Publications

01 Feb 2000
News

Spangler Center in Top Form

A cloudless blue sky and a chilly wind provided a brisk backdrop for a December celebration of progress made in the construction of the new Spangler Center. The "topping out" ceremony, a Viking tradition that pays tribute to the trees... View Details

15 Nov 2012
Research & Ideas

Funding the Design of Livable Cities

Editor's note: This article originally appeared on Harvard University's Real Estate Academic Initiative website. If Harvard Business School and the Graduate School of Design seem miles apart both literally and culturally, John Macomber is determined to bridge the... View Details

Keywords: by Lisa Chase; Construction; Construction; Construction; Construction

14 Mar 2011
Research & Ideas

Keeping Credit Flowing to Consumers in Need

The credit crunch and subsequent collapse of the nonprime mortgage market claimed many victims, including hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income Americans who lost their homes and savings. Today, regulators and policymakers are debating ways to reform the... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Construction; Construction; Construction

June 1983 (Revised August 1983)
Teaching Note

Modern Advanced Concrete (A)--(E), Teaching Note

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

Keywords: Construction Industry; Construction Industry

August 2016
Case

Building Smart Neighborhoods at Bouygues

By: Amy C. Edmondson, Bertrand Moingeon, Guo Bai and Jean-François Harvey

Can a consortium of 16 organizations, including multinational corporations, local government agencies, and startups, turn a rundown Paris suburb into a “smart” (ecologically viable, high-tech, livable) neighborhood? This case explores how Bouygues Immobilier led such a... View Details

Keywords: Collaboration; Teaming; Cross-industry Collaboration; Interorganizatonal Relationships; Innovation; Nascent Industries; Smart Cities; Governance; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Innovation and Management; Innovation Strategy; Technological Innovation; Construction Industry; Construction Industry; Paris; France

October 2011
Case

CNBM: Rolling Up China's Cement Industry

By: Joseph L. Bower and G.A. Donovan

The Chinese government has charged Song Zhiping with the job of rationalizing China's cement industry. He has acquired 200 plus companies, but the industry is still fractured. Can he succeed? View Details

Keywords: Industry Growth; Mergers and Acquisitions; Policy; Government and Politics; Construction Industry; Construction Industry; China

Find at Harvard

March 2006 (Revised September 2006)
Case

Irizar in 2005

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell

In June 2005, Koldo Saratxaga, the leader of Basque-based luxury coach manufacturer Irizar, decided to leave after 14 years at the helm of the worker-owned cooperative. Under Saratxaga's stewardship, Irizar was saved from near bankruptcy in 1991 and has become a highly... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business Startups; Customer Focus and Relationships; Resignation and Termination; Leadership Style; Production; Quality; Luxury; Competitive Advantage; Construction Industry; Construction Industry; South Africa; China; India; Mexico; Brazil

March 1995
Supplement

The Black & Decker Corporation (D): DeWalt Opportunities in Europe and Japan

By: Robert J. Dolan

Describes Black & Decker's challenges in international markets, particularly in Europe and Japan. View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Product Positioning; Competition; Globalization; Problems and Challenges; Construction Industry; Construction Industry; Japan; Europe

March 1995 (Revised June 1995)
Supplement

The Black & Decker Corporation (B): "Operation Sudden Impact"

By: Robert J. Dolan

Describes Black & Decker's strategy for the tradesmen market. View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Product Positioning; Competition; Globalization; Construction Industry; Construction Industry

September 1984
Case

Henkel Corp.: International Sealants Brand SISTA (A)

By: Robert J. Dolan

Corporate headquarters wishes to expand sales of a sealant product currently sold only in the West German market. Regional affiliates, operating on a profit center basis, are not enthusiastic about taking on the new product. The case describes the company's... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Globalization; Expansion; Profit; Conflict Management; Construction Industry; Construction Industry; Europe; West Germany

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06 Jun 2005
Research & Ideas

Don’t Listen to “Yes”

outlines concrete steps that managers at all levels can take to spark positive conflict and make sure that all views get a fair hearing, and he outlines as well a fair and open process for making more effective decisions. "Keeping conflict View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

February 1978
Supplement

Sierra Log Homes, Inc. (B4)

By: Michael E. Porter

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Construction Industry; United States

March 2021
Case

The U.S. Home Improvement Sector in 2020

By: José Alvarez and David Lane

Provides an overview of the U.S. home improvement sector in 2020, reviewing sources of growth in the decade ending in 2020, with special attention to the impact of COVID-19 on market leaders Home Depot and Lowe’s and the spike in online revenues for both. Also noted... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Trends; Leading Change; Operations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Performance; Technology; Construction Industry; United States

July 2011
Teaching Note

Mistry Architects (TN) (A), (B), and (C)

By: Robert G. Eccles and Penelope Rossano

Teaching Note for 609044, 609064, and 609086. View Details

Keywords: Construction Industry

February 2009 (Revised April 2011)
Supplement

Mistry Architects (B)

By: Amy C. Edmondson, Robert G. Eccles and Mona Sinha

This case is a follow-up of Mistry Architects: Innovating for Sustainability (A) (Case 609-044). In Case (A) Sharukh and Renu Mistry found and run an architectural firm dedicated to being both client-oriented and environmentally responsible. The case uses a difficult... View Details

Keywords: Problems and Challenges; Emerging Markets; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Natural Disasters; Environmental Sustainability; Product Design; Innovation and Invention; Construction Industry

July 2007 (Revised September 2009)
Case

CEMEX's Foundations for Sustainability

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter, Pamela Yatsko and Ryan Raffaelli

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Competitive Strategy; Change Management; Emerging Markets; Construction Industry; Mexico; Egypt; United States

October 2006 (Revised March 2008)
Supplement

Kohler Co. (B)

Keywords: Construction Industry

November 2005
Case

Playgrounds and Performance: Results Management at KaBOOM! (A)

By: Herman B. Leonard, Marc J. Epstein and Laura Winig

KaBOOM!, a successful playground-building social enterprise funded through corporate partnerships, wants to develop a performance measurement system that will enable the organization to expand its impact substantially. The board of directors and management are trying... View Details

Keywords: Governing and Advisory Boards; Growth and Development Strategy; Social Enterprise; Performance Evaluation; Management Systems; Design; Construction Industry