Publications

16 Aug 2010
Lessons from the Classroom

HBS Introduces Marketing Analysis Tools for Managers

Steenburgh of HBS and Jill Avery (HBS DBA'07) of Simmons School of Management. We asked Steenburgh to explain how practitioners can use the toolkits in their businesses. Sarah Jane Gilbert: Can you describe the marketing analysis... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert

August 2016 (Revised December 2016)
Module Note

Strategy Execution Module 2: Building a Successful Strategy

By: Robert Simons

This module reading describes the basics of building a successful strategy. Topics in this module include a discussion of the distinction between corporate and business strategy; how to conduct a SWOT analysis of market dynamics and internal capabilities; the use of... View Details

Keywords: Management Control Systems; Implementing Strategy; Strategy Execution; Business Strategy; Five Forces; Distinctive Capabilities; Emergent Strategy; Mission Statements; Strategy; SWOT Analysis; Competitive Advantage

November 2000 (Revised June 2001)
Case

Ventro: Builder of B2B Businesses

By: Lynda M. Applegate and Meredith Collura

Enables a thorough analysis of Ventro (formerly known as Chemdex), which builds and operates multiple B2B marketplace companies. Examines Ventro's business model and strategy as well as the company's operating, technical, and management expertise. Part of the... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Entrepreneurship; Technological Innovation; Management; Business or Company Management; SWOT Analysis; Organizational Structure; Business Strategy; Information Technology Industry; Service Industry

20 Apr 2023
Blog Post

Tackle the First 90 Days of Your Next Role: A 5 Step Process for Success on the Job

4 you will be identifying key themes – both from what you did hear and what you didn’t hear in your stakeholder interviews. Were there any inconsistencies you noticed that might require clarification? From all of the data collected, you will then be able to conduct a... View Details

July 1984 (Revised September 1986)
Case

CML Group, Inc.: Going Public (A)

By: William A. Sahlman

Describes a series of decisions confronting Charles Leighton, co-founder and chairman of the CML Group. CML is a successful participant in the leisure time industry with two lines of business: specialty retailing and recreational consumer products. The key issues in... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Going Public; Strategy; Business or Company Management; Cost vs Benefits; SWOT Analysis; Investment Banking; Financing and Loans; Planning; Corporate Finance; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry

Find at Harvard

04 Sep 2013
What Do You Think?

How Relevant is Long-Range Strategic Planning?

planning concepts such as SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, the "five forces," growth share matrices, five-year plans, and an emphasis on core competencies of the firm may lead to competitive... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

09 Mar 2010
First Look

First Look: March 9

run as a public utility. The Panamanian government, in contrast, has run the Canal as a for-profit corporation, increasing safety and decreasing costs along the way. Maurer and Yu's nuanced analysis of the contribution of the United... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

Web

Topics - HBS Working Knowledge

Uncertainty (36) SWOT Analysis (5) Safety (13) Salesforce Management (18) Sales (30) Satisfaction (11) Saving (5) Science-Based Business (7) Science (237) Search Technology (22) Segmentation (1) Selection... View Details

July 2007
Case

Kristen's Cookie Company (A) (Abridged)

By: Roger E. Bohn and Janice H. Hammond

The student is starting his or her own business, baking make-to-order cookies. Basic times of each operation are laid out and the student is asked to determine the consequences for the operating system. Serves as an exercise and review of concepts such as capacity,... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Growth Management; SWOT Analysis; Operations; Outcome or Result; Performance Capacity

22 Jul 2002
Research & Ideas

How Business Strategy Tamed the “Invisible Hand”

devised, which paved the way for the use of quantitative analysis in formal strategic planning. In 1944, John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern published their classic work, The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. This work essentially... View Details

Keywords: by Pankaj Ghemawat

05 May 2010
What Do You Think?

Is Denial Endemic to Management?

the T (threats) and W (weaknesses) in SWOT analyses (Thomas Stephens, Jr.). Looking over the suggestions, I'm struck by the fact that they include behavioral, structural, and even mechanical remedies. They raise questions about how... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

16 Apr 2008
Lessons from the Classroom

Chris Christensen: Legend of the Classroom

and an inspiration for the next generation of strategy scholars. Its direct impact on practice could be seen subsequently in the work of The Boston Consulting Group and other firms that employed what became known as the SWOT View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg; Education

August 2008
Teaching Note

Opportunity Assessment (TN)

By: Howard H. Stevenson and Shirley Spence

Teaching Note for [808043], [808105], and [808106]. View Details

Keywords: SWOT Analysis

Fast Answer

Biotech, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals: Industry/Market Overview/Analysis

Where to find market overview and analysis for industries of biotech, medical devices and pharmaceuticals? The following are the top databases for industry/market analysis in the spaces of biotech, medical... View Details

Fast Answer

Biotech, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals: Business and Management focused topics

ABI/ProQuest - articles from academic and industry publications that covers all aspects of business and management topics, including some company SWOT analysis and quarterly industry... View Details

Fast Answer

Building and Sustaining a Successful Enterprise

Workspace check out our Learn with Baker Library LSEG Workspace Introduction. Industry/market analysis EMIS – global industry/market reports... View Details

01 Jun 2008
News

Faculty Books

develop an effective strategy (with tools such as SWOT analysis and strategic-change agendas); plan execution of the strategy (through portfolios of strategic initiatives linked to strategy maps and Balanced... View Details

Keywords: Educational Services; Business Schools & Computer & Management Training; Educational Services; Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information; Management

Fast Answer

HBS Alumni Research Tips: Finding Company News & Industry Research

IoT, digital business, robotics and drones, and security tech. For industry information click on sectors. For trends and insight click on analysis. There are many frameworks for analysis here such as Insights & Trends, Consumer... View Details

August 1999 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Catanese and Vulcan (A)

By: V.G. Narayanan and Sanjay Pothen

A small CPA firm puts in a new performance measurement system, and profits increase by 350% in less than a year. This case illustrates the reasons for improved profitability as well as the sustainability of levels of growth, the opportunities, and the threats that... View Details

Keywords: Cost Accounting; Performance Evaluation; SWOT Analysis; Profit