Publications

February 2007 (Revised November 2007)
Case

Latvia: Economic Strategy after EU Accession

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

Describes the economic development of Latvia, a small eastern European country on the shores of the Baltic Sea, from regaining independence in 1991 to European Union (EU) accession in 2004 and is set on May 1st, 2004, the day Latvia became an EU member. Latvia had... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Economic Growth; Policy; Business and Government Relations; European Union; Latvia

April 2006 (Revised April 2012)
Case

Ghana: National Economic Strategy

By: Michael E. Porter and Kjell Ke-Li Carlsson

Set in the year 2001, as President John Kufuor contemplates a national economic strategy following his election in the first democratic transfer of power in Ghana's history. Focuses on Ghana's long history of poor economic performance and intractable poverty,... View Details

Keywords: History; Economic Growth; Government Administration; Developing Countries and Economies; Growth and Development Strategy; Ghana

June 1999 (Revised June 2000)
Case

Eckerd Corporation

By: Michael E. Porter and John E. Kelleher

Describes the history and current situation in the retail pharmacy industry, including competition from new merchants and Internet drugstores. Eckerd, one of the top four drug chains, must decide how to position itself for the future. View Details

Keywords: Competition; Alignment; Supply and Industry; Retail Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry

April 1989 (Revised December 1998)
Background Note

Household Furniture Industry in 1986

By: Michael E. Porter and Cynthia A. Montgomery

Profiles the household furniture industry in the United States in 1986. Designed for use with Masco Corp. (A) and (B). View Details

Keywords: Supply and Industry; Consumer Products Industry

March 1986 (Revised June 1986)
Background Note

Corn Sweetener Industry

By: Michael E. Porter and John R. Wells

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April 1985 (Revised September 1993)
Background Note

Hattori-Seiko and the World Watch Industry in 1980

By: Michael E. Porter and Edward J. Hoff

Focuses on the industry's development and evolution in three principal watch producing countries: Switzerland, the United States, and Japan. Based in part on two earlier cases by F.T. Knickerbocker and H.E.R. Uyterhoeven. View Details

Keywords: Industry Growth; Consumer Products Industry; Japan; Switzerland; United States

02 Feb 2004
Research & Ideas

Mapping Your Corporate Strategy

articulated by (HBS professor) Michael Porter, will be most successful when the collection of integrated and aligned activities enable the company to offer a value proposition—whether low total cost, product leadership, complete customer... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

01 Apr 1998
News

Student Conferences Inspire Campus Dialogue

Associate Professor Joshua Lerner spoke about opportunities and challenges in the venture capital and community development fields; Professor James L. Heskett discussed strategy and community revitalization; and Professor Michael E. View Details

23 Apr 2018
News

Sowing the Seeds of Leadership

city, a country—with a clear connection to making life better for the people who live there,” Condo says. “I’ve always thought that one should try to do work that benefits society.” Michael Porter was... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg

23 Sep 2020
News

Alumni Consider Election Reform; Clubs Explore Parenting by Case Method

Front Row: NYU Prof. and CNN Presidential Scholar Tim Naftali, Business Executive Katherine Gehl, Harvard Prof. Michael Porter, Pulitizer Prize Winner HBS Alumna Sheryl WuDunn (Panel Moderator) Back Row: HBS Club NY President Andy... View Details

Keywords: Margie Kelley

June 2006 (Revised July 2009)
Case

MassMEDIC: The Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council

By: Willis M. Emmons III, Michael E. Porter and Spencer Wallace

Set in 2004, as Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) President Tom Sommer contemplates the future direction of a successful medical device cluster association. Focuses on the formation of cluster organizations and their roles and effectiveness,... View Details

Keywords: Economic Growth; Industry Clusters; Nonprofit Organizations; Social and Collaborative Networks; Cooperation; Massachusetts

2002
Chapter

National Innovative Capacity

By: Michael E. Porter and Scott Stern

This chapter delves in detail into the conditions that allow a country to innovate at the global technology frontier. The findings reveal the striking degree to which the national circumstances actually explain the differences across countries in innovative activity... View Details

Keywords: Economics

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July 2013 (Revised May 2017)
Case

European Integration: Meeting the Competitiveness Challenge

By: Michael E. Porter and Christian Ketels

The case discusses the origins and development of the European Integration process from the post-war period up to 2007, focusing particularly on the efforts of the Lisbon-agenda under way since 2000 to enhance Europe's competitiveness. It discusses the different policy... View Details

Keywords: Integration; Globalized Economies and Regions; Competition; Development Economics; Global Range; Policy; Failure; European Union; Europe

May 1997 (Revised May 1998)
Case

Progressive Corporation

By: Michael E. Porter and Nicolaj Siggelkow

Progressive is a leader in providing nonstandard (high-risk) automobile insurance to drivers across America, with a long record of extraordinary profitability. Progressive is facing a challenge in its segment from Allstate, the industry leader, and must decide how to... View Details

Keywords: Insurance; Business or Company Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Growth Management; Planning; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Auto Industry; Insurance Industry; United States

January 2003
Background Note

Institutions for Collaboration: Overview

By: Michael E. Porter and Willis M. Emmons III

Provides an overview of the wide variety of organizations other than firms, government ministries and regulatory agencies, and universities that may have significant effects on competitiveness. These intermediary entities, referred to as institutions for collaboration... View Details

Keywords: Globalization; Labor Unions; Organizations; Competitive Strategy; Technology

12 Oct 1999
Research & Ideas

Media Metamorphosis: Advertising in the Technology Age

horizontal integration," Silk explains. To better understand the dynamics that mold the media industry from within, Silk and his coauthors adapted the "five forces" model of competitiveness developed by HBS professor View Details

Keywords: by Peter K. Jacobs; Advertising

25 Feb 2020
News

Profits and Purpose

but Mark Kramer and Michael Porter had a whole course focused on the issue, and the students said, “Would it really make a difference?” The problems we face are so big that even if every corporation in the... View Details

Keywords: Jen McFarland Flint

July 2010
Other Article

Clusters and Entrepreneurship

By: Mercedes Delgado, Michael E. Porter and Scott Stern

This article examines the role of regional clusters in regional entrepreneurship. We focus on the distinct influences of convergence and agglomeration on growth in the number of start-up firms as well as in employment in these new firms in a given region-industry.... View Details

Keywords: Economics