Publications

September 2017 (Revised July 2018)
Technical Note

Virtual Reality and the Gaming Sector 2017

By: David B. Yoffie, Natalia Prieto Nino, Prasad Raman, Brad Kowalk and Ruby Tamberino

This brief note explores the emerging possibilities of virtual reality and its potential as a gaming platform. View Details

Keywords: Virtual Reality; Gaming; Strategy; Technological Innovation; Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Technology Platform

October 2019 (Revised December 2019)
Case

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple

By: Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

Set in 2018, this case follows married couple and music industry titans Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys as they consider how best to use their platforms to achieve their goals. Since achieving professional success in the music industry early in their lives, Swizz and Keys... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Personal Development and Career; Entrepreneurship; Goals and Objectives; Power and Influence; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

April 2025
Supplement

Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics (B)

By: Linda A. Hill, James I. Cash and Lydia Begag

This case is a supplement to “Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics” (A) and is set against the backdrop of the 2024 NBA Finals. It describes the impact of Mazzulla’s decision to rally his team with an aggressive “go for the kill” mindset instead of choosing language... View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Change Management; Communication; Values and Beliefs; Decision Making; Innovation Leadership; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Leading Change; Leadership Development; Leadership Style; Crisis Management; Management Skills; Business Processes; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Performance Efficiency; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States

2013
Working Paper

NBC and the 2012 London Olympics: Unexpected Success

By: Stephen A. Greyser and Vadim Kogan

"The 2010 Vancouver Winter Games lost $223 million, astonishing for a 17-day event. Next year's London Summer Games, which cost a record Olympic rights fee of $1.18 billion, are expected to lose at least as much..." wrote Richard Sandomir in The New York Times. "NBC... View Details

Keywords: Success; Profit; Sports; Failure; Television Entertainment; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Vancouver; Beijing; London; Brazil; Russia

Read Now

June 2009 (Revised March 2011)
Module Note

The Creative Industries: Managing and Marketing Talent

By: Anita Elberse

This module note examines issues concerning the management and marketing of talent in the creative industries. It describes the characteristics of the market for creative talent, discusses how individual talent creates and captures value, and explores how professional... View Details

Keywords: Talent and Talent Management; Entertainment; Innovation and Management; Marketing; Creativity; Value

October 2006
Teaching Note

Texas Gulf Sulphur: The Timmins Ontario Mine and Martha Stewart (TN) (A), (B) and (C)

By: Henry B. Reiling and Zack Phillips

Keywords: Metals and Minerals; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

03 May 2017
HBS Seminar

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, The New York Times and Wharton, University of Pennsylvania

01 Apr 2000
News

A Place in the Sun

about vacationing and holiday merrymaking have been instrumental in shaping the modern travel and leisure industry. (Not the least of its contributions has been the... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna and Garry Emmons

September 1984 (Revised January 1986)
Case

Fort Lauderdale Resort and Beach Club

By: William J. Poorvu

Keywords: Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Florida

Find at Harvard

July 2012
Case

LEGO

By: Jan W. Rivkin, Stefan Thomke and Daniela Beyersdorfer

LEGO has emerged as one of the most successful companies in the toy industry. The case describes LEGO's gradual rise, rapid decline, and recent revitalization as it is keeping up with a changing market place. Central to LEGO's management model is the ability to find... View Details

Keywords: Innovation Management; Innovation; Operations Management; Organizational Change And Transformation; Operations; Competitive Strategy; Innovation and Management; Innovation Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

05 Feb 2014
News

Norway's Ringnes Blends Philanthropy and Art

Keywords: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions; Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions

12 May 2015
Research & Ideas

How Crowds and Experts Kickstart the Arts

Philosophers have talked by turns about both the "wisdom" and "madness" of crowds. But when it comes to assessing and funding the arts, just how wise are crowds—and how does their wisdom compare to that of... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment & Recreation

July 2024
Case

Wizards of the Coast and Magic: The Rebounding

By: Boris Groysberg and Tom Quinn

This case traces the history and growth of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. From its development in 1993 by tiny studio Wizards of the Coast, to Wizards’ acquisition by toy giant Hasbro in 1999, to its evolution into a billion-dollar brand in 2023,... View Details

20 Apr 2015
Research & Ideas

The 5 Strategy Rules of Bill Gates, Andy Grove, and Steve Jobs

would move beyond the computer to use a range of electronic devices for entertainment and communication and then systematically rolled them out one step at a time—the iPod,... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Computer

07 Aug 2012
Research & Ideas

Off and Running: Professors Comment on Olympics

Staging the Olympics is a Herculean task. Years of preparation, including budget-busting financial requirements, a panoply of construction projects, world-class logistical and communications challenges, and... View Details

Keywords: Re: Multiple Faculty; Sports

January 2012 (Revised March 2012)
Background Note

Cahiers du Cinéma and The French Film Industry

By: Mukti Khaire, Elena Corsi and Emilie Billaud

The French film magazine Cahiers du Cinéma contributed to strengthening the characterization of film as art in France. The note provides background information on the magazine's history, on the French film industry, and on French film magazines. View Details

Keywords: Film Entertainment; Journals and Magazines; Motion Pictures and Video Industry; Motion Pictures and Video Industry; France

July 2017
Supplement

Centerbridge Partners and Great Wolf Resorts (B)

By: Josh Lerner, John D. Dionne and Amram Migdal

The case examines the aftermath of the March 2015 Centerbridge Partners acquisition of Great Wolf Resorts, a North American family-oriented indoor water parks and hotel operator, from a private equity (PE) competitor, Apollo Global Management. View Details