Publications

To be successful, CEOs must articulate a compelling vision, align people around it, and motivate them to execute it. But there’s one thing that can make or break them: how they respond in real time to unforeseen events.

On average, addressing unexpected... View Details

Keywords: Crisis Management; Management Skills; Leadership Style

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August 2003 (Revised June 2005)
Case

Royal Bank of Scotland, The: Masters of Integration

By: Nitin Nohria and James Weber

Describes the acquisition of Nat West by Royal Bank of Scotland. Describes the strategic rationale for the acquisition and the process by which the integration of the two banks was accomplished. The acquisition is remarkable for how successful it was, given the typical... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Integration; Banks and Banking; Success; Banking Industry; Scotland

Educators

December 2005 (Revised March 2010)
Case

William Levitt, Levittown and the Creation of American Suburbia

By: Nitin Nohria, Anthony Mayo and Mark Benson

Demand for low-cost housing after World War II far exceeded supply. Was this a profitable new market? New York developer William Levitt had to decide. During World War II, Levitt was eager to build basic housing for the working class—otherwise, Levitt & Sons would have... View Details

Keywords: Demographics; Construction; Business History; Housing; Leadership; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Development; Business and Government Relations; Construction Industry; Real Estate Industry; United States; New York (state, US)

Educators

Research Summary

What Really Works: Fundamental Drivers of Corporate Performance

Based on a systematic examination of over 200 management practices that have been hypothesized to influence corporate performance, we identify eight management practices that appear to be the most robust drivers of long term corporate success. We are now trying to... View Details

Web

HBS - The year in Review

joined Dean Srikant Datar , former Dean Nitin Nohria , and University President Lawrence Bacow, to dedicate the newly named and renovated Cash House. Cash, a prolific teacher, author, mentor, and scholar of... View Details

Web

CEO Leadership - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

Business Review Seven Surprises for New CEOs by Michael E. Porter, Jay W. Lorsch, & Nitin Nohria As a newly minted CEO, you may think you finally have the power to set... View Details

August 1993 (Revised August 1994)
Background Note

Rhetoric of Change

Describes the ways in which managers communicate the need to change, specifically the way in which they use vision, crisis, and transition as rhetorical strategies to mobilize change. Also discusses strategies used by those trying to resist change, setting up what may... View Details

Keywords: Change; Communication Strategy

Educators

September 13, 2023
Article

The Myth of the CEO as Ultimate Decision Maker

Chief executives are responsible for guiding corporations, so the role inevitably requires making many decisions. But people overestimate the level of personal involvement CEOs have in this process. Instead of making decisions, CEOs tend to shape decisions, by... View Details

Keywords: Problem Solving; Delegation; Leadership Style; Decision Making; Time Management; Power and Influence

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Web

HBR Classics - Alumni

A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky Cracking the Code of Change , Michael Beer and Nitin Nohria Leading Change - Why Transformation Efforts Fail , John P. Kotter Tipping Point Leadership , W. Chan Kim and Renee... View Details

January 2009
Article

From Regional Star to Global Leader

Yang Jianguo was recently promoted from country manager for China to global head of product development at a staid French perfume maker. He was chosen for his technical smarts and his knowledge of emerging markets—a critical avenue for growth, given that sales in the... View Details

Keywords: Communication Strategy; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Globalized Firms and Management; Leadership Development; Management Teams; Emerging Markets; Product Development; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; China; Paris

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