Publications

2013
Working Paper

Managers and Market Capitalism

By: Rebecca Henderson and Karthik Ramanna

In a capitalist system based on free markets, do managers have responsibilities to the system itself? If they do, should these responsibilities shape their behavior when they are engaging in the political process in an attempt to structure the institutions of... View Details

Keywords: Market Design; Economic Systems; Managerial Roles; Government and Politics

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August 2009
Exercise

Managing Your Own Human Capital: Executive Interview Exercise (2009)

By: Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams

This note contains instructions for an exercise in which students interview C-level executives on how they have managed their careers. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Personal Development and Career; Strategic Planning; Personal Characteristics

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May 1985
Supplement

Milford Industries (A1)

By: Robert J. Dolan

Presents the salesforce performance data of the Milford (A) case in a format suitable for spreadsheet analysis using a personal computer. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Salesforce Management; Resignation and Termination; Performance Evaluation

October 2007 (Revised February 2008)
Case

The Coca-Cola Company (A): The Rise and Fall of M. Douglas Ivester (Abridged)

By: Michael D. Watkins, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis

This is a shortened version of "The Coca-Cola Company (A): The Rise and Fall of M. Douglas Ivester," HBS case #9-800-355. It eliminates some background detail and the financial data and exhibits. As with the original case, it chronicles the appointment of Douglas... View Details

Keywords: Resignation and Termination; Selection and Staffing; Managerial Roles; Food and Beverage Industry

April 1999 (Revised May 1999)
Teaching Note

Innovation and the General Manager: Managing Innovation: Introductory Teaching Note for Instructors

By: Clayton M. Christensen

Provides instructors with an overview of the entire Managing Innovation course. It lists the cases that are recommended to be taught in each class session and summarizes the key concepts students should learn in each of the course's five modules. View Details

Keywords: Cases; Innovation and Management; Managerial Roles

July 1993 (Revised June 1994)
Case

Phil Knight Managing NIKE's Transformation

By: Hugo Uyterhoeven

Describes Nike's responses to market and competitive challenges as well as its attempts at an organizational transformation from unstructured entrepreneurial management to more formalized, professional management. Focuses on Phil Knight's leadership role. View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Leadership; Managerial Roles; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Problems and Challenges; Competition

January 1988
Supplement

Philips/Interview with Cor J. Van Der Klugt, President and Professors Aguilar and Yoshino, Video

By: Francis Aguilar

Cor Van Der Klugt answers questions concerning his experience over 1 1/2 years as president in attempting to change Philips organization and culture in accordance with its newly focused strategy and his outlook for the future. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategy

March 2003
Background Note

Management and Creativity in Television Broadcasting

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Douglas A Raymond

Management and creativity are sometimes assumed to be unrelated or even conflicting concepts. In the best cases, management controls enable artistic success by gathering resources and providing discipline. However, if pushed too far, the same discipline can stifle... View Details

Keywords: Governance Controls; Leadership Development; Management; Managerial Roles; Creativity

July 1982
Supplement

General Electric: Strategic Planning, Corporate Goals, and the Job of the Chief Executive, Video

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Francis Aguilar

Introduces Reginald Jones, former CEO of General Electric. Presents a question and answer session with Jones and Advanced Management Program participants. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Corporate Strategy; Strategic Planning; Goals and Objectives

August 2010 (Revised March 2012)
Supplement

The Dow Acquisition of Rohm and Haas (E)

By: Jay W. Lorsch and Melissa Barton

Dow completed the acquisition of Rohm and Haas and escaped a battle in a Delaware courtroom View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Legal Liability; Managerial Roles; Complexity

July 2008
Case

Leading from the Side

By: Thomas J. DeLong

Harriet Cornwall, a partner at the law firm of Kensington Palmer, LLP, is made lead over a fellow group of attorneys. Put in charge of guiding her colleagues in their annual goal-setting initiative, she notices four that need special attention. Cornwall must address... View Details

Keywords: Goals and Objectives; Managerial Roles; Performance Evaluation; Partners and Partnerships

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May 2002 (Revised May 2002)
Case

Tim Blanchard at Jones Mendel & Co.

By: John J. Gabarro

Tim Blanchard struggles to balance all the demands facing him as a partner of a consulting firm. He must decide how to serve clients, mentor his people, provide strategy and direction to the high-tech group, and spend time with family. A rewritten version of an earlier... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Managerial Roles; Work-Life Balance; Consulting Industry

May 2001 (Revised March 2008)
Case

"To hell with the future, let's get on with the past." George Mitchell in North Ireland

By: James K. Sebenius and Daniel F. Curran

Examines the strategies and tactics used by U.S. negotiator George Mitchell during his two-year tenure as chairman of the all-party talks in Northern Ireland. His efforts culminated in the signing of the historic Good Friday Accords. View Details

Keywords: Policy; International Relations; Managerial Roles; Negotiation Tactics; Strategy; Northern Ireland

August 1983 (Revised June 1985)
Supplement

Milford Industries (C)

By: Robert J. Dolan and Benson P. Shapiro

Supplements the (A) case. A rewritten version of part of an earlier series. View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Salesforce Management; Resignation and Termination; Performance Evaluation

December 1995 (Revised October 1996)
Case

Maureen Frye at Quaker Steel and Alloy Corporation

By: John J. Gabarro

Maureen Frye, assistant product manager at Quaker Steel and Alloy Corp., is asked to implement an action plan for changing the call pattern of the salesforce. Currently the salesforce is spending too much time on small accounts. Earlier Frye attempted to change their... View Details

Keywords: Management Teams; Managerial Roles; Organizational Culture; Planning; Salesforce Management; Strategy; Steel Industry

August 2010
Supplement

Batson International, S.A. (C)

By: David F. Hawkins

Senior management must sign a management letter. An internal audit reveals a number of questionable accounting practices (B case). How should senior management respond? View Details

Keywords: Accounting Audits; Financial Reporting; International Accounting; Managerial Roles; Standards; United States

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

March 2009 (Revised January 2010)
Supplement

The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Inc.: To Acquire or Not to Acquire? An Update

By: Juan Alcacer, David J. Collis and Mary Furey

This four-page update to the case, "The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Inc.: To Acquire or Not to Acquire?" details the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Pixar, including deal terms, executive appointments, and operating guidelines for the two studios. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Managerial Roles; Negotiation Deal; Operations; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

August 1983 (Revised May 2007)
Case

Milford Industries (A)

By: Robert J. Dolan and Benson P. Shapiro

The new district sales manager for a tool company must determine how to get his district "back on track." The case presents various qualitative and quantitative information on the salespeople. Teaching objectives include the specification of the tasks of a district... View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Salesforce Management; Resignation and Termination; Performance Evaluation