Publications

July 2005 (Revised October 2006)
Case

Global Fun: The Internationalization of Theme Parks

By: Geoffrey G. Jones and Steven Shaheen

A fictitious private equity firm considers whether to buy the international theme park business of the LEGO Group. Considers the origins of theme parks in the United States; the international expansion of Disney theme parks to Tokyo and Paris since the 1970s; and the... View Details

Keywords: Private Equity; Globalized Markets and Industries; Globalized Firms and Management; Global Strategy; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Germany; Tokyo; Great Britain; Denmark; United States; Paris

17 Jun 2016
Op-Ed

Companies Need to Start Marketing Security to Customers

behavior would not sit well at the annual industry association meeting and your holier-than-thou superiority claim might tempt fate and attract a terrorist attack. If anything,... View Details

Keywords: by John A. Quelch; Entertainment & Recreation

10 Sep 2008
Research & Ideas

Long-Tail Economics? Give Me Blockbusters!

by focusing on bigger films that require a bigger commitment." Jeff Robinov believes in blockbusters and his strategy is to create more of them. The pharmaceutical and View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch; Entertainment & Recreation; Entertainment & Recreation

01 Dec 2004
News

Pyramid Scheme

(MBA ’03) told the Boston Globe (September 22, 2004). DuPlessie, who studied mechanical engineering at MIT, launched TOMB after gaining experience working on projects at Disney and Universal Studios. Boston-based TOMB, the first project... View Details

Keywords: Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries; Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries

16 Jun 2023
News

On the Move: Adam Laitsas (MBA 2016)

Our “On the Move” series highlights HBS alumni who are taking on new roles and responsibilities. Here we speak with Adam Laitsas (MBA 2016), who was announced as EVP of International Strategy & Business Operations for the Professional... View Details

Keywords: marketing; career changes; mixed martial arts; sports; MENA; Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries; Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries

January 2009 (Revised March 2009)
Case

A Chinese Start-up's Midlife Crisis: 99Sushe.com

By: William C. Kirby, F. Warren McFarlan and Tracy Manty

Now into their third year at the helm of an Internet start-up in China, Ken Pao and Bill Li were managing a totally different company (with a new name) from the one they first founded in 2006. Having changed their business model from a social networking site to an... View Details

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Investment Funds; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; China

03 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

Making Money Making Movies

strategic issues for motion picture industry executives have been addressed in academic research, and where new research is most needed. Finally, I have started a project on portfolio management in creative... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls; Entertainment & Recreation; Entertainment & Recreation

14 Oct 2013
Research & Ideas

Blockbuster! Why Star Power Works

publishers, and producers in other sectors of the entertainment industry live by this approach. You might think that spreading resources evenly across product lines is the... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Entertainment & Recreation

November 1997 (Revised December 1999)
Case

Cinemex

By: James L. Heskett

The founders of Cinemex, the largest capitalized venture start-up in Mexican history, are debating several issues concerning the operations of their new chain of motion picture theatres in Mexico City. The first concerns whether some seats should be left unsold to... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Service Operations; Debates; Venture Capital; Customer Satisfaction; Advertising; Investment; Theater Entertainment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Mexico City

June 17, 2016
Comment

Companies Need to Start Marketing Security to Customers

By: John A. Quelch

Recent events in Orlando underscore an important marketing truth: consumer safety and security are mission critical. A popular nightclub, Pulse, known as a safe place for the LGBT community, is put out of business at least temporarily by a terrorist act. Not far away... View Details

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July 2019 (Revised November 2022)
Case

Backstage at Boston Ballet

By: David G. Fubini, Ryan Raffaelli, Begum Agca Okutgen and Julia Kelley

This case asks students to consider how to prioritize goals when placed in a new leadership role. In August 2014, Meredith “Max” Hodges became the youngest Executive Director (ED) in the Boston Ballet’s 51-year history. In her first year, she was able to claim several... View Details

November 2002 (Revised November 2006)
Case

Tax-Motivated Film Financing at Rexford Studios

By: Mihir A. Desai, Gabriel J. Loeb and Mark Veblen

The head of production for Rexford Studios must analyze the terms and value consequences of an international financing involving a German film fund. The financing involves a sale-leaseback structure where international tax rules give rise to a sizable economic pie that... View Details

Keywords: International Finance; Financing and Loans; Taxation; Cash Flow; Financial Strategy; Financial Management; Competition; Film Entertainment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Germany

01 Jun 2003
News

Portraits from the Class of 2003

First Film: Open Invitation, half–hour dark comedy Previous Job: managed brand franchises for Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati and Toronto AT P&G: spearheaded relationship with UNICEF to donate tuberculosis vaccines Copresident: HBS View Details

Keywords: Arts, Entertainment

12 Oct 2017
Cold Call Podcast

Telemundo: The Fastest Growing TV Network in the United States

Keywords: Re: Henry W. McGee; Entertainment & Recreation; Entertainment & Recreation

10 Mar 2021
News

Elevator Pitch: Game Time

Video Embed Animation by Drue Wagner and Troubadour Image + Sound Concept: Tilt Five is an entertainment system that uses augmented reality (AR) glasses, a game board, and a... View Details

Keywords: AI; virtual reality; gaming; technology; entrepreneurship; startups; Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries; Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries

March 2025
Case

Taylor Guitars: Making Employee Ownership Work the Taylor Way

By: Dennis Campbell, Petros Kusmu and Stacy Straaberg

In 2013, guitar manufacturer Taylor Guitars’ co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug were considering several exit options including selling to a competitor or to a private equity firm. The co-founders decided, instead, to embark on a seven-year process to transfer 100%... View Details