Publications

15 Mar 2011
First Look

First Look: March 15

examine the organizational transformation of risk experts in two large U.K. banks, where we study the dynamics of the risk management function over a period of five years. Our findings indicate that the rising influence of a staff function on View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Web

Career Re-Entry & Flexible Work - Alumni

Planned, yet premature retirement Re-examination of commitments, “soul searching” Whether you anticipate a career break, or wish to position yourself favorably in the event of an unplanned job loss, you can take steps now to make re-entry... View Details

28 Nov 2005
Research & Ideas

Unilever: Transformation and Tradition

were not strong enough to prevent the growth of private labels in Europe, but they were sufficient to maintain Unilever's strong position in higher margin products. It was able to leverage knowledge of brands and products between... View Details

Keywords: by Geoffrey Jones; Consumer Products

14 May 2013
First Look

First Look: May 14

higher and invest abroad when foreign prices are higher. Funds see the industry P/E ratios of their home investments drop in the year after the investment, while they have a positive change in the year after their investments abroad. SWFs... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

26 Feb 2008
First Look

First Look: February 26, 2008

economics has lent the study of strategy much needed theory and empirical evidence. Strategy consultants, armed with frameworks and techniques, have stepped forward to help managers analyze their industries and position their companies... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

October 2014
Case

Mothercare, 2014

By: John R. Wells and Galen Danskin

In early 2014, Mothercare was the UK's leading retailer of mother-and-baby products. In fiscal 2013, it generated £341 million in revenues from its 255 UK stores and £128 million online, and was more than three times the size of its next biggest competitor, Mama and... View Details

Keywords: Retail; Turnaround; Strategy; Strategic Planning; Retail Industry; United Kingdom

March 2025
Case

Harvey: AI for Lawyers

By: Suraj Srinivasan, Charles Krumholz and Radhika Kak

In early 2025, Winston Weinberg and Gabe Pereyra, co-founders of Harvey AI, reflected on the company’s meteoric rise as a pioneer in AI-powered legal technology. Since its founding in 2022, Harvey had transformed how lawyers approached research, drafting, and document... View Details

Keywords: Innovation Strategy; Business Startups; AI and Machine Learning; Technological Innovation; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Positioning; Legal Services Industry; Technology Industry; New York (city, NY); San Francisco; London

25 Feb 2014
First Look

First Look: February 25

When, and How Much to Entertain Consumers in Advertisements? A Web-based Facial Tracking Field Study By: Teixeira, Thales, Rosalind Picard, and Rana el Kaliouby Abstract—The presence of positive entertainment (e.g., visual imagery, upbeat... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Web

The Essential Porter - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

Competitive positioning and sustainable competitive advantage for corporations, business units, and leaders. Learn more about Strategy Key Frameworks & Concepts Value-based Health Care Delivery Drivers of Competiveness The Diamond Model... View Details

16 Feb 2010
Research & Ideas

The Outside-In Approach to Customer Service

Reorganize for Resilience: Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business (Harvard Business Press). Gulati, whose research explores leadership and strategic challenges for building high growth organizations in turbulent markets, is the... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert; Consumer Products

March 2023 (Revised May 2023)
Case

OneTen at Delta Air Lines: Catalyzing Family-Sustaining Careers for Black Talent (A)

By: Linda A. Hill and Lydia Begag

It was December 10, 2020, and Ed Bastian, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delta Air Lines (Delta), had just finished a meeting with Joanne Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, and Keyra Lynn Johnson, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.... View Details

Keywords: Recruitment; Training; Race; Equality and Inequality; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Job Design and Levels; Air Transportation Industry; United States

01 Oct 2001
Research & Ideas

Organizing the Family-Run Business

sibling dominated boards accomplish much. Siblings, who are typically quite sensitive to one another, often either avoid confrontations or quickly escalate disagreements into disruptive conflicts. Siblings also often see their board View Details

16 Oct 2017
Research & Ideas

The Most Successful Startups Have Hands-On Founders

that more intensive people management is a worthwhile investment of a founder’s time.” Effective human resource management is more than just keeping the paperwork flowing. “You also need to focus on the strategic part of managing people... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

02 Apr 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, April 2, 2019

is that women’s thin representation at senior levels remains in place. We conclude by highlighting contributions to work-family, workplace inequality, and systems-psychodynamic theory. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=55807 forthcoming... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

18 Jan 2016
Research & Ideas

Hazard Warning: The Unacceptable Cost of Toxic Workers

data to decipher traits belonging to toxic workers. The result was anonymized personal data of almost 60,000 workers from 11 firms, about 70 percent of which were based in the United States. The positions were similar front-line, customer... View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland

April 2010 (Revised March 2011)
Case

The Auction for Travelport (A)

By: Andrei Hagiu and Misha Sanwal

A senior Blackstone director is deciding how aggressively to bid for Travelport, a travel distribution business containing several key services and platforms. Travelport's most important properties were Galileo, one of the top 3 global distribution systems (GDSs),... View Details

Keywords: Value Creation; Product Positioning; Cost vs Benefits; Private Equity; Leveraged Buyouts; Competitive Advantage; Auctions; Industry Structures; Travel Industry