Publications

September 2017 (Revised March 2018)
Case

Chai Point: Disrupting Chai

By: Shikhar Ghosh, Ramana Nanda and Rachna Tahilyani

Chai Point is India’s largest organized chai retailer. It has missed its target for retail store openings by approximately 25%, goals that are very important to its investors who are also board members. However, it has developed an exciting new internet-based tea... View Details

Web

Tough Tech Ventures - Course Catalog

from early grants and equity to later stage deployment capital Examine global and local market failures that affect tough tech ventures and policy interventions that may stimulate (or stymy) the investment... View Details

December 2019
Teaching Note

Hony Capital and Jushi Group

By: Josh Lerner, Shai Bernstein and Ann Leamon

Teaching Note for HBS No. 820-040. View Details

Keywords: Real Estate; Investing; Manufacturing; Private Equity; Asset Management; Investment; Factories, Labs, and Plants; Finance; China; United States

Web

Scaling Technology Ventures - Course Catalog

HBS Course Catalog Scaling Technology Ventures Course Number 1788 Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport Spring; Q3Q4; 3.0 credits 27 Sessions Exam or Project Career Focus Scaling Technology Ventures (STV) is... View Details

August 2008
Case

Du Pont: The Birth of the Modern Multidivisional Corporation

By: Richard S. Tedlow and David Ruben

Du Pont's realization in 1921 that its "U-form" corporate structure was ill-suited to its new diversification strategy led to a pioneering new kind of organization—the "M" or multidivisional form—that has been called the most important innovation of capitalism in the... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Innovation and Invention; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Structure; Alignment; Corporate Strategy

Web

Launching Tech Ventures - Course Catalog

HBS Course Catalog Launching Tech Ventures Course Number 1757 Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Bussgang Senior Lecturer Allison Mnookin Spring; Q3Q4; 3.0 credits 27 Sessions Project Career Focus Launching Technology View Details

September 2008 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Loews Corporation: Corporate Strategy as a Portfolio

By: Joseph L. Bower

In 2007, Loews Inc., under the leadership of James Tisch, was considering whether to buy natural gas properties from Dominion Resources. The question is whether the acquisition fits the corporate strategy. In exploring the questions, students will have the chance to... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Business Strategy; Business or Company Management; Value Creation; Acquisition; Management Teams

October 2011 (Revised July 2012)
Case

ATR KimEng Financial Corporation

By: Li Jin, Michael Shih-ta Chen and Dawn Lau

ATR KimEng is a Philippino asset management business. It is making an important decision on its own strategy going forward: should it stay independent, or be taken over by a large bank in the region. Through this case, we discuss the financial service industry in South... View Details

Keywords: Asset Management; Mergers and Acquisitions; Capital Markets; Investment; Financial Services Industry; Philippines

September 1997
Case

Siam Cement Group, The: Corporate Philosophy (B)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Prompilai Khunaphante

In 1996, senior executives of Thailand's Siam Cement Group must decide whether to apply its management philosophy and code of ethics when doing business outside of Thailand. The status of the code in joint ventures and contractual relationships is of particular... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Decision Making; Joint Ventures; Corporate Strategy; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Policy; Construction Industry; Thailand

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June 1991
Background Note

Corporate Advantage: Identifying and Exploiting Resources

By: David J. Collis

Describes the economic theory that was behind the view that resources are central to the creation of value in multibusiness corporations and identifies tests that resources must pass to become part of a firm's "distinctive competence". Describes how those resources can... View Details

Keywords: Business Conglomerates; Business or Company Management; Resource Allocation; Competitive Strategy; Theory; Value Creation

13 Aug 2018
Blog Post

Following My Dream: Launching a Venture

product (MVP) one could imagine, and I’m very grateful for the advice. Our extensive MVP testing at corporate offices allowed us to validate key assumptions of our business model and value proposition, e.g. more than 70% of our users... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship

25 Jan 2021
Book

In a Nutshell, Why American Capitalism Succeeded

How did the United States become the world’s center of business growth following its founding in 1776? Surely a number of nations had powerful natural resources, stable financial and legal institutions, and dynamic entrepreneurs over that same span. Why was American... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Manufacturing

September 1997
Case

Siam Cement Group, The: Corporate Philosophy (C)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Prompilai Khunaphante

In November 1996, the board of directors of Thailand's Siam Cement Group approves a policy spelling out the extent to which code of ethics shall be applied in joint venture and contractor relationships. View Details

Keywords: Joint Ventures; Policy; Ethics; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Governing and Advisory Boards; Construction Industry; Thailand

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February 1997 (Revised August 2016)
Case

Stone Container Corporation (A)

By: W. Carl Kester and Kirk Goldman

In early 1993, Stone Container was heavily burdened by debt following a series of highly leveraged acquisitions. A prolonged depression in paper prices necessitated the development of a comprehensive financial plan to relieve the financial pressures on Stone. Among the... View Details

Keywords: Leveraged Buyouts; Borrowing and Debt; Capital Structure; Equity; Price; Strategic Planning

2024
Chapter

Corporations as the Central Institutions of Society

By: Joseph L. Badaracco

Mark Twain observed that, “Prediction is very difficult—particularly when it involves the future,” and he was right. One way to reduce the risk of becoming an infamous forecaster—like the experts who told us the Internet would quickly collapse, that Apple would never... View Details

Keywords: Trends; Business and Government Relations; Organizations; Power and Influence; Society

July – August 2008
Article

Managing Corporate Social Networks

By: Adam M. Kleinbaum and Michael L. Tushman

Keywords: Management; Business Ventures; Networks

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September 2001 (Revised December 2003)
Case

Eskimo Pie Corporation (Abridged)

By: Richard S. Ruback

In early 1991, Reynolds Metals, the makers of aluminum products, decided to sell its holding of Eskimo Pie, a marketer of branded frozen novelties. Reynolds had an offer from Nestle to acquire Eskimo Pie. However, Reynolds decided instead to make an initial public... View Details

Keywords: Food; Initial Public Offering; Cost of Capital; Valuation; Business Divisions; Brands and Branding; Food and Beverage Industry

22 Jul 2011
Working Paper Summaries

Corporate Social Responsibility and Access to Finance

Keywords: by Beiting Cheng, Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim

February 1995 (Revised April 1996)
Case

MW Petroleum Corporation (B)

By: Timothy A. Luehrman, Peter Tufano and Barbara Wall

Amoco Corp. is negotiating to sell a wholly-owned subsidiary, MW Petroleum, to Apache Corp. MW owns large reserves of oil and gas comprising many properties at different stages of engineering, development, and production. The proposed acquisition is a large one for... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Mergers and Acquisitions; Risk Management; Financing and Loans; Mining Industry; Energy Industry