Publications

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06 Apr 2010
News

Harvard Business School Career & Professional Development Receives IBM Excellence In Career Services Award

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

2011
Working Paper

The Three Foundations of a Great Life, Great Leadership, and a Great Organization

By: Michael C. Jensen

I argue here that the three factors my co-authors and I identify as constituting the foundation for being a leader and the effective exercise of leadership can also be seen as the foundations not only for great leadership, but also for a high quality personal life and... View Details

Keywords: Leadership; Organizations; Performance Effectiveness; Work-Life Balance; Strategy; Value

SSRN

October 1994 (Revised November 1994)
Case

British Airways: Using Information Systems to Better Serve the Customer

By: W. Earl Sasser and Norman Klein

Explores the uses of scanning technology, interactive software, and powerful data bases to assist customer relations representatives in resolving customer complaints. Competitive alliances in international markets are noted, but the focus is on the evolving commitment... View Details

Keywords: Debates; Customer Focus and Relationships; Globalized Markets and Industries; Service Delivery; Alliances; Information Technology; Aerospace Industry

08 Nov 2024
Blog Post

Harvard Business School’s Armed Forces Alumni Association

Harvard has played a significant role in America’s military traditions since the founding days of the nation and continues its historical and ongoing commitment to military and public service, as well as its academic contributions in... View Details

June 2009 (Revised February 2014)
Case

Evaluating Microsavings Programs: Green Bank of the Philippines (A)

By: Nava Ashraf, Dean Karlan, Wesley Yin and Marc Shotland

Green Bank of the Philippines was known for its product innovation and its ability to bring new products to market. In 2002, Green Bank designed an untested commitment savings product that both gave individuals access to formal savings and helped them commit to... View Details

Keywords: Saving; Innovation and Invention; Measurement and Metrics; Product Design; Success; Performance Evaluation; Banking Industry; Philippines

October 2019
Supplement

Harlem Capital: Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship (B)

By: George Serafeim and David Freiberg

The (B) case describes Tingle and Pierre-Jacques’ decision to commit fully to Harlem Capital as their post-graduation job. The case explores the results of their fundraising efforts, new strategic partnerships, and how they plan to “build the market” in order to... View Details

Keywords: Impact Investing; Gender Bias; Gender Inequality; Minority Representation; Entrepreneurial Finance; Investment Management; Investing; Inequality; Venture Capital; Entrepreneurship; Diversity; Gender; Equality and Inequality; Equity; Mission and Purpose; Investment Funds; Financial Services Industry

April 1994 (Revised January 1995)
Case

Buck & Pulleyn

A woman CEO believes that industry and organizational conditions require for a reengineering/restructuring job her company. However, she wants to gain maximum commitment and buy-in form the entire company. She does this by setting up employee task forces and teams, but... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring

December 2005 (Revised February 2019)
Case

Brighter Smiles for the Masses--Colgate vs. P&G

By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Dennis Yao and Filipa Azevedo Jorge

In 2000, Procter & Gamble Co. introduced Crest Whitestrips, a new, revolutionary product that allowed consumers to whiten their teeth at home. With Whitestrips, P&G created an entire new category in oral care, worth $460 million in 2002. Whitestrips sent P&G's main... View Details

Keywords: Competitive Advantage; Competitive Strategy; Advertising; Product Launch; Patents; Price; Performance Effectiveness; Consumer Products Industry

January 2014
Supplement

Patagonia (B)

By: Forest Reinhardt, Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Lauren Barley

Patagonia produces high-quality environmentally friendly garments that command significant price premiums. In Spring 2010, Patagonia rolled out a new, radical environmental initiative called "Product Lifecycle Initiative" (PLI), which was committed to lengthening the... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Environmental Management; Business Models; Beliefs; Product Differentiation; Product Lines; Yvon Chouinard; Rose Marcario; Retailing; Corporate Social Responsibility; Apparel Manufacturing; Strategy; Apparel and Accessories Industry; United States

June 2000 (Revised January 2003)
Case

Nissan Motor Company

By: Thomas R. Piper and Jeremy Cott

Senior executives of Nissan and Renault are considering a major investment in Nissan by Renault. An important consideration is whether a major restructuring of Nissan's operations will be possible, given the value placed on lifetime employment and the impact on... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Organizational Culture; Investment; Problems and Challenges; Equity

March 1993 (Revised April 1998)
Case

Viscotech, Inc.

Focuses on the efforts of a small company to raise funds in a variety of ways. In the course of its efforts to raise equity capital, the company commits a number of SEC violations. The case includes an example of both a poor, aggressive offering circular and a tightly... View Details

Keywords: Capital; Equity; Financing and Loans; Lawfulness

04 Mar 2016
News

Startups Can’t Revolve Around Their Founders If They Want to Succeed

09 Nov 2017
News

America is seduced by 'leadership bling' and lacks true leaders

July 2011 (Revised June 2013)
Case

Foxconn Technology Group (A)

By: Robert G. Eccles, George Serafeim and Beiting Cheng

In 2010, Foxconn Technology Group, the largest and fastest growing multinational company in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry, came under public scrutiny after a string of employee suicides reached the international press. Although the company was... View Details

04 Oct 2016
Blog Post

Why We Recruit: CVS Health

element in our recruiting plan at HBS each year is personal engagement of senior leaders – both HBS alums and even non-HBS alums. Bringing leaders to campus to interact with students or hosting students at our office demonstrates our View Details

Keywords: Health Care

February 2004 (Revised November 2005)
Case

Orientation for viewing "Path to War"

Prepares students to view "Path to War"--a movie that depicts the decision-making processes employed by President Lyndon Johnson and his advisers during the Vietnam War. Provides a brief history of the conflict in Vietnam prior to Johnson's decision to commit American... View Details

Keywords: History; War; Decision Making; United States