Publications

October 2023
Case

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: A Curriculum Provider Puts Itself on the Hook for Student Outcomes

By: John J-H Kim, Derek C. M. van Bever, Michael Norris and Max Hancock

Jack Lynch, CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) since 2017, was leading the company’s transformation from a legacy textbook publisher to a digital-first student outcomes provider, which earned subscription revenue from digital products and curriculum. In 2023, HMH... View Details

Keywords: Edtech; Textbook; Publishing; Leading Change; Change Management; Transformation; Digital Transformation; Expansion; Business Strategy; Publishing Industry; Publishing Industry; United States

June 2012
Case

The Atavist: Reinventing the Book

By: Mukti Khaire and Mary Tripsas

Atavist, a start-up founded by journalists, publishes enhanced ebook singles as well as the software to create enhanced ebooks. The company is currently engaged in both publishing and software development, but as they raise funding and grow, must decide whether to... View Details

Keywords: Disruptive Technology; Growth Strategy; Innovation; Publishing; Software Industry; Technological Change; Disruptive Innovation; Applications and Software; Entrepreneurship; Growth and Development Strategy; Information Technology Industry; Information Technology Industry

December 2011 (Revised June 2014)
Case

From Paperback to the Future: The Penguin Group and Book Country

By: Mukti Khaire

Keywords: Publishing; Books; Publishing Industry

15 Oct 2013
News

Study: Digital Marketing Industry Worth $62 Billion

September 2012
Case

Ringier - Building a Digital-Age Media Company

By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee

Overview of the strategic re-orientation and diversification of Ringier, a Swiss based media company, as they confront the challenges of staying competitive and profitable in the new and increasingly digital media landscape. View Details

Keywords: Media And Publishing; Publishing; Media; Organizational Structure; Strategy; Diversification; Publishing Industry; Publishing Industry; Switzerland

Fast Answer

Music industry statistics

href="https://www.library.hbs.edu/Services/Industry-Highlights-Newsletters" target="_blank">Highlights newsletter: Entertainment & Media Sign up for the bi-weekly industry focused newsletter published by... View Details

25 Aug 2014
News

'Atlantic' Publisher Had Role in Brokering US Hostage’s Release

Keywords: Publishing Industries (except Internet); Publishing Industries (except Internet)

March 2009 (Revised January 2010)
Background Note

The Newspaper Industry in Crisis

By: David J. Collis, Peter W. Olson and Mary Furey

This note is a primer on the newspaper industry, which has been in decline in the U.S. and Western Europe. The 19th century business model whereby news and editorial content was packaged and delivered to homes daily and paid for by national advertisers has been... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business History; Newspapers; Disruptive Innovation; Consumer Behavior; Business Strategy; Internet; Journalism and News Industry; Journalism and News Industry; Europe; United States

November 2012
Case

Bonnier: Digitalizing the Media Business

By: Lynda Applegate, Daniel Nylen, Jonny Holmstrom and Kalle Lyytinen

The case follows leading Scandinavian media company Bonnier as it establishes a designated R&D division for the first time. The case, in particular, focuses on its first flagship project, called Mag+, in which it creates a digital platform for publishing digital... View Details

Keywords: Media And Publishing; Media; Publishing Industry; Publishing Industry

Web

Industry Information - Alumni

analysis of news and media from Pew, a nonprofit focused on informing the public about current issues and trends facing the world. Publishers Weekly Top industry publication catering to book View Details

01 Jun 2012
News

What Industrial Policy?

"Taxation, meet Representation." Following up on his pledge to provide greater support for manufacturing, President Obama has announced a proposal to cut the effective tax rate for manufacturers to 25 percent. A number of economists howled against this so-called View Details

Keywords: Gary P. Pisano; Agriculture; Construction of Buildings; Construction; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles; Finance; Health, Social Assistance; Manufacturing

17 Sep 2007
Research & Ideas

Broadband: Remaking the Advertising Industry

business, and the difficulties writing about such a moving target. Julia Hanna: What is the subject of your book in progress? Stephen P. Bradley: We are looking at industries that are being transformed by broadband such as the news and... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Publishing; Publishing; Publishing

February 2012 (Revised September 2014)
Case

Variety: Taking the Biz Overseas

By: Mukti Khaire

Keywords: Publishing; Entertainment; Entrepreneurship; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Research Summary

Career Histories and the Biotechnology Industry

Professor Higgins' other major project focuses on the consequences of individuals' career experiences for firms and industries. This second research stream centers on the careers of executives in the biotechnology industry.

Professor Higgins has written... View Details

24 Jul 2006
Research & Ideas

How Kayak Users Built a New Industry

and the sport of rodeo kayaking quickly emerged from the rapids. Harvard Business School professor Carliss Baldwin and her colleagues Christoph Hienerth and Eric von Hippel were drawn to the sport as well, but not to get their feet wet. Instead, they realized that both... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Entertainment & Recreation

19 Nov 2018
News

Architectural Innovation in the Software Industry

November 2012 (Revised February 2013)
Teaching Note

Bonnier: Digitalizing the Media Business (TN)

By: Lynda Applegate, Daniel Nylen, Jonny Holmstrom and Kalle Lyytinen

Keywords: Media And Publishing; Media; Publishing Industry

August 2000 (Revised July 2001)
Case

Laura Martin: Real Options and the Cable Industry

By: Mihir A. Desai and Peter Tufano

CSFB equity research analyst Laura Martin publishes a report on valuing Cox Communications that introduces an innovative approach to valuation. She contends that EBITDA multiple analysis, typical for the cable industry, is flawed because it overlooks the value of the... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Innovation and Invention; Telecommunications Industry