Publications

January 1998
Case

Jeffrey Smith

Jeffrey Smith and David Johnson have apparently irreconcilable differences over their firm's strategy, which have led Jeffrey to conclude that he must fire David. Focuses on whether Jeffrey has used his influence in such a way as to avoid conflict. If he has no other... View Details

Keywords: Resignation and Termination; Conflict and Resolution

June 1994 (Revised March 1995)
Case

Kurt Landgraf and Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Co. (A)

Kurt Landgraf, newly named CEO of Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Co., addresses complaints of discrimination from African-American scientists in R&D during significant downsizing and dramatic changes within the pharmaceutical industry. View Details

Keywords: Prejudice and Bias; Race Characteristics; Gender Characteristics; Diversity Characteristics; Conflict and Resolution; Pharmaceutical Industry

March 1997 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Help the World See: Self-Sustaining Eye Care in Belize

In 1992, Help the World See (HTWS), a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to improving eye care in developing countries, established permanent, self-sustaining eye care clinics in Belize in conjunction with the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI). The... View Details

Keywords: Conflict of Interests; Nonprofit Organizations; Health Care and Treatment; Health Industry; Belize

January 1991 (Revised January 1992)
Supplement

IBM-Fujitsu Settlement

By: Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.

Describes the decision by the arbitrators chosen to resolve the intellectual property dispute between IBM and Fujitsu. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Intellectual Property; Business or Company Management; Conflict Management

December 2011
Case

Peace, Non-Aligned: The Pragmatic Optimism of Lakhdar Brahimi

By: James K. Sebenius and Laurence A. Green

Describes the background and career of Lakhdar Brahimi in numerous roles ranging from Algeria's ambassador to Indonesia and the Arab League, to serving as that country's foreign minister, and to his many years at the United Nations, with special emphasis on his actions... View Details

Keywords: Leadership; Conflict Management; Personal Development and Career; Government and Politics; Algeria

September 1984
Case

Henkel Corp.: International Sealants Brand SISTA (A)

By: Robert J. Dolan

Corporate headquarters wishes to expand sales of a sealant product currently sold only in the West German market. Regional affiliates, operating on a profit center basis, are not enthusiastic about taking on the new product. The case describes the company's... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Globalization; Expansion; Profit; Conflict Management; Consumer Products Industry; Construction Industry; Europe; West Germany

August 1978 (Revised April 1987)
Supplement

Assistant Professor Graham and Ms. Macomber (C)

By: C. Roland Christensen

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Conflict Management; Interpersonal Communication; Leadership Style; Emotions; Education Industry

July 2008 (Revised June 2012)
Case

Corruption in Germany

By: Rawi E. Abdelal, Rafael Di Tella and Jonathan Schlefer

Why do managers become corrupt? Does corruption ever pay? When do friendly relations cross into bribery? How can CEOs manage and prevent outbreaks of corruption? These and other questions are raised by three short case studies of corruption in Germany: at the global... View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Law; Managerial Roles; Practice; Conflict of Interests; Germany

May 2001 (Revised December 2002)
Exercise

Alphexo Corporation: Confidential Negotiation Information

By: James K. Sebenius

A two-party, multiple-issue dollar-scoring negotiation exercise dealing with the formation and terms of an IT-industry joint venture. Subordinates have made some progress on several issues but have reached an impasse. Division heads will now attempt to reach a... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Types; Joint Ventures; Conflict Management; Information Technology; Information Technology Industry

April 1996 (Revised November 1997)
Case

Background and Agreements on Foreign Direct Investment

By: Louis T. Wells Jr. and Courtenay Sprague

A brief history of foreign direct investment (FDI) is explored, emphasizing conflicts, developments in the legal framework governing FDI, and international agreements and nonbinding principles formulated to resolve disputes brought in by FDI. Propositions provide a... View Details

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment; Agreements and Arrangements; Conflict Management

November 2007
Supplement

Differences at Work: Ben (B)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Rachel Gordon

In Differences at Work: Ben (B) HBS Case No. 9-408-043 Ben shares his colleague's comment with another colleague who empathizes with Ben's discomfort but dismisses the remark as a joke, leaving Ben to decide whether he wants to confront his colleague. View Details

Keywords: Employees; Conflict and Resolution; Perception

13 Oct 2010
First Look

First Look: October 13, 2010

contractual detail affects the type of dispute resolution approach that is adopted when conflict arises, and that different approaches are associated with different costs for resolving the dispute. We also... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

January 2013
Supplement

Aubrey McClendon's Special Incentive Compensation at Chesapeake Energy (B)

By: Paul Healy, Clayton S. Rose and Penelope Rossano

Keywords: Stockholders; Activist Investors; Corruption; Conflict of Interests; Crime and Corruption; Executive Compensation; Energy Industry

April 2008
Teaching Note

A Day in the Life of Alex Sander: Driving in the Fast Lane at Landon Care Products (Brief Case)

Teaching Note for 2177 View Details

Keywords: Organizational Behavior; Leadership, Personal Strategy ＆ Style; Human Resource Management; Career Advancement; Product Management; 360-degree Feedback; Relationship Management; Managing Difficult Interactions; Top Performers; Conflict Management; Leadership; Organizations; Personal Development and Career; Human Resources; Product Marketing

July 2010 (Revised August 2012)
Supplement

Assistant Professor Jo Worthington (C)

By: Dorothy A. Leonard

A professor has an awkward exchange with a student who has prepared numeric analysis, but whose numbers do not agree with her own. View Details

Keywords: Interpersonal Communication; Learning; Teaching; Cases; Conflict Management

July 1997
Case

Graffs, The (C)

By: Carl S. Sloane and Gregory C. Rogers

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Work-Life Balance; Family and Family Relationships; Conflict Management

April 1980
Case

Peter Green's First Day

Peter Green, a new salesperson for Scott Carpets, learns firsthand that his largest account has always been given a discount based on falsified information and expects the same preferred treatment to continue. Peter's boss condones the discount. Peter must decide... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Rank and Position; Conflict and Resolution

February 1991
Supplement

Raymond Jackson (B)

By: Jay W. Lorsch and James E Sailer

Explains Jackson's reasons for his decision and describes the result of the proxy fight for control of the board. View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Conflict and Resolution

April 2006
Case

Edison Schools, Inc.: From the Candle to the Light Bulb?

Edison Schools, Inc., a pioneer in the for-profit management of public schools, demonstrates the challenges and opportunities related to private sector involvement in the delivery of a public good. Follows the organization from its start-up through its initial public... View Details

Keywords: Private Ownership; Public Sector; Education; Conflict and Resolution; Public Administration Industry; Education Industry; United States