Publications

June 2014 (Revised January 2017)
Case

Focus Financial Partners and the U.S. RIA Industry in 2014

By: Luis Viceira and Emily A. Chien

In the Spring of 2014, Rudy Adolf, CEO and founder of Focus Financial, and the two other co-founders of the firm are considering alternative growth strategies to solidify Focus Financial's position as a leading aggregator of independent wealth management firms in the... View Details

Keywords: Financial Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Model; Financial Services Industry

Get to better, more effective strategy.

In nearly every business segment and corner of the world economy, the most successful companies dramatically outperform their rivals. What is their secret? In "Better, Simpler Strategy," Harvard... View Details

29 Aug 2014
Working Paper Summaries

Patent Trolls

Keywords: by Lauren Cohen, Umit G. Gurun & Scott Duke Kominers

30 May 2018
Research & Ideas

Should Retailers Match Their Own Prices Online and in Stores?

value of the product is low and there aren’t too many undecided consumers, to offer the price match doesn’t give you much in terms of extra profits from the segment that comes to the store,” Ofek says. “By price discriminating across... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Retail

23 Oct 2000
Research & Ideas

The Strategy-Focused Organization

weather that depressed sales of natural gas and home heating oil. As you know, this is also the first quarter we are operating with the Balanced Scorecard, so I can see performance across a broader set of indicators. Market shares in our key customer View Details

Keywords: by Robert S. Kaplan & David P. Norton

18 May 2022
Research & Ideas

Are Banks the ‘Bad Guys’? Overdraft Fees Are Crushing Low-Income Customers

serve this less affluent segment of the market. How consumers can protect themselves For consumers, the message is clear: Make sure you know your bank’s policy on how—and when—overdraft fees are charged. “Community-based banks also do... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Financial Services

Web

Student Research - Doctoral

segment of charitable giving in the United States. Using a novel database of foundation tax filings, I document facts about top donors, estimate how they... June 2025 Article Administrative Science Quarterly Riding the Passion Wave or... View Details

Web

Planning a Class Session - Christensen Center for Teaching & Learning

the process side of the class discussion. This includes planning for the structure, sequencing, and timing of discussion segments ("pastures"), as well as the types of questions, organization of boards, transitions, and other discussion... View Details

September 2010 (Revised February 2011)
Case

Red Lobster

By: David E. Bell and Jason Riis

Red Lobster, a 40-year-old chain of seafood restaurants, has just completed some market research revealing an opportunity to shift its target customer segment. The chain is in the final stages of a 10-year plan of rejuvenation under CEO Kim Lopdrup. When he took over... View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Customer Satisfaction; Marketing Strategy; Consumer Behavior; Research; Segmentation; Food and Beverage Industry

09 Jul 2020
Research & Ideas

It’s Time to Reset Decision-Making in Your Organization

price decreases segmented by customer and channel. Another hallmark of stressful situations is that they can lead to paralysis and inaction, what Nathan Furr calls “unproductive uncertainty.” He recommends three strategies for... View Details

Keywords: by Boris Groysberg and Sarah Abbott

Web

Confronting Climate Change - Business & Environment

segments of the business community have opposed government action on climate change. More recently, some companies have begun advocating for government policies to address climate change. Electricity Shifting to sustainable electricity... View Details

01 Oct 2007
Research & Ideas

Encouraging Dissent in Decision-Making

notion that a large segment of consumers might prefer automobiles that were safe and fuel-efficient. Coca-Cola ignored evidence that "New Coke" would fizzle and launched it anyway. Companies in the mechanical-watch and... View Details

Keywords: by Garry Emmons

16 Jul 2020
Research & Ideas

Restaurant Revolution: How the Industry Is Fighting to Stay Alive

[div class=infogram-embed data-id=_/57Y0v9Xi9HTtAOb900lW][/div] Various segments of restaurants experienced the crisis differently. Those previously adept at drive-through and takeout service weathered the storm well while others, reliant... View Details

Keywords: by Michael S. Kaufman, Lena G. Goldberg, and Jill Avery; Food & Beverage

16 Apr 2001
Research & Ideas

Breaking the Code of Change

Theory O change, Scott Paper operated in a highly competitive, cyclical, capital-intensive global industry. Like Champion International, it operated in two different segments of the paper industry and had several businesses in markets... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Beer & Nitin Nohria

16 Apr 2001
Research & Ideas

Strategy and the Internet

offerings of dot-coms. Industry leaders have compromised their existing competitive advantages by entering market segments to which they bring little that is distinctive. Merrill Lynch's move to imitate the low-cost on-line offerings of... View Details

Keywords: by Michael E. Porter

16 Jun 2020
Research & Ideas

Your Customers Have Changed. Here's How to Engage Them Again.

services. Firms whose customer demand for their core products and services has decreased need to find new customers for new products and services in segments experiencing steep increases in demand. Thus, Dyson, GM, Ford, Volkswagen, and... View Details

Keywords: by Rohit Deshpandé, Ofer Mintz, and Imran S. Currim; Retail; Service

Web

Geography of Care - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

more complex medical conditions and patient segments in order to access expertise, facilities and services to enable high-value care Rural and community hospitals can take on new roles through affiliation View Details

February 2018 (Revised March 2019)
Case

Sandlands Vineyards

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Gregory Saldutte

Approximately 80% of the wineries in the U.S. break even or lose money. An even greater percentage lose money on an economic basis (i.e., after a charge for the cost of equity). Tegan Passalacqua is a successful, young, Californian winemaker who specializes in making... View Details