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November 2010
Article

Which of These People Is Your Future CEO?

By: Boris Groysberg, Andrew Hill and Toby Johnson

Americans have long believed that U.S. military officers-trained for high-stakes positions, resilience, and mental agility-make excellent CEOs. That belief is sound, but the authors' analysis of the performance of 45 companies led by CEOs with military experience... View Details

Keywords: Experience and Expertise; Training; Leadership Style; Managerial Roles; Situation or Environment; United States

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September 2008 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Loews Corporation: Corporate Strategy as a Portfolio

By: Joseph L. Bower

In 2007, Loews Inc., under the leadership of James Tisch, was considering whether to buy natural gas properties from Dominion Resources. The question is whether the acquisition fits the corporate strategy. In exploring the questions, students will have the chance to... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Business Strategy; Business or Company Management; Value Creation; Acquisition; Management Teams

July 1988 (Revised May 1995)
Case

Du Pont's Artificial Intelligence Implementation Strategy

Describes Du Pont's attempt to follow a "small is beautiful" type approach toward implementing expert systems technology. Intended to illustrate that there is no "one right way" to implement expert systems and that the small systems approach can be a viable strategy... View Details

Keywords: Technology Adoption; Business Strategy

30 Sep 2014
News

What Tom Brady's Monday Night Fumble Teaches Us About Performance Evaluations

14 Mar 2016
News

Lead and Disrupt: How to Solve the Innovator's Dilemma

August 1983 (Revised June 1986)
Case

Johnson & Johnson (B): Hospital Services

By: Francis Aguilar

The main issue has to do with the lack of fit or incompatibility between the early environmental requirements for strategy and the cultural constraints on the organization. Describes the internal resistance to the proposed changes and top management's efforts to... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Change Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Health Care and Treatment; Growth and Development Strategy; Health Industry

September 1985 (Revised January 1986)
Case

Peter Wendell

By: William A. Sahlman

Contains a description of a decision confronting an employee of IBM in late 1981. Should he leave IBM to become head of a new venture capital fund which will specialize in technology investments? The case is designed to expose students to the nature of the opportunity... View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Jobs and Positions; Opportunities; Valuation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Resignation and Termination; Venture Capital; Financial Services Industry; Computer Industry

November–December 1996
Article

Looking Inward

By: Michael Beer and Russell A. Eisenstat

For a business to be successful, there must be a fit between strategy, organizational design, and leadership. Unfortunately, the landscape is littered with failed programs and initiatives. One major reason that the process is so difficult is that most people, when... View Details

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08 Jul 2011
News

Harvard Business School Evolves

January 1992
Case

Johnson & Johnson: Hospital Services

The main issue has to do with the lack of fit or incompatibility between the early environmental requirements for strategy and the cultural constraints on the organization. Describes the internal resistance to the proposed changes and top management's efforts to... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Management Systems; Environmental Sustainability; Conflict and Resolution

26 Oct 2018
News

Want to Run a Good Meeting? First, Take a Comedy Class

February 2003
Case

Whitbread Hotel Company (A)

By: Michael Beer and James Weber

Alan Parker has developed an effective organization using organizational fitness profiling and other change methodologies. Parker knows that as Whitbread continues to grow, both internally and through acquisitions, the company will have to change its organization... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Growth Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Integration

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March 1999 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Mandic BBS-an Entreprenuerial Harvesting Decision

Describes Mandic BBS, one of Brazil's first Internet service providers. In April 1998, with competition increasing, its venture capitalist financier is looking to exit their investment. Aleksandar Mandic must decide which potential investor offers the best fit with his... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Internet and the Web; Business Exit or Shutdown; Business Plan; Financing and Loans; Web Services Industry; Brazil