Publications

February 2025
Case

Luca de Meo at Renault Group (A)

By: Emily Truelove, Linda A. Hill and Lydia Begag

When Luca de Meo became CEO of Renault Group in 2020, the 122-year-old French automaker faced financial challenges and the double technological disruption of the automotive industry: the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) and the rise of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).... View Details

July 2011
Teaching Note

Weber Shandwick: The Client Relationship Leader Program (TN)

By: Robert G. Eccles and Penelope Rossano

Teaching Note for 408077. View Details

Keywords: Service Delivery; Organizational Structure; Groups and Teams; Employees; Growth and Development; Situation or Environment; Consolidation; Acquisition; Digital Platforms; Blogs; Social and Collaborative Networks; Internet and the Web; Public Relations Industry

October 2004 (Revised November 2004)
Case

Mavens & Moguls: Creating a New Business Model

By: Myra M. Hart, Victoria Winston and Kristin Lieb

Mavens & Moguls is a "virtual" marketing-consulting firm of approximately 40 professionals. Examines the processes by which its founder, Paige Arnof-Fenn, learns the business, builds a power network of industry experts and potential customers, and uses this expertise... View Details

Keywords: Internet and the Web; Values and Beliefs; Work-Life Balance; Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Operations; Networks; Business Model; Growth Management; Business Growth and Maturation; Entrepreneurship; Growth and Development Strategy; Consulting Industry

January 2019 (Revised December 2019)
Case

CrossBoundary Energy

By: John Macomber

Almost 500 million people are without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and public utilities are challenged to bring generation and distribution to most of them. Considerable promise exists in “off-grid” or “mini-grid” technologies, notably using renewable... View Details

Keywords: Energy Investing; Economic Development; Renewable Energy; Business Growth and Maturation; Developing Countries and Economies; Project Finance; Emerging Markets; Industry Structures; Infrastructure; Segmentation; Private Equity; Decision Choices and Conditions; Energy Industry; Utilities Industry; Africa; Tanzania; Ghana

05 Aug 2008
First Look

First Look: August 5, 2008

focuses on incentives, responsibilities, and structures, we adopt a process perspective and find that integration was achieved despite an incentive structure which did not support it. By drawing a distinction between the incentive... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

01 Aug 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 1

structure the background against which business operates. The aim is to develop a plausible framework for managerial decision-making that respects the fact of value pluralism in a global economy and that fosters meaningful criticism of... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

09 May 2017
First Look

New Research and Ideas, May 9

develop institutional structures for the industry as a whole. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=52613 April 10, 2017 Harvard Business Review The Different Approaches Firms Use to Set Strategy By: Teti,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

25 Oct 2016
First Look

October 25, 2016

outlet store use. Consumers who shop at outlet stores also do not differ significantly from those who shop at regular stores in terms of income. I use a structural demand model to show that consumers are segmented according to their... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

10 Jun 2014
First Look

First Look: June 10

make their mission-driven product a reality. The case explores the co-founders' decision to pursue either a for-profit or nonprofit structure and their strategy for scaling their product, Teach to One. Purchase this case:... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

09 Sep 2008
First Look

First Look: September 9, 2008

start-up, became one of eBay's most successful locations. The case reveals how Justus added seasoned leaders and structure to the group, while allowing for improvisation. The case also traces Justus's career, as he moved to running eBay... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

14 Oct 2002
Research & Ideas

The Widening Rift Between Corporations and Society

the structure of managerial capitalism. Our book addresses this growing chasm between today's people and the organizations upon which they must depend for consumption and employment. The last fifty years have seen the rise of a new... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

12 Nov 2018
Research & Ideas

'Always On' Isn't Always Best for Team Decision-Making

and high performers draw on them less. NEXT UP: NEW COLLABORATION TOOLS Not all intermittency is gone, despite management trends and collaboration tools pushing the always-on ethos. Sprints used by agile teams are an example of View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland

03 Sep 2009
What Do You Think?

Are Retention Bonuses Worth the Investment?

firms to 400 to 1 just prior to the current economic meltdown, because pay for performance most often applies only to a small cadre of managers in many organizations. Further, pay for performance, when structured poorly, is believed to... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

05 Sep 2008
What Do You Think?

Is Case Method Instruction Due for an Overhaul?

were nevertheless raised for our further consideration. For example, Joe Violette left us with the assertion that "The Case Method ... develops a structured management approach ... not ... leaders." Others, such as Jacoline... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett; Education

14 Nov 2006
First Look

First Look: November 14, 2006

strangle innovation efforts with the same rigid planning, budgeting, and reviewing approaches they use in their existing businesses—thereby discouraging people from adapting as circumstances warrant. Companies must be careful how they View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

07 Apr 2009
First Look

First Look: April 7, 2009

School Case 809-012 Du Pont's realization in 1921 that its "U-form" corporate structure was ill-suited to its new diversification strategy led to a pioneering new kind of organization—the "M" or multidivisional... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

April 2015 (Revised October 2017)
Teaching Note

Buffett's Bid for Media General's Newspapers

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Annelena Lobb

On May 12, 2012, BH Media Group, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, announced an offer to buy Media General's (MEG) newspaper division for $142 million in cash and provide debt financing to the struggling firm. Reactions from investors and industry... View Details

Keywords: Mergers ＆ Acquisitions; Bankruptcy; Mergers and Acquisitions; Valuation; Capital Structure; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Financial Strategy; Risk Management; Executive Compensation; Cash Flow; Business Exit or Shutdown; Media; Advertising; Restructuring; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Publishing Industry; United States

June 2013 (Revised April 2015)
Case

Buffett's Bid for Media General's Newspapers

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Aldo Sesia

On May 12, 2012, BH Media Group, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, announced an offer to buy Media General's (MEG) newspaper division for $142 million in cash and provide debt financing to the struggling firm. Reactions from investors and industry... View Details

Keywords: Mergers ＆ Acquisitions; Bankruptcy; Mergers and Acquisitions; Valuation; Capital Structure; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Financial Strategy; Risk Management; Executive Compensation; Cash Flow; Business Exit or Shutdown; Media; Advertising; Restructuring; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Publishing Industry; United States