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History Case Method Project Creating Emerging Markets Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard Entrepreneurship Global Health Care Impact Investments Impact-Weighted Accounts Institute for Business in Global Society Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness Laboratory... View Details

January 2022
Case

Walmart USA—Searching for Growth

By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee and Maria P. Roche

In 2022, Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart, and his team looked back at a difficult but ultimately successful past year. The global pandemic had posed enormous challenges, but the company had weathered the storm successfully, raising same-store sales growth,... View Details

Keywords: Health Pandemics; Growth and Development Strategy; Sales; Business Strategy; Business and Shareholder Relations; Retail Industry

February 2016 (Revised March 2019)
Case

Suncor and the Future of Oil Sands

By: Richard H.K. Vietor

Suncor, Canada's largest producer of "oil sands," faces a host of issues involving prices, costs, and the environment. The Government of Canada recently put an explicit limit on carbon emissions from oil sands and a price on carbon. Suncor, which produces more than... View Details

Keywords: Oil Sands; Energy; Price; Operations; Cost; Energy Industry; Canada

April 2001 (Revised June 2001)
Case

Competition Policy in the European Union and the Power of Microsoft

By: Julio J. Rotemberg and Michelle Kalka

Focuses on a decision by the European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti about U.S.-based Microsoft Corp. Sun has complained to the commission that Microsoft has installed components in its desktop operating system that only "talk" to Microsoft operating systems for... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Law; Emerging Markets; Information Technology; Policy; Computer Industry; Electronics Industry; European Union; United States

March 1997
Case

Private Management and Public Schools (A)

Examines the prospects for private management in U.S. public schools. Introduces the U.S. system of education and the concerns driving the education reform process. Focuses on the education and business strategies of Education Alternatives, Inc. (EAI), Public... View Details

Keywords: For-Profit Firms; Value; Education; Government and Politics; Education Industry; United States

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10 Nov 2016
News

What the Trump Administration Needs to Do About Health Care

Article

How Much Does Industry Matter, Really?

By: A. M. McGahan and M. E. Porter

In this paper, we examine the importance of year, industry, corporate-parent, and business-specific effects on the profitability of U.S. public corporations within specific 4-digit SIC categories. Our results indicate that year, industry, corporate-parent, and... View Details

Keywords: Supply and Industry; Strategy

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Mar 2012
Report

Enriching the Ecosystem

To remain a leader in innovation, the United States needs the support of foundational institutions that help seed, grow, and renew enterprises. Historically, these institutions--such as universities, venture creators, labor markets, and job-training programs--have... View Details

January 2007 (Revised April 2007)
Background Note

Note on Lobbying

By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Libby Cantrill and Patricia Wu

Describes how companies engage the political and legal system and the rules and ethics associated with doing so. Focuses on the U.S. political and legal system, but also seeks to familiarize readers with lobbying norms and structures in the European Union and Japan. View Details

Keywords: Business and Government Relations; Ethics; Labor Unions; Public Administration Industry; Legal Services Industry; United States; Japan; European Union

Video

Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar

Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), describes what prompted him to work with the U.S. Patent Office and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to promote greater recognition of... View Details

Research Summary

Overview

My current project examines how U.S. industrial union leaders engaged in political lobbying and worked through international trade union federations to advance their interests related to international trade, capital movements, and global labor standards from the 1940s... View Details

23 Jan 2017
News

Trump's last chance to save our environment

August 2001
Case

Chrysalis Capital: Venture Capital in an Emerging Market

Examines the founding and early development of an Indian venture capital firm. Focuses on the opportunity in the Indian high-technology sector, how the founders have adapted the U.S. venture capital model to an emerging market context, and the organizational challenges... View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Emerging Markets; Technology Industry; India

January 2017 (Revised January 2019)
Case

The Rise and Fall of Lehman Brothers

By: Stuart C. Gilson, Kristin Mugford and Sarah L. Abbott

With nearly $700 billion in assets, Lehman was the largest U.S. bankruptcy in history. In 2007, Lehman achieved record earnings of over $4 billion on revenues of $60 billion. By September 2008 the fourth largest investment bank in the world was bankrupt. How had a... View Details

22 Nov 2012
News

Can entrepreneurship rescue the U.S.?

Robert Simons

Robert Simons is a Baker Foundation Professor at Harvard Business School. For over 35 years, Simons has taught accounting, management control, and strategy execution courses in both the Harvard MBA and Executive Education Programs. For 2023/24, he is... View Details

Research Summary

Financial Innovation and Financial Crisis in Historical Perspective

By: David A. Moss

This line of research aims to inform our understanding of modern financial challenges and vulnerabilities by reexamining important financial innovations and financial crises of the past, with particular but not exclusive attention to U.S. financial history. View Details

April 1990 (Revised December 1992)
Case

Cut Flower Industry in Colombia (Abridged)

By: James E. Austin

The Colombian Cut Flower Exporting Association faces several problems concerning local government regulations and import restrictions from the U.S. government. The Colombian Export Promotion Agency also faces decisions as to its policy stance toward the industry. View Details

Keywords: Trade; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Policy; Business or Company Management; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Colombia