Publications

September 2017
Case

Blackstone's Julia Kahr at the Summit

By: Paul A. Gompers, John D. Dionne and Amram Migdal

In 2009, Blackstone, the New York-based alternative asset and financial services firm, committed to invest up to $750 million into Summit Materials, a new company in the aggregates sector (i.e., construction materials, such as crushed stone, sand, gravel, cement,... View Details

14 Jul 2021
News

The First Five Years: Nicolas Manes (MBA 2020)

What are your long-term goals for the company? “In the short term, we are raising a new round of financing to boost our growth in Mexico and to launch an operation in Brazil and in Central America. In the long term, we aspire to be the... View Details

02 Nov 2017
News

Making Friends with Mother Nature

Helping midsize companies achieve success was Donald K. “Obie” Clifford’s (MBA 1956) business specialty, but his passion was helping people understand their connection to the natural world. Clifford passed away in August 2017. Clifford... View Details

Web

Field Course: Investing for Impact - Course Catalog

opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities for community-based impact investing by conducting diligence on an operating company in the Boston area that is looking to access capital for growth. The focus is supporting small View Details

August 2021 (Revised February 2022)
Case

Lexoo: Building a Long-Lasting Platform (Abridged)

By: Chiara Farronato and Elena Corsi

Lexoo, a UK-based online marketplace for legal services, was facing the strategic choice of how to grow from early start-up to mature platform. Daniel van Binsbergen, Lexoo's CEO, and web developer Chris O'Sullivan, CTO, had set up Lexoo to help Small and Medium-Sized... View Details

Keywords: Legal Services; Marketplaces; Pivot; Growth and Development Strategy; Digital Platforms; Small Business; Service Operations; Decision Making; Legal Services Industry

September 2009 (Revised August 2011)
Case

Root Capital

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

Founded in 1999, Root Capital had loaned $150 million to nearly 250 small and growing businesses, mainly in Latin America. In 2009, as the organization launched a five-year, $55 million capital campaign, it had to determine a strategic path going forward in keeping... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Social Entrepreneurship; Capital; Financing and Loans; Growth and Development Strategy; Financial Services Industry; Latin America

October 2024
Teaching Plan

Teamworks: Tackling a Forecasting Fumble

By: Lou Shipley and Stacy Straaberg

In late March 2018, Teamworks CEO Zach Maurides learned Q1 2018 sales were at risk for a large forecasting miss. Founded in 2004, Teamworks’s software application assisted support staff in messaging, scheduling, and sharing documents with collegiate and professional... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Business Growth and Maturation; Communication Strategy; Decisions; Forecasting and Prediction; Business Cycles; Technological Innovation; Sports; Growth and Development Strategy; Resource Allocation; Marketing; Sales; Business Strategy; Expansion; Sports Industry; Technology Industry; United States; North Carolina

02 Feb 2009
Research & Ideas

The Success of Persistent Entrepreneurs

When it comes to entrepreneurship, nothing says success like a track record of previous wins. Entrepreneurs with a history of success are much more likely to succeed in new ventures than first-timers or those who failed previously, new research from Harvard View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert

April 2012
Case

People Express Airlines

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Lauren Barley

Recounts the history of People Express Airlines, which grew rapidly after its inception in 1980 then failed spectacularly in 1986. Profiles People's aggressive strategy and its distinctive approach to human resource management, which emphasized job rotation and minimal... View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Air Transportation; Business Exit or Shutdown; Business Growth and Maturation; Organizational Structure; Entrepreneurship; Failure; Human Resources; Business Startups; Air Transportation Industry

Web

Collection Areas | Baker Library

the course of their regular business operations. Dating from the 17th to early 20th century, they are an invaluable resource for the study of the development and growth of American commerce and industry and... View Details

01 Jun 2016
News

Imagine an Economy Without Wall Street

and capital only serve to stifle economic growth and opportunity, Nohria wrote. He also took note of critics who point to instances of global financial misdeeds, mistakes, or crises over the past decade and attack Wall Street for its... View Details

Keywords: Wall Street; Securities, Commodities, and Other Financial Investments; Finance

11 Jul 2012
News

A Man, and a Plan, in Africa

business and investment—not for ideological reasons, but because experience and research have shown those are the countries that offer the best prospects for growth and can best use the American taxpayer’s... View Details

Keywords: Administration of Economic Programs; Government

01 Sep 2008
News

Is Market Capitalism Headed for Trouble?

based primarily on data from a 2007 World Bank study of global economic prospects for 2030.* We showed it to important business leaders — some HBS alumni, some not — from around the world and asked them for their views on potential... View Details

Keywords: Garry Emmons; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

William P. Stiritz

Stiritz was instrumental in streamlining Purina’s business operations – divesting of non-core, mature business lines and investing in brand name growth products. Through his... View Details

Keywords: Food & Tobacco

June 2021
Teaching Note

Wolfgang Puck: Setting the Table for the Future

By: Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 419-001. View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Growth and Development; Management Systems; Business Processes; Leadership; Transition; Food and Beverage Industry; Consumer Products Industry

July 1997
Case

Earle Palmer Brown (A)

The CEO of one of the top 25 advertising agencies confronts major changes in the marketplace. He chooses to reengineer the firm. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Business or Company Management; Industry Growth; Advertising Industry

Find at Harvard

July 2001
Teaching Note

Newell Company: Corporate Strategy TN

By: Cynthia A. Montgomery

Teaching Note for (9-799-139). A rewritten version of an earlier teaching note. View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Strategy; Diversification; Strategic Planning; Acquisition; Business Conglomerates; Horizontal Integration; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Mergers and Acquisitions; Retail Industry

01 Mar 2012
News

Capitalism’s New Agenda

of the World Bank’s scenario for global economic progress out to 2030. While cheered by the prospect of continued economic growth that is expected to triple the middle class from 400 million to 1.2 billion people, the View Details

Keywords: Joseph L. Bower, Herman B. Leonard, and Lynn S. Paine; social activism; Occupy Wallstreet; Corporate Services; Finance

July 2008 (Revised December 2011)
Case

ghSMART & Co., 2006: Pioneering in Professional Services

By: Noam T. Wasserman and Ashraf Haque

Geoff Smart, founder and CEO of ghSMART & Co., wanted to build ghSMART into the #1 management-assessment firm for CEOs and investors. However, he had just received two pieces of very bad news: the demise of an existing project and the loss of a $1 million engagement he... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Decision Choices and Conditions; Entrepreneurship; Corporate Governance; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Structure; Service Industry