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June 1992 (Revised September 1993)
Case

Serendipity Software

Two partners, Anne Salpryn and Tom Hilliard, successfully develop a creative software company. While Anne becomes more managerially oriented, Tom wants to remain a software project creator. The partnership becomes jeopardized as Tom's personal life begins to fall apart... View Details

Keywords: Partners and Partnerships; Entrepreneurship; Software; Leadership Style; Gender Characteristics; Conflict and Resolution; Information Technology Industry

04 Jan 2017
What Do You Think?

How Much Bureaucracy is a Good Thing in Government and Business?

Summing Up: Are Bureaucracies Worth Improving? Several messages emerge from responses to this month’s column on the worthiness of bureaucracies. In general, there is a wide range of thinking about the value of bureaucracies and work done View Details

Keywords: by James L. Heskett

22 Nov 2004
Research & Ideas

Side Effects: The Case of Propecia

the wives or barbers of balding men? All these issues and more faced Tom Casola, who in 1997 was heading the Propecia marketing effort for the drug maker Merck & Co. The case was discussed by audience... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Health; Pharmaceutical

04 Feb 2022
Book

Beyond the Cold War: Reinventing Socialism in 5 Countries

process of constructing socialism was obscured to a degree by the bipolar structure of geopolitics. As the quest for allies and political support became a zero-sum game in Moscow and Washington, DC, it became easier to view states as... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

March 2000 (Revised January 2001)
Case

First USA and Internet Marketing

By: Rajiv Lal and Amy H. Nelson

Explores First USA's decision to use the Internet for acquiring customers. Tom Brenner needs to decide on the terms of the deals demanded by the portals and justify the recommendations to his boss. View Details

Keywords: Digital Marketing; Decision Choices and Conditions; Resource Allocation; Marketing Strategy; Internet and the Web

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16 Dec 2022
Research & Ideas

Why Technology Alone Can't Solve AI's Bias Problem

human toll to letting algorithms do the work. “Maybe there is a bias from people who have been traditionally hiring men.” Searches on popular recruiting sites might seem like a neutral way to find prospective candidates, but their underlying technology can reinforce... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Technology

September 2010 (Revised December 2010)
Case

Compass Maritime Services, LLC: Valuing Ships

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Albert W. Sheen

Tom Roberts, a founding partner of Compass Maritime Services, a New Jersey-based shipping research and consulting firm, has been asked by a new potential customer in May 2008 for advice on purchasing a capesize bulk carrier. After identifying a suitable ship with his... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Judgments; Price; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Negotiation Offer; Mathematical Methods; Ship Transportation; Valuation; Consulting Industry; Shipping Industry

02 Jan 2024
Research & Ideas

10 Trends to Watch in 2024

The lightning-fast ascent of generative AI isn’t the only sea change on the horizon for businesses in the new year. The global economy is in flux as war, climate change, trade issues, and infrastructure problems demand attention. Many companies continue to struggle to... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

Teaching Interest

Supply Chain Management

By: Kris Johnson Ferreira

The Supply Chain Management (SCM) course builds on aspects of the first-year Technology and Operations Management (RC TOM) course. However, whereas RC TOM focuses primarily on developing and producing products and services, SCM emphasizes managing... View Details

February 2022 (Revised March 2022)
Case

Hertz in Bankruptcy: A Wild Ride in Pandemic Times

By: Samuel Antill, Stuart Gilson and Kristin Mugford

Hertz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to asset-backed securities (ABS) obligations and the COVID-19 pandemic. Enthusiastic Robinhood investors and shrewd negotiating tactics helped Hertz stabilize. Roughly nine months into the bankruptcy, Hertz received... View Details

Keywords: Bankruptcy Reorganization; COVID-19 Pandemic; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Health Pandemics; Valuation; Capital Structure; Negotiation; Private Equity; Travel Industry; United States

01 Nov 2021
What Do You Think?

How Long Does It Take to Improve an Organization’s Culture?

taken by a panel that may include the boss.” Tom Kaneb added, “We look for people who give power away. They empower others. The hallmark of leadership is helping others to become leaders.” Beyond hiring, Dr.... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

02 Oct 2008
What Do You Think?

Workout vs. Bailout: Should Government Take Advantage of the Buffett Effect?

on someone else (government intervention)." But at the same time, most were resigned to the necessity of government action. In Tom Henkel's words, "Government intervention, while appalling, is really the only short-term fix." One at least... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

01 Nov 2017
What Do You Think?

What Are the Real Lessons of the Wells Fargo Case?

control, questionable organizational (particularly human resource management) practices, and human behavior traits in general. As “Former Employee” put it, “much of the language in the Visions and Values about caring for team members and customers is just words and not... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Banking

02 Apr 2020
What Do You Think?

What Are Lessons for Leaders from This Black Swan Crisis?

doubts were expressed by readers of this column about whether it even qualifies as a Black Swan. Let’s turn to some of the responses. “We are not dealing here with a Black Swan,” Tom Coyne commented. “The... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

01 May 2013
What Do You Think?

Why Isn’t ‘Servant Leadership’ More Prevalent?

Summing Up Is the Term "Servant Leadership" an Oxymoron? Servant leadership (SL) is a concept that triggers a great deal of interest, judging by my e-mail inbox and the number of responses to this month's column. Many comments... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

November 1993 (Revised June 2007)
Case

Jack Thomas

By: John P. Kotter and Andrew P. Burtis

This redisguised version of an earlier case, Tom Levick, provides an updated setting but does not change the teaching objectives. Chronicles the first six weeks of experience on the job for a recent business school graduate. Emphasis is on managing... View Details

Keywords: Power and Influence; Behavior; Leadership Style; Strategy; Rank and Position; Publishing Industry