Publications

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Program

Succeeding as a Strategic CFO

decisions Become a strategic partner to the CEO Discover how to formulate, evaluate, and implement strategic choices that are grounded in financial metrics, but not limited to... View Details

02 Apr 2024
What Do You Think?

What's Enough to Make Us Happy?

who fail to have this conversation with ourselves run the risk of chasing and acquiring things that are never enough. These matters are highly personal. I like to think that how we make decisions on these... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

16 Oct 2012
First Look

First Look: October 16

PublicationsEnterprise Analytics: Optimize Performance, Process, and Decisions Through Big Data Author:Thomas H. Davenport Publication:FT Press, 2012 Abstract This book, an edited collection of research... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

March 2006 (Revised August 2006)
Case

Putnam Investments: Rebuilding the Culture

By: Nitin Nohria and Charles Nichols

Charles "Ed" Haldeman Jr. is promoted CEO of Putnam Investments after the firm was badly damaged by a series of improper trading practices. He is charged with the task of managing the crisis, repairing the company culture, and putting the firm back into a pattern of... View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Ethics; Investment Funds; Investment; Leading Change; Decision Choices and Conditions; Financial Services Industry; United States

September 2008 (Revised August 2009)
Case

Columbus Tubing: Steel is Real

By: Daniel C. Snow, Gary P. Pisano, Elena Corsi and Gudrun Urfalino Kristinsdottir

Columbus Tubing must choose to improve an old technology (steel) or to develop a new material (carbon fiber). The decision must take into account a complicated context: increased demand for the "old" steel products made in Italy, increasing power of carbon fiber... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Resource Allocation; Production; Research and Development; Information Technology; Bicycle Transportation; Asia; Italy

January 2011 (Revised July 2012)
Case

National Public Broadcasting

By: Richard S. Ruback and Royce Yudkoff

Bob Williams, the CEO of National Public Broadcasting (NPB), was considering an unsolicited offer to purchase the company in the early spring of 2006. The company was a media underwriting representative for public television and radio stations throughout the United... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Decision Choices and Conditions; Financial Management; Ownership; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry

August 2016
Article

The Role of (Dis)similarity in (Mis)predicting Others' Preferences

By: Kate Barasz, Tami Kim and Leslie K. John

Consumers readily indicate liking options that appear dissimilar—for example, enjoying both rustic lake vacations and chic city vacations or liking both scholarly documentary films and action-packed thrillers. However, when predicting other consumers’ tastes for the... View Details

Keywords: Perceived Similarity; Prediction Error; Preference Prediction; Self-other Difference; Social Inference; Cognition and Thinking; Perception; Forecasting and Prediction

Program

Managing Turbulence

superb leadership skills are of little value when businesses lack strategic moves that cut through the fog of competition. Through this blended, three-module program, you will prepare to identify strategic opportunities and challenges—and... View Details

13 May 2024
Research & Ideas

Picture This: Why Online Image Searches Drive Purchases

their purchase positively and less likely to return it. In fact, both star ratings and return rates improved by over 3 percent. “It takes time for the search tool to actually increase search effectiveness in... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Information Technology; Technology; Consumer Products; Retail

July 2017 (Revised September 2017)
Case

Sampark Foundation: Transforming Primary Education in India

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Shweta Bagai

Founders Vineet and Anupama Nayar had rapidly scaled their foundation to reach 3 million primary school children (grades 1 to 3) in two states with math and English programs. Their goal was to reach 10 million children by 2025 and completely spend down the $100 million... View Details

Keywords: Nonprofit Management; K-12 Education; Frugal Innovation; Government Partnership; Impact; Developing Countries; Education; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth and Development Strategy; Business and Government Relations; Outcome or Result; India

10 Sep 2024
Blog Post

Leading with Creative Problem Solving: Ron Kurtz (MBA 1967)

At HBS, I learned how to be decisive with limited information, and that being decisive requires also being a team player, allowing the opinions View Details

Keywords: All Industries

30 Mar 2022
Blog Post

How I Spent My HBS 2+2 Deferral: Adrian Obleton

and 2+2 would give me more flexibility in my decision making before then. How long did you defer your 2+2 admission? I deferred for 4 years. What job(s) did you have during your deferral? I spent 2 years at... View Details

September 2018 (Revised October 2018)
Supplement

Lexoo: Building a Long-Lasting Platform

By: Chiara Farronato and Elena Corsi

Lexoo, a UK-based online marketplace for legal services, was facing the strategic choice of how to grow from early start-up to mature platform. Daniel van Binsbergen, Lexoo's CEO, and web developer Chris O'Sullivan, CTO, had set up Lexoo to help Small and Medium-Sized... View Details

Keywords: Marketplaces; Legal Services; Growth Strategy; Technology Ventures; Pivot; Service Operations; Digital Platforms; Growth and Development Strategy; Small Business; Decision Making; Legal Services Industry

03 Feb 2009
First Look

First Look: February 3, 2009

Decision Making: Social Dilemmas, Social Values, and Ethical Judgments, edited by R. M. Kramer, A. E. Tenbrunsel, and M. H. Bazerman. Psychology Press, in press Abstract It is... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

30 Jul 2013
First Look

First Look: July 30

decisions and ultimately impact observers' willingness to be influenced by them. Three studies suggest that observing others make more (versus less) thoughtful decisions... View Details

Keywords: Anna Secino

June 2004 (Revised May 2005)
Case

World Vision International's AIDS Initiative: Challenging a Global Partnership

By: Christopher A. Bartlett and Daniel F. Curran

After 25 years of building a network of interdependent, national organizations delivering relief and development that are responsive to local needs, World Vision's International office is planning to implement a major global HIV/AIDS initiative that challenges the... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Globalized Markets and Industries; Governing and Advisory Boards; Management Systems; Networks; Partners and Partnerships; Welfare; Adaptation

August 2021 (Revised February 2022)
Case

Lexoo: Building a Long-Lasting Platform (Abridged)

By: Chiara Farronato and Elena Corsi

Lexoo, a UK-based online marketplace for legal services, was facing the strategic choice of how to grow from early start-up to mature platform. Daniel van Binsbergen, Lexoo's CEO, and web developer Chris O'Sullivan, CTO, had set up Lexoo to help Small and Medium-Sized... View Details

Keywords: Legal Services; Marketplaces; Pivot; Growth and Development Strategy; Digital Platforms; Small Business; Service Operations; Decision Making; Legal Services Industry