• January 2011 (Revised October 2012)
• Background Note

Strengths Become Weaknesses: Cognitive Biases in Founder Decision-Making

By: Noam T. Wasserman and Kyle Anderson

This note combines vignettes and scholarly research to outline the cognitive biases and decision-making strategies that influence key decisions in the founding process. It is argued that the same biases which provide early benefits can later prove to be a weakness for... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Cognition and Thinking

Citation

Educators

Purchase

Related

Wasserman, Noam T., and Kyle Anderson. "Strengths Become Weaknesses: Cognitive Biases in Founder Decision-Making." Harvard Business School Background Note 811-068, January 2011. (Revised October 2012.)

• March 2021 (Revised June 2022)
• Case

Bill Wilson: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Max Saffer

This case describes the life choices of Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. A young man with tremendous potential, Wilson hit rock bottom as a drunk. An epiphany, coupled with his personal drive, led him to build a worldwide organization that has helped... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Development; Nonprofit Organizations; Mission and Purpose; Values and Beliefs; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Work-Life Balance; Personal Development and Career

Citation

Educators

Purchase

Related

Simons, Robert, and Max Saffer. "Bill Wilson: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-048, March 2021. (Revised June 2022.)

• 23 Sep 2019
• Video

Blavatnik Fellowship: 5 Years of Thinking Big

• Research Summary

Current Research

Some of my current projects explore the untapped power of differences in collaboration, how to create more inclusion and belonging in the workplace, the unintended consequences of cancel culture, how to have productive conflicts, the surprising consequences of... View Details

• October 2009
• Case

Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team

By: Anne Donnellon and Joshua D. Margolis

Key topics include designing teams, managing teams, managing conflict, group dynamics, project management, product development, interdepartmental relations, and organizational change. MediSys, a U.S.-based medical equipment maker, has been developing IntensCare, a new... View Details

Keywords: Project Management; Interdepartmental Relations; Organizational Change; Leadership; Conflict Management; Interpersonal Communication; Groups and Teams; Product Design; Product Development; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Health Care and Treatment; Power and Influence; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States

Citation

Educators

Purchase

Related

Donnellon, Anne, and Joshua D. Margolis. "Medisys Corp.: The IntensCare Product Development Team." Harvard Business School Brief Case 094-059, October 2009.

• January 2023
• Exercise

Identify the Health Care Venture

By: Regina E. Herzlinger and James Wallace

This case enables rapid learning of the key financial characteristics of many types of health care organizations and to diagnose their financial status. It is a surprisingly fun exercise (see the Teaching Note) accomplished by organizing groups of students that compete... View Details

Keywords: Health Care; Health Care Spending; Health Care Financing; Health Care Industry; Health Care Operations; Health Care Delivery; Health Care and Treatment; Financial Condition; Health Industry

Citation

Purchase

Related

Herzlinger, Regina E., and James Wallace. "Identify the Health Care Venture." Harvard Business School Exercise 323-061, January 2023.

• June 1995
• Case

Northern Telecom and Tong Guang Electronics (B): Building Success

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Pamela A. Yatsko

This case continues the story of the joint venture in China between Northern Telecom (Nortel) of Canada and Tong Guang Electronics of China. It shows how North Americans learned to operate in a very different cultural environment in China and provides an opportunity to... View Details

Keywords: Mobile and Wireless Technology; Joint Ventures; Change Management; Organizational Culture; Leadership; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Culture; Telecommunications Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Canada; China

Citation

Educators

Purchase

Related

Kanter, Rosabeth M., and Pamela A. Yatsko. "Northern Telecom and Tong Guang Electronics (B): Building Success." Harvard Business School Case 395-083, June 1995.

• August 1985 (Revised January 1992)
• Case

Anderson Street

By: William J. Poorvu

A recent college graduate decides to buy a small multiple-unit building in Boston as a residence and an investment. He learns about finding and valuing properties, property management, construction, and mortgages. After some difficulty he finds a building in an area... View Details

Keywords: Buildings and Facilities; Property; Mortgages; Valuation; Construction; Real Estate Industry; Boston

Citation

Educators

Purchase

Related

Poorvu, William J. "Anderson Street." Harvard Business School Case 386-036, August 1985. (Revised January 1992.)

• 15 Nov 2019
• News

Purposeful Leadership

• 18 Mar 2021
• News

With More People Working from Home, Valuable Connections Lost

• May–June 2019
• Article

Your Workforce Is More Adaptable Than You Think

By: Joseph B. Fuller, Manjari Raman, Judith K. Wallenstein and Alice de Chalendar

In 2018 the Project on Managing the Future of Work at HBS teamed up with the BCG Henderson Institute to survey 6,500 business leaders and 11,000 workers about the various forces reshaping the nature of work. The responses revealed a surprising gap: While the executives... View Details

Keywords: Management; Employees; Attitudes; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation

Citation

Find at Harvard

Read Now

Related

Fuller, Joseph B., Manjari Raman, Judith K. Wallenstein, and Alice de Chalendar. "Your Workforce Is More Adaptable Than You Think." Harvard Business Review 97, no. 3 (May–June 2019): 118–126.