Utility - Publications - Faculty & Research

08 Mar 2017
News

Energy Efficiency as a Common Purpose

ambidextrous organization that can embrace both exploiting the existing business while at the same time exploring new business opportunities. “There’s lots of change going on in the utility world today. Energy efficiency; we want to help... View Details

29 Jun 2021

From Quick-service Restaurants (QSRs) to HBS

Please join us for a virtual panel discussion highlighting Harvard Business School (HBS) students formerly working in the Quick-service Restaurant (QSR) Industry. Hear what a day in the life of an HBS student is like and how they plan to View Details

23 Jun 2021

From Travel & Hospitality to HBS

Please join us for a virtual panel discussion highlighting Harvard Business School (HBS) students formerly working in the Travel & Hospitality Industry. Hear what a day in the life of an HBS student is like and how they plan to utilize... View Details

27 Aug 2014
Lessons from the Classroom

Learning From Japan’s Remarkable Disaster Recovery

It's common in Harvard Business School classrooms to discuss the "pivot," the moment an enterprise changes direction to pursue a new strategy. On a visit to eastern Japan, MBA students talked to Masamichi Ono, CEO of chrysanthemum grower Ono Kashoen, which... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Utilities; Utilities; Utilities

14 Nov 2012
Research & Ideas

New Agenda for Corporate Accountability Reporting

How do you measure corporate accountability? And can you do it credibly? Since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, for-profit corporations are facing greater demand to disclose more than revenues and expenses on annual financial reports. In response, some are pointing... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace; Accounting; Energy; Utilities

24 Feb 2010
Working Paper Summaries

Accelerating Innovation In Energy: Insights from Multiple Sectors

Keywords: by Rebecca M. Henderson & Richard G. Newell; Utilities; Utilities; Utilities

Ross S. Sterling

Using proceeds from his feed store business, Sterling began investing in oil wells in 1909. Forming Humble Oil with several other astute oil businessmen, Sterling led his company through a strong expansion period, during which the company’s capitalization grew... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

William L. Mellon

Under Mellon’s management, the firm became a pioneer on several fronts. He opened the nation’s first service stations in 1913 became and expanded into international oil exploration. By the mid-1920s, Gulf’s refinery at Port Arthur, Texas, was the largest in the world.... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

Kenneth S. Adams

Adams climbed the ranks at Phillips Petroleum, beginning as a clerk in the warehouse division. In 1938, when Adams became president, Phillips Petroleum had a gross income of $78 million with 8,000 employees. When Adams retired from that office, Phillips had become the... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

Armand Hammer

Hammer expanded Occidental Oil from a tiny, near-bankrupt California oil firm into one of the “Big Oil” companies - turning it into a conglomerate, beginning with the acquisition of an oil concession from Libya. Hammer was also instrumental in initiating trade between... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

Jean Paul Getty

After accumulating a one-third interest in Getty Oil Company, Getty negotiated for a controlling interest in the company after the death of his father. Getty went on to merge Tidewater Oil Company, Skelly Oil Company, and the Missouri Oil Company into Getty Oil, which... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

Otto D. Donnell

When Donnell took over the presidency of Ohio Oil in 1927, the company had over $104 million in assets with $7 million in net profits. Donnell began a program of expansion in 1930, purchasing various oil companies and service stations. By 1948, Donnell had nearly... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

Joshua S. Cosden

Known as the “prince of petroleum,” Cosden is credited with establishing Oklahoma as a major oil producing state. Starting with a small parcel of land, he built a $35 million oil business in ten short years. Through his oil discoveries and exploration, he almost... View Details

Keywords: Utilities & Energy

September 1981 (Revised October 1984)
Case

El Paso - PNW Merger (C)

By: Richard H.K. Vietor

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Utilities Industry; Utilities Industry

Citation

Find at Harvard

December 2020
Supplement

VIA Science (B)

By: Juan Alcácer, Rembrand Koning, Annelena Lobb and Kerry Herman

Via (a) captures the early days of the data analytics startup as founders Gounden and Ravanis considered which markets offer the right opportunities for their firm and what kinds of experiments will help them narrow their choice. Supplement Via (b) reveals the... View Details

Keywords: Data Analytics; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; Strategy; Business Startups; AI and Machine Learning; Utilities Industry; Utilities Industry; United States; Japan

Citation

Purchase

June 2012
Teaching Note

Harvest: Organic Waste Recycling with Energy Recovery (TN) (A) and (B)

By: Deishin Lee

This case describes the waste management industry and a clean technology solution for landfill diversion and renewable energy production. The (A) case focuses on the operational characteristics of organic waste recycling with energy recovery, and the characteristics of... View Details

Keywords: Sustainability; Waste Management; Sourcing; Operations Management; Environment; Wastes and Waste Processing; Renewable Energy; Operations; Supply Chain Management; Utilities Industry; Utilities Industry

Citation

Purchase

09 Jan 2014
Blog Post

Looking back on 1st semester and looking forward to 2nd semester

stage than others. While this has made the process a bit more challenging, I plan to utilize the dedicated period to further flesh out these opportunities. Hopefully, I’ll be able to emerge with a solid plan for the summer shortly. Janet... View Details

18 Jul 2018
News

Ensuring HBS Remains a Dynamic Community

expressing my opinions and making presentations,” Lien explains. After HBS, Lien returned to Morgan Stanley, rising to executive director of mergers and acquisitions. She then moved to San Francisco, eventually leaving investment banking to View Details

Floyd L. Carlisle

Carlisle purchased Northern New York Utilities with a group of paper manufacturers, which allowed St. Regis Paper and the other involved paper mills to control their own supply of electric power. Acquiring Hanna Paper Corporation in 1921,... View Details

Keywords: Wood, Paper & Forestry

April 1999 (Revised March 2001)
Case

Be Our Guest, Inc.

By: Dwight B. Crane and Penny Joseph

Be Our Guest is a rapidly growing equipment rental company with substantial seasonality in its revenues and profits. In the spring of 1998, the senior management team is reviewing its financial plans in preparation for a meeting with the company's bank. The case... View Details