Publications

October 2016
Case

The Quiet Ascension of LA Fitness

By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth

In 2016, LA Fitness was the largest chain of non-franchised fitness clubs in North America, operating 676 clubs, serving 4.9 million members, and generating revenues of over $1.9 billion. Founded by Chinyol Yi, Louis Welch, and Paul Norris in 1984, the privately held... View Details

Keywords: LA Fitness; Health Clubs; Fitness; Gyms; Chain; Exercise; Personal Training; Retention; Bally Total Fitness; 24 Hour Fitness; Planet Fitness; Buildings and Facilities; Acquisition; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; For-Profit Firms; Customers; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Satisfaction; Demographics; Age; Gender; Income; Residency; Borrowing and Debt; Capital; Capital Structure; Cash; Cash Flow; Cost; Private Equity; Financial Condition; Financial Liquidity; Financing and Loans; Investment Return; Price; Profit; Revenue; Geographic Location; Geographic Scope; Multinational Firms and Management; Business History; Employees; Recruitment; Selection and Staffing; Human Capital; Contracts; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Operations; Service Operations; Leasing; Private Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Sales; Salesforce Management; Situation or Environment; Opportunities; Sports; Strategy; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Segmentation; Information Technology; Mobile Technology; Technology Platform; Health Industry; United States; California; Los Angeles

26 Jun 2012
First Look

First Look: June 26

PublicationsBanks as Multinationals Author:Geoffrey Jones Publication:New York: Routledge, 2012 Abstract This is a revised edition of a comparative, international study which looks at the history of View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

18 Feb 2015
First Look

First Look: February 18

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/doi/10.1002/smj.2211/pdf February 2015 Journal of Human Rights Should Business Have Human Rights Obligations? By: Hsieh, Nien-hê Abstract—Businesses and their managers are increasingly called upon to take on... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

20 Aug 2008
Op-Ed

The Time is Right for Creative Capitalism

he succeeded so convincingly playing the game of market capitalism that first emerged in the late 19th century and grew to great influence during the 20th century. This game or system has been dominated in many industries by large, View Details

Keywords: by Nancy Koehn

18 Oct 2017
Research & Ideas

How Economic Clusters Drive Globalization

individuals and enable the integration of developing countries into the global economy. It’s an understanding that can be useful in the here and now, too. “This could be a good way for multinational View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Agriculture & Agribusiness

02 Aug 2017
What Do You Think?

Summing Up: Why Can’t Organizations Engage Their Employees?

anything less than excellence; treat everyone with respect; provide training and role models; and reinforce the right behaviors and hold people accountable for the wrong behaviors. David Wittenberg offered advice on measurement: “It’s better to measure effects, such as... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

July 2011 (Revised August 2011)
Supplement

Renewing GE: The Africa Project (B)

By: David A. Thomas and Stephanie J. Creary

This case continues the story of the evolution of GE's business initiatives Africa. Between November 2010 and March 2011 several significant structural changes and leadership appointments were announced at GE, which reflected the company's commitment to global growth... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Restructuring; Multinational Firms and Management; Developing Countries and Economies; Consumer Products Industry; Hong Kong; Africa; Republic of Ireland

February 1999 (Revised October 2009)
Case

Royal Dutch/Shell in Nigeria (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Mihnea C. Moldoveanu

Working with Shell's country manager for Nigeria, the company's Committee of Managing Directors must decide how to respond to the Nigerian government's decision to impose the death sentence on Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of a movement for the rights of the... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Multinational Firms and Management; Courts and Trials; Rights; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business and Government Relations; Environmental Sustainability; Social Issues; Nigeria

25 Jan 2017
HBS Case

How Should Advertisers Respond to Consumer Demand for Whiter Skin?

Hindustan Unilever, the Indian subsidiary of the multinational company Unilever—and sales skyrocketed, leading other companies to quickly follow with their own products. Skincare products are regulated under India’s Drugs & Cosmetics... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Beauty & Cosmetics

September 2020 (Revised June 2021)
Case

Algramo

By: Michael Chu, Monica Silva and Mariana Cal

Founded in 2013 by José Manuel Moller in Chile, Algramo first became known for addressing the “poverty tax” (the surcharge paid by lower income families for staples sold in smaller sizes) through specially-designed dispensers in low-income neighborhood grocery stores... View Details

Keywords: Packaging-as-a-wallet; Plastic Waste; Business At The Base Of The Pyramid; Reusable Packaging; Alliances With FMCGs To Meet ESG Goals; Social Entrepreneurship; Environmental Sustainability; Strategy; Value Creation; Goals and Objectives; Business Model; Consumer Products Industry; Latin America; South America; Chile