Publications

26 Jan 2018
News

The Psychology of White-Collar Crime, and Why It Matters

28 Aug 2008
Working Paper Summaries

How Can Decision Making Be Improved?

Keywords: by Dolly Chugh, Katherine L. Milkman & Max H. Bazerman

08 Feb 2016
News

A Better Way to Teach History

Profile

Leo Markel

HBS, I flex my decision-making muscle and learn by stepping into the shoes of the case protagonist. Furthermore, I feel fortunate to hear the perspectives of the Marines, political leaders, and many other students who come from... View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital / Private Equity; Financial Services; Other Financial Services; Nonprofit / Government

September 2003 (Revised June 2005)
Case

Polycom's Acquisition Process

Describes the acquisition decision-making process employed at Polycom. Focuses on the potential acquisition of the firm's archrival, Picturetel, in mid-2001. View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Mergers and Acquisitions

08 Feb 2016

A Better Way to Teach History

January 2011
Case

William Jeffrey Departs from Bay Colony Mutual

By: Lena G. Goldberg

A board's decision-making and process in investigating and terminating a company's CEO are explored and the company's policies and contractual obligations considered. View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Policy; Resignation and Termination; Contracts; Leadership

19 Aug 2013
News

Studying How Income Inequality Shapes Behavior

Personal Relationships and Enforcement of Management Controls: An Analysis of Punishments for Perpetrators of Economic Crimes

To explore how companies enforce management control systems, we examine whether social relationships influence the severity and consistency of punishments for main perpetrators of corporate economic crimes. We find wide variation in rates of dismissal and... View Details

01 Nov 2010
News

How IT Shapes Top-Down and Bottom-Up Decision Making

February 2007 (Revised April 2010)
Case

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals: Spurring Scientific Creativity with Metrics

By: Robert S. Huckman, Gary P. Pisano and Mark Rennella

Describes the reorganization of the drug discovery organization at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and focuses on the decisions to: (1) centralize decision-making within drug discovery and (2) institute numerical metrics--jointly affecting all R&D scientists--for the progression... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Measurement and Metrics; Business Processes; Organizational Structure; Research and Development; Science-Based Business; Creativity; Pharmaceutical Industry

16 Oct 2012
News

Economist from Harvard shares Nobel Prize

19 Aug 2013
Research & Ideas

Studying How Income Inequality Shapes Behavior

It's clear that inequality in America has grown at a fast clip in recent years. From 1980 to 2010, the top 1 percent's share of income has doubled from 10 percent to 20 percent, while the income share of the bottom 90 percent fell from 65 percent to 52 percent. Those... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

May 2004 (Revised October 2007)
Background Note

Best Practices: Decision Making Among Venture Capital Firms

By: G. Felda Hardymon, Josh Lerner and Ann Leamon

Describes investment decision-making processes, based on interviews with 56% of the top 38 venture capital firms in the country. Discusses some implications for the future growth of the industry. View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Venture Capital; Investment; Industry Growth

August 1997 (Revised August 1999)
Background Note

Orientation for Viewing Kevin Williams

Covers approximately six months in the life of a recent second-year Harvard Business School student. The focus is on the career decision-making process. The protagonist is considering three choices. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career