Publications

08 Oct 2013
First Look

First Look: October 8

chief executive officers (CEOs). Diversity in business is mentioned, along with self-awareness, the acceptance of feedback, and style differences among corporate leaders. Publisher's link:... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

July 2024
Article

Demographic 'Stickiness': The Demographic Identity of Departing Group Members Influences Who Is Chosen to Replace Them

By: Edward H. Chang and Erika Kirgios

People tasked with replacing a departing group member are disproportionately likely to choose a replacement with the same demographic identity, leading to demographic “stickiness” in group composition. We examine this effect in 2,163 U.S. federal judge appointments... View Details

Keywords: Loss Aversion; Diversity; Race; Gender; Decisions

Read Now

June 2022 (Revised August 2022)
Case

Dollar Tree: Breaking the Buck

By: Jill Avery and Marco Bertini

For thirty-five years, Dollar Tree, a discount retail chain selling general merchandise, had held its fixed price point steady, pricing all of its household items, food, stationery, books, seasonal items, gifts, toys, and clothing that made up its diverse and... View Details

Keywords: Retailing; Pricing; Pricing Strategy; Discount Retailing; Discount Store; Marketing; Brands and Branding; Marketing Strategy; Price; Inflation and Deflation; Consumer Behavior; Retail Industry; United States

November 1993
Case

Mercedes-Benz

After many years as a German luxury car producer, Mercedes-Benz announced two major strategy shifts in 1992, toward a full line of automotive products and toward a globally diverse set of plans and activities. As part of this shift, Mercedes planned to build a major... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Expansion; Global Strategy; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; Germany; Alabama

Research Summary

Overview

By: Hise O. Gibson

Professor Gibson's primary research interests encompass inclusive leadership, operational effectiveness, human capital development, leadership, leader development, leading change, and risk management especially during crisis. As part of his broader work to... View Details

Video

Our Difference - Real-World Cases

August 1994 (Revised June 1995)
Background Note

Managerial Effectiveness and Diversity: Organizational Choices

Defines "diversity" in organizational terms and provides a descriptive framework for understanding the ways organizations identify and respond to its challenges and opportunities. The four components or lenses of the framework are: motivators, mindset, methods,... View Details

Keywords: Customers; Organizations; Labor; Diversity Characteristics

11 May 2011
News

Clinical Registries: The Opportunity For The Nation

08 Oct 2020
News

Harvard Business School Announces Establishment of The Joseph Bower Family Fund

November 8, 2013
Article

What Men Can Do to Help Women Advance Their Careers

By: Debora Spar

Today, most major corporations—along with hospitals, law firms, universities, and banks—have entire units devoted to helping women and minorities succeed. There are diversity officers and work/family offices and gender-sensitivity training courses in all tiers of... View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Gender

Find at Harvard

28 Sep 2015
News

Business Leaders Needed

March 2004 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Transforming Mitsubishi Corporation, 2004

By: Michael Y. Yoshino and Haruki Umezawa

A leading Japanese general trading company with an extensive global presence is in the process of transformation. For some time, in response to the rapidly changing business environment, the company has made serious efforts to transform itself from an organization... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Transformation; Change Management; Problems and Challenges; Diversification; Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Globalized Firms and Management

June 2021
Supplement

Linda Oubré at Whittier College (B)

By: Debora L. Spar and Haley P. Brown

The case follows President Linda Oubré (HBS MBA Class of 1984) as she seeks to move Whittier College towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus.
In 2020, the student body of Whittier, a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles County, California,... View Details

Keywords: Women And Leadership; Racial Disparity; Higher Education; Education; Diversity; Race; Change Management; Gender; Los Angeles; California; United States

Video

MBA Fellowships 2013

Research Summary

How a Multicultural Social Environment Influences Creativity and Innovation

My second stream of research draws on my first stream of work to examine how a multicultural social environment influences individuals’ creative thinking and performance at a global workplace. In an on-going project, I found that individuals high in cultural... View Details

March 2021
Supplement

CashDrop (B1)

By: Rembrand Koning, Paul A. Gompers and Sarah Gulick

After the events in CashDrop A, Flores-Martinez received two concrete offers from VC funds for his startup business, CashDrop. This case describes the tensions between the two funds: a traditional VC fund who would offer Flores-Martinez a prestigious platform, and a... View Details

Keywords: Small Business; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Venture Capital; Internet and the Web; Decision Choices and Conditions; Technology Industry; Financial Services Industry; Chicago; Illinois

August 2014 (Revised March 2015)
Case

Reinventing Retail: ShopRunner's Network Bet

By: Benjamin Edelman and Karen Webster

ShopRunner considers adjustments to improve its online shopping service which offers no-charge two-day shipping as well as easy returns and other conveniences. Competitors' diverse pricing models and ancillary benefits raise questions about how to structure and price... View Details

Keywords: Shopping Club; Coop; Pricing; Shipping; Marketing Channels; Global Strategy; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Information Technology Industry; Retail Industry; United States; China

March 1981 (Revised July 1985)
Case

Dunfey Hotels Corp.

Describes the marketing planning process adopted by the corporate headquarters of a chain of 22 diverse hotels. Raises the question of whether it is possible to standardize the planning process so that individually tailored marketing strategies are developed for each... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Accommodations Industry