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- All HBS Web
(1,686)
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- News (353)
- Research (1,093)
- Events (5)
- Multimedia (39)
- Faculty Publications (630)
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- 09 Sep 2009
- First Look
First Look: September 9
Working PapersOperational Failures and Problem Solving: An Empirical Study of Incident Reporting Authors:Julia Adler-Milstein, Sara J. Singer, and Michael W. Toffel Abstract Operational failures occur in... View Details
Keywords: Martha Lagace
- March 2018 (Revised September 2023)
- Case
X: The Foghorn Decision
In February 2016, Kathy Hannun—a project leader at X, Alphabet Inc.'s so-called "moonshot factory"—had to prepare a recommendation for the senior leadership of X regarding the future of Foghorn, a project she was leading to develop a carbon-neutral process for... View Details
Keywords: Innovation; R＆D Project Management; Radical Innovation; Clean Technology; Innovation and Management; Technological Innovation; Energy; Research and Development; Projects; Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Technology Industry; Energy Industry; Green Technology Industry; California
Huckman, Robert S., Karim R. Lakhani, and Kyle R. Myers. "X: The Foghorn Decision." Harvard Business School Case 618-060, March 2018. (Revised September 2023.)
- September 2009
- Article
Hidden Roadblocks in Cross-Border Talks
While most analysts and dealmakers are aware of "cultural" differences in negotiations that cross national borders--different protocol and process expectations, differences in the role of the individual versus the group, differences in attitudes toward risk and time,... View Details
Keywords: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Negotiation Tactics; Risk Management; Time Management; Strategy; Governance; Performance Expectations; Attitudes; Culture; Decision Making
Sebenius, James K. "Hidden Roadblocks in Cross-Border Talks." Negotiation 12, no. 9 (September 2009): 8.
- 17 Dec 2009
- Working Paper Summaries
Integrity: Without It Nothing Works
Keywords: by Michael C. Jensen
- June 2019
- Technical Note
Valuing Employee Equity at Early Stage Ventures
By: Shikhar Ghosh, Christopher Stanton and Sanchali Pal
The note introduces a framework to consider factors that influence the value of employee equity at early stage ventures. Valuing equity is complex, and it important to account for expected dilution, assess exit potential, and acknowledge the high rate of failure in... View Details
Ghosh, Shikhar, Christopher Stanton, and Sanchali Pal. "Valuing Employee Equity at Early Stage Ventures." Harvard Business School Technical Note 819-167, June 2019.
- Article
Managing Alliances with the Balanced Scorecard
By: Robert S. Kaplan, David P. Norton and Bjarne Rugelsjoen
The article addresses failures in strategic alliances and illustrates, via a detailed description of the successful strategic alliance between Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Quintiles company how the creation of a strategy map and Balanced Scorecard helps align the... View Details
Keywords: Alliances; Balanced Scorecard; Employees; Alignment; Corporate Governance; Interests; Management Practices and Processes; Goals and Objectives; Partners and Partnerships
Kaplan, Robert S., David P. Norton, and Bjarne Rugelsjoen. "Managing Alliances with the Balanced Scorecard." Harvard Business Review 88, nos. 1/2 (January–February 2010): 114–120.
- December 2010
- Background Note
Risk and Reward in Venture Capital
This note describes the payoff structure of investment in individual venture capital–backed companies and in venture capital portfolios. Venture Capital investments are characterized by high failure rate (0ver 50%) and a small number of given successes (greater than... View Details
Keywords: Capital Markets; Venture Capital; Investment Return; Investment Portfolio; Analytics and Data Science; Failure; Performance; Information Technology
Sahlman, William A. "Risk and Reward in Venture Capital." Harvard Business School Background Note 811-036, December 2010.
- January 11, 2021
- Article
The Breach of the U.S. Capitol Was a Breach of Trust
By: Sandra J. Sucher and Shalene Gupta
This article frames the January 6th attack of the U.S. Capitol as a betrayal of our trust in government. Using Sucher and Gupta’s trust framework, the article explains how the attacks were a failure of the four elements of trust: competence, motives, fair means, and... View Details
Sucher, Sandra J., and Shalene Gupta. "The Breach of the U.S. Capitol Was a Breach of Trust." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (January 11, 2021).
- March 9, 2023
- Article
Linking Growth and the Frontline
By: Frank V. Cespedes, Jay Galeota and Michael Wong
Most strategies are about growing the business. But about one quarter of companies do not grow at all and, even before the pandemic, only one in eight achieved more than 10% revenue growth annually, according to data from S&P Global regulatory filings. One reason is a... View Details
Cespedes, Frank V., Jay Galeota, and Michael Wong. "Linking Growth and the Frontline." Sales & Marketing Management (website) (March 9, 2023).
- May 2007 (Revised July 2007)
- Case
JetBlue: Prepare for Financing
The CFO of JetBlue is trying to decide which of two financing proposals to pursue. A straight equity issue will dilute his principal shareholders' ownership, but seems like the safer alternative in an industry that is notorious for its high failure rate. On the other... View Details
Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Private Equity; Public Equity; Financing and Loans; Air Transportation Industry; United States
El-Hage, Nabil N., Darren Robert Smart, and Christopher Edward James Payton. "JetBlue: Prepare for Financing." Harvard Business School Case 207-061, May 2007. (Revised July 2007.)
- 2013
- Working Paper
Work Design Drivers of Organizational Learning about Operational Failures: A Laboratory Experiment on Medication Administration
By: Anita L. Tucker
Operational failures persist in hospitals, in part because employees work around them rather than attempt to prevent recurrence. Drawing on a process improvement tool—the Andon cord—we examine three work design components that may foster improvement-oriented behaviors:... View Details
Keywords: Health Care; Process Improvement; Organizational Learning; Behavioral Operations; Prosocial Behavior; Experiments; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Behavior; Performance Improvement; Health Care and Treatment; Business Processes; Health Industry
Tucker, Anita L. "Work Design Drivers of Organizational Learning about Operational Failures: A Laboratory Experiment on Medication Administration." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 13-044, November 2012. (Revised September 2013.)
- December 2021 (Revised January 2023)
- Supplement
Katerra (B)
By: Lindsay N. Hyde, Thomas R. Eisenmann and Tom Quinn
In May 2020, SoftBank executives, having invested nearly $2 billion in Katerra, decided the vision of an end-to-end, vertically-integrated construction process was worth saving—with some major changes to company structure. The SoftBank Vision Fund invested $200 million... View Details
Keywords: Business Startups; Failure; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Entrepreneurship; Construction; Real Estate Industry; Construction Industry; Technology Industry; United States
Hyde, Lindsay N., Thomas R. Eisenmann, and Tom Quinn. "Katerra (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 822-025, December 2021. (Revised January 2023.)
- December 1996 (Revised October 1999)
- Case
Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits
By: Robert L. Simons and Antonio Davila
On April 17, 1994, Kidder, Peabody & Co. announced a $350 million charge against earnings resulting from the discovery of false trading profits. That same day, the termination of Joseph Jett's employment with the company was made public. By illustrating the mechanics... View Details
Keywords: Bonds; Governance Controls; Crime and Corruption; Financial Reporting; Profit; Financial Strategy
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits." Harvard Business School Case 197-038, December 1996. (Revised October 1999.)
- April 1999 (Revised September 1999)
- Case
Compaq Computer: Consumer Notebook Group
By: David E. Bell and Ann Leamon
Presents the background for a video of a focus group on Compaq Computer's new consumer notebook. Engineers, manufacturers, and retailers had collaborated on the product design, which has been approved by the executive committee. A launch is scheduled for nine months... View Details
Keywords: Human Resources; Product Launch; Product Design; Outcome or Result; Social and Collaborative Networks; Corporate Strategy; Computer Industry
Bell, David E., and Ann Leamon. "Compaq Computer: Consumer Notebook Group." Harvard Business School Case 599-053, April 1999. (Revised September 1999.)
- September 2023
- Case
The Rise and Fall of FTX
In November 2022, Sam Bankman-Fried's multi-billion-dollar crypto exchange, FTX, collapsed, wiping out investors and throwing the crypto industry into disarray. As FTX's founder and CEO, Bankman-Fried developed a reputation for his unerring business sense and... View Details
Keywords: Cryptocurrency; Crime and Corruption; Financial Statements; Misleading and Fraudulent Advertising; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Corporate Governance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Failure; Restructuring; United States; Hong Kong; Bahamas
Dey, Aiyesha, Jonas Heese, Joseph Pacelli, and Max Hancock. "The Rise and Fall of FTX." Harvard Business School Case 124-014, September 2023.
- July 19, 2021
- Article
Do Most Family Businesses Really Fail by the Third Generation?
By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer
Perhaps the most commonly-cited statistic about family businesses is their failure rates. Most articles or speeches about family businesses start with some version of the “three-generation rule,” which suggests that most don’t survive beyond three generations. But that... View Details
Baron, Josh, and Rob Lachenauer. "Do Most Family Businesses Really Fail by the Third Generation?" Harvard Business Review (website) (July 19, 2021).
- Article
Agree to Disagree: Frank Discussion, Attention to Cultural Fit Can Help Avoid Recruiting Errors
Almost everyone in health care has heard this story: With great fanfare a hospital recruits an outside star to lead a clinical program, academic department, or division. Within months it is clear to almost everyone that the marriage is a failure. To better understand... View Details
Jain, Sachin H. "Agree to Disagree: Frank Discussion, Attention to Cultural Fit Can Help Avoid Recruiting Errors." Modern Healthcare 39, no. 8 (February 23, 2009).
- November 22, 2022
- Article
Why Startups Should Embrace Radical Transparency
After high-profile startup failures like FTX or Theranos, investors, employees, customers, and policymakers all ask what might have been done differently to ensure accountability and prevent mismanagement. But startup founders should join that list: It’s in their... View Details
Bussgang, Jeffrey J. "Why Startups Should Embrace Radical Transparency." Harvard Business Review (website) (November 22, 2022).
- November 2018
- Case
Swissgrid: Enterprise Risk Management in a Digital Age
By: Robert S. Kaplan and Anette Mikes
Kurt Meyer, chief risk officer of Swissgrid, the Swiss national electricity transmission system operator, reflects on the risk management system he installed after the deregulation and liberalization of the European energy market. With 41 connections to other European... View Details
Keywords: Enterprise Risk Management; Energy Transmission; Risk and Uncertainty; Risk Management; Energy; Energy Industry; Utilities Industry; Switzerland
Kaplan, Robert S., and Anette Mikes. "Swissgrid: Enterprise Risk Management in a Digital Age." Harvard Business School Case 119-045, November 2018.
- September 2004
- Article
Rational Overoptimism (and Other Biases)
Rational agents with differing priors tend to be overoptimistic about their chances of success. In particular, an agent who tries to choose the action that is most likely to succeed, is more likely to choose an action of which he overestimated, rather than... View Details
Keywords: Prejudice and Bias; Decision Choices and Conditions; Performance Expectations; Outcome or Result; Opportunities; Risk and Uncertainty; Failure; Success; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Personal Characteristics; Values and Beliefs; Ethics
Van den Steen, Eric J. "Rational Overoptimism (and Other Biases)." American Economic Review 94, no. 4 (September 2004): 1141–1151.