Publications

2010
Working Paper

Does Diversification Create Value in the Presence of External Financing Constraints? Evidence from the 2007-2009 Financial Crisis

We show that the value of corporate diversification increased during the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Diversification gave firms both financing and investment advantages. First, conglomerates became significantly more leveraged relative to comparable focused firms.... View Details

Keywords: Diversification; Financial Crisis; Resource Allocation; Investment; Financing and Loans; Business Conglomerates; Capital Markets

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February 2003 (Revised March 2003)
Case

Large Scale Change at The WSSC

By: Amy C. Edmondson and Corey B. Hajim

Describes the organizational transformation occurring at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), a public utility. Faced with the possibility of privatization after decades of providing service in the absence of competition or performance pressures, the... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Mission and Purpose; Change Management; Restructuring; Privatization; Resignation and Termination; Utilities Industry

17 Jun 2002
Research & Ideas

Entrepreneurship in Asia and Foreign Direct Investment

entrepreneurs could not access sufficient local financing, as much of the domestic capital went to state-owned enterprises. Labor-intensive FDI brought forth both resources and business opportunities in the form of an export contract—but... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

15 Oct 2013
First Look

First Look: October 15

quality rating is more likely. So we find evidence that World Bank project quality suffers as a consequence of political influence only when the recipient country is economically vulnerable in the first place. Publisher's link: http://ftp.iza.org/dp4820.pdf August 2013... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

07 Aug 2007
First Look

First Look: August 7, 2007

implications of these findings for organizational learning, process improvement and human resource management are discussed. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/08-002.pdf Deferred Acceptance... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

August 2014 (Revised March 2016)
Case

Thomas Cook Group on the Brink (A)

By: Benjamin C. Esty, Stuart C. Gilson and Aldo Sesia

Harriett Green, the newly appointed CEO of Thomas Cook Group, faces a daunting set of business and financial challenges at the 171-year old UK travel services company. The company has lost almost £600 million in the last three quarters; has seen its stock price fall... View Details

Keywords: Turnaround; Corporate Restructuring; Change Leadership; Female Ceo; Change Management; Communication Strategy; Borrowing and Debt; Cash Flow; Cost Management; Financial Liquidity; Financial Management; Executive Compensation; Leading Change; Crisis Management; Value Creation; Travel Industry; United Kingdom

12 Feb 2013
First Look

First Look: Feb. 12

(on Technology & Innovation and Management Research Methodology), the 14-volume encyclopedia now offers users a fully searchable online resource linked to the wider literature and to an associated... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

18 Mar 2014
First Look

First Look: March 18

entrepreneurial firms explicitly devoted to making a profitable business out of conserving and returning valuable resources to productive use, while maintaining public sanitation and in many cases offering nascent environmental... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

28 Aug 2017
Research & Ideas

Should Industry Competitors Cooperate More to Solve World Problems?

example, he argues, fashion industry competitors could agree among themselves to collectively manage resources to reduce the water pollution caused by their manufacturing processes. The beef industry could... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Financial Services; Manufacturing; Agriculture & Agribusiness; Mining

17 Jun 2019
Research & Ideas

What Hospitals Must Learn to Compete

serve all patients, all needs, and through all channels." Raffaella Sadun: I would add that their lack of focus might be the reason why it’s so hard for them to actually excel in implementation. The hospital is a complex, multiproduct organization, and spreading... View Details

Keywords: by Alumni Bulletin Staff; Health

21 Jul 2009
First Look

First Look: July 21

stronger. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/09-051.pdf Quality Management and Job Quality: How the ISO 9001 Standard for Quality Management Systems Affects Employees and Employers (revised)... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

January 2019 (Revised July 2021)
Case

Analytical Space: The Next Frontier?

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann, Jeffrey J. Bussgang and David Lane

With one satellite aloft and in the midst of beta testing in late 2018, Analytical Space founders Justin Oliveira and Dan Nevius turned to critical questions about the pioneering startup’s go-to-market, pricing, and business development strategy. Analytical Space aimed... View Details

Keywords: Pricing Decisions; Demand Validation; Revenue Model; Business Development; Space Tech; Satellites; Earth Observation; Remote Sensing; Business Startups; Emerging Markets; Growth and Development Strategy; Finance; Selection and Staffing; Business Strategy; Aerospace Industry

January 2002
Background Note

A Note on Incentives in the NFL

By: Brian J. Hall and Jonathan Lim

This case describes compensation and incentive issues in one of the major U.S. professional sports leagues, the National Football League (NFL). It first provides some background information on the labor market for players and the salary cap and then describes incentive... View Details

Keywords: Compensation and Benefits; Labor and Management Relations; Conflict and Resolution; Motivation and Incentives; Sports; Sports Industry; United States

November 1993
Case

Thurgood Marshall High School

By: John J. Gabarro

Presents the problem facing a newly appointed high-school principal. Raises issues about interpersonal and group behavior including lack of open conflict resolution and the need to intervene in an interpersonal conflict. Also raises the issue of intergroup conflict... View Details

Keywords: Problems and Challenges; Conflict and Resolution; Employee Relationship Management; Secondary Education; Groups and Teams; Education Industry