Publications

1995
Book

Destruicao Criativa: Um Processo de Seis Etapas para Transformar Sua Organizacao

By: R. L. Nolan and D. C. Croson

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Transformation

April 1994 (Revised April 1995)
Case

Volkswagen de Mexico's North American Strategy (A)

In 1988, Volkswagen (VW) consolidated its North American operations in Puebla, Mexico, after shutting down its plant in Pennsylvania. Volkswagen de Mexico had been in operation since the 1960s, but produced almost exclusively for the Mexican market. In the late 1980s,... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Trade; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; Canada; Germany; United States; Mexico

April 1973 (Revised April 1983)
Case

Mirassou Vineyards (A)

Examines the decision by Mirassou to test a mechanical grape harvester that requires a major change in growing methods and operations. The machine is unproven and the investor has asked this vineyard to test it for him and commit to use it. View Details

Keywords: Technology; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Production; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry

March 1995 (Revised July 1995)
Case

Apple Computer (B)(Abridged) : Building a Worldwide Strategy

By: Michael Beer and Gregory C. Rogers

Describes the building of Apple's new strategy. Explores how the human resource function at Apple Computer can best support that strategy. View Details

Keywords: Human Resources; Adaptation; Corporate Strategy; Computer Industry

24 Sep 2024
Blog Post

Climate Finance in Africa: Health, Self-Interest, Avoided Future Cost

needed. For example, a 2023 report from the Global Center for Adaptation suggests that over $100 billion per year is needed to invest in infrastructure, weather forecasting, and protecting agriculture in Africa to address both poverty and... View Details

27 Mar 2023
News

A Sporting Chance

as a young HBS grad working for Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco, Perez de Leza was mostly looking for ways to strengthen his body and stay healthy. He took up hand-crank cycling, and then discovered adaptive skiing at a program... View Details

Keywords: Ralph Ranalli

22 Jan 2025
Blog Post

Career risks and professional growth: Finding a fulfilling career with Paige Arnof-Fenn (MBA 1991)

Coca-Cola, where I honed my skills and learned to blend creativity with data-driven decision making. I later joined three tech startups as head of marketing. Their fast-paced environments pushed me to adapt quickly and think on my feet... View Details

Keywords: All Industries

Web

Blog | Social Enterprise | Harvard Business School

Leadership In Challenging Times: Joyce Wanderi-Maina (SPNM 2019) Joyce Wanderi-Maina 08 Apr 2021 This post is part of our “Leadership in Challenging Times” blog series, which highlights the insp... Harvard Business School New Venture Competition: Entrepreneurs View Details

Article

Geographic Mobility, Immobility, and Geographic Flexibility—A Review and Agenda for Research on the Changing Geography of Work

By: Prithwiraj Choudhury

I review and integrate a wide range of literature that has examined how geographic mobility of high-skilled workers creates value for organizations and individuals. Drawing on this interdisciplinary literature, I document that geographic mobility creates value by... View Details

Keywords: Geographic Mobility; Frictions; Work-from-anywhere; Employees; Geographic Location; Organizational Change and Adaptation

2021
Chapter

Digital Transformation and the Salesforce: Observations, Warnings, and Recommendations

By: Frank V. Cespedes

Sales is a crucial test for organizational change, including productive use (or not) of new technologies. Changes in selling always have wider organizational implications, because so many other decisions and resource commitments in firms depend upon demand forecasts... View Details

Keywords: Sales; Salesforce Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Digital Transformation

March 18, 2020
Article

How Honest Conversations Can Accelerate Corporate Transformation

By: Michael Beer

When CEOs engage a cross section of their key people in an honest conversation about organizational strengths and barriers to the execution of strategic changes required by the changing competitive landscape, transformations are accelerated. The honest conversation... View Details

Keywords: Honesty; Communication; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Transformation; Organizational Culture

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March 1995
Case

Procter & Gamble: Improving Consumer Value Through Process Redesign

The evolution of Procter & Gamble's development of efficient consumer response (ECR) involved a series of trials, a resolve to distribute diapers on the basis of product movement, a conscious effort to move to a new means of distribution across all lines, a first cut... View Details

Keywords: Technology; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Customer Value and Value Chain; Consumer Products Industry

February 2008 (Revised March 2008)
Case

Terumo (A)

By: David Godes, Masako Egawa and Mayuka Yamazaki

Terumo faces two challenges: how to sell its catheter products in the U.S. and its new “Solution Pack” in its domestic market, Japan. The case provides rich detail on the firm's evolution from a manufacturer of thermometers to a seller of commodity products like... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Expansion; Global Strategy; Sales; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; Japan; United States

March 2001 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Corning 1996-2000: Growing Corning

By: Michael J. Roberts and Michael L. Tushman

Focuses on Roger Ackerman's successful cultural change effort--growing Corning. Presents a detailed description of Ackerman's effort and the changes that transpired in the business, the culture, and the senior team. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Management Teams

March 2000
Case

iXL, Inc. (A): Growth and Change

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Michelle Heskett

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Organizational Change and Adaptation

March 1986 (Revised July 2000)
Case

Peter Browning and Continental White Cap (A)

Presents a new divisional vice president's entry into a well-established and still successful manufacturing organization which is nevertheless facing an impending competitive crisis. Demonstrates his challenge and his efforts, under pressure from corporate... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Crisis Management; Manufacturing Industry