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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(10,240)
- People (14)
- News (2,545)
- Research (6,420)
- Events (51)
- Multimedia (23)
- Faculty Publications (4,614)
- March 2010 (Revised August 2010)
- Case
Systems Infrastructure at Google (A)
By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Stecker
This case describes how a senior vice president of engineering at Google, Bill Coughran, leads a high-performing engineering organization. The case focuses specifically on Coughran's encouraging two teams of engineers to develop competing solutions for application... View Details
Keywords: Independent Innovation and Invention; Innovation and Management; Innovation Leadership; Leadership Development; Product Design; Groups and Teams; Creativity; Motivation and Incentives; Competitive Strategy; Technology Industry; United States
Hill, Linda A., and Emily Stecker. "Systems Infrastructure at Google (A)." Harvard Business School Case 410-110, March 2010. (Revised August 2010.)
- Article
How New Top Managers Use Control Systems as Levers of Strategic Renewal
By: R. Simons
Simons, R. "How New Top Managers Use Control Systems as Levers of Strategic Renewal." Strategic Management Journal 15, no. 3 (March 1994): 169–189.
- April 1998 (Revised May 2000)
- Case
Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems
By: Robert L. Simons and Antonio Davila
Guidant is a successful IPO start-up selling pacemakers and defibrillators. The case describes how managers install systems to balance innovation and control. Three parts of a shareholder value strategy are described. Controls include incentive systems, beliefs... View Details
Keywords: Innovation Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Motivation and Incentives; Planning; Risk Management; Management Systems; Business Strategy; Value Creation; System; Service Industry; Financial Services Industry; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry
Simons, Robert L., and Antonio Davila. "Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems." Harvard Business School Case 198-076, April 1998. (Revised May 2000.)
- April 1995 (Revised June 2002)
- Case
Xerox: Outsourcing Global Information Technology Resources
By: Lynda M. Applegate and Kevin Davis
In order to increase revenues, develop new technologies, and manage information technology more efficiently, Xerox decided to sign a 10-year, $3.2 billion contract with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). This case describes the events that preceded Xerox's decision to... View Details
Keywords: Information Technology; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Information Technology Industry
Applegate, Lynda M., and Kevin Davis. "Xerox: Outsourcing Global Information Technology Resources." Harvard Business School Case 195-158, April 1995. (Revised June 2002.)
- July 1990
- Case
Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (B)
By: Kim B. Clark and Brent D. Barnett
Ceramics Process Systems (CPS) is an advanced ceramics company facing problems with lead time in product/process development, and late delivery of prototype parts to its customers. Engineering is confronted with difficult technical problems and multiple objectives... View Details
Keywords: Product Development; Business Processes; Management Practices and Processes; Supply Chain Management; Machinery and Machining; Goals and Objectives; Resource Allocation; Customer Satisfaction; Customer Value and Value Chain; Manufacturing Industry
Clark, Kim B., and Brent D. Barnett. "Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (B)." Harvard Business School Case 691-006, July 1990.
- June 1995
- Case
Polaroid Corporation: European Distribution System
By: Janice H. Hammond and Afroze A Mohammed
Describes distribution operations in Polaroid Europe. In the late 1980s, Polaroid senior management in the United States proposed moving from a system of 12 decentralized warehouses to a centralized distribution system in which all inventory for European retailers... View Details
Keywords: Distribution; Operations; Risk Management; Distribution Channels; Logistics; Transition; Strategy; Problems and Challenges; Industry Structures; Consumer Products Industry; Europe; European Union; United States
Hammond, Janice H., and Afroze A Mohammed. "Polaroid Corporation: European Distribution System." Harvard Business School Case 695-038, June 1995.
- 1984
- Other Unpublished Work
Informal Networks: Keys to Successful Management - HBS Discussion Paper
By: J. Ronald Fox and Paul Edwin Morrison
- July 2004
- Article
Determinants of Control System Design in Divisionalized Firms
By: Margaret A. Abernethy, Jan Bouwens and Laurence van Lent
We investigate two determinants of two choices in the control system of divisionalized firms, namely decentralization and use of performance measures. The two determinants are those identified in the literature as important to control system design: (1) information... View Details
Keywords: Design; Organizational Design; Business Divisions; Management Systems; Performance Evaluation
Abernethy, Margaret A., Jan Bouwens, and Laurence van Lent. "Determinants of Control System Design in Divisionalized Firms." Accounting Review 79, no. 3 (July 2004): 545–570.
- January 1995 (Revised November 1996)
- Case
Avalon Information Services, Inc.
By: Lynn S. Paine and Wilda White
The Privacy Review Committee of Avalon Information Services must decide how to deal with concerns voiced by its retail supermarket customers about the privacy of consumer data collected through Avalon's point-of-sale data collection program. One customer is proposing... View Details
Keywords: Mission and Purpose; Safety; Demand and Consumers; Rights; Analytics and Data Science; Information Technology; Ethics; Information Industry
Paine, Lynn S., and Wilda White. "Avalon Information Services, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 395-036, January 1995. (Revised November 1996.)
- Research Summary
Flexibility, Information Technology and Operations
Upton is now examining the role of Information Systems in determining long-term operational effectiveness. As Corporate Information Systems have become increasingly monolithic, the dangers of long-term inflexibility loom large. In manufacturing/operations, the... View Details
- January 1989 (Revised June 1993)
- Case
General Electric: Compliance Systems
By: Robert L. Simons
After General Electric (GE) is indicted in 1985 for defrauding the Department of Defense, Chairman John F. Welch takes dramatic steps to prevent a recurrence. This case documents the new systems and procedures that are put in place to ensure that all GE employees are... View Details
Keywords: Policy; Contracts; Business or Company Management; Communication; Business History; Behavior; Boundaries; Management Style; Cost Management; Electronics Industry
Simons, Robert L. "General Electric: Compliance Systems." Harvard Business School Case 189-081, January 1989. (Revised June 1993.)
- January 2017 (Revised April 2018)
- Background Note
Introduction to Incentive-based Sales Compensation Systems
By: Willy Shih
This background note explains the structure of incentive-based sales compensation systems. View Details
Keywords: Sales Compensation; Sales Force Compensation; Sales Force Management; Sales; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits; Motivation and Incentives; Industrial Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Retail Industry; United States
Shih, Willy. "Introduction to Incentive-based Sales Compensation Systems." Harvard Business School Background Note 617-037, January 2017. (Revised April 2018.)
- October 1990 (Revised November 1992)
- Case
Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (A)
By: Clayton M. Christensen
A small ceramics company started by a group of MIT professors struggles with some basic technology strategy issues. A plan to take "one commercializable step" at a time in order to get a foothold in the market goes awry because of incompatibility between the company's... View Details
Keywords: Business Startups; Technology; Problems and Challenges; Market Entry and Exit; Innovation Strategy; Technological Innovation; Research and Development; Production; Manufacturing Industry; Cambridge
Christensen, Clayton M. "Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 691-028, October 1990. (Revised November 1992.)
- March 1994 (Revised August 1997)
- Case
Raychem Corp.: Interconnection Systems Division
By: Clayton M. Christensen
Describes the highly successful efforts of a management team to turn around the performance of a $30 million Raychem division that manufactures electronic connectors. The original manufacturing system was a batch operation, with a broad product line, high inventories,... View Details
Keywords: Cost Management; Time Management; Production; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Success; Performance; Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Electronics Industry
Christensen, Clayton M. "Raychem Corp.: Interconnection Systems Division." Harvard Business School Case 694-063, March 1994. (Revised August 1997.)
- March 2010 (Revised August 2010)
- Supplement
Systems Infrastructure at Google (B)
By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Stecker
This case is a thick description of how a Senior Vice President of Engineering at Google, Bill Coughran, leads a high-performing engineering organization. The case focuses specifically on Coughran's use of encouraging two teams of engineers to develop competing... View Details
Keywords: Innovation Leadership; Infrastructure; Management Teams; Leadership Development; Information Technology Industry
Hill, Linda A., and Emily Stecker. "Systems Infrastructure at Google (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 410-111, March 2010. (Revised August 2010.)
- February 2010
- Article
Managing Know-How
By: Deishin Lee and Eric J. Van den Steen
We study how firms can use a knowledge management system to optimally leverage employee-generated know-how. In particular, we consider the following practical strategic questions for the manager of a knowledge-intensive firm: should her firm develop a formal knowledge... View Details
Keywords: Change; Employees; Information; Knowledge Management; Outcome or Result; Practice; Problems and Challenges; Motivation and Incentives; System; Value
Lee, Deishin, and Eric J. Van den Steen. "Managing Know-How." Management Science 56, no. 2 (February 2010): 270–285. (Articles in Advance published online on November 25, 2009.)
- October 1986 (Revised January 1991)
- Case
Manac Systems International Ltd.
Manac Systems International is confronting a decision about how best to market one of its computer software product lines to small law firms. In the past, Manac has focused on traditional personal selling approaches to market software products that ran on IBM... View Details
Keywords: Marketing Communications; Marketing Channels; Software; Product Marketing; Information Technology Industry
Kosnik, Thomas J. "Manac Systems International Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 587-076, October 1986. (Revised January 1991.)
- January 2002 (Revised March 2002)
- Case
Virtualis Systems (Condensed)
By: Michael J. Roberts and Jay O. Light
Focuses on a graduating HBS MBA who has been working part-time with a Web-hosting firm in California. Discusses the question of which of several "business models" make the most sense for the company to pursue. View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Business Model; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Cost vs Benefits; SWOT Analysis; Management Practices and Processes; Web Services Industry; California
Roberts, Michael J., and Jay O. Light. "Virtualis Systems (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 802-130, January 2002. (Revised March 2002.)
- December 2000 (Revised November 2001)
- Case
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Examines Adobe's battle with Microsoft to establish de facto standards in the emerging eBook space. View Details
Keywords: Conflict and Resolution; Product Design; Technology; Information Technology Industry; United States
Tripsas, Mary. "Adobe Systems Incorporated." Harvard Business School Case 801-199, December 2000. (Revised November 2001.)
- March 1998 (Revised October 1998)
- Case
Siebel Systems (B)
By: Michael J. Roberts, Joseph B. Lassiter III and Nicole Tempest
Supplements the (A) case. View Details
Keywords: Marketing; Software; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Sales; Information Technology Industry
Roberts, Michael J., Joseph B. Lassiter III, and Nicole Tempest. "Siebel Systems (B)." Harvard Business School Case 898-211, March 1998. (Revised October 1998.)