Publications

10 Dec 2013
First Look

First Look: December 10

from "real work." But when Google's people analytics team examined the value of managers, applying the same rigorous research methods the company uses in its operations, it proved the skeptics wrong. Mining data from employee... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 1995 (Revised July 1996)
Case

Governance at Metallgesellschaft (A)

By: Jay W. Lorsch and Samanta Graff

MG Corp., a U.S. subsidiary of Germany's international conglomerate, Metallgesellschaft, engaged in a disastrous hedging strategy that nearly dragged the entire enterprise into bankruptcy. This case explores issues of responsibility and accountability among the... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Corporate Accountability; Business Conglomerates; Governing and Advisory Boards; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Corporate Governance; Mining Industry; Mining Industry; Germany; United States

February 2017 (Revised May 2018)
Case

The Flint, Michigan Sit-Down Strike

By: Tom Nicholas, Christopher T. Stanton and Matthew Preble

For roughly six weeks between late December 1936 and February 1937, a major strike at several critical General Motors (GM) plants in Flint, Michigan, essentially halted the corporation’s U.S. production and resulted in significant gains for the nascent United... View Details

January 2021
Case

Rio Tinto Aluminum: Can Purpose Lead to Profit?

By: David Fubini and Agastya Muthanna

This case describes the tradeoffs Rio Tinto faces as it considers investments to ensure environmentally friendly, sustainability produced aluminum with the potential risks of competitive pricing and profit loses. View Details

Keywords: Environmental Sustainability; Investment; Price; Competition; Profit; Cost vs Benefits; Mining Industry

September 1992 (Revised September 1993)
Case

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

By: Jay O. Light

A New York-based money manager owns a sizable percentage of the common shares of Cleveland-Cliffs, a U.S. iron ore producer. The money manager would prefer that Cliffs pay out or otherwise return $100 million of "excess cash" to the shareholders. The management resists... View Details

Keywords: Asset Management; Financial Strategy; Mining; Business and Shareholder Relations; Financial Services Industry

Teaching Interest

Overview

Globalization and Emerging Markets (Elective Course) The world order has changed significantly in the last two decades. The influence of western-style varieties of capitalism has been challenged by new forms of capitalism that rely less on private enterprise and on the... View Details

April 1999 (Revised August 1999)
Case

R&B Falcon

R&B Falcon is the world's leading offshore drilling contractor. Amid surging exploration budgets and increasing deepwater drilling activity, the company makes huge investments in several new state-of-the art $300 million ultra-deep-water drilling rigs. As day rates and... View Details

Keywords: Technology; Change Management; Industry Growth; Mining; Product Marketing; Mining Industry

January 2011 (Revised July 2011)
Supplement

Caterpillar, Inc. (B)

By: David F. Hawkins

Analyst must identify role of management and actuarial judgment in measuring corporate post employment benefit obligations and assets. View Details

Keywords: Accounting; Compensation and Benefits; Resignation and Termination; Mining Industry; Mining Industry; Mining Industry

02 Sep 2014
First Look

First Look: September 2

overview of project-financed investments over the years from 2009 to 2013. Examples of project-financed investments include the Kashagan oil field development in Kazakhstan (1997), the $1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel (2007), the $54... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

31 Jan 2017
Research & Ideas

Why These Business School Professors Oppose Trump's Executive Order on Immigration

different planet, and the negative consequences to many forms of innovation and entrepreneurial investment may be shattering. Without trust in the future, many talented workers may look elsewhere. But isn’t... View Details

Keywords: by Staff

01 Jul 2008
First Look

First Look: July 1, 2008

strategic aspects of raising money. Purchase this case: http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/ b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=208137 Suncor in the Oil Sands Industry Harvard Business School Case 708-023 Describes the... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

11 Sep 2012
First Look

First Look: September 11

disrupt existing processes and services for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. These breakthrough laser technologies were... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

02 Sep 2013
Research & Ideas

The Curse of Double-Digit Growth

political stability. Liberia's economic strategy sees higher-level growth over the next five years coming from investments in mining, agriculture, and oil. That optimism may be warranted, according to Werker's analysis. "If multiple... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard

2007
Article

The Norwegian Aluminium Industry, 1908-1940: Swing Producers in the Hands of the International Oligopoly?

Keywords: Duopoly and Oligopoly; Business History; Mining; Mining Industry; Norway

1982
Chapter

Deep Ocean Mineral Resources

By: James K. Sebenius

Keywords: Metals and Minerals; Mining; Natural Environment; Mining Industry

06 Apr 2010
First Look

First Look: April 6

appreciation of the role of the chief risk officer, and of leadership in general, in risk management. Purchase this case:http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/product/110031-PDF-ENG IFP, Indonesia Roy D. ShapiroHarvard Business School Case... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

28 Aug 2017
Research & Ideas

Should Industry Competitors Cooperate More to Solve World Problems?

Council on Mining and Metals has developed transparency principles for mining firms, and the Responsible Care program of the chemical industry... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Mining; Mining; Mining; Mining

May 2006 (Revised May 2009)
Case

De Beers: Addressing the New Competitiveness Challenges

By: Michael E. Porter, Sonia D. Marciano and Alyson Warhurst

Traces the development of De Beers and the diamond industry from its inception in the mid-1800s to the year 2000. Discusses De Beer's history and strategy as the industry leader and its role in industry development. Enables deep examination of the interdependence of... View Details

Keywords: History; Strategy; Geographic Location; Conflict Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business and Community Relations; Developing Countries and Economies; Mining Industry