Publications

April 2008 (Revised July 2011)
Module Note

Strategic Renewal

By: David J. Collis and Jan W. Rivkin

While it is relatively easy to identify why strategies fail, it is much harder to explain how to fix a failing strategy or build an organization that can continuously renew its strategy. This note identifies some patterns that distinguish companies whose renewal... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Failure; Strategy

May 2005
Supplement

Otis Elevator: An Interview with Ari Bousbib (video)

By: F. Warren McFarlan and Brian DeLacey

CEO Ari Bousbib talks about how IT is transforming Otis and the practical challenges they are overcoming. Visibly demonstrates what appropriate CEO involvement is in an IT-enabled business transformation. View Details

Keywords: Management Teams; Information Technology; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Construction Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Consumer Products Industry

February 2003
Case

Whitbread Hotel Company (A)

By: Michael Beer and James Weber

Alan Parker has developed an effective organization using organizational fitness profiling and other change methodologies. Parker knows that as Whitbread continues to grow, both internally and through acquisitions, the company will have to change its organization... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Growth Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Integration

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July 2001 (Revised January 2007)
Case

Lehman Brothers (C): Decline of the Equity Research Department

By: Ashish Nanda and Boris Groysberg

This case tracks the rapid decline of Lehman Brothers' equity research department from August 1992, when, beset by declining ranking, low morale, and high turnover, firm management decides to clean house and reinvest in building the department. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Business or Company Management; Leadership; Human Resources; Financial Services Industry

April 2000 (Revised June 2000)
Case

Teach for America

On the eve of Teach For America's tenth reunion, Wendy Kopp, the 32-year-old founder and leader of the national teacher corps, is considering how to increase the impact of the organization. To date, the organization has placed 5,000 teachers in under-resourced public... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Social Entrepreneurship; Teaching; Leadership Style; Education Industry; United States

September 1993 (Revised January 1994)
Case

Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit, volunteer-based home builder, is coping with years of rapid growth and success. They now face a series of options to continue their successful course and must make corresponding organizational adjustments. Teaching objectives... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Nonprofit Organizations; Growth Management; Housing; Service Industry; United States

January 1974 (Revised January 1987)
Case

Gillette Safety Razor Division: Blank Cassette Project

Gillette is trying to decide whether to enter the fast-growing blank recording cassette business. The vice president of new business development is charged with developing a marketing plan to be used as the basis for a go/no go decision. In part, the issue is whether... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Consumer Products Industry

01 Mar 2003
News

“Culture Is Everything”

IBM chairman Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. (MBA ’65) discussed the importance of strategy, execution, and culture when transforming an institution, as part of the MBA Program’s Distinguished Speaker Series in November. “Institutional transformation is hardest in successful... View Details

Keywords: IBM; Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing; Manufacturing

12 Apr 2011
First Look

First Look: April 12

ties between section-mates lead to insights about the merits of business plans. Download the paper: http://papers.nber.org/papers/w16918 Delegation in Multi-Establishment Firms: Adaptation vs. Coordination in I.T. Purchasing Authority... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

June 2023 (Revised January 2024)
Case

Communities In Schools (Atlanta): Innovating a College Program

By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Lynda M. Applegate and Alexis Lefort

Frank Brown, CIS of Atlanta's new Black CEO, was keen to extend CIS's well-honed case management in schools program to youth in college. Founded 50 years ago by Bill Milliken, CIS, a network of 110 affiliates, had built a strong program of assisting and supporting... View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Education; Expansion; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Atlanta

January 19, 2021
Article

How to Be a 'Glass-Shattering' Organization

By: Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg

Advancing gender equality is certainly desirable, but may not seem vital during this turbulent time — yet that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, losing sight of gender equity right now is likely to put you at a real disadvantage when the pandemic... View Details

Keywords: Gender Equity; Gender Inclusivity; Gender; Equality and Inequality; Organizational Change and Adaptation

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Article

Reflections: Toward a Normative and Actionable Theory of Planned Organizational Change and Development

By: Michael Beer

A normative and actionable theory of planned organizational change and development is proposed based on fifty years of engagement by the author as a scholar-consultant. Five principles are central features of the theory and practice proposed: 1) Organizations are... View Details

Keywords: Consultant; Process; Systems; Silence; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leadership; Learning; Management Teams

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2009
Chapter

Business Network Transformation in Action

By: Marco Iansiti and Ross Sullivan

Keywords: Business Ventures; Networks; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Transformation

2005
Chapter

The Price of Progress: Structually Induced Inaction

By: Scott Snook and Jeffrey C. Connor

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Outcome or Result

1998
Chapter

Changing Formal and Informal Structure to Enhance Organizational Knowledge

By: T. Thompson and Kathleen L. Valley

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Structure; Knowledge Acquisition