Publications

April 1993
Background Note

Note on High-Commitment Work Systems

By: David A. Garvin and Norman Klein

Describes the history, theory, and practice of high-commitment work systems. The history reviews classical approaches (i.e. Frederick Taylor), the human relations movement, the human resources approach, quality of work life, and empowerment. The theory examines the... View Details

Keywords: Design; Human Resources; Innovation and Invention; Managerial Roles; Work-Life Balance; Problems and Challenges; Strategy

June 1991 (Revised April 1995)
Background Note

Corporate Strategy: A Conceptual Framework

By: David J. Collis

Provides a conceptual framework for the study of corporate strategy. First describes previous perspectives on corporate strategy and then develops a framework of four elements: resources, tasks, structure, and industries. This framework can be used to explain the value... View Details

Keywords: Resource Allocation; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Corporate Strategy; Value

January 1998
Case

Transformation at Ernst & Young, United Kingdom

By: John J. Gabarro and Samantha Graff

Describes a major organizational transformation process at Ernst & Young, United Kingdom, and the events leading up to the first deal since its introduction. Raises questions of leadership, organizational design, and organizational change. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Leadership; Organizational Design; Restructuring; Accounting Industry; United Kingdom

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2015
Government Testimony

Price Coherence in Online Platforms — Impact and Responses

By: Benjamin Edelman and Julian Wright

We examine the role of price coherence in shaping market structure and offer policy recommendations to advance both efficiency and equity. View Details

Keywords: Price Coherence; Price Parity; MFN; Distribution Channels; Market Design; Travel Industry; Financial Services Industry

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August 1994 (Revised May 1995)
Case

Engineering Inspection & Insurance Company

By: Robert H. Hayes

Engineering Inspection & Insurance Co. (EIIC) is a small but highly successful company that offers machinery and boiler inspection and insurance services. After years of above-average growth and profits, both are retreating toward the industry average, policy delivery... View Details

Keywords: Service Operations; Business Strategy; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Insurance; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Insurance Industry; United States

19 Dec 2017
First Look

New Research and Ideas, December 19, 2017

can swipe right or left on a profile to indicate her interest in a potential match. The case is designed to explore issues related to pricing, market design, and launch strategies in the context of online... View Details

Keywords: Carmen Nobel

February 1998
Case

Lyondell Petrochemical Company

By: Jay W. Lorsch and Daniel P. Erikson

In August 1994, Lyondell Petrochemical Co.'s corporate parent and largest single shareholder effectively shed its stock, resulting in the resignation of 5 of its 11 directors. The remaining outside directors immediately acted to overhaul the executive compensation plan... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Executive Compensation; Design; Business or Company Management; Management Teams; Mining Industry

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03 Jul 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, July 3, 2018

design tools is a powerful force that is leveling the global technology playing field. It democratizes innovation and makes future competition more challenging. This paper describes the knowledge flows through production and View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

24 Sep 2013
First Look

First Look: September 24

Earnings Call By: Eccles, Robert G., and George Serafeim Abstract—One of the challenges companies claim to face in making sustainability a core part of their strategy and... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

05 Mar 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, March 5, 2019

important strategic considerations for managers selecting supplier factories and provide key insights for the design of transnational sustainability governance regimes. Publisher's link:... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

28 Jan 2010
Working Paper Summaries

Does Product Market Competition Lead Firms To Decentralize?

Keywords: by Nicholas Bloom, Raffaella Sadun & John Van Reenen

2008
Working Paper

Performance and Control across Multiple Markets

By: Tatiana Sandino, Dennis Campbell and Shelby Yu

Chain organizations typically operate units across different types of markets, with significantly diverging customer bases. Such market-type dispersion potentially influences performance through two channels: it makes performance a noisier indicator of store manager... View Details

Keywords: Governance Controls; Organizational Design; Markets; Franchise Ownership; Performance; Retail Industry

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22 Jan 2007
Research & Ideas

The Immigrant Technologist: Studying Technology Transfer with China

Assistant Professor William R. Kerr teaches the required first-year MBA course, The Entrepreneurial Manager, in addition to Executive Education courses at Harvard Business School. One of his core research... View Details

Keywords: Re: William R. Kerr; Technology; Computer

03 Jun 2022
Blog Post

HiHome Sweet HiHome

in control. When you can consistently see high levels of anxiety, stress, confusion and uncertainty, and those emotions have not faded over time, we felt we were clearly on to something related to innovating the home buying process that... View Details

11 Sep 2014
Working Paper Summaries

Chief Sustainability Officers: Who Are They and What Do They Do?

Keywords: by Kathleen Miller & George Serafeim

23 Jul 2007
Research & Ideas

HBS Cases: How Wikipedia Works (or Doesn’t)

maintained, the power of self-policing organizations, the question of whether the service is drifting from its core principles, and whether a Wikipedia-like concept can work in... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Publishing

August 2000 (Revised August 2018)
Case

The Atchison Corporation (A)

By: Joseph L. Bower

A new general manager uses a profit-center-based system to shake up an old line company. He then faces the task of placating a board member upset by the human consequences. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: Transformation; Profit; Human Resources; Change Management; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Organizational Design

April 2009 (Revised July 2010)
Case

Corporate Solutions at Jones Lang LaSalle (2001)

By: Ranjay Gulati and Lucia Menzer Marshall

Peter Barge, CEO of the newly created Corporate Solutions Group of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), is executing a restructuring of the U.S. corporate real estate services division that will enable the company to offer its clients integrated solutions. Barge has created an... View Details

Keywords: Business Divisions; Restructuring; Customer Relationship Management; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Corporate Strategy; Integration