Publications

16 May 2017
News

Facing the Board

percent control of BlackRock. “Are you recommending we grow domestically?” asked Gordon. “Initially, yes,” said Kashyap. “We are not ready for the combination of both retail and expanding abroad, neither of which we have much experience... View Details

Keywords: Jennifer Myers; photos by Susan Young; Blackrock; The Boardroom

14 Sep 2016
Research & Ideas

Web Surfers Have a Schedule and Stick to It

NOTICE For web-based businesses looking to attract users, the implications have some interesting strategy considerations, although this is not a large focus of the study. “To reach people, you can’t do what you usually do, which is have a... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Retail; Retail

16 Jan 2018
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, January 16, 2018

change). They can be used to diagnose a culture and to model how likely an individual leader is to align with and shape it. The authors offer five insights regarding culture's effect on companies' success: (1) When aligned with strategy... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

March 2011
Teaching Note

Sniffing Out Opportunities at PetSmart (TN)

By: V.G. Narayanan and Lisa Brem

Teaching Note for #110-025. View Details

Keywords: Balanced Scorecard; Strategy; Opportunities; Retail Industry

August 2002 (Revised February 2005)
Case

Gillette Company (D): Implementing Change

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter

How a strategic change agenda is implemented depends on leaders below the top in every function and geographic region translating the agenda into actions. But those actions do not always unfold as planned. This case examines the first 16 months of a turnaround from the... View Details

Keywords: Business History; Competitive Strategy; Strategic Planning; Change Management; Organizational Design; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Behavior; Leading Change; Retail Industry

May 1999 (Revised August 1999)
Case

Westfield America

By: William J. Poorvu, Richard S. Tedlow and Daniel J. Rudd

The company is attempting to duplicate its Australian formula for successful mall ownership in the U.S. market. It must deal with rapidly evolving financial markets while recognizing and capitalizing on emerging trends in retailing. View Details

Keywords: Market Entry and Exit; Adaptation; Financial Markets; Property; Trends; Retail Industry; Retail Industry; Australia; United States

Find at Harvard

August 2002 (Revised February 2005)
Case

Gillette Company (B): Leadership for Change

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and James Weber

Describes the actions and behavior of a new CEO in his first days and weeks as he sets expectations for his top management team and introduces processes and disciplines to begin the turnaround of a global consumer products company. View Details

Keywords: Business Strategy; Policy; Change Management; Leading Change; Motivation and Incentives; Strategic Planning; Retail Industry

01 Jun 2018
News

Disrupting India’s Dental Market

dentists. (Just under half of the clinics are in Delhi and its surroundings.) Singh plans to open 600 clinics by 2020, and then develop a strategy for another stage of rapid growth. “I have to show a path from 600 to 6,000 if I am to... View Details

Keywords: Sasha Issenberg

13 Apr 2015
Research & Ideas

3 Ways Firms Can Profit From Environmental Investments

In the course of her work, Rebecca Henderson meets business executives who don't address the threat of climate change because they don't believe that it exists. Her recommendation: They should consider investments in environmental sustainability anyway, assuming that... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Energy; Utilities

20 Jan 2010
First Look

First Look: Jan. 20

self-report of a licensee. Self-reporting gives rise to demand for auditing by the licensor or third-party attestation by the licensee. We characterize the optimal royalty contract, accounting system choice by the licensee, and audit View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

December 2010 (Revised March 2012)
Teaching Note

Alibaba Group

By: Julie M. Wulf

Teaching Note for 710436. View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Business Subsidiaries; Competition; Motivation and Incentives; Internet and the Web; Growth and Development; Corporate Strategy; Organizational Structure; Retail Industry; China

26 Sep 2024
Blog Post

Syngenta Tomato Vision

when creating a new type of tomato with the right product-market fit. Syngenta also works closely with retailers and growers to develop new products to ensure it is not only meeting the needs of consumers, but also for the growers (for... View Details

01 Jun 1999
News

Sheila Lirio Marcelo

complete overhaul of an important booklet articulating the role of Ed Reps, while helping to strengthen the MBA Academic Committee. In addition, she revitalized the troubled HBS Ventures, a collection of campus businesses ranging from printing operations to View Details

Keywords: Marguerite Rigoglioso

26 Jul 2016
News

Alumni Capture the Essence of Pokemon GO Craze

locations and retailers to provide ‘real world’ ($) rewards to players.” Many alumni see possibilities and potential in other areas: “Augmented reality can definitely revolutionize e-commerce and mobile-friendly brand apps,” said Ameera... View Details

Keywords: Arts, Entertainment

20 Mar 2012
News

Robotics Warehouse Company Now Part of Amazon

Keywords: robots; robotics; warehouse; Retail Trade; Retail Trade; Retail Trade; Retail Trade

March 1997 (Revised April 1998)
Case

Amazon.com (A)

By: Jeffrey F. Rayport

Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, an Internet-based bookseller, has created one of the most successful ventures for electronic commerce on the Web. With revenue growing at a pace of 30% per month, Bezos attributes the success of Amazon.com to its value... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Internet and the Web; Entrepreneurship; Retail Industry

11 Dec 2012
First Look

First Look: Dec. 11

conditions. During normal or expansion periods in the economy, the dynamics of cost of capital generate an upward sloping term structure; however, in times of high economic uncertainty, the term structure flattens and can be downward... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

February 2025
Teaching Note

Influencer-Led Brand Building: Hairitage and the McKnights

By: William R. Kerr and James Palano

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 825-066. Mindy McKnight started in 2009 as an early influencer on social media whose videos of creative hairstyles for girls launched her family on an entrepreneurship journey. The McKnights transitioned from YouTube ad revenue to brand... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Social Media; Entrepreneurship; Brands and Branding; Product Launch; Power and Influence; Expansion; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

March 1999 (Revised July 1999)
Case

Crunch

By: Paul W. Marshall and Jeremy Dann

Entrepreneur Doug Levine runs a fitness company with an incredibly powerful brand. His company leverages the brand to expand, both in terms of facilities and lines of business. But he may need to make significant organizational changes in order to continue the growth. View Details

Keywords: Buildings and Facilities; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Expansion; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Startups; Brands and Branding; Service Industry; Health Industry