Publications

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September 2019 (Revised June 2020)
Case

2U: Higher Education Rewired

By: Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Karim R. Lakhani

In its 2019 Partner Symposium, 2U, an online program management provider (OPM), showcased its new vision: “Career. Curriculum. Continuum. A construct for lifelong learning in the 21st century.” 2U, founded in 2008 and went public in 2014, was looking to expand beyond... View Details

Keywords: Digital Innovation; Architectural Innovation; Make V. Buy; Learning; Higher Education; Internet and the Web; Innovation Strategy; Transformation; Digital Transformation

Research Summary

Institutions and Corporate Lobbying

“Institutions and Make-or-Buy Decision of Lobbying: The Role of Sociopolitical Legitimacy on Foreign MNEs’ Lobbying Internalization”

In this study, I examine how legitimacy comes into play in foreign MNEs’ make-or-buy decisions... View Details

Keywords: Institutions; Make V. Buy; Lobbying; Legitimacy; Corruption; Culture; Multinational Enterprise; United States

2008
Simulation

DEC v. Riverside

By: David A. Lax, James K. Sebenius, Lawrence Susskind and Thomas Weeks

Riverside Lumber is a pulp manufacturer in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Riverside regularly dumps effluent into a nearby river. The Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) claims that the effluent is toxic and jeopardizes the local salmon catch.... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Conflict Management; Cooperation; Courts and Trials; Decision Choices and Conditions; Natural Environment; Negotiation; Pulp and Paper Industry; Northwestern United States

Kohler built the second largest plumbing supply company in the United States. He is also responsible for widening the company’s scope of production. Today, Kohler makes electric generators for standby power systems, yachts, motor homes,... View Details

Keywords: Fabricated Goods

June 1984 (Revised July 2005)
Case

Commissioner v. Duberstein

By: Henry B. Reiling

In two cases consolidated for decision, the Court articulates the tests to be used when deciding whether an item is income or a gift and therefore, not income. Both cases are colorful. The first involves the unsolicited receipt of a Cadillac. The second involves... View Details

Keywords: Law Enforcement; Decisions; Taxation

January 2005
Tutorial

Buying Time

By: Robert S. Kaplan

Managers must frequently make decisions involving trade-offs between cash flows to be paid or received at different points in time. Accountants, in turn, must describe transactions that involve the payment and/or receipt of cash far in the future. This interactive... View Details

Keywords: Cash Flow; Value; Interest Rates; Financial Statements

Research Summary

Corporate Lobbying Strategy and Foreign MNEs

“U.S. Defense Contracts and the Lobbying Strategies of Foreign MNEs: The Liability of Foreignness and Make-or-Buy Decisions about Political Goods”

Many firms engage in lobbying with the expectation that their lobbying efforts will... View Details

Keywords: Non-market Strategy; Political Strategy; Lobbying; Make V. Buy; Multinational Enterprise; Global Strategy; United States

October 1997 (Revised July 1999)
Case

Best Buy

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Balaji Chakravarthy

Documents the evolution of Best Buy, an electronics retailer, from its founding in 1966 to its very successful "Concept 2" strategy in 1996, boosting its sales ($7.2 billion) past industry #1 Circuit City. Its CEO Richard Schulze offers a new vision (Concept 3) to... View Details

Keywords: History; Business Model; Competitive Strategy; Adaptation; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customization and Personalization; Retail Industry

August 1990 (Revised November 1990)
Background Note

Note on Buying a Franchise

Helps the potential franchisee analyze the issues to be faced when considering opening or buying a franchise. What are the opportunities--what makes franchising attractive? How does someone look for and then evaluate a franchise? View Details

Keywords: Franchise Ownership

30 Dec 2019
News

Buying luxury items makes you feel less confident and authentic, study says

2002
Other Unpublished Work

Make versus Buy in Trucking: Asset Ownership, Job Design and Information

By: George P. Baker and Thomas N. Hubbard

Keywords: Truck Transportation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Ownership; Transportation Industry

Read Now

June 2012 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Best Buy in Crisis

By: John R. Wells and Galen Danskin

In June 2012, Best Buy was in crisis. In 1996, Best Buy overtook Circuit City as the world's leader in consumer electronics retailing; however, 18 years later, Best Buy now found this position threatened. With $51 billion in revenues, it was still the biggest CE... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Forecasting and Prediction; Competitive Strategy; Ethics; Management Teams; Consumer Products Industry; Electronics Industry; Retail Industry

Under pressure to break-up IBM, Gerstner instead went against the tide of expectation and kept IBM in one piece. He went on to make IBM more competitive by announcing downsizing and a new vision for the company called network... View Details

Keywords: Computers & Electronics

27 Apr 2016
News

Vivek Wadhwa: Apple should buy Tesla and make Elon Musk CEO

2000
Other Paper

Make versus Buy in Trucking: Asset Ownership, Job Design and Information

By: George P. Baker and Thomas Hubbard

31 Jan 2014
News

Research Shows Which TV Ads Are Likely to Make Multitaskers Buy

28 Jun 2013
News

How Money Actually Buys Happiness

01 Jan 2005
News

Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., MBA 1965

answers." ADVICE TO CURRENT STUDENTS "One of the most important elements of leadership is fairness. You have to be consistent in the decisions that you make and the messages that you deliver. An organization looks to you as representative... View Details

September 2006
Case

Stedman Place: Buy or Rent?

By: Andre F. Perold and David S. Scharfstein

A couple has to decide whether to continue renting a townhouse or buy the one next door. Allows for a discussion of net present value, internal rate of return, and the costs and benefits of homeownership. View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Decisions; Asset Pricing; Investment Return; Housing; Family Ownership; Renting or Rental; Valuation