Publications

06 Aug 2018
Research & Ideas

Supersmart Manufacturing Tools are Lowering Prices on TVs, Bulbs, and Solar Panels

Management Practice in Business Administration at Harvard Business School, who recently published a paper on the topic of technology commoditization in MIT Sloan Management Review. According to Shih,... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Manufacturing; Electronics

05 May 2003
Research & Ideas

Sharing the Responsibility of Corporate Governance

Rhetoric and Independence Are Not Enough: Empowering Managers and Directors to Do What Is Right, you challenge the adequacy of the Business Roundtable's assertion that the selection of a well-qualified and ethical CEO is the most... View Details

Keywords: by Carla Tishler

June 2010
Teaching Note

Australia: The Riches and Challenges of Commodities (TN)

By: Laura Alfaro and Renee Kim

Teaching Note for 709007. View Details

Keywords: Futures and Commodity Futures; Financial Crisis; Demand and Consumers; Trade; Natural Environment; Business and Government Relations; Policy; Growth and Development Strategy; Australia

March 2006
Case

The Whitesides Lab

By: H. Kent Bowen and Francesca Gino

A significant part of the long-term economic growth in developed economies depends on the translation of scientific research into new products and processes. Focuses on the front end of this value creation stream. The laboratory of George Whitesides has a 30-year... View Details

Keywords: Research; Performance Productivity; Economic Growth; Infrastructure; Creativity; Groups and Teams; Value Creation; Factories, Labs, and Plants; Leadership; Resource Allocation

February 2004 (Revised March 2004)
Case

Fuel Cells: The Hydrogen Revolution?

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Ryland Matthew Willis

The challenges faced in establishing hydrogen fuel cell-powered transportation in the United States, which promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on imported oil is examined. Foremost among these challenges is a "chicken-and-egg" dynamic: consumers... View Details

Keywords: Taxation; Environmental Sustainability; Infrastructure; Government Administration; Energy Sources; Business and Government Relations; Network Effects; Transportation; Green Technology Industry; Energy Industry; European Union; Japan; United States

Find at Harvard

May 2021
Case

André Hoffmann: Beyond Philanthropy

By: Lauren Cohen, Hao Gao, Jiawei Ye and Spencer C.N. Hagist

André Hoffmann is a leader of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. His exceptional tenure in philanthropy over the past several decades, including being president of the WWF and the vice-president of the MAVA Foundation, has allowed him access to a far... View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Restructuring; Social Entrepreneurship; Values and Beliefs; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Cash Flow; Macroeconomics; Ethics; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Switzerland; United States; Japan

06 Dec 2021
Research & Ideas

The Popular Stock Metric That Can Lead Investors Astray

identifying value stocks.” Wang teamed up with Ki-Soon Choi and Eric C. So from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management to author the new research, entitled Going by the Book: Valuation Ratios and Stock... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

12 Feb 2013
First Look

First Look: Feb. 12

years, I believe I have a clear sense of the state of corporate governance in the United States and in much of Western Europe. Not surprisingly, my crystal ball for predicting future developments and demands on boards cannot be so clear. The Language of Global View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

13 Jun 2005
Research & Ideas

From Turf Wars to Learning Curves: How Hospitals Adopt New Technology

may be the case that it is appropriate only for particular groups or individuals within the firm. If a manager decides to adopt a new technology for only part of the organization, he or she will need to remain aware of how that decision... View Details

Keywords: by Sara Grant; Health

15 Feb 2011
First Look

First Look: Feb. 15

falls between a security and a real estate investment. The risk and control characteristics also vary. This case explores both the valuation of the property and the logistical issues around managing it, as well as the View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

02 Aug 2010
Research & Ideas

Modern Indian Art: The Birth of a Market

to as high as, in some cases, millions of dollars. Khaire and Wadhwani describe their work in "Changing Landscapes: The Construction of Meaning and Value in a New Market Category—Modern Indian Art," which is scheduled to be published in a forthcoming Academy... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

March 2009 (Revised December 2009)
Case

Relational Investors and Home Depot (A)

By: Jay W. Lorsch and Kaitlyn Simpson

In 2006, amidst shareholder upset over CEO Robert Nardelli's compensation and Home Depot's declining stock price, Relational Investors decided to further investigate the situation. As experts in turning around underperforming and undervalued companies, Relational's... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Financial Management; Investment; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Ownership Stake; Business and Shareholder Relations; Corporate Strategy

March 1999 (Revised November 2001)
Case

Honda-Rover (A): Crafting an Alliance

By: Ashish Nanda, James K. Sebenius and Ron Fortgang

Faced with vexing financial challenges in 1993, British Aerospace (BAe) is determined to shed its loss-making automaker, Rover. It offers to sell its stake in Rover to Honda, Rover's partner since 1979, but Honda is reluctant to raise its stake in Rover. Meanwhile, BMW... View Details

Keywords: Business Exit or Shutdown; Joint Ventures; Alliances; Knowledge Sharing; Strategy; Contracts; Negotiation Process; Change Management; Negotiation Tactics; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Auto Industry; United Kingdom

30 Sep 2015
Research & Ideas

Political Polarization: Why We All Just Can't Get Along

they should be,” says Minor, who hopes to delve further into how to effectively shift beliefs in future research. TRUST IN THE WORKPLACE The unduly pessimistic predictions in the political survey sparked Minor’s curiosity about whether the same disconnect exists in... View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland; Banking; Financial Services

23 Feb 2004
Research & Ideas

It’s Back to Business-Basics for Nonprofits

To transform lofty aspirations into quantifiable impact, nonprofits need to become more familiar with traditional business tools such as business plans, precise mission statements, and goal setting to improve their performance. That was the message from Jeff Bradach,... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls

01 May 2007
First Look

First Look: May 1, 2007

Working PapersGrowth and the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment: Is All FDI Equal? Authors:Laura Alfaro and Andrew Charlton Abstract In this paper we distinguish different "qualities" of FDI to re-examine the relationship... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

March 2004 (Revised July 2005)
Case

ACCION International: Maintaining High Performance Through Time

By: Michael Chu

ACCION International has been a major innovator in microfinance for 30 years. Reviews organizational context under which key industry-shaping concepts were developed (from peer group lending, guarantee funds, equity investment funds, and regulated commercial banking... View Details

Keywords: Joint Ventures; Equity; Microfinance; Employee Relationship Management; Non-Governmental Organizations

November 2002 (Revised September 2013)
Case

Building a Cluster: Electronics and Information Technology in Costa Rica

By: Michael E. Porter and Niels W. Ketelhohn

Describes the actions of Costa Rica President Figueres and his cabinet in attracting an Intel assembly and testing plant to their country. The effort was part of a government strategy that sought to develop further the Costa Rican electronics and information technology... View Details

Keywords: Development Economics; Growth and Development Strategy; Industry Clusters; Business and Government Relations; Information Technology; Electronics Industry; Information Technology Industry; Costa Rica