Publications

January 2014
Case

CleanSpritz

By: John A. Quelch and Alisa Zalosh

Sales of CleanSpritz all-purpose cleaning spray have been steadily declining for the past five years, and management believes the decline correlates to a growing environmental concern among U.S. consumers. CleanSpritz's management is considering several options to... View Details

Keywords: Product Positioning; Competition; Marketing Strategy; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Performance Improvement; Environmental Sustainability; Product Launch; Product Development; Consumer Products Industry

February 2008
Case

Monitor's Opportunities in India (A)

By: Juan Alcacer and Jan W. Rivkin

The CEO of a strategy consulting firm must decide which of the firm's functions, if any, to move to India. In particular, he wonders whether business research--currently conducted by highly paid consultants in developed countries--can be conducted more efficiently and... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Business Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Consulting Industry; India

27 Apr 2009
Research & Ideas

Building Businesses in Turbulent Times

explains how large and small companies can position themselves to survive—and thrive—in turbulent times. Applegate is head of the School's Entrepreneurial Management Unit and... View Details

Keywords: by Staff

08 May 2007
First Look

First Look: May 8, 2007

perceptions, emotions, and motivation levels—on several dimensions of performance. People perform better when their workday experiences include more positive emotions, stronger intrinsic motivation (passion... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

February 1996 (Revised February 2008)
Case

Toshiba: Ome Works

By: H. Kent Bowen, Janice H. Hammond, Sylvie Ryckebusch and Hiroshi Uchikoga

In 1995, Toshiba was the market leader in portable computer sales worldwide. This case describes the assembly of portable notebook computers in Toshiba's Ome factory in Ome, Japan, providing insights into some of the reasons for Toshiba's success. In addition to... View Details

Keywords: Factories, Labs, and Plants; Employees; Job Design and Levels; Production; Hardware; Japan

June 2001 (Revised March 2002)
Case

Ducati

Focuses on the turnaround and strategic repositioning of Ducati, an Italian maker of high-end sport motorcycles, and describes the current concerns with the growth prospects of the company. Federico Minoli, the CEO and strategic mind behind the turnaround, knew that... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Product Positioning; Management Teams; Brands and Branding; Motorcycle Industry

Company’s corporate culture. Recognizing Gilmartin’s leadership in creating a positive working environment, Fortune ranked Merck & Company as one of the top 10 best companies to work for. View Details

Keywords: Healthcare

06 Jun 2005
Research & Ideas

Microsoft vs. Open Source: Who Will Win?

reasoned, if Windows is sold at a positive price and Linux is free, there will always be Linux users, and if the strength of Linux's network effect is large, the value of Linux... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Technology

December 1992 (Revised October 1993)
Case

BMW: The Ultimate Driving Machine Seeks to De-Yuppify Itself

By: Stephen A. Greyser and Wendy Smith Schille

Tracks changes in the luxury auto market during the 1980s and early 1990s. Shifts in target consumer behavior--particularly the yuppie lifestyle--serve as the basis for manufacturer modifications of product line, positioning, and advertising. The climax of the case is... View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Change Management; Transformation; Brands and Branding; Product Positioning; Production; Luxury; Segmentation; Auto Industry

17 Oct 2024
Research & Ideas

The Reputation Risks of Sharing Fake News

Harvard Business School. “Even in this politicized, polarized environment that our country finds itself in, people value accuracy.” Ultimately, Jordan’s research casts doubt on the idea that reputational motivations, and in particular the... View Details

Keywords: by Avery Forman

October 2008
Case

Tegan c.c.c.

Examines a struggling IT outsourcing project from the perspective of the customer--Tegan. It should be used in conjunction with Hrad Technika (9-609-039), which illustrates the supplier's point of view. When Tegan, a Welsh toy distributor, outsources the development of... View Details

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Information Technology; Service Operations; Business Processes; Information Technology Industry; Wales; Czech Republic

01 Dec 2008
Lessons from the Classroom

How Many U.S. Jobs Are ‘Offshorable’?

HBS's Educational Technology Group. “The idea that you might offshore the reading of radiology films would have been unthinkable 25 years ago.” Each team assessed the potential offshorability of 20 occupations. (The positions of financial... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna

01 Apr 2008
First Look

First Look: April 1, 2008

Working PapersMental Accounting and Small Windfalls: Evidence from an Online Grocer Authors:Katherine L. Milkman, John Beshears, Todd Rogers, and Max H. Bazerman (revised March 2008) Abstract We study the... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

July 2024
Article

Whether to Apply

By: Katherine B. Coffman, Manuela Collis and Leena Kulkarni

Labor market outcomes depend, in part, upon an individual’s willingness to put herself forward for different opportunities. We use a series of experiments to explore gender differences in willingness to apply for higher return, more challenging work. We find that, in... View Details

Keywords: Beliefs; Recruitment; Job Search; Gender; Attitudes

Find at Harvard

14 May 2020
Blog Post

A PRIDE Farewell

efforts to make the HBS experience more accepting for URM MBAs. Together, for the second year in a row, our partnerships drove PRIDE’s ranking as one of the top five clubs at HBS for student satisfaction View Details

26 May 2003
Research & Ideas

What Your Competition is Telling You

help discern the best competitive stance. "Smart competitors, in effect, find ways to stake out positions on each other's turf without creating conflagration," he says. "They do this much like a boxer feeling out an... View Details

Keywords: by David Stauffer

12 Apr 2010
Research & Ideas

One Report: Better Strategy through Integrated Reporting

emissions can have a positive return on investment but hurt earnings and cash flow in the short term. Some commitments may actually result in a wealth transfer from shareholders to another stakeholder group,... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

April 2004 (Revised July 2005)
Case

Offshoring at Global Information Systems, Inc.

By: William E. Fruhan Jr.

This case explores the topic of offshoring high-tech jobs several perspectives. The issues presented include determining the stock price consequences of offshoring, examining the economic consequences of the offshore job to both the transferring and receiving... View Details

Keywords: Economy; Stocks; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Personal Development and Career; Competition