Publications

February 1999
Case

Volant Skis

By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Matt Verlinden

Volant brought innovation to the ski equipment industry in 1989 by developing a stainless steel ski. He claimed the skis could turn more easily, could hold an edge in icy conditions, and were more stable than aluminum or fiberglass skis. The company's "soft-flex"... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Technological Innovation; Growth and Development Strategy; Operations; Product Development; Performance Improvement; Quality; Corporate Strategy; Value Creation

Educators

26 Jun 2023
Research & Ideas

Want to Leave a Lasting Impression on Customers? Don't Forget the (Proverbial) Fireworks

always remember their last interaction with a brand when deciding whether to reengage—so a strong finish is worth the investment. That doesn’t have to mean fireworks, however. A furniture company may invest in a reputable delivery company... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Entertainment & Recreation

08 Mar 2011
First Look

First Look: March 8

impair goodwill when their reputation concerns are low, suggesting that those executives are subject to their own opportunistic motives. We also find that the greater propensity of former auditors and investment bankers to report goodwill... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

03 Oct 2022
Research & Ideas

Why a Failed Startup Might Be Good for Your Career After All

career advancement, Gompers is comparing intercollegiate varsity athletes’ careers with non-athletes. (Spoiler alert: The athletes have more career success.) You Might Also Like: It’s All in a Name: Reputable Investors Help Startups Shine... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

September–October 2022
Article

Case Study: What's the Right Career Move After a Public Failure?

By: Jon M. Jachimowicz and Francesca Gino

“Reunions are for happy people,” Mariani Kallis said to her friend Whitney on the phone. “I’m not going.” “Come on, it won’t be the same without you,” Whitney pleaded. “Besides, no one is happy right now. Everyone’s life is a mess.” “I’m pretty sure none of our... View Details

Keywords: Career Decisions; Personal Development and Career

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July 2014
Article

Diasporas and Outsourcing: Evidence from oDesk and India

By: Ejaz Ghani, William R. Kerr and Christopher Stanton

This study examines the role of the Indian diaspora in the outsourcing of work to India. Our data are taken from oDesk, the world's largest online platform for outsourced contracts, where India is the largest country in terms of contract volume. We use an ethnic name... View Details

Keywords: Diaspora; Outsourcing; oDesk; Networks; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Diasporas; Internet and the Web; Ethnicity; Service Industry; South Asia; India

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Web

Named Fellowship Funds - Alumni

editor of the Harvard Business Review. He joined the HBS faculty in 1959 and gained an international reputation as a scholar, writer, and teacher. Levitt's influence on management understanding and practice was profound and included... View Details

Blog

Take Control of Your Personal Brand

doesn’t happen overnight—and it is a continuous process. It may take some time to change how others see you. And throughout your career, your brand is likely to evolve. You may be known for certain specialized skills in your 20s, while you later develop a View Details

March 2021
Case

Founders Factory

By: Jeffrey F. Rayport and James Barnett

In January 2020, Founders Factory (FF) Executive Chairman Brent Hoberman and CEO Henry Lane Fox were considering FF’s expansion strategy. FF operated as a venture capital (VC) fund built around an accelerator and incubator, and organized around sectors within... View Details

Educators

Article

The Organizational Apology: A Step-by-Step Guide

By: Maurice E. Schweitzer, Alison Wood Brooks and Adam D. Galinsky

At some point, every company makes a mistake that requires an apology—to an individual; a group of customers, employees, or business partners; or the public at large. And more often than not, companies and their leaders fail to apologize effectively, if at all, which... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Accountability; Marketing; Organizations

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February 2021
Supplement

HNA Group: Global Excellence with Chinese Characteristics (C)

By: William C. Kirby, Billy Chan and John P. McHugh

July 2017 was supposed to be a triumphant month for HNA Group. The latest Fortune Global 500 list showed the company had again skyrocketed in its ranking to no. 170, an improvement of over 200 positions from the year prior. Yet earlier that same July, the mysterious... View Details

Keywords: Conglomerate; Airline Industry; Coronavirus; Financial Risk; Debt; Bankruptcy; Global Strategy; Restructuring; Health Pandemics; Financial Markets; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Financial Condition; Globalized Firms and Management; Business and Government Relations; Air Transportation Industry; Financial Services Industry; China

December 2016
Article

Fake It Till You Make It: Reputation, Competition, and Yelp Review Fraud

By: Michael Luca and Georgios Zervas

Consumer reviews are now part of everyday decision making. Yet, the credibility of these reviews is fundamentally undermined when businesses commit review fraud, creating fake reviews for themselves or their competitors. We investigate the economic incentives to commit... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Marketing Reference Programs

04 Mar 2014
Working Paper Summaries

Consequences to Directors of Shareholder Activism

Keywords: by Ian D. Gow, Sa-Pyung Sean Shin & Suraj Srinivasan

January 2024 (Revised October 2024)
Case

DO & CO: Crafting Luxury in the Fast Lane (A)

By: Juan Alcácer, Esel Cekin, Michael Lee and Noah Roberson

In July 2023, Attila Dogudan, the chairman of DO & CO, a renowned international catering firm, found himself in a deep conversation with his two sons about a potential new venture: catering for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a significant step beyond their 31-year history... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Health Pandemics; Opportunities; Corporate Strategy; Luxury; Food and Beverage Industry; Las Vegas

Educators

01 Apr 2024
In Practice

Navigating the Mood of Customers Weary of Price Hikes

outings, and becoming more strategic about their purchases. There's a renewed focus on investing in durable goods from reputable brands, seen as a long-term saving strategy despite the upfront cost. Slower rise, no return to pre-pandemic... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Retail; Consumer Products

14 Feb 2022
Research & Ideas

Curiosity, Not Coding: 6 Skills Leaders Need in the Digital Age

ever—cybersecurity, reputational risks, pandemics, social crises—executives need courage to make big bets. Executives we spoke to acknowledged that they mostly don’t feel psychologically safe, given the pressure they face from their... View Details

Keywords: by Linda A. Hill, Ann Le Cam, Sunand Menon, and Emily Tedards; Technology

06 Sep 2016
First Look

September 6, 2016

full, clear, and succinct narrative for hiring managers. 2. “Borrow” reputation and legitimacy from others in your network, establishing innocence by association. Executive search firms can also act as references and sponsors. 3. Take a... View Details

Keywords: Carmen Nobel

Web

Leadership Initiative - Leadership

built a reputation for innovative strategic and transformational leadership. Ann holds a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sunand Menon... View Details

Article

Third-party Punishment as a Costly Signal of Trustworthiness

By: Jillian J. Jordan, Moshe Hoffman, Paul Bloom and David G. Rand

Third-party punishment (TPP), in which unaffected observers punish selfishness, promotes cooperation by deterring defection. But why should individuals choose to bear the costs of punishing? We present a game theoretic model of TPP as a costly signal of... View Details

Keywords: Third-party Punishment; Trustworthiness; Behavior; Trust; Game Theory