Publications

01 Jul 2002
Research & Ideas

What it Takes to Lead Through Turmoil

take advantage of change in fundamental ways. In a presentation to an overflow crowd of HBS alumni, Kanter discussed the characteristics of companies that thrive with change and those that are swamped by it.... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

December 2007
Background Note

Tools and Tactics for Transformation: Three "Whats" and Three "Hows"

By: James K. Sebenius and Stephen Friedman

Important transformation at Goldman Sachs, where one of the authors was Chairman, required analysis, political leadership, and management in order to fundamentally shift the strategy, people, and culture on a sustainable basis. After describing the actions needed to... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Tactics; Business Strategy; Organizational Culture; Transition; Strategic Planning; Core Relationships; Multinational Firms and Management; Leadership Style; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Private Equity

16 Jul 2021
Op-Ed

For Entrepreneurs, the Benefits of Slowing Down

brilliant book, What Got You Here Won't Get You There, about successful executives hitting points of friction as they grow, requiring changes in their behavior in order to continue to succeed. I often coach my entrepreneurs to assess... View Details

Keywords: by Jeffrey Bussgang

April 2022
Teaching Note

Transforming BlackBerry: From Smartphones to Software

By: Ranjay Gulati and Eppa Rixey

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 421-052. View Details

Keywords: Information Technology; Information Infrastructure; Applications and Software; Leadership; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Corporate Strategy; Technology Industry

June 2014
Teaching Note

Andreessen Horowitz

By: Thomas Eisenmann

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a venture capital firm launched in 2009, has quickly broken into the VC industry's top ranks, in terms of its ability to invest in Silicon Valley's most promising startups. The case recounts the firm's history; describes its co-founders'... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Venture Capital; Disruption; Organizational Structure; Entrepreneurship; Industry Structures; Service Industry; United States

April 2025
Case

Lisa Su and AMD (A)

By: Joshua D. Margolis, Matthew Preble and Dave Habeeb

This multimedia case study focuses on CEO Lisa Su’s turnaround and subsequent transformation of the technology company Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD). When Su accepted the top position in 2014, AMD was on the verge of collapse. Su focused on the company’s culture,... View Details

01 Dec 1999
News

South Africa's Lucille Meyer: Shaping a Practical Presidency

work and family," she notes. "I often have to make difficult choices between responsibilities at home and at the office. It's tough for a woman in a senior position." Meyer's challenges are not likely to subside. She is, however, considering taking a break from the... View Details

Keywords: Morgan Baker

18 Apr 2017
First Look

First Look at New Ideas, April 18

trend is the use of online tools to improve physical asset utilization in many traditional off-line businesses. This article discusses the water industry as an example, and the organizational changes and... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

28 Mar 2004
Research & Ideas

HBS Celebrates Social Enterprise Initiative

encounters countless barriers because organizational innovation implies changes in strategy, structure, systems, and attitudes. And if one continues to push on the edge of the envelope, as is our norm, then... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls

September 1997 (Revised May 1998)
Case

Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America: The Quest for a Model Workplace

By: Lynn S. Paine and Dale Coxe

This case details the sexual harassment case brought against Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America by nearly 300 female employees in April 1996. The recommendations developed for the company by former U.S. Labor Secretary Lynn Marten are presented. In response to... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Moral Sensibility; Groups and Teams; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Behavior; Attitudes; Problems and Challenges; Working Conditions; Crime and Corruption; Auto Industry; United States

01 Jun 2000
News

Social Capital Markets: Creating Value in the Nonprofit World

Philanthropy, who will spearhead the effort along with Emerson. Changes are sweeping the social capital markets, in part because a new breed of donor is altering the terrain: Internet moguls, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders who... View Details

Keywords: Anne Kavanagh

January 2019 (Revised June 2019)
Technical Note

U.S. Commercial Health Insurance Industry

By: Susanna Gallani, Mary Witkowski and Harry B. Wolberg

This note describes the role of commercial payers in the U.S. healthcare industry. We begin with a review of the historical evolution of commercial payers and their role in the market, from the beginning to the Affordable Care Act and beyond. Every wave of reforms in... View Details

Keywords: Health Care and Treatment; Insurance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Health Industry; Insurance Industry; United States

January 2012 (Revised September 2012)
Case

Aadhaar: India's 'Unique Identification' System

By: Tarun Khanna and Anjali Raina

Keywords: Business Government Relations; Information; Information Technology; Organizational Design; Infrastructure; Leadership Style; Business and Government Relations; Change Management; Crime and Corruption; Identity; Projects; Information Management; Information Technology Industry; India

October 1999
Case

Royal Dutch/Shell in Transition (B)

By: Lynn S. Paine

This case describes the decisions made by Shell in response to the situation presented in the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Governance; Corporate Accountability; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Social Issues; Public Opinion; Moral Sensibility; Values and Beliefs; Transformation; Energy Industry

June 1995
Case

Northern Telecom and Tong Guang Electronics (A1): Getting to Know Each Other

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Pamela A. Yatsko

In its second year of operation, the joint venture between Northern Telecom (Nortel) of Canada and Tong Guang Electronics of China to manufacture telecommunications equipment in China has hit a crisis. The Chinese partner has asked Northern Telecom to replace its... View Details

Keywords: Mobile and Wireless Technology; Joint Ventures; Change Management; Organizational Culture; Crisis Management; Financial Crisis; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Leadership; Telecommunications Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Canada; China

Find at Harvard

January 2023
Case

Thomas Buberl: Refounding AXA

By: Hubert Joly, Mihir Desai and Amram Migdal

In 2022, AXA and its CEO Thomas Buberl faced new types of challenges, including systemic risks such as climate change, geopolitical instability, public health crises, and social tensions caused by economic risks. AXA was one of the world’s largest insurers. Since... View Details