Publications

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2023
Working Paper

'De Gustibus' and Disputes about Reference Dependence

By: Thomas Graeber, Pol Campos-Mercade, Lorenz Goette, Alexandre Kellogg and Charles Sprenger

Existing tests of reference-dependent preferences assume universal loss aversion. This paper examines the implications of heterogeneity in gain-loss attitudes for such tests. In experiments on labor supply and exchange behavior we measure gain-loss attitudes and then... View Details

Keywords: Behavioral Economics; Decision Choices and Conditions; Forecasting and Prediction

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2009
Introduction

Social Dilemmas, Social Values, and Ethical Judgments: Touchpoints and Touchdowns in a Distinguished Scholarly Career

By: R. M. Kramer, A. E. Tenbrunsel and M. H. Bazerman

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Values and Beliefs; Social Issues; Civil Society or Community

04 May 2020
Research & Ideas

Predictions, Prophets, and Restarting Your Business

“Predictions are risky, especially about the future,” according to a popular expression. Still, business is inescapably about the future—that’s what managers’ decisions are about. In the current crisis, we have daily grand predictions... View Details

Keywords: by Frank V. Cespedes

June 2016
Case

Career at a Crossroad: Akhil and Roopa

By: Noam Wasserman

Akhil Patel is passionate about his business idea: an innovative green technology fuel cell. He wants to dive in and commit to his startup, but Roopa Rao, his fiancee, is much more risk averse, his parents don't approve of the startup, and Akhil has an enticing... View Details

Keywords: Technological Innovation; Opportunities; Decision Choices and Conditions; Business Startups; Green Technology Industry

2012
Working Paper

Issuer Quality and Corporate Bond Returns

By: Robin Greenwood and Samuel G. Hanson

We show that the credit quality of corporate debt issuers deteriorates during credit booms, and that this deterioration forecasts low excess returns to corporate bondholders. The key insight is that changes in the pricing of credit risk disproportionately affect the... View Details

Keywords: Price; Credit; Risk and Uncertainty; Investment Return; Forecasting and Prediction; Bonds; Market Design; Cost of Capital; Mathematical Methods; System Shocks

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14 Feb 2022
Research & Ideas

Curiosity, Not Coding: 6 Skills Leaders Need in the Digital Age

their actions. They must learn to see their decisions and actions as working hypotheses that they can only validate by collecting feedback on their impact as expeditiously as possible. Leaders will be... View Details

Keywords: by Linda A. Hill, Ann Le Cam, Sunand Menon, and Emily Tedards; Technology

July 2019
Supplement

Omidyar Network's Investment Decisions: MicroEnsure and Lenddo

By: Vikram S Gandhi

A team of investors at Omidyar Network explore two different investment possibilities in the budding financial inclusion space using their investment framework to consider capital alternatives available for both investments, each of which carries highly divergent... View Details

Keywords: Impact Investing; Micro Finance; Investment; Investment Return; Investment Activism; Investment Portfolio; Microfinance; Decision Choices and Conditions; India; Philippines

01 Mar 2023
News

March 2023 Alumni and Faculty Books

aggressively for the Navy and Marine Corps’ future—a future he believed would be defined by uncertainty and unpredictability. Every Friday, he wrote a personal message to the... View Details

Keywords: Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information

19 Mar 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, March 19, 2019

innovations might impact—and be impacted by—workers, consumers, organizations, and society. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=55845 March 2019 Organizational Behavior and... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

15 Jan 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, January 15, 2019

Human Decision Processes Seeker Beware: The Interpersonal Costs of Ignoring Advice By: Blunden, Hayley, Jennifer M. Logg, Alison Wood Brooks, Leslie John, and Francesca Gino Abstract—Prior advice research... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

February 2006 (Revised August 2006)
Case

Kevin McCarthy and Westlake Chemical Corporation (A)

Examines forecasting earnings/performance for a commodity chemical firm during a period of high uncertainty, highlighting the combined effects of input process (natural gas), industry capacity/utilization, and cyclicality. Assuming the role of Kevin McCarthy (the top... View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Futures and Commodity Futures; Forecasting and Prediction; Chemicals; Chemical Industry

04 Sep 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, September 4, 2018

2018 Individual Creativity in the Workplace An Integrated Model of Dynamic Problem Solving within Organizational Constraints By: Cromwell, Johnathan R., Teresa M. Amabile, and Jean-François Harvey Abstract—Rapid technological change,... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

Research Summary

Overview

By: Shikhar Ghosh

I am focused on exploring the human side of developing early stage entrepreneurial ventures. These enterprises are characterized by the pursuit of opportunity, shortage of resources to pursue their goals and uncertainty at every step of the journey. Some of the... View Details

Keywords: Scale; Exit; Founders' Agreements; Success Measures; Entrepreneurial Risk; Founding Teams; Entrepreneurship; Failure; Europe; Middle East; Asia

May 1976
Article

Interbrand Choice, Media Mix and Market Performance

By: M. E. Porter

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Media; Markets; Performance

Find at Harvard

May 2017 (Revised February 2024)
Case

Battle for the Soul of Capitalism: Unilever and the Kraft Heinz Takeover Bid (A)

By: William W. George and Amram Migdal

This case describes Kraft Heinz Company’s (KHC) February 2017 unsolicited $143 billion takeover offer to acquire Unilever. The offer was made to Unilever CEO Paul Polman by KHC chairman Alexandre Behring, who was also co-founder and CEO of Brazilian-based 3G Capital... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Value Creation; Decision Choices and Conditions

December 2023 (Revised January 2025)
Case

Research In Motion: Launching and Scaling the World's First Smartphone Empire (A)

By: Tatiana Sandino and Samuel Grad

In 2005, Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry smartphone was a sensation. After its launch in 1999, the groundbreaking BlackBerry had captured the hearts and minds of corporate America through its secure wireless email service. The device was so addictive and... View Details

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Innovation and Management; Technological Innovation; Business or Company Management; Management Style; Product Development; Managerial Roles; Growth and Development Strategy; Technology Industry; United States; Canada

July 2008 (Revised October 2020)
Case

Sam Barnstable and Blue Sky Radio Devices

By: Felda Hardymon and Ann Leamon

These three short vignettes depict investment professionals considering difficult financings for companies in their portfolios. For one reason or another, each company has under-performed expectations. Should the protagonist recommend that the firm participate or not,... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Venture Capital; Financing and Loans; Strategy; Investment Portfolio; Performance