Publications

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March 2023 (Revised April 2023)
Case

Independent Governance of Meta’s Social Spaces: The Oversight Board

By: Jesse M. Shapiro, Natalia Rigol, Benjamin N. Roth and William R. Kerr

Julie Owono is a member of the Oversight Board, an outside entity with the authority to make binding decisions on tricky moderation questions for Meta's companies. She considers the Board's impact, and its future. View Details

Keywords: Business and Government Relations; Social Media; Fairness; Governing and Advisory Boards; Technology Industry; Communications Industry

01 Sep 2003
What Do You Think?

To Whom Should Boards be Accountable?

Summing Up "It is pretty clear to me to whom the board is accountable: the shareholders."—J. W. Penland "When the board deviates from long- and short-term shareholder interests as it has... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

14 Feb 2013
News

HBS Class Explores Lack of Women on Corporate Boards

September 2015 (Revised February 2016)
Case

Novell (A): When an Activist Hedge Fund Came Calling on the Board

By: Richard L. Nolan

No corporation and its board of directors is immune to a disruptive shareholder activist attack. The Novell (A) and (B) cases take students through a shareholder activist attack and its aftermath—a saga that spanned 5 years. The cases outline the activist playbook in... View Details

Keywords: Investment Activism

26 Aug 2002
Research & Ideas

High-Stakes Decision Making: The Lessons of Mount Everest

confidence to act decisively in the face of considerable ambiguity by seeking the advice of one or more "expert counselors," i.e. highly experienced executives who can serve as a confidante and a sounding View Details

Keywords: by Michael A. Roberto

October 2010
Teaching Note

Target Corporation: Ackman versus the Board (TN)

By: Krishna G. Palepu and Suraj Srinivasan

Teaching Note for 109010. View Details

Keywords: Business Strategy; Problems and Challenges; Governing and Advisory Boards; Conflict and Resolution; Voting; Investment Activism

24 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

Boards and Corporate Governance: A Balanced Scorecard Approach

decision making process employed by many boards. In addition, shorter CEO tenures indicate that boards often fail to hire the right person. Boards also often choose the course... View Details

Keywords: Re: Robert S. Kaplan & Krishna G. Palepu

February 2010 (Revised May 2010)
Case

Bardhaman (A): Shrachi and the West Bengal Housing Board

By: John D. Macomber and Viraal Balsari

A real estate developer decides whether to enter into a public private partnership with the government of West Bengal to develop a township on farmland. The decisions include whether to expand operations from the company's base in Kolkata to Bardhaman, 100 km away;... View Details

Keywords: Development Economics; Growth and Development Strategy; Business and Government Relations; Decisions; Private Equity; Design; Housing; Infrastructure; Projects; Real Estate Industry; West Bengal

03 Jan 2018
What Do You Think?

In the Wake of #MeToo, Should Corporate Boards Hire Compliance Officers?

harassment on the job. As Sabrina put it, "I think the time to revisit whether an independent, non-partisan agency or individual (is appropriate) is now. Even the process of having that discussion, even if the decision is made to not... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

March 2024 (Revised May 2025)
Case

Governing OpenAI (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine, Suraj Srinivasan and Will Hurwitz

In late November 2023, OpenAI’s new board of directors took stock of the situation. The company, which sought to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI)—computer systems with capabilities exceeding human abilities—was looking to regain its footing after a chaotic... View Details

August 2017 (Revised September 2023)
Case

Altoona State Investment Board & Bain Capital Fund XI

By: Josh Lerner and Ted Berk

Considers the decision faced by state pension fund manager Rod Calhoun as he decides whether to invest $200 million in Bain Capital's eleventh global buyout fund: Bain Capital Fund XI. For the fund, Bain was offering its limited partners a choice among three different... View Details

Keywords: Equity Method; Leveraged Buyout; Management Buyout; Capital; Design; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Leveraged Buyouts; Management; Private Equity; Venture Capital; Banking Industry; Massachusetts

November–December 2024
Article

Group Size and Its Impact on Diversity-Related Perceptions and Hiring Decisions in Homogeneous Groups

By: Aneesh Rai, Edward H. Chang, Erika Kirgios and Katherine L. Milkman

Why do some homogeneous groups face backlash for lacking diversity, whereas others escape censure? We show that a homogeneous group’s size changes how it is perceived and whether decision makers pursue greater diversity in its ranks. We theorize that people make... View Details

Keywords: Diversity; Perception; Decision Making; Groups and Teams; Selection and Staffing; Size

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01 Sep 2003
News

HBS Alumni Association Board of Directors: President’s Report

I am thrilled to address you in my new role as president of the HBSAA Board of Directors. I look forward to using this vehicle to update you regularly on the work of the Alumni Board as well as other... View Details

Keywords: Ted Fischer; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

02 Nov 2023
News

It’s Time for Boards to Take AI Seriously

04 Jan 2022
What Do You Think?

Firing McDonald’s Easterbrook: What Could the Board Have Done Differently?

example, did the board act appropriately in firing Easterbrook without cause in the first place? As a board member, would you support a decision to reopen the case to seek... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

November 2011
Article

The Role of the Board in Accelerating the Adoption of Integrated Reporting

By: Robert G. Eccles and George Serafeim

This report examines the concept of integrated reporting and its current state of adoption around the globe. It also discusses the benefits to both companies and society and recommends ways boards can help their organizations accelerate the implementation of integrated... View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Governing and Advisory Boards; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Integrated Corporate Reporting; Social Issues; Global Range; Adoption