Publications

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February 2020
Case

Leading Change in Talent at L'Oréal

By: Lakshmi Ramarajan, Vincent Dessain and Emer Moloney

Jean-Claude Le Grand just stepped into a new role as Executive Vice-President for Human Resources at the global cosmetics company, L’Oréal. He is now responsible for the hiring, development, promotion, and retention of 83,000 employees worldwide. The highly successful... View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Business Headquarters; Business Divisions; Business Organization; Change; Change Management; Transformation; Competency and Skills; Experience and Expertise; Talent and Talent Management; Demographics; Diversity; Gender; Nationality; Multinational Firms and Management; Human Resources; Employees; Recruitment; Retention; Selection and Staffing; Innovation and Management; Jobs and Positions; Employment; Human Capital; Leadership; Leadership Development; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Management Practices and Processes; Marketing; Brands and Branding; Product Marketing; Organizations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Structure; Personal Development and Career; Planning; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Networks; Social Psychology; Attitudes; Power and Influence; Social and Collaborative Networks; Business Strategy; Advertising Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Consumer Products Industry; France; Paris

December 2021
Case

The Instant Payment Mandate: The Central Bank of Brazil and Pix

By: Lauren Cohen and Spencer C. N. Hagist

João M. P. De Mello and his team at the Central Bank of Brazil are preparing a move that would seek to tilt the scales in favor of financial inclusion for the entire country. The innovation at hand is the unprecedented nation-wide instant payment scheme: Pix. The fruit... View Details

Keywords: Fintech; Finance; Entrepreneurship; Innovation Strategy; Banking Industry; Brazil

05 Sep 2023
Book

Failing Well: How Your ‘Intelligent Failure’ Unlocks Your Full Potential

project fails, the employee often risks a bad performance review or even a job loss. Instead, managers should applaud the employee for embarking on a worthwhile experiment and encourage others to do the same, knowing that the future View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

16 Feb 2016
First Look

February 16, 2016

Two case examples of successful internal/external agency collaboration are presented. Finally, recommendations are offered for advertisers seeking to bring their internal and external agency resources together and arrive at a more... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 1998 (Revised May 2000)
Case

Guidant Corporation: Shaping Culture Through Systems

By: Robert L. Simons and Antonio Davila

Guidant is a successful IPO start-up selling pacemakers and defibrillators. The case describes how managers install systems to balance innovation and control. Three parts of a shareholder value strategy are described. Controls include incentive systems, beliefs... View Details

Keywords: Innovation Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Motivation and Incentives; Planning; Risk Management; Management Systems; Business Strategy; Value Creation; System; Service Industry; Financial Services Industry; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Program

Developing Yourself as a Leader—Virtual

your organization Prepare for successful transitions, including moving up and laterally in an organization Effectively enlist colleagues' and mentors' help in achieving leadership goals and milestones Bridge differences and collaborate... View Details

30 Sep 2014
First Look

First Look: September 30

institutions. We examine, over a 60-year period, the nationalities of the most senior positions in the United Nations Secretariat, ostensibly the world's most representative international institution. The results indicate which nations are View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

29 Jan 2025
Blog Post

Finding professional purpose: Building an impactful career that reflects your values with Lisa Tanzer (MBA 1993)

one of the Big Four accounting firms (PwC), focusing on strategic planning in financial services, business services, telecommunications, and consumer products. It was during a product line analysis for a pet food company that I discovered... View Details

25 Sep 2017
Research & Ideas

Why Politics is Failing America, and What Business Can Do To Help

personified the success of modern democracy after World War II could have fallen into a state of failure and inertia, with no end in sight. “How do you have this system that’s not meeting the customers’ needs, the citizens’ needs, not... View Details

Keywords: by Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette

18 Mar 2009
Research & Ideas

Marketing After the Recession

to plan ahead: Focus on high-potential customers. Make sure you focus on building relationships with ambitious customers in growth industries where pent-up demand is going to be unleashed once the economy turns the corner. If you're... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch; Retail

Program

Senior Executive Leadership Program—India

Summary India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. To seize opportunities and sustain success under shifting global business conditions, companies need executives who are exceptional leaders—confident... View Details

March 2002 (Revised December 2002)
Background Note

A Note on Corporate Venturing and New Business Creation

By: David A. Garvin

Presents an introduction and overview of corporate venturing. Describes the need for companies to create new businesses, the stages in the process, predictable problems and challenges, the strengths and weaknesses of alternative approaches such as internal venture... View Details

Keywords: Business Plan; Business Startups; Forecasting and Prediction; Venture Capital; Problems and Challenges

04 Oct 2016
Blog Post

Why We Recruit: CVS Health

Development team have been fantastic partners in helping us develop and execute successful recruiting plans on campus. The team is always willing to work with us on creative ideas. What recruiting tactics... View Details

Keywords: Health Care

21 Oct 2019
Blog Post

Know Your Audience: Recruiting HBS Students for Consumer Products

contacting individual students rather than sending mass emails helps foster relationships and builds connections from the very beginning of the recruiting process. Connect with Lauren and Katja To discuss your recruiting strategy, contact Lauren and Katja who will be... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail

23 Apr 2019
Blog Post

Propel Your Career Forward with Some of Our Favorite Books

leaders who are true to themselves and lead from a place of integrity. Yet it can be difficult not to emulate others who have been successful and find yourself straying from your own values. In True North, Bill George outlines a five... View Details

29 Jan 2025
Blog Post

Finding Professional Purpose: Building an Impactful Career that Reflects your Values with Lisa Tanzer (MBA 1993)

undergraduate background with limited exposure to business, I began my career as an Associate Consultant at one of the Big Four accounting firms (PwC), focusing on strategic planning in financial services, business services,... View Details

December 1998 (Revised June 1999)
Case

STT Aerospace

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Jeremy Dann

Experienced entrepreneur Charles Damon conducted a "roll-up" from 1987-1994 within the commercial airliner interior products industry. Damon's company, STT Aerospace, took advantage of an industry-wide recession in the early 1990s by buying when asset prices were low.... View Details

Keywords: Retention; Business Strategy; Selection and Staffing; Entrepreneurship; Financial Crisis; Growth and Development Strategy; Compensation and Benefits; Employee Stock Ownership Plan; Acquisition; Product Development; Aerospace Industry

Find at Harvard

March 2000 (Revised May 2000)
Case

U.S. Gas Transportation, Inc.

By: John A. Davis, Myra M. Hart and Sharon Peyus

Presents a career dilemma for a husband/wife owner-manager team. Nanci and Len Mackenzie have received an offer for their highly successful entrepreneurial business, U.S. Gas Transportation, Inc. The Mackenzies are concerned about what the sale might do to their... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Family Ownership; Family Business; Personal Development and Career; Organizational Culture; Employees; Business Exit or Shutdown; Planning; Transportation Industry