Publications

23 Jul 2024
In Practice

The New Rules of Trade with China: Navigating Tariffs, Turmoil, and Opportunities

upending longstanding principles of free trade established when China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Today, multinational firms must adapt, both in terms of trade and doing business within... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Manufacturing; Retail; Fashion; Industrial Products; Consumer Products; Steel; Transportation; Telecommunications

February 2001
Case

Mavesa (B): International Strategy and Valuation Concerns

Examines Mavesa's response to economic liberalization. Looks at Mavesa's efforts to expand into neighboring countries. Also looks at efforts to support the firm's stock price. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Emerging Markets; Global Strategy

1986
Chapter

New and Old Multinationals: Competitors or Partners?

By: L. T. Wells Jr.

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Competition; Partners and Partnerships

September–October 2017
Article

GE's Global Growth Experiment: The Company Pushed Cross-Business Collaboration

By: Ranjay Gulati

Like many other companies, GE under Immelt had to figure out how to balance serving local needs with the economies of worldwide scale. Harvard Business School’s Ranjay Gulati looks at how it tackled the challenge. He identifies several important takeaways for other... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Multinational Firms and Management

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July 1997
Case

Walt Disney's Dennis Hightower: Weaving Together the European Operations

By: Ashish Nanda

The case describes the actions taken by Dennis Hightower as president of Disney Consumer Products in Europe and the Middle East from 1988 to 1994. It focuses on how he has gone about establishing a regional office and knitting local operations closer together, the... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Business or Company Management; Multinational Firms and Management; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Middle East; Europe

2009
Chapter

Third World Multinationals: A Look Back

By: L. T. Wells Jr.

Keywords: Business History; Multinational Firms and Management; Africa; Asia; Latin America; Oceania; West Indies

September 1998 (Revised October 2001)
Case

SADAFCO

SADAFCO has long enjoyed a dominant position in the milk and ice cream markets in Saudi Arabia. In the mid-1990s, this dominance was under threat as Nestle, Unilever, and Mars all entered the ice cream market. The case outlines the Saudi Arabian ice cream wars. View Details

Keywords: Competition; Food; Multinational Firms and Management; Food and Beverage Industry; Saudi Arabia

January 1984 (Revised April 1987)
Case

Turning Around Alcan Europe (A): Patrick Rich's First Four Months as CEO-Europe

Faced with large losses in Alcan Aluminum (Europe), Patrick Rich takes the position of area general manager and slashes capital budgets, introduces new financial controls, and sets up mechanisms for increasing cooperation among the national subsidiaries. The focus is... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Multinational Firms and Management; Manufacturing Industry; Europe

10 May 2004
Research & Ideas

Rethink the Value of Joint Ventures

For many multinational firms doing business in unfamiliar countries, it made sense to create joint ventures with local firms. After all, that local knowledge of customs, suppliers, and markets could save the... View Details

Keywords: by Cynthia Churchwell

December 1985 (Revised January 1989)
Case

Cummins Engine Co.: Black Friday

A new regional manager for Cummins Venezuela faces Black Friday, Venezuela's massive currency devaluation and a weak distribution system. The manager must find a way to collect $1.4 million in receivables due from distributors and reestablish a viable distribution... View Details

Keywords: Distribution; Multinational Firms and Management; Crisis Management; Venezuela

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January 1991 (Revised May 1991)
Case

Hoechst in the United States (A)

Describes the U.S. market for chemicals following WW II to the present and the attention of the market for global chemical companies. Traces the involvement of Hoechst in this market up to the 1980s when minimum growth has been offered through Hoechst's U.S.... View Details

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Chemicals; Acquisition; Chemical Industry; United States

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9 AM – 10 AM EDT, 16 Oct 2019
HBS Online

HBS Online Economics for Managers

Gain the knowledge and skills to craft successful business strategy, whether you are an aspiring marketing professional, strategy consultant, or entrepreneur, preparing for an MBA, or just looking to contribute more to business decision making. Program Dates: October... View Details

9 AM – 9 AM EDT, 09 Oct 2018

HBX Economics for Managers

Gain the knowledge and skills to craft successful business strategy, whether you are an aspiring marketing professional, strategy consultant, or entrepreneur, preparing for an MBA, or just looking to contribute more to business decision making. Program Dates: October... View Details

October 1995 (Revised October 1996)
Case

Disney Consumer Products in Lebanon

By: John A. Quelch

The managing director of Disney Consumer Products for Europe and the Middle East is reviewing recent market research in Lebanon regarding the sales potential of Disney licensed products and assessing the pros and cons of several distribution options. View Details

Keywords: Distribution; Multinational Firms and Management; Market Entry and Exit; Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry; Lebanon

March 1991 (Revised June 1993)
Case

Chevron Corp.: Corporate Image Advertising

By: John A. Quelch

Describes a series of advertising research studies conducted by Chevron to monitor the effectiveness of its corporate advertising. Specific research approaches covered include the McCollum-Spielman and Communications Techniques. The Vals Typology developed by Stanford... View Details

Keywords: Surveys; Multinational Firms and Management; Research; Advertising; Brands and Branding; Energy Industry; United States

24 Apr 2014
News

Driving the family business onto a global stage

Anand Mahindra (AB 1977, MBA 1981), as chairman and managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), has grown the family business into a thriving Indian multinational automotive manufacturing corporation, creating jobs for thousands. Not... View Details

1990
Chapter

New Challenges for Japanese Multinationals: Is Organizational Adaptation Their Achilles Heel?

By: C. A. Bartlett and H. Yoshihara

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Problems and Challenges; Japan

May 1994 (Revised July 1994)
Case

International Sourcing in Athletic Footwear: NIKE and Reebok

Nike and Reebok, the two largest athletic footwear companies, look to contractors in Asia to manufacture their shoes. Sourcing from Asia offers advantages of low cost and flexibility, but raises questions about human rights and corporate responsibility. How Nike and... View Details

Keywords: Rights; Multinational Firms and Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Apparel and Accessories Industry