Publications

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

Program

PLD Module 5

company build and sustain a competitive advantage. You will emerge with the leadership skills and confidence to make high-level decisions that support your organization's... View Details

February 2009 (Revised December 2009)
Case

Merck: Global Health and Access to Medicines

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

The case describes the effort of Merck, a global leader in pharmaceuticals, in making available its medicines to the poor. The challenge for the company (or for that matter, any pharmaceutical company) is how to integrate its business strategy with its corporate social... View Details

Keywords: Globalized Firms and Management; Health Care and Treatment; Emerging Markets; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Poverty; Business Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry

March 1994 (Revised April 1994)
Case

Marriott Corporation - Restructuring

Deals with the decision of whether to split Marriott into two companies Marriott International and Host Marriott. Marriott has run into problems owing to the decline in real estate valuation. At the time of the case, it has a significant percentage of assets in hotels... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Ethics; Accommodations Industry

Blog

Eight Steps to Board Success for Female Executives

history, and then dig deeper to explore the firm’s market position and challenges. As you would in any job interview, you should show that you’ve done your homework and understand the organization. If the... View Details

Web

Degrees, Certifications & Alumni Status | About

their analytics skills. The program is offered as a collaboration between Harvard Business School, The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Faculty of Arts and... View Details

20 Mar 2007
First Look

First Look: March 20, 2007

included her husband. A decade later, in 1986, Claiborne was CEO of her own Fortune 500 company, reaching that milestone faster than any other business up to that point View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

December 2011
Article

How Do Acquirers Retain Successful Target CEOs? The Role of Governance

By: Julie Wulf and Harbir Singh

The resource-based view argues that acquisitions can build competitive advantage partially through retention of valuable human capital of the target firm. However, making commitments to retain and motivate successful top managers is a challenge when contracts are not... View Details

Keywords: Capital; Mergers and Acquisitions; Acquisition; Equity; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Contracts; Performance; Governance; Legal Services Industry

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Article

Productivity Orientation and the Consumption of Collectable Experiences

By: Anat Keinan and Ran Kivetz

This research examines why consumers desire unusual and novel consumption experiences and voluntarily choose leisure activities, vacations, and celebrations that are predicted to be less pleasurable. For example, consumers sometimes choose to stay at freezing ice... View Details

Keywords: Experience and Expertise; Innovation and Invention; Marketing Strategy; Consumer Behavior; Performance Productivity

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Career Coach

Lauren Murphy

responsibility at the Proctor & Gamble company where she was a Brand Manager and a Regional Marketing Manager. She began her business career... View Details

12 Aug 2008
Op-Ed

Google-Yahoo Ad Deal is Bad for Online Advertising

A proposed advertising deal between Internet competitors Google and Yahoo would reduce competitiveness in the Internet advertising market, likely resulting in higher... View Details

Keywords: by Benjamin G. Edelman; Advertising; Publishing

July 2013
Case

Novozymes: Establishing the Cellulosic Ethanol Value Chain

By: Willy Shih and Sen Chai

As the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, Novozymes had invested heavily for many years to bio-engineer enzymes that could break down cellulose into fermentable sugar. In 2010, the company had launched what it thought would become a breakthrough product... View Details

15 Sep 2003
Lessons from the Classroom

HBS Cases: Developing the Courage to Act

fronts. He persuaded Melvin Copeland, a noted marketing professor, to change his planned textbook to a collection of business... View Details

Keywords: by David A. Garvin

August 2007 (Revised September 2007)
Case

Gome: Bidding for China Paradise

Gome, China's largest electronics retailer, has the opportunity to acquire China Paradise, the number three player in the Chinese electronic retailer industry. This happened in the general context of a great market development and potential consolidation of the... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Trade; Market Entry and Exit; Performance; Opportunities; Competition; Consolidation; Corporate Strategy; Electronics Industry; Retail Industry; China