Problem Solving - Publications - Faculty & Research

12 Jul 2010
Research & Ideas

Rocket Science Retailing: A Practical Guide

in improving processes. Retailers can certainly learn from the auto industry's experience. Like in manufacturing a few decades ago, there is a lot of low-hanging fruit in retail operations today. However, to harvest these fruits retailers will have to make View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace; Retail; Auto

15 Feb 2012
Op-Ed

Occupy Wall Street Protestors Have a Point

the consequences might be if the real concerns they identify become the basis for populist political legislation. Defenders of capitalism need to get busy solving the problems the Wall Street occupiers have... View Details

Keywords: by Joseph L. Bower, Herman B. Leonard & Lynn S. Paine

14 Jan 2015
Research & Ideas

Thriving in the Turbulence of Emerging Markets

passionate belief that their firms needed to be major contributors to solving the problems which had kept their countries and people poor compared to the West. "There are those with whom I don't agree," said... View Details

Keywords: by Geoffrey Jones; Manufacturing; Auto

11 Nov 2020
Research & Ideas

How Hackathons Help Decide Platform Winners and Losers

mass of consumers and producers. “If I was a tech company, I would sponsor every single hackathon I could find.” The researchers used an innovative dataset to show that the social environment of hackathons can solve a number of View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Technology

02 Jan 2007
Research & Ideas

Most Popular Articles of 2006

item popularity curve. Jim Heskett asks: Does the Long Tail represent a paradigm shift for business and consumer behavior? What are its implications for management going forward? Is MySpace.com Your Space? Social networking sites such as MySpace.com have demographics... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

05 Mar 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, March 5, 2019

Edmondson, and Michael A. West Abstract— Many teams face the problem of process loss, or suboptimal functioning, with sometimes serious consequences, such as medical errors. Team reflexivity—a deliberate process of discussing team goals,... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

26 Apr 2011
Op-Ed

HBS Faculty Comment on Environmental Issues for Earth Day

Earth Day focuses the world's attention on the both the dangers and opportunities facing the planet. But sustainability and the intersection between business and the environment are issues that need to be addressed all the time, as cities grow, resources diminish, and... View Details

Keywords: by Staff; Energy; Utilities

12 Sep 2011
Research & Ideas

The Untold Story of ‘Green’ Entrepreneurs

In the 1920s, on pitch black nights in rural eastern Montana, the farmhouse owned by the parents of brothers Marcellus and Joe Jacobs stood out for one reason: it had light, although located far from power lines and gasoline supplies. It was a beacon in the dark that... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

27 Dec 2015
Research & Ideas

The Most Popular Stories and Research Papers of 2015

behavior, according to by Francesca Gino and colleagues. The good news: businesses can do something about it. Need to Solve a Problem? Take a Break From Collaborating (34,516) Organizations spend a lot of money enabling employees to View Details

08 Sep 2003
Research & Ideas

A Bold Proposal for Investment Reform

Finally, we recommend that the external auditor problems can only be solved through a major change in the relation between auditors and the companies they audit. This may be achieved by making the audit... View Details

Keywords: by Ann Cullen; Financial Services

17 Sep 2013
First Look

First Look: September 17

the program, on average, had a negative impact on performance. To explain this surprising finding, we use mixed methods to examine the impact of the work area's problem solving approach. Results suggest that... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

04 Dec 2013
Research & Ideas

The Fantastic Horizon: How to Invest in a New City

issues at all generally brush them off, believing that the problems can and will be solved by better governance and more political will, that states will take care of it. But the third troublesome phenomenon... View Details

Keywords: by John Macomber; Construction; Real Estate

07 Jun 2010
Research & Ideas

Improving Brand Recognition in TV Ads

generalized finding that companies across the board can benefit from this communication strategy of pulsing. And factors such as irritation and likability remain constant, so it doesn't solve one problem at... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Media & Broadcasting; Entertainment & Recreation

21 May 2014
Lessons from the Classroom

CORe: HBS Powers Up Online Program on Business Fundamentals

course, however, Narayanan realized that the younger generation approaches problems very differently. Instead of listening to a lecture, reading a chapter, or even watching a half-hour lesson on fractions or View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Education

10 Mar 2015
Research & Ideas

The Surprising Winners and Losers in the Retail Revolution

opportunities for new and creative concepts. Related to this, the consumer need for convenience will continue to explode and retailers will need to find solutions that solve problems for time-starved... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Retail

10 Jan 2005
Research & Ideas

Motivation and the Cross-Sector Alliance

but in the Partnering Motivation Spectrum, the focus is simply on the partners' motivations rather than the ultimate outcomes. Altruistic motives are centered, for example, on helping individuals in need, solving community problems, or... View Details

Keywords: by James Austin, Ezequiel Reficco & SEKN research team

05 Sep 2008
What Do You Think?

Is Case Method Instruction Due for an Overhaul?

month's column. In Shane Busby words, "The case method ... requires the ability to synthesize many complex components of business problems ...." Sean McGee felt that (cases) "... often teach lessons about unintended or... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett; Education

12 May 2009
First Look

First Look: May 12, 2009

implementation of radical routines and resource configuration. Structural arrangements, pre-set change routines, and existing decisional priorities are insufficient to fashion relevant capabilities into new core activities. Ad-hoc problem... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

07 Oct 2014
First Look

First Look: October 7

is revealed to students so the unfolding of events keeps students interested and engaged in how to solve the various problems that arise, including a near mutiny. Purchase this case:... View Details