Publications

13 Jan 2020
Research & Ideas

Do Private Equity Buyouts Get a Bad Rap?

firms often hunt for target companies they see as undervalued. By cutting costs or reorganizing, the acquirer can improve productivity and position the firm for profitable operations or a future sale. In some quarters, fears persist that... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Financial Services; Banking

13 Mar 2023
Research & Ideas

What Would It Take to Unlock Microfinance's Full Potential?

sewing machine, you have to learn how to use the machine and make sure your customers are going to like the products that you’ll produce with the sewing machine. The grace period afforded people the time to make significant investments... View Details

Keywords: by Jen McFarland Flint; Financial Services

October 2023 (Revised June 2024)
Case

ReUp Education: Can AI Help Learners Return to College?

By: Kris Ferreira, Christopher Thomas Ryan and Sarah Mehta

Founded in 2015, ReUp Education helps “stopped out students”—learners who have stopped making progress towards graduation—achieve their college completion goals. The company relies on a team of success coaches to engage with learners and help them reenroll. In 2019,... View Details

Keywords: AI; Algorithms; Machine Learning; Edtech; Education Technology; Analysis; Higher Education; AI and Machine Learning; Customization and Personalization; Failure; Education Industry; Technology Industry; United States

27 Jan 2023
Op-Ed

Have We Lost Sight of Integrity?

the NTSB later flagged for omitting pivotal facts, Boeing said that its customers “have our assurance that the 737 MAX is as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies.” Just five months later, another 737 MAX—Ethiopian Airlines... View Details

Keywords: by Bill George

01 Aug 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 1

contemporary circumstances so as to be relevant for managers. Publisher's link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=52977 Internalizing Global Value Chains: A Firm-Level Analysis By: Alfaro, Laura, Pol Antràs, Davin Chor, and... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Web

Online Entrepreneurship & Innovation Courses | HBS Online

Certificate Disruptive Strategy Professors Rory McDonald & Clayton Christensen Strengthen your capacity to create winning strategies and bring innovations to market by discovering customer jobs to be done and aligning your business’s... View Details

02 May 2005
Research & Ideas

Four VCs on Evaluating Opportunities

Hoel (hbs Mba '93) Managing Director, Menlo Ventures I always look at the market first. By that I mean a strategic view that includes evaluating market growth, market size, competition, and customer adoption rates. If a company has a... View Details

Keywords: by Lauren Barley

Web

Research Computing Services - Faculty & Research

data-related services. Statistical and Data Services for Faculty Research RCS provides statistical and data services, including: Research design and methodological consulting Statistical programming and analysis Database programming and... View Details

14 Jan 2019
Op-Ed

These 4 CEOs Created a New Standard of Leadership

contribute to society in meaningful ways, not just profit from it. They believed that organization had to benefit all stakeholders: their customers, employees, shareholders, and communities and that this approach would result in sustained... View Details

Keywords: by Bill George; Health; Banking; Food & Beverage; Consumer Products

Web

Online Business Strategy Courses | HBS Online

Certificate Courses (6) Disruptive Strategy Professors Rory McDonald & Clayton Christensen Strengthen your capacity to create winning strategies and bring innovations to market by discovering customer jobs to be done and aligning your... View Details

18 Oct 2022
Research & Ideas

When Bias Creeps into AI, Managers Can Stop It by Asking the Right Questions

Most companies rely on artificial intelligence-based algorithms to make a wide variety of business decisions—from pinpointing the products customers prefer to determining which resumes should go to hiring managers. The problem for... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne

18 Nov 2014
First Look

First Look: November 18

http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/Teixeira%20et%20al%20(2014)%20Television%20Advertising%20and%20Online%20Shopping_7d5c54e1-fd1b-4dcc-bd41-06e2978d4f23.pdf Working Papers The Air War versus The Ground Game: An Analysis of... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Web

Business Finance Course Online | HBS Online

Stories FAQs Enroll Now Key Concepts Understand the key financial levers that drive financial performance Discover how and why finance is concerned with cash flow versus profits and why that matters for your business and budget Identify... View Details

May 2022
Case

Maestro Pizza: Coming in Hot!

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Fares Khrais

Maestro Pizza opened its first store in 2013 after its founder, Khalid Al Omran, recognized an opportunity in Saudi Arabia to offer high quality pizza at affordable prices. The business grew rapidly and under the radar at first, but soon enough caught the attention of... View Details

27 Feb 2019
Research & Ideas

The Hidden Cost of a Product Recall

many types of innovation for the firms that experience them.” There’s also a second, less studied wave of damage, as competitors ramp up product development efforts to snap up displaced customers and solidify market share gains. This... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost; Manufacturing; Consumer Products; Auto; Medical Devices & Supplies

October 2016
Case

The Quiet Ascension of LA Fitness

By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth

In 2016, LA Fitness was the largest chain of non-franchised fitness clubs in North America, operating 676 clubs, serving 4.9 million members, and generating revenues of over $1.9 billion. Founded by Chinyol Yi, Louis Welch, and Paul Norris in 1984, the privately held... View Details

Keywords: LA Fitness; Health Clubs; Fitness; Gyms; Chain; Exercise; Personal Training; Retention; Bally Total Fitness; 24 Hour Fitness; Planet Fitness; Buildings and Facilities; Acquisition; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; For-Profit Firms; Customers; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Satisfaction; Demographics; Age; Gender; Income; Residency; Borrowing and Debt; Capital; Capital Structure; Cash; Cash Flow; Cost; Private Equity; Financial Condition; Financial Liquidity; Financing and Loans; Investment Return; Price; Profit; Revenue; Geographic Location; Geographic Scope; Multinational Firms and Management; Business History; Employees; Recruitment; Selection and Staffing; Human Capital; Contracts; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Operations; Service Operations; Leasing; Private Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Sales; Salesforce Management; Situation or Environment; Opportunities; Sports; Strategy; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Segmentation; Information Technology; Mobile Technology; Technology Platform; Health Industry; United States; California; Los Angeles