Publications

August 2023
Technical Note

Two Ways of Pursuing a Calling

By: Leslie Perlow and Hannah Weisman

Work can be a means to a financial end, a stepping stone to higher-level jobs, or a meaningful end in itself: a calling. The technical note provides an overview of two different ways people can pursue a calling: with an internal focus or external focus. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Job Search; Job Design and Levels; Happiness; Identity; Well-being; Motivation and Incentives; Human Needs; Satisfaction; Mission and Purpose; Health Industry; Music Industry; Education Industry; Fine Arts Industry; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

Web

Entrepreneurial Sales 102: Building the First Sales Team - Course Catalog

happens until a sale is made. That simple point underlines the critical importance of sales. Every operating model and business plan ‘assumes’ a certain amount of sales, but that assumption is the tipping point. Without sales, the entire model is an exercise in... View Details

01 Mar 2006
News

A New Path for Alumnae

that. What is more typical of HBS alumnae? Although they all wanted meaningful full-time employment, their goals had changed substantially over the years: Money was important, but not the primary motivator. Organizational purpose and... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

June 2023 (Revised November 2024)
Case

Albert Einstein: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Shirley Sun

This case traces the rise of Albert Einstein from a small town in Germany to a towering intellectual leader who revolutionized the field of physics. The case describes his early education and his penchant for individual thinking and non-conformity. A committed... View Details

Keywords: Science; Research; Personal Characteristics; Mission and Purpose; Success; Work-Life Balance; Higher Education; Power and Influence

04 Jun 2024
Blog Post

Finding Alignment to Make Impact: Layla Ramirez (MBA 2017)

here that you could choose to participate in if you want to or not. I could make myself more wealthy. I could make other people more wealthy. That was my job. But it didn't feel big enough, purposeful enough, meaningful enough to me.”... View Details

15 Aug 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 15, 2017

bankrupt the company. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=53093 2017 The Moral Responsibility of Firms Corporate Moral Agency, Positive Duties, and Purpose By: Hsieh, Nien-hê Abstract—A long-standing question... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Profile

Cherian Kurien

Why was earning your MBA at HBS important to you? For me the purpose of an MBA is to develop and refine one's political, economic and social worldview, by debating, listening to and understanding the views... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products; Retail

March 2021 (Revised June 2022)
Case

Bill Wilson: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Max Saffer

This case describes the life choices of Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. A young man with tremendous potential, Wilson hit rock bottom as a drunk. An epiphany, coupled with his personal drive, led him to build a worldwide organization that has helped... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Development; Nonprofit Organizations; Mission and Purpose; Values and Beliefs; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Work-Life Balance; Personal Development and Career

October 1999 (Revised October 2000)
Case

Women's World Banking: Catalytic Change Through Networks

By: James E. Austin and Susan Hamerling

Describes the evolution of Women's World Banking, an international microfinance nonprofit promoting financial access for poor women. Explores the organization's development of different types of networks to achieve its mission. View Details

Keywords: Mission and Purpose; History; Networks; Microfinance; Nonprofit Organizations; Gender; Growth and Development Strategy

May 1999 (Revised December 2007)
Case

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Development Strategy

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Despite revenues in excess of $93 million in 1998, world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute constantly faces an operating shortfall and looks to its highly successful development office to help cover the deficit. The development office raises money annually (with a... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Capital; Revenue; Growth and Development Strategy; Mission and Purpose; Nonprofit Organizations

17 Feb 2022
Blog Post

The Fifth Year of Short Intensive Programs (SIPs) at HBS

closing, Leschly reflected on the course as a whole, his own thoughts on those organizing questions, and what lies ahead for the higher-ed sector. The transformational change that is currently necessary, he said, must be led by student-first public policy—one that... View Details

18 Aug 2009
First Look

First Look: August 18

a purely social act with economic considerations. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/10-012.pdf Input Constraints and the Efficiency of Entry: Lessons from Cardiac Surgery Authors:David M. Cutler, Robert S. Huckman, and... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

01 Jun 2010
News

$how Me the Money

subsidiaries, and affiliates. Transfer pricing is legal, but when it becomes abusive — serving no legitimate business purpose and with tax evasion as its only intent — then you are breaking the law.” Opinions differ, however, over what... View Details

Keywords: Garry Emmons; Administration of Economic Programs; Government; Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support; Government; Legal Services; Professional Services; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

28 Oct 2014
News

The First Five Years: Nick Soman (MBA 2010)

if you are in control of the information you share.” What have been the best and most challenging parts of launching your company? “The most challenging and best parts are the same—building a company is hard, so the learning curve is incredible. Rainer Maria Rilke... View Details

Keywords: Telecommunications; Information

June 2022 (Revised October 2022)
Case

Can Goodr Fight Food Insecurity at Scale?

By: Daniel Isenberg and William R. Kerr

Jasmine Crowe founded Goodr to redirect food waste to people in need. Now a profitable enterprise, she’s searching for Series A funding and encountering pushback. Scaling and contract concerns are also at the forefront of her mind, but so are her values. Feeding... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Investor Demand; Food; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Values and Beliefs; Social Issues; Race; Opportunities; Contracts; Mission and Purpose; Financing and Loans

01 May 2015
News

Celebrating and Supporting Leadership

societal progress by creating jobs, investing in communities, and bringing the world much-needed products and services. "In an era of budget austerity and political gridlock, business is called on to play a larger role in providing social... View Details

Keywords: Educational Services

10 Sep 2014
Research & Ideas

Become a Value Creator

staff member receive credit for good ideas not only makes the employee feel valued and motivates him or her to come up with better ideas in the future, but also makes the leader look good. The purpose of business is simple and... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

July–August 2019
Article

The Soul of a Startup

By: Ranjay Gulati

There’s an essential, intangible something in start-ups—an energy, a soul. It inspires enthusiasm and fosters a sense of deep connection and mutual purpose. While this spirit persists, engagement is high and businesses keep their edge.
But all too often,... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Mission and Purpose; Customer Focus and Relationships; Employees; Creativity; Business Growth and Maturation