Publications

February 2014
Article

Governance and CEO Turnover: Do Something or Do the Right Thing?

By: Ray Fisman, Rakesh Khurana, Matthew Rhodes-Kropf and Soojin Yim

We study how corporate governance affects firm value through the decision of whether to fire or retain the CEO. We present a model in which weak governance—which prevents shareholders from controlling the board—protects inferior CEOs from dismissal, while at the same... View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Value; Retention; Resignation and Termination; Corporate Governance; Management Teams; Business and Shareholder Relations

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March 2012
Background Note

Managing the Layoff Process: India

By: Sandra J. Sucher

This note is an overview of the context for managing layoffs in India. It describes the legal responsibilities of managers in conducting layoffs, recent unemployment trends, and the financial, health, training, job placement, and other benefits that laid-off employees... View Details

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Resignation and Termination; Compensation and Benefits; Ethics; Management; Employees; Governance Compliance; India

March 2012
Background Note

Managing the Layoff Process: The United States

By: Sandra J. Sucher

This note is an overview of the context for managing layoffs in the United States. It describes the legal responsibilities of managers in conducting layoffs, recent unemployment trends, and the financial, health, training, job placement, and other benefits that... View Details

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Resignation and Termination; Compensation and Benefits; Ethics; Management; Employees; Governance Compliance; United States

June 2005 (Revised July 2009)
Case

Financial Reporting Problems at Molex, Inc. (A)

By: Paul M. Healy

Following an accounting problem at Molex, the firm's auditors request changes in management. The board of directors has to decide whether the auditors' concerns have merit or whether, as management argues, the accounting issue is immaterial. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Governing and Advisory Boards; Financial Reporting; Relationships; Resignation and Termination; Accounting Audits

03 Sep 2009
What Do You Think?

Are Retention Bonuses Worth the Investment?

organizations known for their prowess in developing their employees have to bear? What do you think? Original Article Last March 25, Jake DeSantis, then an executive vice president with American International Group, published his View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

17 Jul 2000
What Do You Think?

Where Is the Microsoft Board?

board still looks a lot like that of a start-up. Of the typically seven members in recent years, only two could be regarded as outsiders. Last year, two of the outsiders failed to meet board or committee attendance guidelines generally thought appropriate for public... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

Article

Five Ways to Bungle a Job Change

By: Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams

The article focuses on career development and job change. The challenges, transaction costs, and risks associated with job moves are discussed. The authors' research with executives is noted. The mistakes in career development that job hunters make are not doing enough... View Details

Keywords: Change; Resignation and Termination; Job Search; Managerial Roles; Personal Development and Career; Strategic Planning

02 Oct 2008
What Do You Think?

Workout vs. Bailout: Should Government Take Advantage of the Buffett Effect?

on someone else (government intervention)." But at the same time, most were resigned to the necessity of government action. In Tom Henkel's words, "Government intervention, while appalling, is really the only short-term fix." One at least... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

30 Jun 2019
Working Paper Summaries

The Comprehensive Effects of Sales Force Management: A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Selection, Compensation, and Training

Keywords: by Doug J. Chung, Byungyeon Kim, and Byoung G. Park

January 2011
Case

William Jeffrey Departs from Bay Colony Mutual

By: Lena G. Goldberg

A board's decision-making and process in investigating and terminating a company's CEO are explored and the company's policies and contractual obligations considered. View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Policy; Resignation and Termination; Contracts; Leadership

August 2009 (Revised August 2012)
Case

Cabot Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

By: Frank V. Cespedes and John T. Gourville

Traces the 12-year career of a pharmaceutical salesperson, Bob Marsh, from recruitment to termination. Marsh has had an uneven career with Cabot Pharmaceuticals and eventually is asked to resign. Following his termination, a number of Marsh's former customers complain... View Details

Keywords: Customer Relationship Management; Employees; Resignation and Termination; Performance Evaluation; Salesforce Management; Alignment; Pharmaceutical Industry

May 2004 (Revised June 2004)
Case

Sarvega

By: Paul A. Gompers and Vanessa del Valle Broussard

David Cowan, general partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, has taken the lead on Sarvega, a Bessemer-backed company that was recently orphaned by the departure of one of Bessemer's other general partners. Cowan must decide whether to reinvest in Sarvega and, if so,... View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Venture Capital; Investment; Governance Compliance; Resignation and Termination; Negotiation Deal; Partners and Partnerships; Information Technology Industry

13 May 2008
First Look

First Look: May 13, 2008

community-based health center) are also discussed. Purchase this case: http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=308072 Global Climate Change and BP Harvard Business School Case 708-026 Following the sudden View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

17 Jul 2017
Op-Ed

Op-Ed: As America Recedes from Global Leadership, Its CEOs are Stepping Up

action by any president, Democrat or Republican. CEOs speaking out against Trump’s climate decision ranged from energy executives like Exxon’s Darren Woods, Dow’s Andrew Liveris, and Tesla’s Elon Musk to Disney’s Bob Iger and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon. Iger and Musk... View Details

Keywords: by Bill George

03 Jan 2016
Research & Ideas

NFL Black Monday: How Much Do Coaches Really Matter?

East title and ranking second in the league both offensively and defensively. At the end of the season, Jimmy Johnson resigned as head coach, unable to work harmoniously with Jerry Jones. Jones hired Barry Switzer of the University of... View Details

Keywords: by Boris Groysberg & Abhijit Naik; Sports

November 2021
Article

The Comprehensive Effects of Sales Force Management: A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Selection, Compensation, and Training

By: Doug J. Chung, Byungyeon Kim and Byoung G. Park

This study provides a comprehensive model of an agent’s behavior in response to multiple sales management instruments, including compensation, recruiting/termination, and training. The model on agents’ behavior takes into account many of the key elements that... View Details

Keywords: Salesforce Management; Recruitment; Selection and Staffing; Compensation and Benefits; Resignation and Termination; Training; Behavior; Analysis

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07 Jan 2002
What Do You Think?

Did Consumer Behavior Tracking Come of Age on September 11?

observed, "Chat rooms and corporate message boards have had a much more profound change on the privacy of business organizations than the tragic events of 9/11." There is almost a tone of resignation in the responses. For... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

September 2019
Exercise

Difficult Conversations (A)

By: Shikhar Ghosh and Shweta Bagai

The exercises can be used as a follow-up to the Yesware (A) case (#816-039), or in conjunction with any case that involves replacing a founding team member (and/or providing feedback to a top executive). This is a role-playing exercise, and has been carried out in the... View Details

Keywords: Firing; Feedback; Founders; Culture; Values; Neuroscience; Business Startups; Organizational Culture; Resignation and Termination; Communication; Emotions; Trust; Human Resources; Entrepreneurship

March 2008 (Revised October 2008)
Supplement

Lisa Sherman (B)

By: Bill George and Jens Audenaert

The case of Lisa Sherman (B) describes a highly successful executive at Verizon, who decides to leave the company because of the negative views of gays and lesbians expressed at a diversity training workshop, and her final meeting with Verizon CEO Ray Smith to describe... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Personal Development and Career; Retention; Resignation and Termination; Diversity; Government and Politics