Publications

November 2007
Supplement

Differences at Work: Jenny (B)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Rachel Gordon

In Differences at Work: Jenny (B) HBS Case No. 9-408-050, we learn that Jenny's boss is woman who thought the entire incident was funny. Jenny wonders whether to confront her boss about her discomfort with the situation. View Details

Keywords: Behavior; Employees; Gender; Conflict and Resolution

June 1995 (Revised July 1999)
Case

Acova Radiateurs

In March 1990, Baring Capital Investors faced a decision about whether and how much to bid for Acova Radiateurs, a subsidiary of Source Perrier. Source Perrier had decided to sell Acova, and Baring Capital Investors thought it might make a good leveraged buyout... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Leveraged Buyouts

07 Dec 2011
Research & Ideas

Are Creative People More Dishonest?

behavior. It's a sobering thought in a corporate culture that champions out-of-the-box thinking. "In any organization, especially in contexts that are global and very competitive, there is so much focus on trying to be innovative and... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Advertising

September 2008 (Revised August 2010)
Exercise

If We Blew It Up, Then We Could....

By: Stacey Childress

By setting up a thought experiment, this exercise challenges students to examine their own assumptions about the meaning of the word "public" in public education, as well as to understand competing assumptions held by others. View Details

Keywords: Education; Social Issues; Education Industry; United States

February 2003 (Revised October 2003)
Case

Peter Jacobs at Versity.com

By: Leslie A. Perlow

Peter Jacobs is Versity.com's new professional CEO. This case provides a behind-the-scenes look at his thoughts and feelings about the company's evolution as he takes charge and tries to establish a new direction for the company. View Details

Keywords: Perspective; Growth and Development Strategy; Planning; Leadership; Management Teams

June 1993 (Revised November 2006)
Background Note

Why I Use the Case Method to Teach Accounting

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

Thoughts on choosing teaching methods and the advantages of the case method for achieving the objectives of a survey course in accounting. Criteria for selecting or preparing good cases, developing a course outline, and for evaluating student and teacher performance. View Details

Keywords: Accounting; Business Education

04 Oct 2024
In Practice

Research-Based Advice for the Seasonally Overwhelmed and Schedule Challenged

doesn’t line up with the natural cadence of your life, you may need to operate on a “fiscal year” instead.” But there’s good news: time is a construct. When the calendar doesn’t line up with the natural cadence of your life, you may need to operate on a “fiscal year”... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

May 1982 (Revised April 1984)
Case

Consolidated Foods Corp. (A)

Top management at Consolidated Foods was concerned about consumer complaints and threatened boycotts, some relating to television and print ad content and others relating to sponsorship of television programs thought to portray excessive sex or violence. Describes the... View Details

Keywords: Customers; Marketing Communications; Crisis Management; Advertising

July 2008 (Revised November 2012)
Case

Negotiating Equity Splits at UpDown

By: Noam Wasserman and Deepak Malhotra

Michael Reich is having severe doubts about how he split the equity with his co-founders two months ago, when they completed a one-page "November Agreement." Since then, Michael has found an angel investor and has worked non-stop on the business, while one co-founder... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; Capital; Venture Capital; Equity; Compensation and Benefits; Negotiation; Partners and Partnerships

August 2023
Background Note

Pricing and Customer Psychology

By: Elie Ofek

This note provides an overview of how psychological principles may be used as part of a seller’s pricing strategy. The note defines the concept of psychological pricing and explains the motivations for firms to engage in it. Prominent practices and tactics, with... View Details

Keywords: Price; Marketing Strategy; Consumer Behavior

Article

Why Schumpeter Was Right: Innovation, Market Power and Creative Destruction in 1920s America

By: Tom Nicholas

Are firms with strong market positions powerful engines of technological progress? Joseph Schumpeter thought so, but his hypothesis has proved difficult to verify empirically. This article highlights Schumpeterian market-power and creative-destruction effects in a... View Details

Keywords: Innovation and Invention; Power and Influence; Emerging Markets; Rank and Position; Status and Position; Capital Markets; Capital Structure; Information Technology; Patents; Creativity; Economic Systems; Development Economics; United States

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July–August 2023
Article

Investing in Growth Through Uncertainty

By: Ranjay Gulati

When faced with disruptions and downturns, many leaders and companies instinctively focus on cutting costs to maintain profitability. But some identify opportunities and then take thoughtful action to emerge from crisis even stronger. That means not only planning for... View Details

Keywords: Crisis Management; Strategic Planning

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February 1998 (Revised July 2003)
Case

ICEDELIGHTS

Three second-year students at the Harvard Business School decide to buy a company. The case focuses on their thoughts about an entrepreneurial career, their search process, and the evaluation of an Icedelights (an ice cream/cafe) franchise. This is a rewritten version... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Franchise Ownership

July 1989 (Revised August 1990)
Background Note

New Theories of International Trade

By: David B. Yoffie and Heather A. Hazard

Explores the "new" theories of international trade--also called strategic trade policy--which were developed in the 1980s. Examines why economists and policy makers thought new approaches were necessary to explain international trade, the contributions of industrial... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Theory; Policy; Trade