Publications

29 Apr 2014
First Look

First Look: April 29

on the circumstances and prospects of a company. In fact, companies often turn to outsiders because they have failed to recruit, train, and develop the sort of talent that might take over leadership of the organization. To avoid this... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

16 Sep 2002
Research & Ideas

The Irrational Quest for Charismatic CEOs

of transformation may not have the internal talent ready to make the change. Internal candidates are assumed to be part of the problematic old culture. Perhaps most importantly, CEOs have become "branded" like jeans or cola.... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

October 2018
Case

American Family Insurance and the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity

By: Rajiv Lal and Scott Johnson

January 2023 (Revised April 2024)
Case

First to Fight? Culture, Tradition, and the United States Marine Corps (USMC)

By: Ranjay Gulati, Akhil Iyer and Joel Malkin

Over a history of more than 240 years, the United States Marine Corps has forged a distinct culture and institutional identity centered on its “warrior ethos.” In the wars of American history, Marines fought with uncommon valor, rising to international prominence for... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Transformation; Talent and Talent Management; Government Administration; Management Practices and Processes; Management Systems; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Performance Effectiveness; United States

February 2022 (Revised January 2024)
Supplement

Winning Business at Russell Reynolds (C)

By: Ethan Bernstein and Cara Mazzucco

In an effort to make compensation drive collaboration, Russell Reynolds Associates’ (RRA) CEO Clarke Murphy sought to re-engineer the bonus system for his executive search consultants in 2016. As his HR analytics guru, Kelly Smith, points out, that risks upsetting—and... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Talent and Talent Management; Compensation and Benefits; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Performance Evaluation; Motivation and Incentives; Consulting Industry

01 Oct 2008
Research & Ideas

How Much Time Should CEOs Devote to Customers?

uncovering customer insights discussed above, either through business leaders regularly going into the field and through more formal customer research studies. Third, the CEO has to develop marketing talent throughout the company. This... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch

05 Apr 2004
What Do You Think?

Should We Brace Ourselves for Another Era of M&A Value Destruction?

into the acquisition price that it is difficult to realize value for the acquirers? Is the information regarding human resources just too difficult to obtain during a sensitive acquisition process? Or do acquirers talk a good game about the importance of targeting and... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

28 Mar 2004
Research & Ideas

HBS Celebrates Social Enterprise Initiative

origin and mission of the Social Enterprise Initiative? James Austin: When we began the Social Enterprise Initiative, the opportunity that motivated us was to mobilize the talent and capacity of HBS to enhance the leadership, managerial... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls

15 Nov 2016
First Look

November 15, 2016

Fall 2016 Journal of Economic Perspectives Global Talent Flows By: Kerr, William R., Sari Pekkala Kerr, and Çağlar Özden Abstract—The global distribution of talent is highly skewed and the resources... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

10 Jan 2018
Research & Ideas

Working for a Shamed Company Can Hurt Your Future Compensation

do some sophisticated talent arbitrage” In order to gauge the effect on executive pay, the researchers obtained a data set from a large global headhunting company, one of many consulting firms that act as intermediaries between companies... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Financial Services

04 Mar 2014
Sharpening Your Skills

Sharpening Your Skills: Managing Innovation

managers can team with creative talent in six "culture industries": publishing, fashion, art-design, film, music, and food. Can Creativity Be Taught? Getting to Eureka!: How Companies Can Promote Creativity As global competition... View Details

Keywords: Re: Multiple Faculty

07 Mar 2005
Research & Ideas

The Rise of Innovation in Asia

the country on Apple's iPod and plasma TVs. The great brain drain from India in the 1990s was stemmed after the dot-com bubble burst at the end of the last century, Rath said. Much of that talent has now returned to India and is being... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

July 2010 (Revised September 2011)
Background Note

Hiring Successful Professionals: One Process--Multiple Goals

By: Heidi K. Gardner

The best hiring practices help professional firms attract successful employees, equip newcomers with critical support networks, increase the firm's diversity, and enhance its reputation. This Note delineates how leading firms manage these multiple objectives throughout... View Details

Keywords: Integration; Goals and Objectives; Selection and Staffing; Talent and Talent Management; Management Practices and Processes; Forecasting and Prediction; Employees; Diversity Characteristics; Service Industry

December 2018 (Revised May 2019)
Case

Bord Bia: Strategically Growing Irish Exports

By: Jose B. Alvarez, Forest L. Reinhardt and Emer Moloney

Agriculture was Ireland’s largest indigenous industry. Its agri-food sector was export driven, with almost 90% of production exported. Bord Bia was the Irish government agency charged with the promotion, trade development, and marketing of the Irish food, drink, and... View Details

January 2025
Case

Netflix: Takedown Troubles

By: Clayton S. Rose, Tom Quinn and Maxim Pike Harrell

In October 2021, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos sent an all-staff email addressing backlash to comedian Dave Chappelle’s new stand-up special, The Closer. Released on October 5, the comedian’s depiction of the transgender community and other LGBTQ+ groups prompted... View Details