by William C. Kirby - Publications - Faculty & Research

08 Mar 2021
In Practice

COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace. What Should Companies Do Now?

A year ago, COVID-19 forced many companies to send employees home—often with a laptop and a prayer. Now, with COVID cases subsiding and vaccinations rising, the prospect of returning to old office routines appears more possible. But will employees want to flock back to... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

25 Mar 2014
Research & Ideas

China’s Economic System has Difficult Road Overcoming its Political System

strong history of commercial development. Pictured is the Bund in Shanghai, the city's financial district along the Huangpu River, in 1899. "After people read this book, they should not be negative on China—we're not negative on China," says Harvard Business School... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

01 May 2013
What Do You Think?

Why Isn’t ‘Servant Leadership’ More Prevalent?

Center for Servant Leadership, 2008) C. William Pollard, The Soul of the Firm (New York: HarperBusiness and Grand Rapids, MI: ZondermanPublishingHouse, 1996) View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

Research Summary

Overview

By: William C. Kirby

A historian by training, Professor Kirby examines contemporary China's business, economic, and political development in an international context. He writes and teaches on the growth of modern companies in China (Chinese and foreign; state-owned and private); Chinese... View Details

09 May 2017
What Do You Think?

Should Management Be Primarily Responsible to Shareholders?

owners of a corporation, professional managers and directors are their agents, primarily responsible for carrying out their wishes and creating value for them. This idea was further developed in a 1976 article by Michael Jensen and View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

April 2022
Case

NIO: A Chinese EV Company's Global Strategy

By: William C. Kirby, Shu Lin and Noah B. Truwit

Founded in November 2014 and based in Shanghai, NIO designed, jointly manufactured, and sold premium “smart” EVs. Its mission was to “shape a joyful lifestyle by offering high-performance smart electric vehicles and being the best user enterprise. At NIO Day 2021,... View Details

Keywords: Electric Vehicles; Expansion; Technological Innovation; Market Entry and Exit; Competitive Strategy; Consumer Behavior; Green Technology; Auto Industry; China; Europe; Norway

Citation

Educators

Purchase

23 Jul 2024
In Practice

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

created risk mitigation strategies to deal with China. They must now do the same for the United States. William C. Kirby is the T.M. Chang Professor of China Studies at Harvard... View Details

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

07 Jan 2009
What Do You Think?

Is the World Really Flat?

effects" (Alex Evans). "It really doesn't matter whether the world is flat or not. Most value is added by the exploiters, not the creators, and that works in both (flat and non-flat) environments" (Gerald Nanninga). These... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

09 Jan 2014
Research & Ideas

The Entrepreneurs Who Invented Economic Forecasting

economic future? How have forecasting methods changed over time? What makes one forecaster more popular than another? I chose to research these questions by focusing on the first generation of economic forecasters—those who founded their... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

Carliss Y. Baldwin

Carliss Y. Baldwin is the William L. White Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. She studies the process of design and its impact of design architecture on firm strategy, platforms, and business ecosystems. With Kim Clark, she authored... View Details

Keywords: computer; electronics; software

22 May 2020
In Practice

Post-COVID Health Care: More Screens, Less Red Tape?

service centers, which are primarily owned by physicians. Regina E. Herzlinger is the Nancy R. McPherson Professor of Business Administration. Amy C. Edmonson: New ways to balance prevention and sick care... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

08 Mar 2016
First Look

March 8, 2016

approaches can be reconciled through the Lean Strategy process, which ensures that startups innovate in a disciplined fashion and make the most of their limited resources by knowing "what not to do." Deliberate strategy sets the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

16 Dec 2002
Research & Ideas

Mentoring—Using the Voice of Experience

Sometimes executive education has little to do with what happens in a classroom. Mentoring and coaching are the time-tested ways for wisdom and knowledge to be passed through an organization. Harvard Business School professor Dorothy Leonard and Tufts University... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

23 Dec 2014
First Look

First Look: December 23

Publications December 2014 Journal of Political Economy Transition to Clean Technology By: Acemoglu, Daron, Ufuk Akcigit, Douglas Hanley, and William R. Kerr Abstract—We develop a microeconomic model of endogenous growth where clean and... View Details

Keywords: Carmen Nobel

24 Apr 2019
News

Thailand's Richest Family Is Getting Richer Helping China

02 Mar 2020
What Do You Think?

Are Candor, Humility, and Trust Making a Comeback?

(New York: HarperCollins, 2001) Amy C. Edmondson, The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley & Sons, 2019) Francesca Gino, Rebel Talent: Why It... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

Awards

East China Normal University. Honorary Professor

By: William C. Kirby

Awarded an Honorary Professorship by East China Normal University in 2011. View Details

05 Jan 2009
Research & Ideas

Most Popular Articles and Working Papers 2008

Here are the 20 most popular stories published by HBS Working Knowledge in 2008, and the five most-read working papers authored by HBS faculty. Most Popular Articles 1. Creating a Positive Professional Image... View Details

Keywords: by Staff

22 Apr 2002
Research & Ideas

Does Spirituality Drive Success?

wondering what would happenif employees were given extended lunch hours to go mentor children.— C. William Pollard,The ServiceMaster Company "I am a follower of Jesus Christ," began View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace, Sean Silverthorne & Wendy Guild

17 Jan 2017
Research & Ideas

Can China Maintain Its Economic Power?

book, Can China Lead? Reaching the Limits of Power and Growth, coauthored with HBS professor William Kirby and Regina Abrami of the Wharton School. In addition to teaching in several HBS Executive Education... View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg

Publications