Publications

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

November 1998
Supplement

Organizational Change at Andersen Consulting - EMEAI

July 1998 (Revised December 1998)
Background Note

Down General Management Memory Lane

Offered at the end of a twenty-five session course on general management, this note reviews the course and reflects on major parts of learning. View Details

Keywords: Management

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May 1997 (Revised October 2005)
Supplement

Ecolab, Inc. (H): Al Schuman's Visit to a Regional Office

Supplements the (A) case. In the weeks following the employee defections, Al Schuman toured Ecolab's offices extensively. The case excerpts from one of the speeches he made during his tour. May be used in place of the video. View Details

Keywords: Employees

January 2022
Technical Note

The Professional Pledge

January 2022
Course Overview Note

Strategy in Professional Service Firms: Course Introduction

March 2020 (Revised February 2021)
Module Note

Corporate Strategy

As a strategist, you must decide for your firm what products to produce, what customers to serve, what geographies to operate in, and what activities to perform. This note on Corporate Strategy, which introduces the fifth module of the RC Strategy course, offers a... View Details

Keywords: Scope; Corporate Strategy; Horizontal Integration; Vertical Integration

October 2004 (Revised March 2006)
Background Note

Compensation in Professional Service Firms

Discusses the compensation of professionals--partners and nonpartners--in a professional services firm. Discusses the considerations that determine the choice of compensation systems and the interrelationship between compensation and other human resources management... View Details

Keywords: Compensation and Benefits; Service Industry

October 2004 (Revised July 2006)
Background Note

Ownership Structure in Professional Service Firms: Partnership versus Public Corporation

This case reviews the relative merits of partnership and public ownership structures in professional services firms. It also evaluates the various rationales for converting partnership professional services firms to publicly owned firms. Finally, the case highlights... View Details

Keywords: Private Ownership; Transition; Partners and Partnerships; Public Ownership; Service Industry

March 2004 (Revised August 2004)
Case

Strategic Review at Egon Zehnder International (B)

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

January 2004 (Revised February 2004)
Case

Evolution of Public Reputation of a Profession (A)

This case explores how the public reputation of a profession evolves as its membership changes. The public reputation of a professional relies on its association's credibility for ensuring, through rigorous certification and self-regulation, that its members place... View Details

Keywords: Conflict of Interests; Ethics; Organizations; Reputation

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November 2003 (Revised March 2005)
Compilation

Being a Professional

We encounter in all aspects of our daily lives groups of individuals who identify themselves as professionals. Many of us aspire to be professionals in our vocation and conduct. But what are the aspects of being a professional? The following anthology of book excerpts... View Details

Keywords: Behavior; Personal Development and Career

September 2003 (Revised February 2005)
Case

Analyst Conflicts (A): Resolved?

This case tracks the events leading to the April 2003 industry settlement on equity research in financial services companies. View Details

Keywords: Conflict of Interests; Law; Negotiation Deal; Financial Services Industry

March 2003 (Revised April 2006)
Background Note

Scale and Scope in Professional Service Firms

This case discusses why economies (and diseconomies) of scale and scope exist in professional service firms (PSFs) and how they influence the amount and range of services that PSFs offer. It is distributed with a case that focuses on determining the optimal scale/scope... View Details

Keywords: Cost Management; Operations; Microeconomics; Service Industry

July 2001
Background Note

Ethics in Venture Capital

Discusses potential conflicts of interest that venture capitalists face in dealing with entrepreneurs. Critiques arguments that such conflicts are easily managed and unproblematic. Suggests four ways to address potential conflicts. View Details

Keywords: Conflict of Interests; Venture Capital; Ethics

July 2001 (Revised August 2004)
Case

AdNet (C)

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

May 1997
Supplement

Ecolab (Video)

December 1999 (Revised August 2004)
Case

Tom Tierney at Bain & Company (B)

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

February 1999
Case

PDVSA & Citgo (B): Fully Integrated?

Concerned that Citgo investments are not yielding sufficient returns, PDVSA constrains Citgo management's autonomy, leading to Citgo senior management turnover. The case closes with Citgo's new CEO reflecting on what he needs to do to align Citgo's strategy and... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Mergers and Acquisitions; Alignment; Energy Sources; Energy Industry

July 1998 (Revised December 1998)
Background Note

A User's Guide to the General Management Course

Offered at the beginning of a twenty-five session course on general management, this note presents a structure and an outline intended to serve as a reference and provide orientation to the students as the course progresses. View Details

Keywords: Management