Publications

June 1994
Case

Nicolas G. Hayek

By: John J. Gabarro and Dominik E.D. Zehnder

With very few exceptions, established premium producers eventually begin to lose market share and profitability to new, dynamic competitiors. These companies respond by focusing on their old success strategy without regard to changes in the marketplace. This is what... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Alignment; Innovation Leadership; Management Teams; Apparel and Accessories Industry

August 2022
Case

One Tiger Per Mountain: The He Family Office

By: Lauren Cohen, Fei Wu and Grace Headinger

Roy He, founder and majority shareholder of his family construction material production company, was preparing to pass down the family business through its first generational handover to his children. His decision would establish his familial legacy and set a precedent... View Details

Keywords: Governance Structure; Family Business; Family Ownership; Strategic Planning; Family and Family Relationships; Leadership; Construction Industry; Canton (city, China); Canton (province, China); China

02 Apr 2024
What Do You Think?

What's Enough to Make Us Happy?

wellbeing and the things that determine them—our relationships with family and friends, our careers, our financial wealth, our physical and spiritual exercise and diet? The notion is that if we set goals for “enough,” we’ll be more conscious of meeting them and more... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

August 2004 (Revised September 2005)
Case

Stanley O'Neal at Merrill Lynch (A)

By: David A. Thomas and Ayesha Kanji

In the late 1970s, Stanley O'Neal joined Merrill Lynch as an investment banker. Profiles O'Neal's ascent at Merrill to CEO. O'Neal put Merrill through a comprehensive restructuring program, cutting costs and significantly reducing the work force. As CEO, O'Neal faces... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Race; Cost Management; Investment Banking; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Leadership; Management Succession; Performance Effectiveness; Personal Development and Career

Find at Harvard

Web

Degrees, Certifications & Alumni Status | About

locations, or onsite with an organization. Harvard Business School grants alumni status with successful completion of any of the following programs: the Advanced Management Program, General Management Program, Owner/President Management,... View Details

29 Mar 2016
First Look

March 29, 2016

2016 Boston: Cengage Learning Management: An Integrated Approach By: Gulati, Ranjay, Anthony Mayo, and Nitin Nohria Abstract—The goal of Management: An Integrated Approach, 2nd ed., is to prepare students for leadership positions in 21st... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

14 Dec 2021
Op-Ed

To Change Your Company's Culture, Don't Start by Trying to Change the Culture

Culture change is probably on your leadership agenda. You may want (or feel forced) to create a post-pandemic culture, or become more collaborative, innovative, or aggressive. But most companies fail in this because they try to change... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Beer

March 2007 (Revised April 2011)
Case

Madam C.J. Walker: Entrepreneur, Leader, and Philanthropist

By: Nancy F. Koehn, Anne Dwojeski, William Grundy, Erica Helms and Katherine Miller

Madam C. J. Walker, who has been credited as the first self-made African-American woman millionaire, created a hair-care empire after years spent as a laundress in St. Louis, Missouri. Decades before the Civil Rights movement, her company gave employment to thousands... View Details

Keywords: Leadership; Business History; Race; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Entrepreneurship; Personal Development and Career; Gender; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Saint Louis

20 Aug 2019
News

181 Top CEOs Have Realized Companies Need a Purpose Beyond Profit

October 2004 (Revised March 2005)
Case

Citizens Bank

By: Rajiv Lal and Arar Han

In November 2004, Larry Fish, chairman of Citizens Bank, is wondering about the challenges posed by the latest and largest acquisition in the history of the bank. Fish has always believed that the success of Citizens thus far was facilitated by the credo he introduced... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Change Management; Customer Focus and Relationships; Employees; Leading Change; Performance Effectiveness; Banking Industry

February 2005 (Revised April 2006)
Case

Richard Grasso and the NYSE, Inc. (A)

By: William W. George and Andrew N. McLean

In 2003, the New York Stock Exchange faces heated controversy over the pay of Chairman Richard Grasso. Traces Grasso's development and his success serving stakeholders while transforming operations at the world's largest exchange. Describes how Grasso's compensation... View Details

Keywords: Financial Markets; Corporate Governance; Executive Compensation; Leadership; Performance; Financial Services Industry; New York (state, US)

Web

Accounting & Management - Faculty & Research

financial‐statement analysis, link segment data to strategic inflection points, and evaluate leadership communication. July 3, 2025 Article A New Framework for Reducing Healthcare Disparities By: Susanna Gallani , Mary Lynch Witkowski,... View Details

2022
Book

Productive Tensions: How Every Leader Can Tackle Innovation's Toughest Trade-Offs

By: Chris Bingham and Rory McDonald

Why is leading innovation in nascent business environments so distressingly hit-or-miss? More than 90% of high-potential ventures don’t reach their projected targets. Surveys show that 80% of executives consider innovation crucial to their growth strategy, but only 6%... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Innovation and Management; Organizational Culture; Leadership Style; Decision Making

January 2025
Technical Note

Note on Estate Planning

By: Christina R. Wing, Maryann G Bell and Kara A Perusse

Crafting a comprehensive estate plan is not just about ensuring the smooth transfer of assets; it is about leaving a lasting legacy and protecting your loved ones from unnecessary stress and complications after you are gone. Estate planning is a particularly important... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Transition; Management Succession; Family Ownership; Planning

10 Sep 2024
Blog Post

Leading with Creative Problem Solving: Ron Kurtz (MBA 1967)

making. As I progressed in my career, taking on positions with more responsibility and leadership, I learned that I loved the challenge of leading through change and building things from scratch, rather than holding an already successful... View Details

Keywords: All Industries

12 Sep 2023
Book

Successful, But Still Feel Empty? A Happiness Scholar and Oprah Have Advice for You

masses.” “Everybody thinks that [successful people] have perfect lives, but if you look inside their own heads, you’re going to see the same problems that everybody else has.” Written for a broad audience, the book rings especially true with a cohort Brooks knows all... View Details

Keywords: by Avery Forman

08 Sep 2016
News

Train your successor before you need one

August 15, 2014
Article

Can an Outside CEO Run a Family-Owned Business?

By: Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer

This article explores the intricate dynamics that often characterize family-owned businesses, shedding light on key archetypes that play prominent roles within these organizations. Using a narrative approach, the article illustrates the challenges faced by leaders... View Details

Keywords: Family Ownership; Personal Characteristics; Family and Family Relationships; Management Practices and Processes

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