Publications

September 2023
Article

The Changing Role of Managers

By: Letian Zhang

This study argues that the increase in middle management in recent decades was accompanied by a major shift in managerial roles. Increased task complexity and a new management philosophy have reduced the need for direct supervision but generated a much greater... View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Leadership; Groups and Teams; Change; Organizational Structure

February 2018
Case

Vodafone: Managing Advanced Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

By: William R. Kerr and Emer Moloney

Vodafone was operating in the fast-moving telecommunications market where innovation and scale were key. Faced with an onslaught of technological advances—big data, automation, and artificial intelligence—CEO Vittorio Colao reflected on how he should change the... View Details

Keywords: Technological Innovation; Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Opportunities; Telecommunications Industry

December 2003 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats

Investigates how the rise of digital video formats threatens to make videocassette technology obsolete; how this technological substitution might alter the economics and structure of the video rental and retail industries; and how Blockbuster Inc., the industry leader,... View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Decisions; Technological Innovation; Competition; Change Management; Service Industry; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

18 Mar 2020
News

Leading Change

by Margie Kelley Alumni Tackle Climate Change Policy in Washington In a joint effort to foster a meaningful conversation on the role of business in shaping climate policy, the HBS Business & Environment Initiative (BEI) and the HBS Club... View Details

Harvard Speaks on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most complicated and challenging problems that the world has ever faced. As part of this video collection produced by the Harvard University Center for the Environment, Lassiter talks about *new* nuclear technologies as... View Details

15 Nov 2024
News

Driving Change

Speaking to nearly 700 alumni at the Women’s Leadership Summit last week, HBS Professor Robin Ely addressed both current and emerging challenges facing women in leadership roles, while emphasizing the critical importance of continued progress. “Today, we face a fresh... View Details

March–April 2025
Article

Getting Value from Digital Technologies

By: Frank Cespedes and Georg Krentzel

Companies need digital technologies in an omni-channel buying world where online and in-person interactions are complements, not either/or substitutes. Multi-channel hybrid sales solutions are required, but what are the key requirements for using the available... View Details

Keywords: Sales; Technology Adoption; Competitive Advantage

Read Now

May 1997 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Teradyne: Managing Disruptive Change

By: Joseph L. Bower

Three cases deal with the introduction of a new product to Teradyne's line of semiconductor test equipment. Teradyne: Managing Strategic Change provides historic and administrative background for the other two cases. Teradyne: The Aurora Project deals with the problems... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Disruption; Management; Market Entry and Exit; Product; Product Development; Problems and Challenges; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Technology

05 Dec 2013
Working Paper Summaries

Heterogeneous Technology Diffusion and Ricardian Trade Patterns

Keywords: by William R. Kerr

May 1997 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Teradyne: Managing Strategic Change

By: Joseph L. Bower

Three cases deal with the introduction of a new product to Teradyne's line of semiconductor test equipment. This case provides historic and administrative background for the other two cases. Teradyne: The Aurora Project deals with the problems facing the head of a... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Change Management; Business or Company Management; Market Entry and Exit; Product; Problems and Challenges; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Technology

Find at Harvard

24 Sep 2001
Research & Ideas

Why the Internet Doesn’t Change Everything

to be the future. Technology challenged the Church, forcing it to change in some ways, but it certainly did not kill it. —Debora L. Spar This is a book that tries to yank the Internet out of the spotlight of... View Details

Keywords: by Debora L. Spar

March 1999 (Revised January 2000)
Background Note

Network Technology and the Role of Intermediaries

By: Youngme E. Moon

Outlines some of the ways network technology is changing the role of intermediaries in the market. View Details

Keywords: Technology Networks