Publications

March 2012 (Revised May 2012)
Case

Virgin Group: Finding New Avenues for Growth

By: Gary P. Pisano and Elena Corsi

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Financial Strategy; Organizational Structure

Web

Transforming Health Care Delivery - Course Catalog

of incentives, and new roles for individuals and organizations throughout the health care sector. This course will equip students with strategies and tools to help navigate the ever-changing landscape of the health care industry. Career... View Details

01 Feb 1998
News

Short Takes

enhances business performance as well. "Community involvement can contribute to the definition and development of a company's organizational culture, which is an important determinant of corporate performance," he observes. "Volunteering... View Details

Keywords: Judith A. Ross

10 Sep 2013
First Look

First Look: September 10

sustainability strategies of leading German and American firms until the 1970s. However during that decade the German firms diverged from their American counterparts in using public relations strategies not... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

June 2018
Teaching Note

Meridian Systems (Brief Case)

By: Frank V. Cespedes and Michael J. Roberts

Teaching Note for HBS No. 918-533. The key issues discussed in the Meridian teaching note concern sales force deployment: decisions about how to focus sales efforts with respect to territories, customers, and products. The teaching note explains the strengths and... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Sales; Strategy; Salesforce Management; Organizational Structure; Technological Innovation; Marketing Strategy

October 1997 (Revised October 1997)
Case

Egon Zehnder International (B)

By: Michael Y. Yoshino, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis

In 1994, Egon Zehnder faced stagnation in the U.S. market and needed to discuss plans for intiating growth. Due to market demand the firm was not forced to implement options contemplated in 1994 to initiate growth. View Details

Keywords: Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Growth and Development; Growth Management; Organizational Structure; Strategic Planning; Business Strategy; Consulting Industry; United States

October 1987 (Revised March 1989)
Case

United Parcel Service (B)

With expansion into other countries (Germany), new areas of service (air express), and new ventures (two small acquisitions), UPS had to decide how to adjust its human resource policies to businesses and people which were substantially different from its traditional... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Expansion; Organizational Culture; Human Resources; Service Industry; Germany; United States

17 Sep 2015
Blog Post

Why We Recruit: Innosight

Catherine Curtis, Global Recruiting Manager, Innosight Describe your organization in three to five sentences. Innosight is a growth strategy consulting firm that helps leading organizations to design and create the future, instead of... View Details

Keywords: Consulting

11 Jul 2012
Research & Ideas

Book Excerpt: ’The Future of Boards’

particularly oversight of the CEO, as well as engaging in the strategy and the direction of the company-is difficult." For directors like this one, the central issue was how much directors could be expected to do. "I think that the... View Details

Keywords: by Jay Lorsch

February 2010 (Revised December 2010)
Case

Google Inc. (Abridged)

By: Benjamin Edelman and Thomas R. Eisenmann

Describes Google's history, business model, governance structure, corporate culture, and processes for managing innovation. Reviews Google's recent strategic initiatives and the threats it poses to Yahoo, Microsoft, and others. Asks what Google should do next. One... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Corporate Governance; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Competitive Strategy; Search Technology; Web Services Industry

November 2018 (Revised June 2019)
Case

Michael Rubin and Fanatics (A)

By: Robert F. Higgins and John Masko

In 2016, Michael Rubin’s Fanatics was the U.S.’ largest sports e-commerce company and operator of the official online store for all the major American sports leagues. That year, Fanatics began to dabble in manufacturing licensed sports merchandise, securing limited... View Details

Keywords: Fanatics; Licensed Merchandise; E-commerce; Entrepreneurship; Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Sports; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Retail Industry; Manufacturing Industry; United States

August 1999
Background Note

Note on Property Types

By: William J. Poorvu and Daniel J. Rudd

Commercial real estate in the United States can be divided into five distinct property types: apartment, office, hotel, industrial, and retail. This note presents the important characteristics of each of these five property types and highlights the "value drivers" for... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Property; Commercialization; Value; Real Estate Industry; United States

01 Sep 2007
News

Where Are They Now?

HBS faculty in 1980 and teaching organizational behavior, in 1985 he decamped to Au Bon Pain, the chain of bakery cafés, serving as COO for several years before returning to HBS. At the School again until 1998, he taught, wrote books, and... View Details

Keywords: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Food Services and Drinking Places; Hospitality; Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

October 2010 (Revised December 2010)
Case

Global Expansion at Sanford C. Bernstein (A) (Abridged)

By: Linda A. Hill and Dana Teppert

Sanford C. Bernstein, a premier sell-side research firm, is expanding globally, and has recently opened an office in Hong Kong. Global Director of Research Robert van Brugge must consider how best to organize the firm's research department to enhance cross-sector and... View Details

Keywords: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Globalized Firms and Management; Organizational Structure; Expansion; Financial Services Industry; Hong Kong

December 1996 (Revised June 2003)
Case

Cynthia Hogan and the Birth of Novartis

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter

An American woman heads an integration office for merger transition activities between two giant Swiss pharmaceutical companies. She needed to develop an implementation plan to shape the new global powerhouse. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Global Strategy; Organizational Design; Strategic Planning; Pharmaceutical Industry; Switzerland; United States