Publications

14 Jul 2020
Research & Ideas

Restarting Under Uncertainty: Managerial Experiences from Around the World

other countries outside China such as Germany and Sweden before local contagion even started, allowing precious time to acquire personal protective equipment before it became scarce. Second, since the company was able to foresee large View Details

Keywords: by Raffaella Sadun, Andrea Bertoni, Alexia Delfino, Giovanni Fassio, and Mariapaola Testa

16 Apr 2020
Research & Ideas

Has COVID-19 Broken the Global Value Chain?

the global value chain, and what more might we expect? Laura Alfaro and Ester Faia: In 2012, a survey by the World Economic Forum and [the consulting firm] Accenture, devoted to assess the risk of a disruption in the global View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

15 Jun 2009
Research & Ideas

GM: What Went Wrong and What’s Next

government. This is a great deal for Magna, but terrible for Chevrolet. GM's best small cars are engineered (and some are manufactured) by Opel in Europe. But it's not just about design and engineering. The supply chains and factory... View Details

Keywords: by Staff; Auto

August 2024
Case

Oculii

By: Andy Wu and Lucas Defilippo

It was a bright June day in 2016. Steven Hong, co-founder and COO of Oculii had just signed a letter of intent agreeing to a 51% stake acquisition by Nexteer Automotive, a global steering and driveline supplier company that developed advanced driver assistance systems... View Details

Keywords: Automotive; Autonomous Vehicles; Wireless Communications; Mergers and Acquisitions; Communication Intention and Meaning; Intellectual Property; Growth Management; Negotiation Deal; Supply Chain; Auto Industry; Technology Industry

March 2023 (Revised May 2025)
Case

On

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Karolin Frankenberger and Sascha Mader

Founded in 2010, in just one decade, the Swiss company On had established itself as a main player in global sports footwear and apparel. Based on an unconventional strategy which one of the founders labeled as “obsessively distinct,” On grew its sales with a compound... View Details

20 Sep 2019
Research & Ideas

Solving the Riddle of How Companies Grow Over Time

“Even though investors may want to see higher growth, it may be better to sacrifice some short-term growth to gain persistence.” About the Author Michael Blanding is a writer based in the Boston area. [Image: Nikada] Related Reading How Big Companies Can Outrun View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Manufacturing

11 Feb 2020
Sharpening Your Skills

10 Rules Entrepreneurs Need to Know Before Adopting AI

experts from industry. Your team needs both ML engineers (often PhD level) and top software engineers who can productize and deploy AI. (Ideally you want talent who can do both, but good luck finding them!) There's a limited supply of ML... View Details

Keywords: by Rocio Wu

24 Feb 2020
Research & Ideas

The Hidden Vulnerabilities of Open Source Software

with the Linux Foundation’s Core Infrastructure Initiative (CII). The Census II analysis and report represent important steps toward understanding and addressing structural and security complexities in the modern day supply chain where... View Details

Keywords: by Frank Nagle and Jenny Hoffman; Computer

July 2020
Case

Amanda and Kristen: Mented Cosmetics

By: Steven Rogers, Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Alterrell Mills

The co-founders (Black HBS alumnae) of an e-commerce beauty startup explore the unmet needs within the beauty industry. This case study examines the entrepreneurial opportunities that come from identifying an underserved market, specifically within the Black community... View Details

09 Sep 2015
Research & Ideas

Leadership Lessons of the Great Recession: Options for Economic Downturns

according to a report by the McKinsey Global Institute. Yet the costs of this unbalanced approach to managing economic downturns are not always well understood by managers. LAYOFFS ARE EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE In April, the Honeywell case was... View Details

Keywords: by Sandra Sucher & Susan Winterberg; Aerospace; Electronics

28 May 2020
Research & Ideas

Coronavirus Could Create a 'Bankruptcy Pandemic'

vendors could disrupt supply chains, further hurting the business and destroying value. This potential problem is troubling to a number of bankruptcy scholars, including my colleague Mark Roe at Harvard Law... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Financial Services; Banking

January 2021 (Revised April 2022)
Case

Best Buy's Corie Barry: Confronting the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: William W. George and Amram Migdal

This case examines the leadership of Corie Barry, the new CEO of Best Buy, with a focus on actions the company took in 2020 to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case includes a history of Best Buy’s strategy and leadership, including the transitions between the... View Details

Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Change; Disruption; Volatility; Communication; Competency and Skills; Customers; Decision Making; Ethics; Fairness; Moral Sensibility; Values and Beliefs; Finance; Cash Flow; Financial Condition; Financial Liquidity; Goods and Commodities; Corporate Governance; Health Pandemics; Human Resources; Executive Compensation; Employees; Employee Relationship Management; Resignation and Termination; Retention; Selection and Staffing; Innovation and Invention; Jobs and Positions; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Job Design and Levels; Job Interviews; Job Offer; Labor; Employment; Human Capital; Working Conditions; Law; Leadership; Leadership Development; Leadership Style; Management; Business or Company Management; Crisis Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Management Practices and Processes; Management Style; Management Succession; Management Systems; Management Teams; Risk Management; Operations; Distribution; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Logistics; Service Delivery; Service Operations; Supply Chain; Organizations; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Outcome or Result; Personal Development and Career; Retirement; Work-Life Balance; Planning; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Relationships; Business and Community Relations; Labor and Management Relations; Risk and Uncertainty; Safety; Science; Strategy; Retail Industry; North and Central America; United States; Minnesota