Publications

November 1989 (Revised April 2018)
Case

Automation Consulting Services

By: Robert Simons and Hilary Weston

Illustrates the management control challenges that are associated with rapid growth and geographic expansion. Situated at an offsite Executive Committee Retreat. The three founding partners of a specialized consulting firm are grappling with several difficult questions... View Details

Keywords: Geographic Location; Governance Controls; Policy; Growth and Development Strategy; Management Teams; Expansion; Consulting Industry

12 Nov 2013
News

Innovation Can't be Measured in Dollars: Harvard Prof Stefan Thomke

March 1999 (Revised April 1999)
Case

Environmental Risk Management at Chevron Corporation

By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Monica M Mandelli and Jennifer Burns

Chevron Corp., headquartered in San Francisco, manages a worldwide, vertically integrated value chain from the oil well to the gasoline station. Mishandling of oil at any stage of production can damage the natural environment, human health, corporate profitability, or... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Risk and Uncertainty; Environmental Sustainability; Energy Generation; Supply Chain Management; Metals and Minerals; Management Systems; Management Teams; Trade; Vertical Integration; Energy Industry; Mining Industry

09 Nov 2011
Working Paper Summaries

CEO Bonus Plans: And How to Fix Them

Keywords: by Kevin J. Murphy & Michael C. Jensen

05 Apr 2021
News

Why Can’t More Leaders Teach?

10 Mar 2021
Blog Post

COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace

setting expectations that folks who are on site are not just there for in-person meetings. Ensure there are times for people to just sit together and work or to have more casual connections at hackathons or demo hours, so teams can show their work in process. Julia... View Details

Keywords: All Industries

Teaching Interest

Risk Management for Corporate Leaders

By: Robert Simons

As companies adapt to the aftershocks of the global recession, senior executives and boards are discovering that risk management has never been more important. The financial crisis revealed that risk management structures break down just when... View Details

October 2015
Case

DRW Technologies

By: Stephen A. Greyser and William Ellet

Ed Claiborne is a newly hired corporate vice president of procurement for DRW Technologies, a company that produces advanced military systems with 21 plants in the United States. Claiborne was hired from another company from within the industry, and the news of his... View Details

Keywords: Announcements; Management Style; Organizational Structure; Leadership Style; Human Resources

21 May 2007
Research & Ideas

Fixing the Marketing-CEO Disconnect

In most companies, no one knows and understands your customers and their changing needs better than the marketing department. Certainly that knowledge should be routinely presented and understood by the chief executive and board of... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

Teaching Interest

Overview

By: Kevin P. Mohan

Kevin teaches Negotiations and Deals in the MBA curriculum and in several Executive Education offerings. View Details

Keywords: Negotiation

29 Sep 2016
Video

Building visionary leaders in China who can compete across the globe

Jun 14 2016
Interview

A Vibrant Hub

13 Feb 2017
News

A guide for CEOs in the age of Trump

How to Stress-Test Your Strategy

What are the biggest problems companies face in executing their strategies? Robert Simons explains why management teams must ask themselves tough questions, like "What could cause our business to fail?"

View Details

June 2021
Case

Chris Ernst: Purpose, People, Progress

By: Boris Groysberg, Robert Cross, Robin Abrahams and Katherine Connolly Baden

Executive Chris Ernst uses a unique personal strategy to define his six life roles (spiritual explorer, natural being, development pioneer, global/local citizen, thriving family, true friend) and achieve harmony among them. View Details

Keywords: Self-awareness; Self-discovery; Self-affirmation; Life Satisfaction; Work-Life Balance; Identity; Personal Development and Career; Family and Family Relationships; Happiness; Technology Industry; United States