Publications

September 2008 (Revised April 2011)
Case

The American Express Card

By: John A. Quelch

Senior executives at American Express are reviewing the company's marketing strategy for charge and credit cards in the United States. A variety of growth options exists for students to consider, including further penetration of existing markets and the opening of new... View Details

Keywords: Credit; Credit Cards; Growth and Development Strategy; Marketing Strategy; Financial Services Industry; United States

Teaching Interest

Designing Winning Organizations

The course focuses on only one thing: how to design an organization that executes strategy better than competitors. This course will not teach you how to formulate strategy. Instead, taking strategy as given, you will learn the practical tools, tips, and techniques... View Details

September 2001 (Revised January 2003)
Case

Bunge Limited

A global agribusiness company based in Brazil must develop a new strategy for worldwide operations. View Details

Keywords: Operations; Global Strategy; Agribusiness; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Brazil

Program

Leading in the Digital Era

required for people to leverage those technologies? Blending explorations of technology, organizational transformation, and leadership, this program will help you master the mindset, capabilities, and practices required to drive your organization toward digital... View Details

April 2011
Case

Porcini's Pronto: "Great Italian cuisine without the wait!"

By: James L. Heskett and Richard Luecke

Porcini's Inc. operates a chain of 23 full-service restaurants located near shopping malls and downtown areas in the northeastern United States. Known for providing excellent service, Porcini's serves high-quality Italian cuisine made from fresh ingredients. Looking... View Details

11 Oct 2018
News

Baseball’s Billy Beane Shows Companies the Power of Data

Program

Owner/President Management

capabilities Formulate optimal financing strategies Embrace digital transformation to drive breakthrough innovation Lead organizational change and drive profitable growth Identify and exploit opportunities locally and internationally... View Details

March 1981 (Revised July 1985)
Case

Dunfey Hotels Corp.

Describes the marketing planning process adopted by the corporate headquarters of a chain of 22 diverse hotels. Raises the question of whether it is possible to standardize the planning process so that individually tailored marketing strategies are developed for each... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Accommodations Industry

September 2000 (Revised October 2002)
Background Note

Professional Services Module Seven: Becoming a Professional

By: Thomas J. DeLong, Ashish Nanda and Scot H. Landry

Discusses strategies for balancing private and professional life. View Details

Keywords: Experience and Expertise; Success; Work-Life Balance

Find at Harvard

May 2006 (Revised November 2006)
Case

IKEA's Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor (A)

By: Christopher A. Bartlett, Vincent Marie Dessain and Anders Sjoman

Traces the history of IKEA's response to a TV report that its Indian carpet suppliers were using child labor. Describes IKEA's growth, including the importance of a sourcing strategy based on its close relationships with suppliers in developing countries. Details the... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Moral Sensibility; Policy; Employment; Contracts; Supply Chain Management; Organizational Culture; Natural Environment; Non-Governmental Organizations; Social Issues

November 2005 (Revised June 2006)
Case

Strategic Planning at United Parcel Service

By: David A. Garvin and Lynne Levesque

In March 2005, CEO Michael Eskew has asked the Corporate Strategy Group to recommend changes to the strategic process to ensure it allows United Parcel Service (UPS) to continue to transform itself over the next several years. Describes the evolution of UPS's strategic... View Details

Keywords: Change; Decisions; Globalization; Growth and Development Strategy; Managerial Roles; Strategic Planning; Creativity; Corporate Strategy

Jan 08 2019
Testimonial

Exploring the Latest Business Innovations

April 2021 (Revised June 2021)
Case

IBM: Design Thinking

By: Srikant M. Datar, Amram Migdal and Paul Hamilton

This case describes the 2012-2020 effort at IBM to implement design thinking throughout the company and hire thousands of designers to serve on every product team alongside technical engineers and developers and product managers. IBM’s design transformation is told... View Details

Keywords: Business Ventures; Business Divisions; Business Units; Business Organization; Change; Change Management; Transformation; Competency and Skills; Talent and Talent Management; Design; Human Resources; Recruitment; Selection and Staffing; Innovation and Invention; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Innovation and Management; Innovation Strategy; Jobs and Positions; Job Design and Levels; Leading Change; Management; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Management Practices and Processes; Operations; Product; Product Design; Product Development; Organizations; Business Processes; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Strategy; Adaptation; Adoption; Technological Innovation; Information Infrastructure; Information Technology; Technology Industry; Information Technology Industry; United States

Program

Risk Management for Corporate Leaders—Virtual

innovative strategies by better identification and mitigation of the attendant risks. This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More Key Benefits In this live online course, you will examine the latest... View Details

February 1985 (Revised September 1988)
Case

Komatsu Ltd.

By: Christopher A. Bartlett

Reviews and updates the structure and characteristics of the earth-moving equipment industry presented in the companion case, Caterpillar Tractor Co. After revealing that CAT has suffered major financial losses during the period from 1981 through 1984, the case... View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Machinery and Machining; Price; Growth and Development; Brands and Branding; Product Development; Production; Competitive Strategy; Global Strategy; Manufacturing Industry; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Industrial Products Industry

Career Coach

Saachi Gopal

Saachi is excited to help both career switchers and those coming to school from the tech industry explore opportunities and navigate recruiting. Prior to HBS, Saachi was a product manager on Microsoft’s AI platform team, and she spent the summer on Adobe’s corporate... View Details

Video

Our Difference - Economics

Program

Managing Turbulence

all-out war for scarce talent. How do the best business leaders manage through these disruptions? What strategies have proven successful in unstable environments with few certainties? How do leaders continue to grow when faced with... View Details

July 1999
Supplement

Jan Eriksson of Novartis Indonesia

By: Christopher A. Bartlett and Carin-Isabel Knoop

A follow-up interview, in Summer 1998, with the protagonist of the Novartis Indonesia case series. He describes ongoing strategy and activities. View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry; Indonesia