Publications

April 2001 (Revised September 2001)
Case

Merloni Elettrodomestici: Building for a New Century

By: Joseph L. Bower

In 2001 a young new CEO has to develop a strategy to move his company beyond the hyper-competitive conditions of Western Europe. A major acquisition in Russia and a new Web-based service business provide interesting new directions. This case traces the development of... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Multinational Firms and Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Structure; Business Strategy; Web; Russia

Educators

Purchase

2014
Working Paper

Management Practices, Relational Contracts and the Decline of General Motors

By: Susan Helper and Rebecca Henderson

General Motors was once regarded as one of the best managed and most successful firms in the world, but between 1980 and 2009 its share of the US market fell from 62.6 to 19.8 percent, and in 2009 the firm went bankrupt. In this paper we argue that the conventional... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Management Practices and Processes; Organizational Structure; Decision Making; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry

09 Jan 2024
In Practice

Harnessing AI: What Businesses Need to Know in ChatGPT’s Second Year

Three years later, Netflix announced the grand prize of $1 million to a team besting it by 10.06 percent. “Generative AI’s strength is to develop ideas that will resonate with a broad audience and garner wide market appeal.” Despite the... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Information Technology

January 1974 (Revised January 1987)
Case

Gillette Safety Razor Division: Blank Cassette Project

Gillette is trying to decide whether to enter the fast-growing blank recording cassette business. The vice president of new business development is charged with developing a marketing plan to be used as the basis for a go/no go decision. In part, the issue is whether... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Consumer Products Industry

Educators

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03 Jul 2018
First Look

New Research and Ideas, July 3, 2018

link: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54665 forthcoming R&D Management An Exploratory Study of Product Development in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Medical Device Testing in India By: Gupta, Budhaditya, and Stefan... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

Research Summary

THEME #2: BUILDING CAPABILITIES THROUGH VARIATION

Prior work has yet to establish definitively the role that variation (e.g. in individuals' activities or organizational processes) plays in the development of capabilities. Variation is usually either not considered (e.g., the learning curve examines... View Details

September 2000 (Revised March 2001)
Case

Old Mutual

By: Tarun Khanna, Krishna G. Palepu and Kirsty O'Neil-Massaro

Designed to explore the demutualization and listing overseas of one of Africa's largest financial institutions, Old Mutual, and the effects that these actions have on South Africa's domestic capital markets. Explores the particular difficulties that arise as a result... View Details

Keywords: Financial Institutions; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Structure; Global Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Capital Markets; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business Education; Financial Strategy; Business or Company Management; Financial Services Industry; Banking Industry; South Africa

Web

Overview - Doctoral

Overview New Ideas for a Changing World PhD Programs Accounting & Management Business Economics (Includes Finance) Health Policy (Management) Marketing Organizational Behavior Strategy Technology & Operations Management At Harvard... View Details

Article

What's Your Language Strategy?: It Should Bind Your Company's Global Talent Management and Vision

By: Tsedal Neeley and Robert Steven Kaplan

Language pervades every aspect of organizational life. Yet leaders of global organizations—where unrestricted multilingualism can create friction—often pay too little attention to it in their approach to talent management. By managing language carefully, firms can hire... View Details

March 2007
Article

Local Company Politics: A Proposal

By: Raymond Fisman and Eric D. Werker

Corrupt politicians, and poor government more generally, are commonly viewed as a primary barrier to economic progress. The roots to these problems run deep in many political systems across the developing world, and attempts at reform have rarely found much success.... View Details

Keywords: Behavior

Program

Competing in the Age of Digital Platforms

selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities. Read More Answering Your Questions Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the... View Details

15 Nov 2010
Lessons from the Classroom

Connecting Goals and Go-To-Market Initiatives

aligning behavior in an organization). The company environment in which go-to-market initiatives are developed and executed: how communication does or doesn't work across internal organizational boundaries;... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Retail

Program

Designing and Executing Corporate Revitalization

professional achievement and organizational responsibilities. Read More Answering Your Questions Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your... View Details

23 Sep 2014
First Look

First Look: September 23

Publications September 2014 Research in Organizational Behavior The Governance of Social Enterprises: Mission Drift and Accountability Challenges in Hybrid Organizations By: Ebrahim, Alnoor, Julie Battilana, and Johanna Mair Abstract—We... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

June 1999
Case

PDQ Manufacturing, Inc.

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

A small manufacturer of car wash facilities has been unable to develop management systems because of rapid growth. Now size dictates the need for such systems because the current personal management style is proving inadequate. View Details

Keywords: Management Practices and Processes; Organizational Design; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Personal Development and Career; Growth Management; Manufacturing Industry