042, March 1999. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "MCI Communications: Planning for the 1990s TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-200, January 1991. (Revised June 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Asea Brown Boveri and ABB: Accountability Times Two (A) and (B) TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-054, June 1998. (Revised June 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Dávila. "Purity Steel Corporation, 2012." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-038, November 1997. (Revised April 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Hamilton Financial Investments: A Franchise Built on Trust TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-059, June 1999. View Details
Simons, Robert. "Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 192-026, September 1991. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Dávila. "Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-036, December 1997. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Turner Construction Co.: Project Management Control Systems." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-124, May 1991. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Automatic Data Processing: The EFS Decision." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-170, April 1991. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert. "Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sales Force Incentives (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-198, April 1991. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Becton Dickinson: Designing the New Strategic, Operational, and Financial Planning Process TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-034, November 1997. (Revised June 1999.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Dávila. "Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-056, June 1999. (Revised May 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Roy Rogers Restaurants TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 199-054, June 1999. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Templates for Profit Planning." Harvard Business School Background Note 199-032, November 1998. (Revised December 1998.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Asea Brown Boveri (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 199-027, November 1998. (Revised December 1998.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Davila. "Chemalite, Inc. (B): Cash Flow Analysis." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 198-120, June 1998. (Revised March 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Hilary Weston. "Nordstrom: Dissension in the Ranks? (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 192-027, July 1990. (Revised April 1998.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Making the Grade (A)." Harvard Business School Case 198-083, December 1997. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Making the Grade (B)." Harvard Business School Case 198-084, December 1997. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Automatic Data Processing: The EFS Decision (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 197-018, September 1996. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Automatic Data Processing: The List." Harvard Business School Case 197-019, September 1996. View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Preparing and Using the Statement of Cash Flows." Harvard Business School Background Note 196-108, September 1995. (Revised June 1996.) View Details
Simons, Robert, and Antonio Davila. "Chemalite, Inc. (B): Cash Flow Analysis." Harvard Business School Case 195-130, September 1994. (Revised June 2017.) View Details
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Financial Reporting and Control, Course Overview." Harvard Business School Background Note 195-117, August 1994. (Revised July 1995.) View Details
Hawkins, David F., V.G. Narayanan, and Robert L. Simons. "AB SKA (Sweden)." Harvard Business School Case 195-180, December 1994. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Compliance Systems." Harvard Business School Case 189-081, January 1989. (Revised June 1993.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Mary Kay Cosmetics: Sales Force Incentives (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 190-122, March 1990. (Revised March 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "USA Today." Harvard Business School Case 191-004, January 1991. (Revised March 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "USA Today, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-194, May 1991. (Revised March 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Compliance Systems, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 190-051, October 1989. (Revised February 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Central Maine Power Co.: Goals and Objectives Program (A) and (B), Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-176, April 1991. (Revised February 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. IBM Corp: ""Make It Your Business"" (A) and (B), Teaching Note. Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-171, March 1991. (Revised February 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Marriott Corp.: The Internal Audit Function, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-193, May 1991. (Revised February 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Marriott Corp.: The Internal Audit Function." Harvard Business School Case 191-007, October 1990. (Revised January 1992.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Facts and Figures on Defense Procurement: The Department of Defense and Defense Procurement, An Overview." Harvard Business School Background Note 190-060, November 1989. (Revised June 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (A)--(H), Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 190-050, October 1989. (Revised June 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. IBM Corp.: ""Make It Your Business"" (A). Harvard Business School Case 190-137, March 1990. (Revised June 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "American Red Cross Blood Services: Northeast Region, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 191-167, May 1991. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (A)." Harvard Business School Case 189-009, January 1989. (Revised April 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Central Maine Power Co.: Goals and Objectives Program (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 190-105, February 1990. (Revised April 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Central Maine Power Co.: Goals and Objectives Program (A)." Harvard Business School Case 190-065, February 1990. (Revised April 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "American Red Cross Blood Services: Northeast Region." Harvard Business School Case 190-078, January 1990. (Revised March 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-010, January 1989. (Revised February 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-012, January 1989. (Revised February 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-013, January 1989. (Revised February 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (G)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-015, January 1989. (Revised February 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Valley Forge (H)." Harvard Business School Supplement 189-016, January 1989. (Revised February 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Rethinking the Role of Systems in Controlling Strategy." Harvard Business School Background Note 191-091, November 1990. (Revised January 1991.) View Details
Simons, Robert L. IBM Corp.: ""Make It Your Business"" (B). Harvard Business School Supplement 190-138, March 1990. (Revised April 1990.) View Details

Presentations

Simons, Robert L. "The Entrepreneurial Gap: How Managers Adjust Span of Accountability and Span of Control to Implement Business Strategy." Paper presented at the All-Island Innovation Conference, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 1, 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Designing Competitive Organizations." Paper presented at the All-Island Innovation Conference, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, October 31, 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the HBS Alumni Event, October 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the Harvard Talent Development Program, September 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the HBS Alumni Event, June 2013. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the HBS Alumni Event, October 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the HBS Alumni Event, June 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Designing Winning Organizations." Paper presented at the Marketing Science Institute Conference, April 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Designing Winning Organizations." Paper presented at the Conference on Performance Measurement and Management Control, European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management, March 2012. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "The Business of Business Schools." Paper presented at the Accounting Seminar Series, October 17, 2011. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the HBS Alumni Event, September 01, 2011. View Details
Simons, Robert L. "Seven Strategy Questions." Paper presented at the Harvard Business Review Webinar, March 01, 2011. View Details

Other Publications and Materials

Simons, Robert. "Henkel's Culture Shift." The Case Study. FT.com (October 8, 2012). View Details

Research Summary

Overview

Keywords: Strategy Execution; Organization Design; Management Control Systems; Performance Measurement; Competitiveness

Mastering Strategy Execution

I. Strategy Execution - Imperatives

Simons has summarized key strategy execution issues in the following book and related article:

Simons, R. Seven Strategy Questions: A Simple Approach for Better Execution, Harvard Business Review Press, 2010.

Simons, R. “Stress-Test Your Strategy,” Harvard Business Review (November 2010): 92-100.

Simons, R. “Choosing the Right Customer,” Harvard Business Review (March 2014): 48-55.

II. Strategy Execution Series

Managing Organizational Tensions
Building a Successful Strategy
Using Information for Performance Measurement and Control
Organizing for Performance
Building a Profit Plan
Evaluating Strategic Profit Performance
Designing Asset Allocation Systems
Linking Performance to Markets
Building a Balanced Scorecard
Using the Job Design Optimization Tool to Build Effective Organizations
Using Diagnostic and Interactive Control Systems
Aligning Performance Goals and Incentives
Identifying Strategic Risk
Managing Strategic Risk
Using the Levers of Control to Implement Strategy