Publications

September 2008 (Revised October 2008)
Supplement

Shareholder Activists at Friendly Ice Cream (A2)

By: V.G. Narayanan, Fabrizio Ferri and James Weber

The A1 and A2 versions of the “Shareholder Activists at Friendly Ice Cream (A)” split the original A case into two parts. The A1 case ends as activists Sardar Biglari and Phil Cooley prepare to meet with CEO Don Smith at Friendly's headquarters in September 2006. The... View Details

Keywords: Investment Activism; Business and Shareholder Relations; Governing and Advisory Boards; Conflict and Resolution; Lawsuits and Litigation; Business or Company Management; Food and Beverage Industry; United States

March 2008 (Revised March 2022)
Case

Cadbury Schweppes: Capturing Confectionery (A)

By: David Collis, Toby Stuart and Troy Smith

In late 2002, global confectionery and beverage maker Cadbury Schweppes needed to decide whether or not to make an acquisition bid for Adams, an underperforming gum company which had been put up for sale by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Examining the decision from a... View Details

Keywords: Business History; Strategy; Decision Choices and Conditions; Mergers and Acquisitions; Food and Beverage Industry

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Faculty & Advisors | MBA

venture investor. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Arkitekt Ventures, an early stage Health + Bio investment firm with the mission to improve and advance human health. Recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the Top Ten... View Details

01 Sep 2022
What Do You Think?

Is It Time to Consider Lifting Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

(iStockphoto/AvigatorPhotographer) Recently there has been talk, but no action, about eliminating some or all of the tariffs on Chinese imports that were instituted by the Trump administration. The debate involves salient arguments on... View Details

Keywords: Re: James L. Heskett

July 2008
Case

eHarmony

By: Mikolaj Jan Piskorski, Hanna Halaburda and Troy Smith

eHarmony's CEO needs to decide how to react to imitations of its business model, encroachment by competing models, and ascendance of free substitutes. The case provides four options to address these threats and asks students to choose one after they analyzed the... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth and Development Strategy; Industry Structures; Competitive Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Service Industry

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Application Requirements - Doctoral

Massachusetts Ave. Smith Campus Center 350, Cambridge, MA 02138. Paper test report forms will not be accepted at this address. Accomodations for natural disasters or other extenuating circumstances We realize that recent natural disasters... View Details

June 2014
Case

Going Social: Durex in China

By: Mikolaj Jan Piskorski and Aaron Smith

When Reckitt Benckiser (RB), a leading consumer goods company, first entered China, it encountered significant challenges. RB's strategy relied on selling high margin products supported by cost-effective advertising and distribution, but the highly competitive Chinese... View Details

Keywords: Distribution; Multinational Firms and Management; Internet and the Web; Marketing Communications; Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry; China

August 2014 (Revised October 2014)
Case

Beyoncé

By: Anita Elberse and Stacie Smith

In December 2013, music superstar Beyoncé is about to surprise her fans with the release of her self-titled album. The team at her company Parkwood Entertainment, which general manager Lee Anne Callahan-Longo described as "a management, music, and production company... View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Beyoncé; Internet and the Web; Music Entertainment; Distribution Channels; Product Launch; Music Industry

13 Dec 2022
HBS Seminar

Christine Beckman, USC Price School of Public Policy

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The Founding of U.S. Steel and the Power of Public Opinion | Baker Library | Bloomberg Center | Harvard Business School

the Power of Public Opinion The Founding of U.S. Steel and the Power of Public Opinion: Intro By the late 1800s, the steel industry in the United States had surpassed the capacity of Britain’s steel production. In 1901, through the merger... View Details

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Connect with Clubs - Recruiting

Hire Talent Connect with Clubs Hire Talent Connect with Clubs Partner with a HBS Student Club Reach targeted groups of students by connecting with over 50 career-related student clubs. Work with club leaders to sponsor events, advertise... View Details

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Healthy Outcomes - Managing the Future of Work

Caregiving Joseph Fuller Podcast The Caring Company Joseph Fuller & Sheila Marcelo 16 JAN 2019 | Managing the Future of Work Almost a third of workers—and more senior executives—say their careers have been adversely affected by caregiving... View Details

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Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center | About

literature—are focused on education and US-China cultural exchanges. All six of Dr. and Mrs. Chao’s daughters received undergraduate and graduate degrees from prestigious American universities, including four who attended the MBA Program at HBS: Elaine Chao, Mt.... View Details

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Biography - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

His research has received numerous awards, and he is the most cited scholar today in economics and business. While Michael Porter is at the core a scholar, his work has achieved remarkable acceptance by practitioners across multiple... View Details

March 2007 (Revised March 2012)
Case

Edward Jones in 2006: Confronting Success

By: David J. Collis and Troy Smith

When Jim Weddle took over as Managing Partner of Edward Jones in January 2006, the brokerage firm was at a critical juncture. The firm's distinctive strategy had enabled it to grow from its roots in small-town America to become the 4th largest broker in the U.S. Weddle... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development Strategy; Performance; Competitive Advantage; Financial Services Industry; United States

November 2006 (Revised November 2007)
Case

Strategy in the Twenty First Century Pharmaceutical Industry: Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc.

By: David J. Collis and Troy Smith

The global pharmaceutical industry has gone through substantial changes in the last few decades and pharmaceutical firms face major challenges including headline-grabbing litigation, imminent patent expirations, new technologies, rising drug development costs, generic... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Development; Research and Development; Corporate Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States