Publications

01 Dec 2008
News

Hollywood and Humility

found a niche: It turned to Wall Street and private equity for capital while establishing its own talent relationships and keeping creative control over MRC-produced content. Asked about his philosophy of dealmaking, Wiczyk replied, “Do what’s original. Don’t worry... View Details

Keywords: Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries; Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries

June 2024 (Revised March 2025)
Case

Wemade: (Re)Establishing Trust in Blockchain Games (A)

By: Jung Koo Kang, Charles C.Y. Wang, David Allen and Kwangmoon So

This case explores the fundamental challenges and accounting issues arising from the integration of blockchain technology into traditional business models. It features Wemade, a South Korean online gaming company that has staked its future on blockchain-based games.... View Details

Keywords: Blockchain; Cryptocurrency; Video Games; Accounting; Financial Reporting; Revenue Recognition; Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Corporate Disclosure; Information Technology; Technology Adoption; Accounting Industry; Accounting Industry; Accounting Industry; South Korea

November 2024
Case

AlphaGo (A): Birth of a New Intelligence

By: Shikhar Ghosh and Shweta Bagai

This case, the first of a three-part series, traces DeepMind's evolution from its 2010 founding through its acquisition by Google in 2014. Often referred to as the "Apollo project" of artificial intelligence, DeepMind used games as a testing ground to develop AI... View Details

Keywords: AI and Machine Learning; Technology Adoption; Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Technological Innovation; Creativity; Technology Industry; South Korea; China; United States

27 Jun 2019
Blog Post

Dance to the Music: How Noa Torok Found Her Dream Job at SoundCloud

Product Manager managing Hewlett-Packard's future platforms, Noa knew she loved technology but felt as she was still not pursuing her passion from an industry perspective. Yet for Noa, HBS wasn’t a place for taking aim at her next... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment / Media / Sports

01 Dec 2006
News

One-on-One with Jeff Hicks

industry entirely. Instead, the Miami native went home after graduation to join an upstart agency that seemed interested in doing things a little differently. At the time, Crispin Porter + Bogusky (CP+B) had a regional focus, with 55... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services; Professional Services

01 Oct 2002
News

The Class of 1977

Mühlemann revitalized CSFB with new management and restored its institutional competitiveness on Wall Street. John Hess runs Amerada Hess, a Fortune 150 multinational oil and natural-gas company in the energy sector vital to the lives of citizens in every View Details

Keywords: Desmond Wong

20 Jun 2011
Lessons from the Classroom

Fame, Faith, and Social Activism: Business Lessons from Bono

(about Martin Luther King Jr.). Savvy From The Start U2's business savvy in the earliest days serves as a lesson for any MBA student. In an industry notorious for its focus on short-term hits and for taking control of an artist's work and... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard; Entertainment & Recreation

April 1959
Case

Acoustic Research, Inc. (B)

By: Bruce R. Scott

Keywords: Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Find at Harvard

September 1992
Case

Star Cablevision Group (D): Financial Crisis and Managing Constituencies

By: William A. Sahlman

Fourth case in a series of six cases. This case describes the company as it reaches financial crisis and manages constituencies. View Details

Keywords: Business Ventures; Finance; Management; Crisis Management; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

January 1992
Teaching Note

Play Time Toy Company TN

By: Thomas R. Piper

Teaching Note for (9-292-003). View Details

Keywords: Entertainment and Recreation Industry

June 1986 (Revised May 1989)
Case

Good Time Toy Co.

By: Thomas R. Piper

Keywords: Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Find at Harvard

December 1974 (Revised October 1983)
Case

Sunshine Toy Co.

By: Thomas R. Piper

Keywords: Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Find at Harvard

January 2016
Teaching Note

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

By: Sunil Gupta and Margaret Rodriguez

In September 2010, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (T2) reported an unexpectedly high third quarter profit of $5.92 million, driven largely by the success of its video game, Red Dead Redemption (which sold over 6.9 million copies since launching in May). Red Dead... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Model; Leadership Style; Marketing; Competitive Strategy; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

July 2012 (Revised May 2024)
Supplement

Lyric Dinner Theater (B)

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Jim Sharpe

Supplements the (A) Case. Deborah Denenberg reflects on the results and actions taken during the 12 months following her first 6 months on the job. View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurial Management; Crisis; Turn; Family Business; Financial Crisis; Boards Of Directors; Operations Management; Strategy Implementation; Career Planning; Entrepreneurship; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States

November 2010
Teaching Note

The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Inc.: To Acquire or Not to Acquire? TN

By: Juan Alcacer and David J. Collis

Teaching Note for 709462 and 709489. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Decision Making; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

June 2010 (Revised January 2012)
Case

Blue Man Group: Creativity, Life and Surviving an Economic Meltdown

In 2008, Blue Man Group's three co-founders are facing the prospect of losing not just a business but a way of life they have built together. The case follows the story of Chris Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton as they pursue their creative passion and build the... View Details

Keywords: Arts; Financial Crisis; Entrepreneurship; Crisis Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Brands and Branding; Personal Development and Career; Creativity; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

February 2009 (Revised November 2010)
Case

Marquee: The Business of Nightlife

By: Anita Elberse, Ryan Barlow and Sheldon Wong

In December 2008, nightlife impresario Noah Tepperberg is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his New York City nightclub Marquee. While most clubs are over within their first one-and-a-half years, Tepperberg has succeeded in keeping Marquee one of NYC's hottest clubs... View Details

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Customer Focus and Relationships; Cost; Marketing Strategy; Competition; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; New York (city, NY)