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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(1,652)
- People (3)
- News (313)
- Research (975)
- Events (17)
- Multimedia (5)
- Faculty Publications (400)
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- July 2003
- Article
Probabilistic Representation of Complexity
By: Nabil I Al-Najjar, Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Emre Ozdenoren
We study individuals' behavior in an environment that is deterministic, but too complex to permit tractable deterministic representation. Under mild conditions, behavior is represented by a unique probabilistic model in which the agent's inability to think through all... View Details
Al-Najjar, Nabil I., Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, and Emre Ozdenoren. "Probabilistic Representation of Complexity." Journal of Economic Theory 111, no. 1 (July 2003): 49–87.
- 2014
- Article
Framework for China's Novel Sustainable Evaluation System Strategy
By: Robert G. Eccles and Peijun Duan
China’s sustainable development faces three challenges: first, the follow-up momentum of sustainable economic growth and economic transformation is insufficient; second, some resources and environment loads have reached their limits; third, some products affecting the... View Details
Eccles, Robert G., and Peijun Duan. "Framework for China's Novel Sustainable Evaluation System Strategy." Art. 1. Zhongguo ke xue yuan yuan kan [Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences] 29, no. 4 (2014): 401–409.
- April 2003 (Revised December 2003)
- Background Note
Analyzing Complex Negotiations
Develops a framework linking structural diagnosis and strategy design in complicated (complex and ambiguous) negotiations. To develop good strategies, negotiators must rigorously diagnose the structure of their negotiating situations. Equivalently, strategy follows... View Details
Watkins, Michael D. "Analyzing Complex Negotiations." Harvard Business School Background Note 903-088, April 2003. (Revised December 2003.)
- 2023
- Working Paper
The Complexity of Economic Decisions
By: Xavier Gabaix and Thomas Graeber
We propose a theory of the complexity of economic decisions. Leveraging a macroeconomic framework of production functions, we conceptualize the mind as a cognitive economy, where a task’s complexity is determined by its composition of cognitive operations. Complexity... View Details
Gabaix, Xavier, and Thomas Graeber. "The Complexity of Economic Decisions." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 24-049, February 2024.
- Article
Understanding Boards of Directors: A Systems Perspective
By: Jay W. Lorsch
In this essay, my goal is to explore why, despite the tireless efforts of talented people, research on corporate governance has been slow and uneven, and where that research should turn to next to be most valuable to practitioners. My belief is that the most fruitful... View Details
Keywords: Corporate Boards; Business Admnistration; Social Systems; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; System
Lorsch, Jay W. "Understanding Boards of Directors: A Systems Perspective." Annals of Corporate Governance 2, no. 1 (February 2017): 1–49.
- April 2012 (Revised August 2013)
- Case
General Motors Technical Center India – Powertrain Engineering
By: Willy Shih, William Jurist, Brian McIntosh and Helen Wang
Prabjot Nanua was proud of the growing capabilities of the General Motors Technical Center India Powertrain Engineering group that he oversaw. Since 2003, engineers there had expanded the center's capabilities, developing a reputation within GM for completing... View Details
Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Business Headquarters; Research and Development; Business Strategy; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; India
Shih, Willy, William Jurist, Brian McIntosh, and Helen Wang. "General Motors Technical Center India – Powertrain Engineering." Harvard Business School Case 612-074, April 2012. (Revised August 2013.)
- 2019
- Working Paper
‘Organizing’, ‘Innovating’ and ‘Managing’ in Complexity Space
By: Michael C. Moldoveanu
We two-dimensional measure of organizational complexity that distinguishes between the informational and computational dimensions of complexity and aims to function as a maximally context-invariant environment for posing fundamental questions about organizational... View Details
Moldoveanu, Michael C. "‘Organizing’, ‘Innovating’ and ‘Managing’ in Complexity Space." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 19-128, June 2019.
- October 1998 (Revised April 2000)
- Background Note
Complexity and Error in Medicine
By: Richard M.J. Bohmer
Reviews the issues underlying the rate of error in medical practice and discusses the range of potential management interventions to decrease the risk of error. View Details
Keywords: Health Care and Treatment; Management Practices and Processes; Risk and Uncertainty; Complexity
Bohmer, Richard M.J. "Complexity and Error in Medicine." Harvard Business School Background Note 699-024, October 1998. (Revised April 2000.)
- March–April 2021
- Article
Network-biased Technical Change: How Information Management Tools Overcome Some Biases but Exacerbate Others.
By: Gerald C. Kane and Lynn Wu
Organizations have long sought to improve employee performance by managing knowledge more effectively. In this paper, we test whether the adoption of digital tools for expertise search and access within an organization, often referred to as a support to an... View Details
Keywords: Digital Tools; Social Media; Social Networks; Transactive Memory Systems; Augmented Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence; Social and Collaborative Networks; Gender; Equality and Inequality; Technology Adoption; Knowledge Management; Performance Improvement; Power and Influence; Organizational Change and Adaptation
Kane, Gerald C., and Lynn Wu. "Network-biased Technical Change: How Information Management Tools Overcome Some Biases but Exacerbate Others." Organization Science 32, no. 2 (March–April 2021): 273–292.
- December 1986 (Revised February 1993)
- Case
Scandinavian Airlines System
Discusses the fostering of entrepreneurship and innovation in the large corporation. It traces the development and history of Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) from 1946 to the present with particular emphasis on the leadership of Jan Carlzon, CEO from 1981 to the... View Details
Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Innovation and Management; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Organizational Culture; Air Transportation Industry; Scandinavia
Kao, John J. "Scandinavian Airlines System." Harvard Business School Case 487-041, December 1986. (Revised February 1993.)
- March 1989 (Revised September 1995)
- Background Note
Management Support Systems
Provides a technical overview of executive information systems. View Details
Keywords: Management Systems
Applegate, Lynda M. "Management Support Systems." Harvard Business School Background Note 189-159, March 1989. (Revised September 1995.)
- November 2000 (Revised October 2002)
- Background Note
Dynamic Negotiation: Seven Propositions About Complex Negotiations
Challenges conventionally held views of negotiations, arguing that they are simplistic, static, and sterile. Develops seven propositions about real-world negotiations emphasizing the impact of complexity and the need for learning and adaption. View Details
Watkins, Michael D. "Dynamic Negotiation: Seven Propositions About Complex Negotiations." Harvard Business School Background Note 801-267, November 2000. (Revised October 2002.)
- 2012
- Working Paper
Modularity and Organizations
Modularity describes the degree to which a complex system can be broken apart into subunits (modules) that can be recombined in various ways. Modularity is important for organizations and the economy because the boundaries of organizational units and corporations are... View Details
- 30 Jul 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
‘Organizing’, ‘Innovating’, and ‘Managing’ in Complexity Space
Keywords: by Michael C. Moldoveanu
- 11 Feb 2010
- Working Paper Summaries
The Architecture of Complex Systems: Do Core-periphery Structures Dominate?
- July 1990
- Case
Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (B)
By: Kim B. Clark and Brent D. Barnett
Ceramics Process Systems (CPS) is an advanced ceramics company facing problems with lead time in product/process development, and late delivery of prototype parts to its customers. Engineering is confronted with difficult technical problems and multiple objectives... View Details
Keywords: Product Development; Business Processes; Management Practices and Processes; Supply Chain Management; Machinery and Machining; Goals and Objectives; Resource Allocation; Customer Satisfaction; Customer Value and Value Chain; Manufacturing Industry
Clark, Kim B., and Brent D. Barnett. "Ceramics Process Systems Corp. (B)." Harvard Business School Case 691-006, July 1990.
- 2019
- Working Paper
Design Rules, Volume 2: How Technology Shapes Organizations: Chapter 13 Platform Systems vs. Step Processes—The Value of Options and the Power of Modularity
This is the first chapter in Part 3. Its purpose is to contrast the value structure of platform systems with step processes from a technological perspective. I first review the basic technical architecture of computers and argue that every computer is inherently a... View Details
Keywords: Platform Systems; Step Processes; Computer Architecture; Modularity; Information Technology; Digital Platforms
Baldwin, Carliss Y. "Design Rules, Volume 2: How Technology Shapes Organizations: Chapter 13 Platform Systems vs. Step Processes—The Value of Options and the Power of Modularity." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 19-073, January 2019.
- November 2006
- Background Note
Technical Game Theory Note #1: Solving Bi-matrix Games
By: Dennis A. Yao
Explains how to solve bi-matrix games and introduces the Nash Equilibrium concept. View Details
- May 1992 (Revised January 2000)
- Case
Asea Brown Boveri: The ABACUS System
By: Robert L. Simons
Describes the computer-based information system (ABACUS) used to monitor and control business operations in a complex, global company. Describes the technical attributes of the database system, financial reporting requirements, target setting and profit calculations on... View Details
Keywords: Financial Reporting; Profit; Business Growth and Maturation; Analytics and Data Science; Design; Accounting Audits; Growth and Development; Globalized Firms and Management; Complexity; Technology Industry
Simons, Robert L. "Asea Brown Boveri: The ABACUS System." Harvard Business School Case 192-140, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.)