Publications

September 2015 (Revised February 2016)
Supplement

Novell (B): Board of Directors Aftermath of Hedge Fund Attack

By: Richard L. Nolan

No corporation and its board of directors is immune to a disruptive shareholder activist attack. The Novell (A) and (B) cases take students through a shareholder activist attack and its aftermath—a saga that spanned 5 years. The cases outline the activist playbook in... View Details

Keywords: Investment Activism; Governing and Advisory Boards; Decision Making

June 2021
Case

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments): April 2021

By: Josh Lerner, Reza Satchu and Alys Ferragamo

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is one of the largest pools of investment capital in the world and follows a rigorous “Total Portfolio Framework” in its approach to investment management. In April of 2021, John Graham was just two months into his role... View Details

Keywords: Pension Funds; Investment Strategy; Capital Markets; Financial Strategy; Investment; Asset Management; Financial Institutions; Private Equity; Growth and Development Strategy; Investment Portfolio; Assets; Financial Markets; Financial Services Industry; Canada

Educators

June 2008
Background Note

A Note on Limited Partner Advisory Boards

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

This note explores the limited partner advisory boards. Based on interviews with seven experienced limited partners who serve on a number of different advisory boards, it presents the roles of the advisory board, the ways it can influence the general partner, and the... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Partners and Partnerships; Power and Influence

Educators

2009
Report

Conference Board Task Force on Executive Compensation

By: Lynn S. Paine and other contributors

Keywords: Executive Compensation

Read Now

September 1989 (Revised April 1992)
Case

Powell Electronics: The Printed Circuit Board Division

April 1980
Teaching Note

Management Succession and Board Membership, Teaching Note

By: Richard G. Hamermesh

Keywords: Management Succession; Governing and Advisory Boards

April 2003 (Revised September 2003)
Case

Harold Morton and the Rivendell Board (B)

By: F. Warren McFarlan and Ingrid Vargas

Describes what happens as the trustee reflects on his first several years' experience. View Details

Keywords: Governance; Nonprofit Organizations; Governing and Advisory Boards

Educators

24 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

Boards and Corporate Governance: A Balanced Scorecard Approach

Companies can create shareholder value through more effective governance, and through boards that do not simply ensure compliance, but focus their time and efforts on the most critical strategic areas. Past View Details

Keywords: Re: Robert S. Kaplan & Krishna G. Palepu

December 17, 2013
Article

What Boards Can Do About Brain Drain

By: Boris Groysberg and Deborah Bell

Register to Read

October 26, 2011
Article

Boards Are Key to Fixing the System

By: Boris Groysberg and Deborah Bell

Register to Read

November 2011
Teaching Note

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (TN)

By: Josh Lerner, Felda Hardymon and Ann Leamon

Keywords: Retirement; Investment Funds; Canada

Fourth Quarter 2008
Article

HBS Focus: The Reality of Corporate Boards

By: Jay W. Lorsch

Keywords: Governance

16 Sep 2015
Op-Ed

The Real Duty of the Board of Directors

We routinely hear board directors, CEOs, and CFOs of publicly-listed corporations refer to shareholders as owners of the corporation. Under this thinking, it is natural to conclude that the board’s duty is to its shareholders. Contrary to... View Details

Keywords: by Robert G. Eccles & Tim Youmans

July 1999
Article

Board Evaluation: A Key to Strategic Planning

By: Robert B. Stobaugh, Alan McGettigan and Robert Sigler

Keywords: Strategy; Planning; Governance

1996
Book

How to Build an Effective Small-Company Board

By: Robert B. Stobaugh and Brian Borders

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Business Ventures

October 2005
Article

Information Technology and the Board of Directors

By: Richard Nolan and F. Warren McFarlan

Keywords: Information Technology; Governance

November 29, 2011
Article

The Role of The Board in Creating a Sustainable Strategy

By: Robert G. Eccles, Ioannis Ioannou and George Serafeim

While conceptually elegant, the belief that a corporation's role is to maximize value for shareholders is under increasing challenge as society's expectations for companies change. An equally elegant new concept that takes account of these dual pressures has yet to... View Details

Keywords: Value Creation; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Corporate Strategy; Business and Shareholder Relations; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Performance Expectations; Governing and Advisory Boards; Management Practices and Processes; Decisions; Risk and Uncertainty; Cost vs Benefits; Information