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September 2007 (Revised May 2011)
Case

Commercializing an MRI Breakthrough

The challenges and best strategies for the commercialization of university technologies are illustrated in this case which documents an MRI breakthrough that arose from the Charles Marcus laboratory at Harvard. Students discuss the interdependencies of intellectual... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Decision Choices and Conditions; Higher Education; Patents; Research and Development; Science-Based Business; Commercialization

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

August 2002 (Revised February 2005)
Case

Gillette Company (A): Pressure for Change

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and James Weber

After years of strong performance with market-dominating brands, Gillette's performance slips and a new CEO is selected from outside the company to lead a turnaround. This case describes the business and financial situation he inherited and asks what he should do... View Details

Keywords: Business History; Performance Consistency; Product Positioning; Selection and Staffing; Change Management; Leading Change; Competitive Strategy; Planning; Retail Industry

February 1982 (Revised June 1985)
Case

U.S. Retail Coffee Market (B)

Describes the corporate portfolio of General Foods, Procter & Gamble, and Nestle, thereby placing in context their coffee activities in the United States. The objective of this case is to allow students to evaluate each competitor's commitment to the U.S. retail coffee... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Markets; Retail Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United States

08 Feb 2021
News

We asked a Harvard Business School professor to analyze Jeff Bezos' departure letter. Here's where it was successful

20 Jan 2015
First Look

First Look: January 20

authors will examine these and other major events in which Henry Kissinger played leading roles in order to extract their most important insights into the principles and practice of effective negotiation. Download working paper: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2532613 View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

26 May 2023
Blog Post

Bringing Space Tech Back to Earth

conduct real-time measurements around the sun for better space weather predictions. “This whole program has made me more willing to explore options, say ‘yes’ to things, and understand the power of creativity in facing tough problems,” Sweeney said. “The classroom... View Details

23 Oct 2007
First Look

First Look: October 23, 2007

Cases & Course MaterialsBunge: Food, Fuel, and World Markets Harvard Business School Case 708-443 In 2007, Bunge, an agribusiness company, had over $26 billion in worldwide sales and was considered,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

19 Dec 2023
Research & Ideas

15 Podcast Episodes That Grabbed Listeners in 2023

microcosm for the future of media and information. Muhammad Ali: A Case Study in Purpose-Driven Decision Making Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., rose from a poor family in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, to international... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

Career Coach

Deborah Resnick

development coach. Deborah has extensive experience helping students and alumni build confidence and effectiveness with networking and interviewing (including case interviews). She also works with career switchers, individuals looking... View Details

Keywords: Consulting; Consumer Products; Retail

23 Feb 2017
Cold Call Podcast

Black Business Leaders Series: Franklin Leonard, 'Black List' Mastermind

Keywords: Re: Henry W. McGee; Entertainment & Recreation

November 1992 (Revised August 2001)
Case

Eskimo Pie Corporation

By: Richard S. Ruback

In early 1991, Reynolds Metals, the makers of aluminum products, decided to sell its holding of Eskimo Pie, a marketer of branded frozen novelties. Reynolds had an offer from Nestle to acquire Eskimo Pie. However, Reynolds decided instead to make an initial public... View Details

Keywords: Initial Public Offering; Decisions; Mergers and Acquisitions; Performance Productivity; Leadership; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Expansion; Ownership; Food and Beverage Industry; Manufacturing Industry

October 2017
Supplement

Maggie Wilderotter: The Evolution of an Executive: Video Supplement

By: Boris Groysberg, Sarah L. Abbott and Robin Abrahams

In a career that spanned over 30 years, Maggie Wilderotter served as CEO of two publicly traded companies and served on 32 corporate and nine association and non-profit boards of directors. The case looks at the progression of Wilderotter’s career; the decisions she... View Details

Keywords: Leadership; Managing People; Networks; Strategy And Leadership; Personal Development and Career; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Social and Collaborative Networks; Gender; Power and Influence; Telecommunications Industry; United States

July 2014
Teaching Note

Rebecca S. Halstead: Steadfast Leadership

By: Boris Groysberg and Deborah Bell

The case reviews Rebecca Halstead's career history, detailing how, through her personal attributes, skills, experiences, challenges, and organizational practices she developed into a successful leader and commander in the U.S. Army. The teaching note discusses... View Details

Keywords: Strategy And Leadership; Leadership And Managing People; Working Conditions; Groups and Teams; Competitive Strategy; Personal Development and Career; Organizational Culture; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Gender; Power and Influence

June 2008
Case

Rackspace Hosting in Late 2000

By: James L. Heskett and W. Earl Sasser

The leadership team of Rackspace, faced with accommodation of its service offering and dwindling financial reserves, decides to make customer focus the rallying cry of its new strategy. This short case was designed as the discussion igniter for a series of short video... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Finance; Management Teams; Service Operations; Customer Ownership; Strategy

December 2007
Case

Cinergy and Duke Energy 2005: Think BIG

By: Boris Groysberg, Nitin Nohria, Colleen Kaftan and Geoff Eckman Marietta

Jim Rogers, CEO of Cinergy Energy, has just announced the company's merger with Duke Energy to Employees. Rogers has had success in the past leading his firm though a merger, but will he be able to achieve similar results this time around? This case also illustrates... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Leading Change; Integration; Energy Industry

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March 2002 (Revised October 2005)
Case

Apple Computer 2002

By: David B. Yoffie and Yusi Wang

In 1980, Apple was the leader of the personal computer industry, but by 2002 it had suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Wintel camp. This case examines Apple's strategic moves as the PC industry evolves in the 21st century and poses the question: Can Steve Jobs... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Leadership Style; Information Technology; Supply and Industry; Competitive Advantage; Computer Industry; Retail Industry; California

April 2000 (Revised December 2001)
Case

AirTex Aviation

By: Brian J. Hall and Carleen Madigan

Two young and inexperienced MBAs buy a virtually bankrupt company. They design a decentralized control system organized around profit centers. As a case in control systems, there is ample detail for a discussion of design issues, control of independent profit centers,... View Details

Keywords: Air Transportation; Management Systems; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Air Transportation Industry

March 1994 (Revised March 2000)
Case

Cola Wars Continue: Coke vs. Pepsi in the 1990s

By: David B. Yoffie and Sharon Foley

The competition between Coke and Pepsi is a classic corporate battle that began in America at the turn of the century and has expanded into worldwide competitive warfare in the 1990s. This case examines the economics of the soft drink and bottling industries, and... View Details

Keywords: Globalization; Organizational Culture; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; North and Central America