Publications

November 1999 (Revised March 2001)
Case

Russell Reynolds Associates, 1999

By: Tarun Khanna, Krishna G. Palepu and Rakesh Khurana

The president and CEO of Russell Reynolds examined the company's expansion strategy, especially in emerging markets. He evalulates how quickly the company should open new offices abroad and in which countries. View Details

Keywords: Global Strategy; Growth and Development Strategy; Emerging Markets; Expansion; Consulting Industry

22 Jan 2008
Research & Ideas

New Challenges in Leading Professional Services

Professional service firms—law firms, financial services firms, money management firms, private equity firms, hedge funds, management consultants, advertising agencies—are the most challenging and exciting... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Consulting; Consulting; Consulting

October 1997 (Revised October 1997)
Case

Egon Zehnder International (B)

By: Michael Y. Yoshino, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis

In 1994, Egon Zehnder faced stagnation in the U.S. market and needed to discuss plans for intiating growth. Due to market demand the firm was not forced to implement options contemplated in 1994 to initiate growth. View Details

Keywords: Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Growth and Development; Growth Management; Organizational Structure; Strategic Planning; Business Strategy; Consulting Industry; United States

August 2022 (Revised February 2023)
Case

Braintrust: The Blockchain-Powered Talent Network

By: Christopher Stanton, Joseph B. Fuller and George Gonzalez

A San Francisco startup seeks to disrupt the freelancing industry through its user-owned talent network powered by the cryptocurrency, BTRST. View Details

Keywords: Freelancers; Blockchain; Cryptocurrency; Social and Collaborative Networks; Talent and Talent Management; Consulting Industry; Consulting Industry; United States

September 2006 (Revised April 2007)
Supplement

Tim Keller at Katzenbach Partners LLC (B)

By: Boris Groysberg, Christopher Marquis and Ayesha Kanji

Supplements the (A) case. The (B) case presents the final outcome of the events. Reveals how Keller is able to turn around perceptions about him and forge relationships with key decision makers. Includes reflections and lessons learned from all parties and Keller's... View Details

Keywords: Projects; Management; Leadership; Organizations; Situation or Environment; Competition; Rank and Position; Attitudes; Motivation and Incentives; Consulting Industry

03 Mar 2003
Research & Ideas

The Ingredients of a Deal Disaster

was U.S.-owned, it had a history of stable lifetime employment and a union that enjoyed close relations with management. However, when the plant's first U.S. manager instigated downsizing to enhance returns—even though the plant was... View Details

Keywords: by Ron S. Fortgang, David A. Lax & James K. Sebenius

May 2001
Supplement

Asian Strategies: Ian Buchanan

By: Tarun Khanna

Ian Buchanan, senior VP of Booz-Allen & Hamilton, comments on Sime Darby and the Asian financial crisis. He also discusses the value propositions of different types of business groups in Malaysia. View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Growth and Development Strategy; Industry Structures; Strategy; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Consulting Industry; Consulting Industry; Asia; Malaysia

16 Apr 2008
Lessons from the Classroom

Chris Christensen: Legend of the Classroom

Sloan School of Management, Harvard Law School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the University of South Africa, and the Iran Center for Management Studies. His books on teaching, Education for Judgment: The Artistry of Discussion... View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg; Education

April 2000 (Revised October 2002)
Background Note

Career Strategies and Tactics in Professional Service Firms

By: Ashish Nanda, Thomas J. DeLong and Scot H. Landry

Presents suggestions for ensuring a good start in a professional services career. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Performance Expectations; Performance Effectiveness; Customization and Personalization; Practice; Valuation; Performance Evaluation; Business Startups; Competency and Skills; Learning; Talent and Talent Management; Management Skills; Consulting Industry

February 2011
Case

oDesk: Changing How the World Works

By: Boris Groysberg, David A. Thomas and Jennifer M. Tydlaska

It is 2010, and Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk, is contemplating the next steps for his organization. Founded in 2004 in California, oDesk operates an online marketplace which matches Employers with Contractors. oDesk provides fact-based information on Contractors, including... View Details

Keywords: Recruitment; Leadership; Growth and Development Strategy; Digital Platforms; Marketplace Matching; Corporate Strategy; Internet and the Web; Consulting Industry

12 Oct 1999
Research & Ideas

Spirit at Work: The Search for Deeper Meaning in the Workplace

times," he observes. Richard C. Whiteley (MBA '68), a management consultant and author who is writing a book titled "ReSpiriting Work," notes, "Another important factor is the aging of... View Details

Keywords: by Marguerite Rigoglioso

26 Jan 2004
Research & Ideas

What Developing-World Companies Teach Us About Innovation

countries generally lack a solid technology base of trained scientists and world-class research universities. 2. Companies in developing countries must manage to eke out a profit while serving customers with low disposable income; per... View Details

Keywords: by Donald N. Sull, Alejandro Ruelas-Gossi & Martin Escobari

23 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

Psychology, Pathology, and the CEO

more productive." [New CEO] Greg Dyke virtually eliminated consultants at the BBC to force managers to think for themselves.— Rosabeth Moss Kanter Invensys's leadership team acted on this theory by... View Details

Keywords: by Rosabeth Moss Kanter

July 2011
Teaching Note

Accenture's War for Talent in India (TN)

By: Robert G. Eccles and Erin McFee

Teaching Note for 408095. View Details

Keywords: Globalized Firms and Management; Recruitment; Consulting Industry; Consulting Industry; India

March 2020 (Revised January 2023)
Case

Nadine Vogel: Transforming the Marketplace, Workplace, and Workforce for People with Disabilities

By: Lakshmi Ramarajan, Hannah Riley-Bowles and Michael Norris

In 2019, Nadine Vogel, founder and CEO of Springboard Consulting, a firm that worked with Fortune 500 companies on issues related to disability and their workforce, faced the decision of the best path forward to grow her small company. Should she build more and better... View Details

Keywords: Diversity; Entrepreneurship; Personal Development and Career; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Development; Market Entry and Exit; Consulting Industry; United States; Florida; New York (state, US)