Publications

This note describes how American votes, and explores several structural issues to U.S. elections. View Details

Keywords: Political Elections; Voting; Public Administration Industry; United States

August 2024
Case

Getting into the Arena (A): Shelane Etchison

By: Robert F. White and David Allen

This case explores the political campaign of Shelane Etchison, a pioneering U.S. Army veteran and double-degree Harvard graduate who ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District in 2024. Seeking office for the first time,... View Details

Keywords: Political Elections; Motivation and Incentives; Strategy; Public Administration Industry; United States; North Carolina

August 2024 (Revised November 2024)
Case

No Labels and the 2024 Presidential Insurance Plan

By: Robert F. White and Tom Quinn

After observing record voter dissatisfaction with the choices in the 2024 U.S. presidential election—Democratic nominee President Joe Biden and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump—the bipartisan nonprofit No Labels decided to reserve ballot access in... View Details

Keywords: Disruption; Forecasting and Prediction; Lawsuits and Litigation; Failure; System Shocks; Political Elections; Motivation and Incentives; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; United States

August 2024
Background Note

Brief Note on Congressional and Down-Ballot Races (2024)

This brief note explains the other elections that occur in the United States at the same time as the presidential election. View Details

Keywords: Political Elections; Public Administration Industry; United States

August 2024
Background Note

Brief Note on the U.S. Presidential Electoral Process (2024)

A note describing the history and mechanics of the United States' presidential election system, the electoral college. View Details

Keywords: Political Elections; Public Administration Industry; United States

August 2024 (Revised October 2024)
Background Note

Brief Note on U.S. Political Parties and the Presidential Nominating Process (2024)

This note gives a brief overview of the major U.S. political parties and how they nominate presidential candidates. View Details

Keywords: Government and Politics; Public Administration Industry; United States

August 2024
Case

The Political Money Machine and Senator Cruz

By: Robert F. White and Jimena Marquez

This caselet explores campaign finance rules in U.S. elections, as illustrated through a fundraising memo for Senator Ted Cruz. View Details

Keywords: Political Elections; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Communication; Public Administration Industry; United States

August 2024
Background Note

A Brief Note on U.S. Presidential Transitions

This note provides background information on the U.S. presidential transition process, including the history of presidential transitions, the modern transition process, and the responsibilities of the executive branch. It includes a brief overview of the primary laws... View Details

Keywords: Transition; Government Administration; Selection and Staffing; Political Elections; Laws and Statutes; Public Administration Industry; United States

April 2023
Teaching Note

MAYA Capital

By: Robert F. White, Carla Larangeira and Pedro Levindo

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 822-038. View Details

September 2021 (Revised November 2022)
Case

MAYA Capital

By: Robert F. White, Carla Larangeira and Pedro Levindo

MAYA Capital co-founders Lara Lemann and Monica Saggioro raised $41.5 million through a series of closings for their early-stage Latin American venture capital fund. The two women had met for the first time in mid-2016 when Lemann was contemplating scaling her angel... View Details

Keywords: Early Stage; Portfolio Construction; Fund Management; Investment; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Investment Portfolio; Strategy; Business Startups; Management; Investment Funds; Latin America

May 2019 (Revised February 2020)
Case

Bill Cummings: The Cummings Way

By: Christina R. Wing, Robert F. White and Michael Norris

In 2019, Bill Cummings, founder of Cummings Properties and Cummings Foundation and billionaire signer of the Giving Pledge, is winding down his roles at his company and foundation. How should the management move the company forward? View Details

Keywords: Real Estate Development; Philanthropy; Family Business; Nonprofit Organizations; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Management Succession; Real Estate Industry; United States; Boston

November 2018 (Revised December 2020)
Technical Note

Initial Coin Offerings in 2018

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang, Ramana Nanda, Robert F. White and Nathaniel Schwalb

In 2018, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) were an emerging fundraising method for blockchain-based projects. As the ecosystem grew, there were many open questions on regulation, pricing, and even which projects were a good fit for blockchain. However, there was already... View Details

Keywords: Blockchain; Initial Coin Offerings; ICO; Decentralization; Networks; Protocols; Entrepreneurship; Project Finance

November 2018 (Revised June 2019)
Case

CleanWater, Inc.: Running Dry & Out of Time

By: Ramana Nanda, Robert F. White, Shai Bernstein and James Barnett

August 2018
Technical Note

Evaluating Start Ups

By: William A. Sahlman, Ramana Nanda and Robert F. White

A framework for assessing new business opportunities and the business plans used to describe them is developed. Useful for aspiring entrepreneurs in MBA programs. View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Business Plan; Opportunities