Publications

Research Summary

Models of Industry Evolution

Through a series of large-scale statistical studies and case studies on specific industries, Anita M. McGahan is developing a framework for evaluating industry evolution. Her work has generated a number of statistical studies, several co-authored with Michael E.... View Details

Article

Industrial Ecology and Competitiveness

By: Daniel Esty and Michael E. Porter

In the emerging field of industrial ecology one of the unsettled questions is the degree to which design for the environment, closing energy and materials loops, and other industrial ecology concepts apply at the firm level. In this article we examine this issue with a... View Details

Keywords: Competition

April 1979 (Revised June 1988)
Case

Chain Saw Industry in 1978

By: Michael E. Porter and David J. Collis

For use on the second day of a two-day sequence on the U.S. chain saw industry. Describes the evolution of the industry since 1974. Illustrates issues in industry evolution, the forces causing evolution, and the strategic issues raised by evolution. The discussion can... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Industry Growth; Manufacturing Industry; United States

September 1996 (Revised March 2002)
Case

Bishay Industries

By: David F. Hawkins and Norman Bartczak

A bankrupt company has a turnaround plan. Students are asked to predict whether it will be successful. View Details

Keywords: Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Business Plan; Goals and Objectives; Strategic Planning; Business Strategy; Cash Flow; Mathematical Methods; Financial Services Industry

April 1991
Case

Everwear Industries

By: Jay W. Lorsch

Keywords: Apparel and Accessories Industry

November 1999 (Revised November 2000)
Background Note

Economic Liberalization and Industry Dynamics

Programs of economic liberalization often lead to dramatic changes in industry structure. This note presents excerpts from several research papers that summarize findings on how industries evolve following abrupt policy reforms. The note is organized into seven... View Details

Keywords: Industry Structures

March 1968 (Revised July 2010)
Case

Basic Industries

By: Joseph L. Bower and John W. Rosenblum

Policy problems, mainly organizational issues, face a young middle manager in the context of capital budgeting in a highly technological conglomerate firm with high market uncertainty. View Details

Keywords: Business Conglomerates; Capital Budgeting; Policy; Managerial Roles; Risk and Uncertainty

2008
Chapter

China: Industry

By: Elisabeth Koll

Keywords: China

January 2006 (Revised September 2007)
Case

Bentington Industries

By: David Ager and John A. Davis

Describes the situation facing Paul Bentington, the president, CEO, and member of the owning family of BIND, PLC, a large and successful family-owned engineering consulting firm in London. Bentington's sister and brother, both of whom are owners of the firm, confront... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Leadership; Family Business; Management Succession; Conflict and Resolution; Diversity; London

October 1988 (Revised February 1990)
Case

HCC Industries

Describes a corporation that switches its philosophy of budgeting from "stretch" targets to "minimum performance standard" targets. The change has implications for management incentives, compensation, and corporate planning. Early results suggest the concept was not... View Details

Keywords: Management Practices and Processes; Budgets and Budgeting

November 1984
Background Note

Biotechnology Industry

By: Ray A. Goldberg

1994
Chapter

Industry Analysis

By: D. J. Collis and P. Ghemawat

Keywords: Mathematical Methods

April 2008 (Revised April 2010)
Background Note

The Hedge Fund Industry

By: William E. Fruhan Jr.

This note describes the hedge fund industry as of the end of the year 2007. View Details

Keywords: Investment Return; Investment Funds; Investment Portfolio; Financial Services Industry

Research Summary

1. When Does Industrial Policy Work? Evidence from the Brazilian Ethanol Fuel Industry

Joint work with Tarun Khanna (Strategy Unit, Harvard Business School).

Abstract: What is the impact of a state-led industrial policy program on entrepreneurial activity, industry... View Details

10 Jun 2002
Research & Ideas

Reinventing the Industrial Giant

In an effort to survive in the new economy, some-industrial giants have tried to chart an evolutionary path that combines their industrial core with new post-industrial businesses. The companies from our study that are most clearly... View Details

Keywords: by Nitin Nohria, Davis Dyer & Frederick Dalzell; Manufacturing

August 1986 (Revised January 1987)
Background Note

Note on the Aerospace Industry and Industrial Modernization

By: David A. Garvin