Publications

01 Apr 1998
News

Short Takes

decision-making climates that are externally oriented." The lesson for managers, the authors say, is that instead of adapting their management practices to local norms, multinational firms should strive to... View Details

Keywords: Garry Emmons and Caroline Chauncey

October 1993 (Revised September 1994)
Case

Becton Dickinson: Worldwide Blood Collection Team

By: Christopher A. Bartlett and Kathleen Scharf

Describes Becton Dickinson's evolving attempt to develop products and strategies to meet worldwide competitive and market needs. Traces the evolution of a classic parent company-led product-market strategy to truly transnational product and strategy development.... View Details

Keywords: Global Strategy; Product Development; Innovation and Management; Competitive Advantage; Multinational Firms and Management

11 Feb 2019
Research & Ideas

The Business of Saving the Planet

change has brought over the last two decades, it is that business is becoming fully engaged on the issue. Firms may not have the answers or even the will to make changes toward sustainable practices, but they can't do nothing.... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Energy; Green Technology

05 Nov 2013
First Look

First Look: November 5

at Harvard Business School, Collis' new text takes the firm that operates across borders as a unit of analysis and the senior manager in a multinational as the typical decision maker. Illustrated with... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

22 Jul 2002
Research & Ideas

How Business Strategy Tamed the “Invisible Hand”

for the decade after World War II because wartime destruction led to excess demand, which limited competition as firms rushed to expand capacity. Given the enormous job of rebuilding Europe and much of Asia, it was not until the late... View Details

Keywords: by Pankaj Ghemawat

March 1993
Supplement

Burroughs Wellcome and AZT (B)

By: Willis M. Emmons III

Describes Burroughs Wellcome's response to protests over the pricing of its AIDS drug AZT in September 1989. Also presents short-term reactions by government officials, AIDS activists, and investors to Burroughs Wellcome's strategy. View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Health Pandemics; Multinational Firms and Management; Price; Crime and Corruption; Risk and Uncertainty; Business Strategy; Business and Community Relations; Business and Government Relations; Business and Shareholder Relations; Pharmaceutical Industry

19 Jul 2011
First Look

First Look: July 19

imperfections, government policies, and entrepreneurial ambition in their creation, as well as the organizational challenges posed by managing such diversified firms owned by a family. Much of the firm's growth came from licensing and... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

01 Apr 2001
News

William Fung: E-Commerce and Efficiency

Ask fund managers covering the Hong Kong market about smart technology plays in these days of crashing dot-coms and you’re likely to hear one company name repeated often. Li & Fung has become the firm to watch for post-frenzy investors.... View Details

Keywords: Alejandro Reyes; Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

09 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

Around the World of Entrepreneurial Ventures

entrepreneurial success despite a less-than-favorable context? A global perspective on opportunities is also fraught with questions. "How should entrepreneurs frame international expansion decisions? How does international expansion of start-up View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

11 Feb 2014
First Look

First Look: February 11

Multinational Corporations, Global Justice and Corporate Responsibility: A Question of Purpose By: Hsieh, Nien-hê Abstract—Do multinational corporations (MNCs) have a responsibility to address unjust... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

13 Apr 2010
First Look

First Look: April 13

Institute/Taubman Center Policy Brief, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2010. An abstract is unavailable at this time. Working PapersThe Global Agglomeration of Multinational Firms... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

04 Nov 2014
First Look

First Look: November 4

of state-owned firms (SOEs) and multinational companies (MNCs) in at least two ways. First, we cross-fertilize the IB and SOEs literatures in their analyses of foreign investment behavior and introduce two... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

July 2012
Case

Johannes Linden: Managing the Global Executive Committee

By: Linda A. Hill and Mark Rennella

Johannes Linden is the Director of the Washer and Dryer division of Fluss, a large Swiss appliance manufacturer. Soon after the company completes its revenue projections and bonus targets for the upcoming year, Linden shares some good news with his leadership team, the... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Style; Groups and Teams; Organizational Culture; Management Style; Motivation and Incentives; Power and Influence; Multinational Firms and Management; Manufacturing Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Switzerland

April 1992 (Revised June 1993)
Case

Otis South Africa (A)

By: Michael Beer

Otis Worldwide CEO, George David, was frustrated with the slow pace of nonwhite advancement within Otis South Africa. After a few years of trying to elicit action from South African management, he decided to send a 28-year old U.S. employee to take over as the human... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Multinational Firms and Management; Race; Operations; Business Headquarters; Performance Improvement; Human Resources; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Industrial Products Industry; South Africa; United States

Find at Harvard

01 Mar 2011
News

Tax and Grow

measures to prevent some unintended consequences. A large fraction of corporations’ excess cash — as much as two-thirds, according to some estimates — is held outside the United States to avoid the “repatriation taxes” that occur under the U.S. system of worldwide... View Details

Keywords: Mihir A. Desai; Administration of Economic Programs; Government; Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices; Management

March 2010 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Roll Back Malaria and BCG: The Change Initiative

By: Nava Ashraf, Rachel Gordon and Catherine Ross

Roll Back Malaria, a global partnership dedicated to fighting malaria has not met its founders' expectations of effectively combatting malaria. In 2005, after several internal evaluations, RBM leadership has decided to engage the Boston Consulting Group to work on a... View Details

Keywords: Health Care and Treatment; Management Practices and Processes; Performance Evaluation; Communication Strategy; Communication Intention and Meaning; Non-Governmental Organizations; Change Management; Multinational Firms and Management; Negotiation; Health Industry

December 2007
Background Note

Tools and Tactics for Transformation: Three "Whats" and Three "Hows"

By: James K. Sebenius and Stephen Friedman

Important transformation at Goldman Sachs, where one of the authors was Chairman, required analysis, political leadership, and management in order to fundamentally shift the strategy, people, and culture on a sustainable basis. After describing the actions needed to... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Tactics; Business Strategy; Organizational Culture; Transition; Strategic Planning; Core Relationships; Multinational Firms and Management; Leadership Style; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Private Equity