Publications

01 Aug 2015
News

Harvard professor warns of infrastructure woes

June 2011 (Revised December 2013)
Case

FIJI Water: Carbon Negative?

By: Francesca Gino, Michael W. Toffel and Stephanie van Sice

Seeking to go beyond global best practices in reducing environmental impacts, FIJI Water, a premium artesian bottled water company in the United States, launched a Carbon Negative campaign that would offset more greenhouse gas emissions than were released by the... View Details

Keywords: Carbon Footprint; Carbon Offsetting; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Brands and Branding; Negotiation Tactics; Business and Government Relations; Corporate Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; United States; Fiji

Article

Online Experimentation: Benefits, Operational and Methodological Challenges, and Scaling Guide

By: Iavor Bojinov and Somit Gupta

In the past decade, online controlled experimentation, or A/B testing, at scale has proved to be a significant driver of business innovation. The practice was first pioneered by the technology sector and, more recently, has been adopted by traditional companies... View Details

Keywords: A/B Testing; Experimentation; Data-driven Culture; Product Development; Innovation and Invention; Digital Transformation

July 2010 (Revised September 2011)
Background Note

Hiring Professionals in China: A Practitioner's Guide

By: Heidi K. Gardner

This note outlines how leading professional service firms operating in China revise their standard hiring practices to fit local challenges and customs. Based on interviews with professionals in a number of established accounting, strategy consulting, and executive... View Details

Keywords: Talent and Talent Management; Globalized Firms and Management; Employees; Selection and Staffing; Service Industry; China

September 2024
Technical Note

Note on Running Effective Family Meetings for Family Enterprises

By: Christina R. Wing, Kara A Perusse and Hillary B Sieber

It is recommended that any family with a family enterprise hold family meetings. Family enterprises include operating companies, holding companies, family offices, and family foundations. Family meetings serve as a platform for discussing important family and business... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Communication Strategy; Family and Family Relationships; Alignment

2024
Working Paper

Empirical Guidance: Data Processing and Analysis with Applications in Stata, R, and Python

By: Melissa Ouellet and Michael W. Toffel

This paper describes a range of best practices to compile and analyze datasets, and includes some examples in Stata, R, and Python. It is meant to serve as a reference for those getting started in econometrics, and especially those seeking to conduct data analyses in... View Details

Keywords: Empirical Methods; Empirical Operations; Statistical Methods And Machine Learning; Statistical Interferences; Research Analysts; Analytics and Data Science; Mathematical Methods

SSRN

27 Jun 2016
Research & Ideas

These Management Practices, Like Certain Technologies, Boost Company Performance

and structure. Furthermore, relative to other critical inputs such as capital, a company’s management practices should in principle be easier to change—if obvious best View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

17 Nov 2015 - 19 Nov 2015
Other Presentation

Cluster Mapping and Cluster-Based Economic Development

By: Michael E. Porter and Christian H.M. Ketels

This workshop brought together cluster policymakers, experts, and policy-oriented researchers from the United States and the European Union to exchange best practices on cluster mapping, cluster portals, and cluster-based economic development policies and programs.... View Details

Keywords: Clusters; Competitiveness; Economic Development; Competition; Development Economics; United States; European Union

Kris Ferreira is the Edgerley Family Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Technology and Operations Management (TOM) Unit. She teaches the Supply Chain Management course in the MBA elective curriculum and analytics in numerous Executive Education... View Details

Keywords: retailing

Online Experimentation: Benefits, Operational and Methodological Challenges, and Scaling Guide

In the past decade, online controlled experimentation, or A/B testing, at scale has proved to be a significant driver of business innovation. The practice was first pioneered by the technology sector and, more recently, has been adopted by traditional companies... View Details

05 Oct 2010
News

Harvard Business School Introduces Executive Program on Risk Management

2018
Chapter

Work and Well-being: A Global Perspective

By: Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, and Council Members: A. Blankson, A. Clark, C. Cooper, H. James, C. Krekel, J. Lim, P. Litchfield, J. Moss, M. I. Norton, M. Rojas, G. Ward and A.V. Whillans

Work and employment play a central role in most people’s lives. In OECD countries, for example, people spend around a third of their waking hours engaged in paid work. We not only spend considerable amounts of our time at work, employment and workplace quality also... View Details

Keywords: Employment; Working Conditions; Happiness; Policy; Global Range

March 2023
Background Note

A Primer on OKRs

By: Suraj Srinivasan and Li-Kuan (Jason) Ni

The OKR framework is a popular goal-setting and strategy execution tool that uses goal setting through “Objectives” and measuring performance using “Key Results” on a periodic basis to measure and drive performance. The OKR framework has been adopted and practiced at... View Details

Keywords: Business Organization; Talent and Talent Management; Framework; Corporate Governance; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development; Growth and Development Strategy; Growth Management; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Management Practices and Processes; Management Skills; Management Systems; Measurement and Metrics; Outcome or Result; Performance Effectiveness; Performance Evaluation; Performance Expectations; Performance Productivity; Performance Efficiency

2017
Other Teaching and Training Material

Organizational Behavior Reading: Leading Organizational Change

By: Ryan Raffaelli

This reading combines conceptual frameworks and research-based knowledge to provide practical guidance about how to lead organization change. The essential reading outlines key choices leaders must make when managing a change and the common traps that can cause a... View Details

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

May 2007 (Revised March 2010)
Case

Maria Sharapova: Marketing a Champion (A)

By: Anita Elberse and Margarita Golod

In July 2004, a then 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent at International Management Group (IMG), knew the championship would lead to a flood of new opportunities. What... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Advertising; Gender; Product Marketing; Sports Industry

I have come to a conclusion that may surprise you: trying to apply management practices... View Details

September 2024
Technical Note

Note on CEO Succession in Family Enterprises

By: Christina R. Wing, Kara A. Perusse and Hillary B. Sieber

This note aims to offer guidance and insights into navigating CEO succession, whether involving family or non-family executives, and emphasizes the importance of providing clarity on the criteria for selection. By understanding the nuances and best practices of CEO... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Transition; Management Succession