Publications

This module reading shows how to link profit plans and other performance measurement systems to both internal and external markets. Starting with the transfer of goods and services within a firm, the module discusses the different methods of designing transfer pricing... View Details

Keywords: Management Control Systems; Implementing Strategy; Execution; Transfer Pricing; Activity Based Costing; Return On Investment; Residual Income; EVA; Strategy; Cost Accounting; Activity Based Costing and Management; Markets; Investment Return

November 2016 (Revised December 2016)
Module Note

Strategy Execution Module 7: Designing Asset Allocation Systems

This module reading provides tools and analyses for acquiring and allocating resources. The module begins by reviewing the importance of setting strategic boundaries as a basis for asset acquisitions. Next, a distinction is made between new assets acquired to meet... View Details

Keywords: Management Control Systems; Implementing Strategy; Execution; Asset Allocation Systems; Payback; Discounted Cash Flow; Internal Rate Of Return; Strategic Investments; Analyzing Acquisitions; Strategy; Capital Budgeting

October 2016 (Revised December 2016)
Module Note

Strategy Execution Module 6: Evaluating Strategic Profit Performance

This module reading demonstrates how to calculate and analyze the profit generated by different business strategies. Formulas and examples are provided to calculate profit generated by changes in market share, revenue growth, efficiency improvements, and support costs.... View Details

Keywords: Management Control Systems; Implementing Strategy; Execution; Evaluating Business Performance; Profitability Analysis; Variance Analysis; Measuring Effectiveness; Measuring Efficiency; Activity-Based Costing; Flexible Budget; Accounting; Strategy

March 2021 (Revised December 2021)
Supplement

Humana (B) — Strategy Execution

By: Regina E. Herzlinger and Ashley Ifeadike

After Humana debuted its new pillar strategy focused on driving integration across members’ health care experiences, feedback from investors in private conferences and other forums was positive but stressed the need for execution and faced several questions in order to... View Details

Keywords: Health Care; Health Care Operations; Health Insurance; Health Care and Treatment; Insurance; Operations; Strategy; Health Industry

7 PM – 11 PM EDT, 10 Oct 2018

HBX Strategy Execution

Identify and solve your company's strategic challenges with an exclusive group of like-minded senior leaders via HBX Live, a real-time, interactive online classroom. Program Dates: October 10, 2018 - November 7, 2018 View Details

May 2002 (Revised October 2002)
Background Note

Incentive Strategy II: Executive Compensation and Ownership Structure

By: Brian J. Hall

This case analyzes incentive strategy from the perspective of a company's board of directors and owners. The focus is the role that executive compensation and ownership structure (the composition of, and financial structure between, a company's owners) play in... View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Executive Compensation; Ownership; Behavior; Motivation and Incentives; Perspective; Strategy; Value Creation

Educators

22 Aug 2018
Video

HBX Live | Strategy Execution

August 1993
Background Note

Executing Change: Three Generic Strategies

By: Nitin Nohria and Rakesh Khurana

Describes the strengths and weaknesses of three generic strategies for implementing change--programmatic change, discontinuous change, and emergent change. View Details

Keywords: Change; Strategy

Educators

Teaching Interest

MBA Elective Curriculum: Mastering Strategy Execution

This course teaches future general managers, entrepreneurs, and consultants how to execute strategy and deliver results. Using readings, exercises, and case studies in industries as diverse as healthcare space exploration, and software development, you will learn to... View Details

January 2019
Module Note

Executing Active Investment Strategies

By: Samuel G. Hanson

Video

The Strategy Execution System

November – December 2009
Article

Risk Management and the Strategy Execution System

By: Robert S. Kaplan

Keywords: Risk Management; Strategy; System

Find at Harvard

Research Summary

Executive Compensation

By: Susanna Gallani

In this line of work, Prof. Gallani explores the influence of external actors on the design and effectiveness of executive compensation. Prominent external actors she has examined in her work include compensation consultants, proxy advisory firms, and institutional... View Details

Keywords: Executive Compensation; Proxy Advisors; Compensation Consultants

2021
Working Paper

The Demand for Executive Skills

By: Stephen Hansen, Tejas Ramdas, Raffaella Sadun and Joseph B. Fuller

We use a unique corpus of job descriptions for C-suite positions to document skills requirements in top managerial occupations across a large sample of firms. A novel algorithm maps the text of each executive search into six separate skill clusters reflecting... View Details

Keywords: Executives; Management Skills; Competency and Skills

Find at Harvard

Read Now

06 Nov 2017
News

Smart Leaders Focus on Execution First and Strategy Second

10 Aug 2018
News

HBX Launches Strategy Execution Program for Senior Executives via HBX Live Classroom

2008
Book

Execution Premium: Linking Strategy to Operations for Competitive Advantage

By: Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton

In a world of stiffening competition, business strategy is more crucial than ever. Yet most organizations struggle in this area--not with formulating strategy but with executing it, or putting their strategy into action. Owing to execution failures, companies realize... View Details

Keywords: Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Operations; Performance; Strategic Planning; Business Strategy

Find at Harvard