Problems and Challenges - Publications - Faculty & Research

12 Apr 2018
Op-Ed

Op-Ed: The Trouble with Tariffs

strategy has been very successful, and its positive balance of trade with the United States reflects the progress it has made. But balance of trade is a lagging indicator of success. With looming technological leadership to be decided in... View Details

Keywords: by Willy C. Shih; Manufacturing; Auto; Steel; Air Transportation; Technology; Telecommunications

10 Apr 2013
Research & Ideas

Learning Curve: Making the Most of Outsourcing

that health-care delivery is centralized in hospitals that are seen as too big and inefficient. In contrast, others find fault with an overly fragmented system that may result in significant coordination and... View Details

Keywords: by Paul Guttry; Health

05 Aug 2015
What Do You Think?

What Happened to the ‘Innovation, Disruption, Technology’ Dividend?

produced innovations in information and other technologies. Some questioned the data. Others counseled patience. David Caulfield sees productivity improvement, but not necessarily among workers. In questioning the way we measure... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Computer; Technology

15 Jul 2002
Research & Ideas

Going Green Makes Good Business Sense

Business leaders must respond to growing concerns about pollution, but both the environment and corporate coffers can be green, says Harvard Business School professor Forest Reinhardt. The key to success may depend on how the View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

10 Jan 2008
Sharpening Your Skills

Sharpening Your Skills: Operations Management

and improvements, the service industries in general are a long way behind manufacturing. Not all lean manufacturing ideas translate from factory floor to office cubicle. A lean operating system alters the way a company learns through... View Details

02 Mar 2015
Research & Ideas

‘Retail Revolution’ Excerpt: The Scale of the Ecommerce Threat

forecasting can be more accurate and replenishment more timely, and thus markdowns, shrink costs, and working capital needs are reduced. Online fulfillment View Details

Keywords: Re: Rajiv Lal; Retail

07 Apr 2003
Research & Ideas

XTV: Xerox’s Attempted Recovery From “Fumbling the Future”

By the end of the second spin-off regime, Xerox's position in the copier market had begun to improve. While its share of the market would never return to 80 percent levels, Xerox was able to regain more than ten market share points, beating back the Japanese View Details

Keywords: by Henry Chesbrough

08 Dec 2015
Research & Ideas

You Won't Make It If You Fake It

through the hard steps of developing yourself from within. With the visible failures of leaders who tried to fake it, people have developed sensitive “sniff tests” and can quickly identify who is authentic View Details

Keywords: by Bill George

07 Sep 2016
What Do You Think?

How Can the Threat of Networks Be Reduced?

without funding the enforcement of existing laws is pointless.” Greg chose to explore the affect of networks on organization design and function. He challenged us with a comment that networks are a threat to... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

21 Feb 2005
Research & Ideas

The VC Quandary: Too Much Money

said that one reason maintaining a top position is such a challenge is that competitors will seek to follow in a successful fund's footsteps. "Every strategy attracts competitors and copiers,... View Details

Keywords: by Julie Jette; Financial Services

16 May 2005
Research & Ideas

Confronting the Reality of Web Services

Knowledge. "The organizational challenge comes as all stakeholders get together and hammer out common definitions. This might not seem like the kind of work that leads to disputes, but it is," he... View Details

Keywords: by Sara Grant

10 Feb 2016
Sharpening Your Skills

Sharpening Your Skills: New Insights into Career Development

Receiving an unexpected professional status bump doesn't always feel good, especially if it wasn't really earned. Companies need to be aware of potential problems with unearned status gain, and be ready with... View Details

Keywords: Re: Multiple Faculty

03 Feb 2014
Research & Ideas

The Tricky Business of Managing Web Advertising Affiliates

Wild West. I looked at the diversity of views and wondered, who has it right?" Misbehaving network affiliates can cause headaches for advertisers and their customers. Photo: iStockPhoto One View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard; Advertising; Publishing

22 Sep 2014
Op-Ed

Online Banks Fill Funding Needs for Small Business

these marketplaces is that they mitigate one of the biggest problems borrowers and lenders face: search costs. Typically, these marketplaces earn revenue by charging a small fee on top of the loan if the... View Details

Keywords: by Karen Mills; Banking; Financial Services

10 Jul 2000
Research & Ideas

IT Links for Boundaryless Companies

processes and procedures and on complementing process automation with deep content knowledge. Upton also outlined three key challenges for B2B hub builders. First is the domain... View Details

Keywords: by Kenneth Liss

29 Aug 2024
Research & Ideas

Shoot for the Stars: What to Know About the Space Economy

A new space race—one fueled more by commercial conquest than intergalactic domination—is charting solutions to pressing problems in national security, climate change, and communication. With costs poised to... View Details

Keywords: by Kara Baskin; Aerospace

19 Nov 2010
Research & Ideas

The Landscape of Integrated Reporting: An E-Book

lost trust in business. Whether it be the environment, health care, or making sure that people have access to information, I can't think of any major problem that society confronts today that can be effectively solved unless business... View Details

Keywords: by Nitin Nohria; Accounting

01 Mar 2004
What Do You Think?

Are Customer Loyalty Initiatives Worth the Investment?

Summing Up This month's column presented two views of the importance of customer loyalty management, one challenging its feasibility and long-term impact (Michael Treacy, Double Digit Growth) View Details