Publications

2005
Book

Renewing Unilever: Transformation and Tradition

By: Geoffrey Jones

This book examines the history of Unilever over the last half century. Managing such a firm in the era of globalization posed enormous challenges. The book covers the company's strategies and provides compelling evidence of its decision-making, marketing, brand... View Details

Keywords: Business History; Decision Making; Organizational Culture; Globalization; Transformation; Human Resources; Business Strategy; Brands and Branding; Innovation and Invention; Consumer Products Industry

Find at Harvard

19 Jan 2022
In Practice

7 Trends to Watch in 2022

Work cultures will be stressed anyway, as the continuing COVID-19 pandemic uncertainty puts people on edge. Employee loyalty has waned and resistance grown. Leaders could suffer empathy fatigue and become less understanding, but leaders... View Details

Keywords: by HBS News

25 Feb 2002
Research & Ideas

MNCs in Asia: Investing in the Future

The unparalleled size of Asia's markets has always caught the eye of multinational corporations. More recently, as government policies and cultural attitudes in the region continue to evolve, the strategies of multinational companies have... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna

December 1999
Article

Changes in the Work Environment for Creativity during Downsizing

By: T. M. Amabile and Regina Conti

This study examined the work environment for creativity at a large high-technology firm before, during, and after a major downsizing. Creativity and most creativity-supporting aspects of the perceived work environment declined significantly during the downsizing but... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Culture; Situation or Environment; Creativity; Resignation and Termination; Employees; Business or Company Management; Motivation and Incentives; Management Practices and Processes; Crisis Management; Groups and Teams; Communication; Announcements; Interpersonal Communication

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02 May 2011
Research & Ideas

Casino Payoff: Hands-Off Management Works Best

Learning Effects of Monitoring by Dennis Campbell and Francisco de Asís Martinez-Jerez of HBS and Marc Epstein of Rice University, are the result of an extensive study of the culture and management style at six hotels in the MGM-Mirage... View Details

Keywords: by Dennis Fisher; Entertainment & Recreation

July 2002 (Revised August 2002)
Case

Washington Hospital Center (B): The Power of Insight

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Michelle Heskett

Dr. Craig Feied considers how to take a major technical innovation beyond his own department into a large hospital system. Reviews how proprietary information systems became indispensable in the department of emergency medicine and what it took to introduce the change... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Health Care and Treatment; Nonprofit Organizations; Medical Specialties; Organizational Culture; Crisis Management; Technological Innovation; Higher Education; Adoption; Health Industry; District of Columbia

07 Feb 2005
Research & Ideas

How “Career Imprinting” Shapes Leaders

cultures, all organizations cultivate career imprints. The strength of career imprinting depends upon both the people a firm hires as well as an organization's environment (factors having to do with people and place). Regarding place, for... View Details

Keywords: by Mallory Stark

December 2003 (Revised May 2004)
Case

Sears Auto Centers (A) (Abridged)

By: Lynn S. Paine

In the early 1990s Sears faced and allegations by the California Department of Consumer Affairs that the company's auto repair centers had been overbilling customers and making unnecessary repairs. Top management must evaluate the problem and come up with a plan to... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Corporate Accountability; Ethics; Organizational Culture; Compensation and Benefits; Management Teams; Employees; Behavior; Motivation and Incentives; Performance Improvement; Auto Industry

June 2020
Teaching Note

The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?

By: Boris Groysberg, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Kerry Herman and Amy Klopfenstein

This teaching note serves as a supplement to “The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?” HBS 420-025. View Details

March 2002 (Revised June 2005)
Case

AOL Time Warner, Inc.

By: Stephen P. Bradley and Erin Sullivan

AOL Time Warner, which has been billed as the "first fully integrated media and communications company of the Internet Century," raises the fundamental question of how value will be created and captured by the merger of AOL and Time Warner. This case describes just how... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Internet and the Web; Value Creation; Organizational Culture; Consolidation; Change Management; Telecommunications Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry; United States

January 1998 (Revised June 1998)
Case

Li & Fung: Beyond "Filling in the Mosaic," 1995-1998

By: Michael Y. Yoshino, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Anthony St. George

In early 1998, William and Victor Fung had to review their business, the Li & Fung Group, to plan for the next three years. Examines strategic and organizational issues including company culture, international expansion, and venture capital projects. A rewritten... View Details

Keywords: Management Teams; Venture Capital; Organizational Culture; Global Strategy; Opportunities; Problems and Challenges; Strategic Planning; Asia

06 Dec 2011
First Look

First Look: Dec. 6

as identity work and show how subtle forms of gender bias in the culture and in organizations interfere with the identity work of women leaders. Based on this insight, we revisit traditional approaches to... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

21 Sep 2016
Research & Ideas

Shabana Azmi: Leveraging Bollywood Fame into Social Good

and Latin America. Why Azmi? “India has the world’s largest cinema industry, and it exercises an enormous cultural impact within the country,” says Geoffrey Jones, the Isidor Straus Professor of Business History. “Shabana Azmi has long... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Motion Pictures & Video

15 Oct 2001
Research & Ideas

Rethinking E-Leadership

gets you through such times. 4. Design your culture primarily around the needs of Gen X and Gen Y employees. "E-leadership demands heroic behavior," writes Nextera consultant Susan Annunzio in eLeadership: Proven Techniques for... View Details

Keywords: by Melissa Raffoni

22 Jan 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, January 22, 2019

high level of individual accountability, and strong leadership. Unless the tensions created by this paradox are carefully managed, attempts to create an innovative culture will fail. Publisher's link:... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

May 2024
Teaching Note

Making Progress at Progress Software (A) and (B)

By: Katherine Baldiga Coffman, Hannah Riley Bowles, Emma Ronzetti and Alexis Lefort

Teaching Note for HBS Case Nos. 924-010 and 924-011. View Details

Keywords: Leading Change; Organizational Culture; Performance Evaluation; Prejudice and Bias; Employee Relationship Management; Personal Development and Career; Technology Industry

February 2020
Teaching Note

Theranos: Who Has Blood on Their Hands? (A) and (B)

By: Nien-he Hsieh and Christina R. Wing

Teaching Note for HBS Nos. 619-039 and 320-091. View Details

Keywords: Health Testing and Trials; Corporate Accountability; Organizational Culture; Misleading and Fraudulent Advertising; Crime and Corruption; Lawsuits and Litigation; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; California; United States

June 2008
Teaching Note

The Treadway Tire Company: Trouble at the Lima Tire Plant (Brief Case)

By: C. Wickham Skinner and Heather Beckham

Teaching Note for (2189) View Details

Keywords: Superior ＆ Subordinate; Labor Relations; Work Force Management; Human Resource Management; Hiring; Job Satisfaction; Leadership; Selection and Staffing; Change Management; Satisfaction; Organizational Culture; Rank and Position; Labor and Management Relations

April 2010
Case

Globalization at Komatsu

By: Michael Y. Yoshino

The case captures the challenges Komatsu, the second largest manufacturer of the earth moving equipment faced during the past five decades as it sought to globalize its operations. By 2007, it had become the second largest manufacturer of the earth moving equipment... View Details

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Distribution Channels; Production; Organizational Culture; Networks; Partners and Partnerships; Manufacturing Industry; Japan