Publications

March 2011 (Revised November 2013)
Case

The Dutch Flower Cluster

By: Michael E. Porter, Jorge Ramirez-Vallejo and Fred van Eenennaam

Describes the Dutch Flower cluster, or the group of interconnected growers, suppliers, service providers, and flower-related institutions located in The Netherlands. Examines the role of the FloraHolland auction in the value chain. Also describes the flower clusters in... View Details

Keywords: Globalization; Auctions; Industry Clusters; Competition; Competitive Advantage; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Netherlands

November 1989 (Revised March 2000)
Case

Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad and Berkshire Partners (A): Leveraged Buyouts and Financial Distress

By: Michael C. Jensen, Willy Burkhardt and Brian Barry

Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a regional railroad formed in a leveraged buyout, which is currently in default on its loan covenants. The case uses this situation to examine the financial structure of a typical LBO association and its internal control mechanisms and... View Details

Keywords: Financial Management; Governing and Advisory Boards; Leveraged Buyouts; Financial Condition; Financing and Loans; Corporate Finance; Rail Industry

June 1993 (Revised September 1993)
Case

Retail in Mexico 1993

By: David B. Yoffie and Charles McHugh LaFollette

In the wake of NAFTA, U.S. retail firms begin to see Mexico as an attractive market for international expansion. This case examines the structure of Mexico's volume retail (grocery, discount, warehouse club, hypermarket) industry, the joint ventures between U.S. and... View Details

Keywords: Expansion; Global Strategy; Joint Ventures; Industry Structures; Trade; Retail Industry; United States; Mexico

22 Jul 2009
News

Harvard Business School Historian Thomas McCraw Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

20 Apr 2023
Blog Post

Tackle the First 90 Days of Your Next Role: A 5 Step Process for Success on the Job

employees up for success by designing an internal interview guide for conversations, and creating a 90-day plan laid out in three 30-day increments to meet key objectives and goals,” explains Spielman. The important thing to remember as a... View Details

06 Nov 2023
Research & Ideas

Did You Hear What I Said? How to Listen Better

important for managers to remember at a time when many are struggling to retain workers. “There’s so much work showing that when employees are heard at work, they are going to flourish and thrive,” Collins says. “They experience greater View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

October 2002 (Revised November 2003)
Case

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets

By: David E. Bell, Jeffrey M. Feiner and Iris T. Li

Wal-Mart has been growing at 15% per year for the last 10 years. Can it keep growing at that rate for the next 10 years? CEO Lee Scott reflects on his strategy for achieving such growth, relying on a combination of supercenters, neighborhood markets, and international... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development; Leadership; Growth and Development Strategy; Marketing; Strategy; Retail Industry; United States

November 2000 (Revised November 2005)
Case

Meg Whitman at eBay Inc. (A)

By: Linda A. Hill and Maria Farkas

Meg Whitman takes over as CEO of eBay from the founder. She must figure out how to lead the company through a stage of phenomenal growth without compromising eBay's unique external customer culture and internal culture--its key success factors. A rewritten version of... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Style; Change Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Growth Management; Organizational Culture; Success

April 1996 (Revised November 1997)
Case

Background and Agreements on Foreign Direct Investment

By: Louis T. Wells Jr. and Courtenay Sprague

A brief history of foreign direct investment (FDI) is explored, emphasizing conflicts, developments in the legal framework governing FDI, and international agreements and nonbinding principles formulated to resolve disputes brought in by FDI. Propositions provide a... View Details

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment; Agreements and Arrangements; Conflict Management

October 1995 (Revised April 1997)
Case

Apparel Exports and the Indian Economy

By: Ananth Raman

Indian apparel exports are enjoying considerable success in the international markets. However, the future is uncertain owing to impending technological, regulatory, and market changes. This case explores the long lead times for sourcing apparel from India and provides... View Details

Keywords: Working Capital; Supply Chain Management; Supply and Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; India

November 1987 (Revised June 1988)
Case

ServiceMaster Industries, Inc.

By: James L. Heskett

The CEO of ServiceMaster Industries has convened an internal task force to come up with ideas for reorganizing the company to accommodate unusually fast growth. In developing both alternatives and criteria for appraising them, the task force has to keep in mind the... View Details

Keywords: Restructuring; Leading Change; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizational Culture

11 Aug 2015
News

‘B Is for Buffett’ in Page’s Plan to Mold Google After Berkshire

03 Sep 2013
News

Congress To Decide US Involvement In Syria As World Watches

19 Sep 2019
News

Tackling Climate Change in the MBA Classroom

12 Sep 2019
Video

Tackling Climate Change in the MBA Classroom

21 Jan 2021
Video

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, President and CEO of VietJet Air, describes navigating the aviation industry’s regulations including challenges in integrating Vietnam’s legal system and the international legal system, the lack of private aviation business in Vietnam until... View Details

2015
Working Paper

Build It, Buy It or Both? Rethinking the Sourcing of Advertising Services

By: Alvin J. Silk and Marta M. Stiglin

This paper provides an update on the current state of in-house agencies. Whereas traditional consideration of internalizing advertising services was framed as a binary choice of build or buy, today's advertisers frequently pursue hybrid policies of build and buy to... View Details

Keywords: Management Practices and Processes; Advertising

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Teaching Interest

Overview

I currently teach an Elective Course on Capitalism and the State, and recently developed a module for the Required Curriculum on the Social Purpose of the Firm. Earlier I developed Managing International Trade and Investment, and have also taught BGIE and Strategy in... View Details

April 2007 (Revised June 2008)
Background Note

AmorePacific

By: Elie Ofek and Kerry Herman

Describes the dominant firm in the Korean cosmetics market up to the mid-2000s. Gives background on AmorePacific's historical evolution, its current brands, and the competition it faces from local and international players. Also provides information on the market... View Details

Keywords: History; Competition; Distribution Channels; Brands and Branding; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; South Korea