Publications

28 Jun 2016
First Look

June 28, 2016

sector-specific skills. The resulting scale economies generate occupational stratification along ethnic lines, consistent with the reoccurring phenomenon of small, socially isolated groups achieving considerable economic success via... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

08 Mar 2021
In Practice

COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace. What Should Companies Do Now?

A year ago, COVID-19 forced many companies to send employees home—often with a laptop and a prayer. Now, with COVID cases subsiding and vaccinations rising, the prospect of returning to old office routines appears more possible. But will employees want to flock back to... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

November 2015 (Revised March 2018)
Case

Air Products' Pursuit of Airgas (A)

By: Charles C.Y. Wang, Paul M. Healy, Penelope Rossano and Kyle Thomas

This case centers around the Air Products' hostile takeover attempt of Airgas in 2010. Air Products argued that its offer of a 38% premium is generous given Airgas' poor performance, which Air Products attributed to underperforming and entrenched managers at Airgas. On... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Business and Shareholder Relations; Energy Industry; Energy Industry; Energy Industry

16 Oct 2023
HBS Case

Advancing Black Talent: From the Flight Ramp to 'Family-Sustaining' Careers at Delta

airline that would develop the next generation of pilots. He also began widening Delta’s ties with Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 2019 Delta added a new Talent Connections network, and Bastian put $1... View Details

Keywords: by Lane Lambert; Air Transportation

25 Jan 2021
Book

In a Nutshell, Why American Capitalism Succeeded

many US firms in the 20th century and was then exported to corporations in other countries. Its owners helped form General Motors and placed Alfred Sloan at the helm of that firm—which for many years was the nation’s largest enterprise.... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Manufacturing

04 Sep 2001
Research & Ideas

Is Government Just Stupid? How Bad Decisions Are Made

In "You Can't Enlarge the Pie," the authors argue that barriers to effective government decision making result in poor decisions about critical issues like the environment, organ transplants, and energy policy. Why? Because... View Details

Keywords: by Max H. Bazerman, Jonathan Baron & Katherine Shonk

22 Aug 2007
Research & Ideas

The Hedge Fund as Activist

recent academic papers have found that hedge funds generate returns of over 5 percent on announcement of their involvement, suggesting that investors believe these funds will increase the value of the firms they target. In a new paper... View Details

Keywords: by Robin Greenwood; Financial Services

October 2023 (Revised November 2023)
Case

Recycle & Re-Match: The Future of Soccer Turfs

By: George Serafeim, Lena Duchene and Carlota Moniz

By August 2023, Re-Match, an artificial turf waste-to-value company, had operations in Denmark and the Netherlands and had recycled over 160,000 tons of waste and plastic fiber. With recent capital injection from the VC firm Verdane and a dual revenue business model,... View Details

19 Jun 2012
First Look

First Look: June 19

PublicationsFood for Thought? Trust Your Unconscious When Energy Is Low Authors:Maarten Bos, Ap Dijksterhuis, and Rick B. Van Baaren Publication:Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology and Economics 5, no. 2 (May 2012) Abstract Recent... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

Fall 2013
Article

In Strange Company: The Puzzle of Private Investment in State-Controlled Firms

By: Mariana Pargendler, Aldo Musacchio and Sergio G. Lazzarini

A large legal and economic literature describes how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) suffer from a variety of agency and political problems. Less theory and evidence, however, have been generated about the reasons why state-owned enterprises listed in stock markets... View Details

Keywords: State-owned Enterprises; Oil Companies; Corporate Governance; Business and Shareholder Relations; Energy Industry; Brazil; Mexico; Norway

SSRN

Read Now

19 Dec 2023
Research & Ideas

15 Podcast Episodes That Grabbed Listeners in 2023

Bühler Group, Stefan Scheiber is mapping a courageous plan to combat food waste and climate change. Ranjay Gulati hears from Scheiber about how he challenges his own company, its customers, and himself to face sustainability problems head-on. Climate Rising... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

2023
Working Paper

Cost-Efficient Decarbonization of Portland Cement Production

By: Gunther Glenk, Anton Kelnhofer, Rebecca Meier and Stefan Reichelstein

Accounting for nearly 8% of global annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the cement industry is considered difficult to decarbonize. While a sizeable number of abatement levers for Portland cement production is becoming technologically ready for deployment, many are... View Details

SSRN

Read Now

September 1996 (Revised April 1998)
Case

Mobil USM&R (B): New England Sales and Distribution

By: Robert S. Kaplan

The general manager of a local gasoline/distillate sales and distribution business unit must communicate a new strategy to the unit's 300 employees. An initial strategic planning exercise identified a high-priority list of opportunities that blended the parent... View Details

Keywords: Balanced Scorecard; Adoption; Strategic Planning; Customization and Personalization; Management Practices and Processes; Growth and Development Strategy; Measurement and Metrics; Motivation and Incentives; Performance Evaluation; Energy Industry; Energy Industry; United States

16 Feb 2023
HBS Case

ESG Activists Met the Moment at ExxonMobil, But Did They Succeed?

The impact-investment hedge fund Engine No. 1 made a big splash in May 2021 when it managed to get three nominees elected to the ExxonMobil board of directors. It was an open effort to prod the oil giant toward renewable energy and test whether activist investing could... View Details

Keywords: by Lane Lambert; Financial Services

02 Apr 2001
Research & Ideas

What Makes a Good Leader?

things in a few words. General Electric's Jack Welch is a good example. He is astonishingly articulate and able to convey complicated concepts in just a few phrases." Of course, knowing your audience is also essential. "Great... View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg & Susan Young

04 May 2021
Book

Best Buy: How Human Connection Saved a Failing Retailer

asked to think of an inspiring friend in their lives. “For me, it’s my brother Philippe,” Joly says. “He is such a generous soul and a great life coach, always focused on finding the best in you and bringing joy to life.” Sales associates... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Retail

October 2010 (Revised October 2011)
Case

Ken Langone: Member, GE Compensation Committee

By: Suraj Srinivasan and Lizzie Gomez

On September 2003, Richard Grasso stepped down as chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, following weeks of intense public criticism over the size of his $190 million compensation package. As chairman of the committee that oversaw Grasso's payout, Ken Langone... View Details

Keywords: Accounting; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Employee Stock Ownership Plan; Executive Compensation; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Labor and Management Relations; Wages; Change Management; Energy Industry; New York (city, NY)

February 2007 (Revised June 2009)
Case

Edelnor (A)

By: Jordan I. Siegel

Fernando del Sol, president of F. S. Inversiones in Chile, had just bought himself a headache as a New Year's present. On December 31, 2001, he purchased a Chilean electricity generation and transmission company called Edelnor that was in danger of becoming insolvent... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Investment; Courts and Trials; Business Strategy; Energy Industry; Chile