Publications

August 2007 (Revised October 2022)
Case

Ken Durham and Unilever as a 'Multi-Local Multinational'

By: Geoffrey Jones and Stephanie Decker

Explores the opportunities and threats to Unilever's global business in 1978 based on the commercial and political challenges faced by three of its subsidiaries, Lever Brothers in the United States, Hindustan Lever in India, and United Africa Company in West Africa.... View Details

Keywords: Business Divisions; Local Range; Global Strategy; Multinational Firms and Management; Management Style; Competitive Strategy; Africa; India; United States

September 20, 2004
Comment

How Consumers Value Global Brands

By: Douglas Holt, John A. Quelch and Earl L. Taylor

In 2002, we carried out a two-stage research project in partnership with the market research company Research International/USA to find out how consumers in different countries value global brands. First, we conducted a qualitative study in forty-one countries to... View Details

Keywords: Global Brands; Brand Value; Multi-national Brands; Social Responsibility; Global Range; Multinational Firms and Management; Globalized Markets and Industries; Brands and Branding; Social Marketing; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact

09 Jun 2009
First Look

First Look: June 9

and professional activities of academic biomedical scientists. In qualitative and quantitative analyses, we show that scientists match to their postdoctoral mentors based on two dominant factors, geography and scientific focus. They then... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

August 29, 2017
Article

How to Successfully Work Across Countries, Languages, and Cultures

By: Tsedal Neeley

According to a recent McKinsey Global Institute report, the number of people in the global labor force will reach 3.5 billion by 2030. Among the enormous changes this will demand are new skills, attitudes, and behaviors. A five-year study of the global workforce at... View Details

Keywords: Global Range; Globalized Firms and Management; Employees; Competency and Skills; Success

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June 1999 (Revised October 1999)
Case

Eli Lilly, 1998 (B): Emerging Global Organization

By: Michael Y. Yoshino and Thomas W. Malnight

Examines major issues faced by Eli Lilly as it evaluates the appropriateness of a focused matrix organization with extensive use of cross-functional teams. View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Geography; Globalized Firms and Management; Growth and Development; Knowledge; Management Teams; Product; Organizations; Pharmaceutical Industry

2010
Working Paper

Surviving the Global Financial Crisis: Foreign Direct Investment and Establishment Performance

By: Laura Alfaro and Maggie Chen

We examine in this paper the differential response of establishments to the global financial crisis, with particular emphasis on the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in determining micro economic performance. Using a new worldwide dataset that reports the... View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; International Finance; Foreign Direct Investment; Local Range; Multinational Firms and Management; Production; Performance Evaluation; Networks

23 Aug 2016
First Look

August 23, 2016

and the established literatures on resource allocation and incumbent spin-outs. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=51520 Location Fundamentals, Agglomeration Economies, and the Geography of Multinational... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Fast Answer

Resources for Harvard Economics Students

markets, and public and private companies. Used in the financial sector for financial data and modeling. Orbis This company database is unique in its breadth of geographies and extent of companies covered as well as... View Details

January 1995 (Revised October 1995)
Case

Citibank: Global Customer Management

By: Michael Y. Yoshino and Thomas W. Malnight

Describes Citibank's worldwide operations, which include activities in developing and developed markets. The bank's structure also varies across markets and regions, varying from autonomous national affiliates to an industry/product-based structure in its domestic U.S.... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Global Range; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Multinational Firms and Management; SWOT Analysis; Emerging Markets; Banking Industry; United States

22 Aug 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 23

forthcoming Handbook of Structural Transformation Location Fundamentals, Agglomeration Economies, and the Geography of Multinational Firms By: Alfaro, Laura, and Maggie Xiaoyang Chen Abstract—Multinationals... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

December 2009
Article

Intra-Industry Foreign Direct Investment

By: Laura Alfaro and Andrew Charlton

We use a new firm-level dataset that establishes the location, ownership, and activity of 650,000 multinational subsidiaries. Using a combination of four-digit-level information and input-output tables, we find the share of vertical FDI (subsidiaries that provide... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Competency and Skills; Foreign Direct Investment; Geographic Location; Multinational Firms and Management; Industry Structures; Production

22 Sep 2009
First Look

First Look: September 22

Working PapersMixed Source Authors:Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Gastón Llanes Abstract We study competitive interaction between profit-maximizing firms that sell software and complementary goods or services. In addition to tactical... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

2009
Article

Acting Globally but Thinking Locally? The Enduring Influence of Local Communities on Organizations

By: Christopher Marquis and Julie Battilana

We develop an institutionally oriented theory of how and why local communities continue to matter for organizations in a global age. Since globalization has taken center stage in both practitioner and academic circles, research has shifted away from understanding... View Details

Keywords: Globalized Firms and Management; Business and Community Relations; Local Range; Civil Society or Community; Power and Influence

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Career Coach

Jim Warner

digital strategy and marketing. Microsoft acquired the company in 2007. In 2009, Jim set up Third Floor Enterprises, an advisory and investment firm focused on advertising and marketing technology and services where he has served as a... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment / Media; Publishing / Communications / Advertising; Technology

31 Jul 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, July 31, 2018

providing recommendations for advisors and identifying areas ripe for future research to illuminate the advisor side of the advice-exchange process. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54760 forthcoming Journal of Economic View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

Web

Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month | Baker Library

Quick Research Resources Use Capital IQ to explore key professionals, financial operating metrics, M&A/private placement, and more in the Latin America and Caribbean market. Go to: Markets > Geographies > Latin America and Caribbean Learn... View Details

March 2007 (Revised June 2007)
Case

Wal-Mart, 2007

By: David B. Yoffie and Michael Slind

In 2007, Wal-Mart faced challenges to its historically high growth rate. Lagging same-store sales and setbacks overseas led the company to consider strategic shifts. Wal-Mart was the world's largest retailer, but competition had become particularly acute as the company... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Management Practices and Processes; Rural Scope; Human Resources; Problems and Challenges; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Globalized Firms and Management; Marketing Strategy; Growth Management; Urban Scope; Retail Industry; United States

February 2010
Teaching Note

Fabindia Overseas Pvt. Ltd. (TN)

By: Mukti Khaire

Teaching Note for [807113]. View Details

Keywords: For-Profit Firms; Expansion; Mission and Purpose; Problems and Challenges; Employment; Rural Scope; Supply Chain; Profit; Retail Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; India