Publications

January–February 1995
Article

Empowering the Board

By: J. W. Lorsch

Keywords: Governance

June 1994 (Revised October 1999)
Background Note

The beer game is an exercise that demonstrates supply channel dynamics. Simulates the flow of material and information in a simplified channel of beer production and distribution, focusing on the linkages among a beer manufacturer, its distributors, a wholesaler, and a... View Details

Keywords: Cost Management; Information; Distribution Channels; Production; Supply Chain Management; Problems and Challenges

April 1994 (Revised August 1996)
Case

American Express (A)

In January 1993, the American Express board met to decide who would succeed James D. Robinson, III as chairman and CEO. The board needed to act in the spotlight of intense media and investor scrutiny, and after leaks had revealed that there was a conflict among the... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Corporate Governance; Resignation and Termination; Leadership; Management Succession; Performance Evaluation

March 1994 (Revised January 1995)
Case

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Robert D. Walter, chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc., responds to questions regarding Cardinal's board and its influence on the acquisition of and merger with Whitmire Distribution. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Governing and Advisory Boards; Power and Influence; Management Teams; Distribution Industry; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; Health Industry

March 1994 (Revised April 1995)
Case

EnClean: Malcolm Waddell's Story (A)

By: David J. Collis

Describes, in the words of its cofounder, the history of EnClean, an industrial and environmental services company, from its origins in 1984. The company grew rapidly and diversified into new businesses and new geographies both through acquisition and internally. It... View Details

Keywords: Diversification; Expansion; Restructuring; Corporate Strategy

February 1994 (Revised February 1996)
Case

Union Carbide Corporation: Interest Rate Risk Management

By: Peter Tufano

Union Carbide's board of directors is asked to evaluate a proposal from the staff treasurer's that would articulate policies to manage its debt portfolio. The staff proposes that shareholder value will be maximized if the firm manages its exposure to interest rates by... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Interest Rates; Corporate Finance; Chemical Industry

29 Jan 1994
Lecture

Multinational Governance in Global Companies: The Conflict Between Companies that Have Become Global and Boards that are Still National

By: W. Carl Kester

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Global Range; Local Range; Conflict and Resolution

December 1993 (Revised April 2006)
Case

Marriott Corporation (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Charles A. Nichols

Marriott Corp.'s chairman and CEO must decide whether to recommend a restructuring of the company to the board of directors. The proposal he is considering would split the Marriott Corp., a premier hotel developer, owner, and manager, into two separate companies by a... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Restructuring; Governing and Advisory Boards; Decision Making; Ethics; Management Teams; Business and Shareholder Relations; Accommodations Industry

November 1993 (Revised April 2007)
Case

Continental Airlines--1992 (Abridged)

By: Stuart C. Gilson

The CEO is preparing a recommendation to the board regarding several potential outside investments in the company, which is currently operating in bankruptcy. In making his decision, the CEO has to consider various financial and strategic factors, including possible... View Details

Keywords: Capital Structure; Cash Flow; Cost of Capital; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Investment; Taxation; Risk and Uncertainty; Valuation; Aerospace Industry; United States

October 1993
Case

United Way of America: Governance in the Nonprofit Sector (A), The United Way

Discusses the management practices of William Aramony at the United Way of America (UWA). First, the case describes the United Way movement, focusing on both the local chapters and the national organization. Second, it sets forth the Washington Post reports that lead... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Nonprofit Organizations; Management Practices and Processes; Managerial Roles; Management Teams; Crisis Management; Public Administration Industry; United States

October 1993
Supplement

United Way of America: Governance in the Nonprofit Sector (B), Kenneth W. Dam Becomes Interim President

Analyzes the measures taken by the United Way of America (UWA) and its board of governors in response to the 1992 Washington Post reports that lead to the UWA scandal. View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Newspapers; Nonprofit Organizations; United States

1993
Chapter

Banks in the Boardroom: Germany, Japan, and the United States

By: W. C. Kester

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Governing and Advisory Boards; Germany; Japan; United States

April 1993 (Revised October 1993)
Case

Lukens Inc.: The Melters' Committee (A)

Discusses the Lukens board's involvement in strategic planning. View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Strategic Planning

April 1993 (Revised May 1994)
Case

Prodigy Services Company (A)

By: Lynn S. Paine

Top executives of Prodigy Services Co. must decide how to respond when publicly accused of allowing anti-Semitic messages to be posted on the electronic bulletin boards of the company's interactive computer service. Can they defend free expression while at the same... View Details

Keywords: Ethics; Values and Beliefs; Communication Intention and Meaning; Information Technology; Decision Making; Law; Management Teams; Information Technology Industry

March 1993 (Revised September 1993)
Case

Praxair: Creating a Board (A)

Discusses the process a CEO/chairman goes through in creating a new board. Specifically, follows a CEO's decision-making process in selecting board members. Also includes decisions about the selection process for board members and the structure and process of board... View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Decision Making; Corporate Governance; Conferences; Business or Company Management; Selection and Staffing

March 1993
Supplement

Praxair: Creating a Board (B)

Discusses the final formation of Praxair's board. Lists the members chosen with their backgrounds. Also describes the selection process of board members, and the structure and process of board meetings. View Details

Keywords: Conferences; Governing and Advisory Boards; Selection and Staffing; Management Practices and Processes

September 1992 (Revised August 2004)
Supplement

Martin Marietta: Managing Corporate Ethics (B)

By: Lynn S. Paine

The president of one of Martin Marietta's four main operating companies has learned of procurement irregularities in the company he manages. The problems involve U.S. government contracts the company is working on. After getting legal advice from the company's general... View Details

Keywords: Fluctuation; Crime and Corruption; Ethics; Governing and Advisory Boards; Policy; Contracts; Leadership; United States