Publications

February 1986 (Revised June 2007)
Background Note

Constructing and Using Process Control Charts

Summarizes how to construct and use statistical process control charts. Gives several examples. Discusses tolerances using control charts for debugging. View Details

Keywords: Production; Analysis

October 2008 (Revised September 2011)
Supplement

PepsiCo's Bid for Quaker Oats (D)

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin

Describes the final deal struck between PepsiCo and Quaker Oats, including the terms of collared consideration. Summarizes stock price announcement effects. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Announcements; Stocks; Price; Risk Management; Negotiation Deal; Valuation; Food and Beverage Industry

April 2011
Module Note

This module note summarizes the key insights covered in the Financing International Trade module of the International Financial Management course. It also provides a framework that guides decisions about which financing terms should be used in which situations. View Details

Keywords: Trade; International Finance; Decisions; Situation or Environment; Framework; Globalization

August 2004 (Revised May 2005)
Background Note

Process of "Going Public" in the United States, The

Summarizes the process of going public: the steps for SEC approval, the role of the SEC, and the roles of major players such as underwriters and printers. View Details

Keywords: Going Public; United States

October 1999 (Revised June 2002)
Case

Case Brief: Stone Container in Honduras and Costa Rica

By: James K. Sebenius and Hannah Bowles

Summarizes contents of two full-length cases. The cases provide examples of two different approaches to managing complex multi-party negotiations with stakeholders. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Participants; Costa Rica; Honduras

June 2004 (Revised April 2005)
Background Note

Environmental Law in Real Estate Transactions

By: Arthur I Segel, Jeff Mandelbaum and Armen Panossian

Summarizes several of the major federal environmental statutes, most notably the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"). Also discusses several state and local regulations. View Details

Keywords: Environmental Sustainability; Laws and Statutes; Real Estate Industry

October 3, 2016
Article

Immigrants Play a Disproportionate Role in American Entrepreneurship

By: Sari Pekkala Kerr and William R. Kerr

This article summarizes recent research on how immigrants contribute to the formation of U.S. start-ups and the traits of the businesses founded. View Details

Keywords: Networks; Demographics; Entrepreneurship

Register to Read

September 1994
Case

Otis Elevator Company: China Joint Venture (B-1)

By: Michael Y. Yoshino

Summarizes the development of the joint venture between 1984 and 1988 and poses new challenges. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: Joint Ventures; China

Find at Harvard

February 1986 (Revised March 1990)
Supplement

Copeland Corp.: Evolution of a Manufacturing Strategy--1975-82 (D)

By: David A. Garvin

Summarizes Copeland's focused factory approach, and updates the company's efforts at the Sidney, Hartselle, Shelby, and Richville plants. Concludes with a brief discussion of future prospects for Copeland's manufacturing strategy. View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Production; Factories, Labs, and Plants; Manufacturing Industry; Ohio

June 2002
Background Note

Note on the Value of Life

By: Michael A. Wheeler and Carlos Gonzalez

This case summarizes how American courts measure damages in wrongful death suits. Various standards are compared, as are their implications for business management. View Details

Keywords: Judgments; Courts and Trials; Business or Company Management; Standards; Negotiation; United States

August 1991
Background Note

Marketing Research

Summarizes and synthesizes materials in the following notes: Marketing Situation Assessment, Marketing Research: An Overview of Research Methods, and Research Methods in Marketing: Survey Research. View Details

Keywords: Marketing

February 2024
Background Note

Frederick Herzberg on Motivating Employees

By: Willy C. Shih

This background note summarizes Frederick Herzberg's development of his motivation-hygiene theory, his theory regarding job enrichment, and how the theory has evolved. This is at the core of extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation. View Details

Keywords: Motivation and Incentives; Theory; Service Industry; Manufacturing Industry; United States

August 2003 (Revised May 2009)
Background Note

Basic Venture Capital Formula, The

By: William A. Sahlman and Matthew Willis

Briefly summarizes the process that venture capitalists use to analyze high-risk, long-term investments. Contains information on methods that can be used to calculate valuation, share price, percent ownership, implied valuation, dilution, and option pools. View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Risk Management; Mathematical Methods; Valuation

August 2008
Background Note

Divisive Reorganizations

By: Henry B. Reiling and Kevin Wall

The note (1) describes "spin-offs" and "split-offs," (2) summarizes the requirements to qualify for tax postponement, and (3) identifies the public policy considerations justifying this favorable treatment. View Details

Keywords: Business Units; Restructuring; Policy; Taxation

Find at Harvard

September 2007
Case

Still Leading (B8): Paul Newman—Newman's Own Script

By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Lance P. Pierce

Well known actor Paul Newman started a business to give profits to charity. Summarizes his experience in making the transition from one kind of leadership to another. View Details

Keywords: Transition; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Social Entrepreneurship; Food and Beverage Industry

January 2002 (Revised March 2003)
Case

Note on Foreign Direct Investment in Japan

Discusses definition and measure issues related to foreign direct investment (FDI) and summarizes explanations in the academic literature for the low levels of inward FDI in Japan. View Details

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment; Japan

Find at Harvard

June 1984 (Revised April 1992)
Background Note

The Marketing Mix

By: Benson P. Shapiro

Reviews important concepts related to the marketing mix, and summarizes key relationships within the mix and between the mix and other parts of the company's marketing approach. View Details

Keywords: Marketing

April 2002 (Revised November 2003)
Case

World Oil Markets

By: Richard H.K. Vietor and Rebecca Evans

Summarizes world markets for oil and natural gas from 1980-2001. Examines the rise of OPEC, two oil shocks, Gulf War efforts, and recent pricing issues facing Saudi Arabia. View Details

Keywords: Energy Sources; Asset Pricing; Markets; Organizations; Saudi Arabia

December 2003 (Revised February 2006)
Case

Jamie Dimon and Bank One (B)

By: Paul W. Marshall and Todd H Thedinga

To distribute only after discussion of HBS case 9-804-107. Describes the decisions made by Jamie Dimon as the new CEO in July 2000 and summarizes the progress of his turnaround over the next three years. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Management Succession; Banks and Banking; Banking Industry