Publications

April 2001 (Revised September 2001)
Case

Merloni Elettrodomestici: Building for a New Century

By: Joseph L. Bower

In 2001 a young new CEO has to develop a strategy to move his company beyond the hyper-competitive conditions of Western Europe. A major acquisition in Russia and a new Web-based service business provide interesting new directions. This case traces the development of... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Multinational Firms and Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Structure; Business Strategy; Web; Russia

December 1999
Case

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (A4): Sun Peak: Helen Yang and Mark Walden on "Running Sun on Sun"

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Jane Roessner

SunPeak was the largest project Sun Microsystems, Inc. had ever undertaken: shifting Sun's entire business transaction system from a mainframe-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to a Sun-based system. Making the shift would be complicated and financially... View Details

Keywords: Projects; Transformation; Organizational Structure; Business Strategy; Complexity; Risk and Uncertainty; Success; Information Technology; Internet and the Web; Technology Industry; Computer Industry

30 Jan 2019
What Do You Think?

Who Will Measure up to These Two Remarkable Leaders?

the structure of the industries in which their firms competed. Bogle and Kelleher died earlier this month, more than 40 years after each made their mark on the competitive landscape by leading organizations that provided both low cost and... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Air Transportation; Financial Services

11 Jan 2011
First Look

First Look: Jan. 11

Manage your network. Effective managers know they cannot avoid conflict and competition among organizational groups; they build and nurture ongoing relationships. Manage your team. Team members need to know what's required of them... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

01 Oct 2013
First Look

First Look: October 1

Commons: Lessons from Teachers' Participation in the Design of New Schools By: Gil, Nuno A., and Carliss Y. Baldwin Abstract—We argue that a design commons can be an advantageous organizational form under two salient conditions: 1) high... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

16 May 2018
Research & Ideas

How Companies Managed Risk (and Even Benefitted) in World War Internment Camps

researchers found that German companies struggling to maintain long-term survival in India adopted a mix of political risk management strategies: Disguise Some companies used a “cloaking” strategy, altering their organizational View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Manufacturing

30 May 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, May 30

this area in a variety of disciplines—economics, geography, marketing, organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, and strategy—in order to explore the many ways that locations matter for firms. In eleven varied papers, the authors... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

June 2010
Teaching Note

Ebro Puleva (TN)

By: David E. Bell and Mary Louise Shelman

Teaching Note for 510026. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Transformation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Business or Company Management; Strategy; Brands and Branding; Financial Crisis; Business Exit or Shutdown; Organizational Structure; Globalization; Food and Beverage Industry; Spain

21 Apr 2009
First Look

First Look: April 21, 2009

theories of how social activists inspire changes in organizational norms, beliefs, and practices, we hypothesize that shareholder actions and regulatory threats are likely to prime firms to adopt practices consistent with the aims of a... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

18 Apr 2017
First Look

First Look at New Ideas, April 18

trend is the use of online tools to improve physical asset utilization in many traditional off-line businesses. This article discusses the water industry as an example, and the organizational changes and levers relevant to extracting... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

January 1996 (Revised December 2005)
Case

First Community Bank (A)

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter

First Community Bank, a bank-within-a-bank at Bank of Boston, was established in 1990 as a unique venture to serve urban communities. By 1995 it has achieved profitability but must manage relationships with the mainstream at Bank of Boston, serve as a change agent and... View Details

Keywords: Banks and Banking; Business Ventures; Business and Community Relations; Agency Theory; Change Management; Leadership; Balanced Scorecard; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Structure; Problems and Challenges; Banking Industry; Boston

January 2007 (Revised December 2008)
Case

Mercy Corps: Positioning the Organization to Reach New Heights

By: Allen S. Grossman and Caroline Joan King

Mercy Corps, the world's 5th largest international relief and development agency, is at a turning point. The nonprofit's opportunities to grow and serve a larger number of beneficiaries are unprecedented. By looking at the unique relationship between headquarters and... View Details

Keywords: Business Offices; Business Headquarters; Globalized Firms and Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Structure; Nonprofit Organizations