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General Management

General Management

  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
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Overview Faculty Curriculum Awards & Honors Doctoral Students
    • June 1, 2025
    • Article

    How Universities Die: It Has Happened Before in Centers of Learning Such as Berlin and Beijing. Is Boston Next?

    By: William C. Kirby

    • June 1, 2025
    • Article

    How Universities Die: It Has Happened Before in Centers of Learning Such as Berlin and Beijing. Is Boston Next?

    By: William C. Kirby

    • 2025
    • Working Paper

    An Empirical Examination of Business Climate Alliances: Effective and/or Harmful?

    By: Matteo Gasparini and Peter Tufano

    This research studies business alliances that seek to address climate change, offering empirical evidence to address claims advanced by alliance supporters and critics. We study eleven major alliance mostly focused on financial services firms and 424 major publicly-traded financial institutions–some of which joined these alliances. We use diff-in-diff and other approaches to identify the effects of alliance membership and to study "booster", network, and peer effects. Financial service firms that join climate alliances show increased adoption of climate-aligned management practices; greater adoption of emissions targets; reductions of own-emissions; mixed evidence of increased funding for green projects; and greater pro-climate lobbying. We find no evidence of traditional antitrust violations in the form of pricing power or market concentration; no reduction in funding to oil and gas companies; and no lower risk-adjusted shareholder returns than non-alliance members. We find that participation in multiple alliances ("booster effects") is correlated with adoption of practices, emission targets, emissions reductions, and pro-climate lobbying–albeit with diminishing returns; and we find some evidence of network and peer effects.

    • 2025
    • Working Paper

    An Empirical Examination of Business Climate Alliances: Effective and/or Harmful?

    By: Matteo Gasparini and Peter Tufano

    This research studies business alliances that seek to address climate change, offering empirical evidence to address claims advanced by alliance supporters and critics. We study eleven major alliance mostly focused on financial services firms and 424 major publicly-traded financial institutions–some of which joined these alliances. We use...

    • 2025
    • Working Paper

    Trade and Industrial Policy in Supply Chains: Directed Technological Change in Rare Earths

    By: Laura Alfaro, Harald Fadinger, Jay Schymik and Gede Virananda

    Trade and industrial policies, while primarily intended to support domestic industries, may unintentionally stimulate technological progress abroad. We document this mechanism in the case of rare earth elements (REEs)—critical inputs for manufacturing at the knowledge frontier, with low elasticity of substitution, inelastic supply, and high production and processing concentration. To assess the importance of REEs across industries, we construct an input-output table that includes disaggregated REE inputs. Using REE-related patents categorized by a large language model, sectoral TFP data, trade data, and physical and chemical substitution properties of REEs, we show that the introduction of REE export restrictions by China led to a global surge in innovation and exports in REE-intensive downstream sectors outside of China. To rationalize these findings and quantify the global impact of the adverse REE supply shock, we develop a quantitative general equilibrium model of trade and directed technological change. We also propose a structural method to estimate sectoral input substitution elasticities for REEs from patent data and find REEs to be complementary inputs. Under endogenous technologies and with complementary inputs, input supply restrictions on REEs induce a surge in REE-enhancing innovation and lead to an expansion of REE-intensive downstream sectors.

    • 2025
    • Working Paper

    Trade and Industrial Policy in Supply Chains: Directed Technological Change in Rare Earths

    By: Laura Alfaro, Harald Fadinger, Jay Schymik and Gede Virananda

    Trade and industrial policies, while primarily intended to support domestic industries, may unintentionally stimulate technological progress abroad. We document this mechanism in the case of rare earth elements (REEs)—critical inputs for manufacturing at the knowledge frontier, with low elasticity of substitution, inelastic supply, and high...

About the Unit

The General Management Unit is concerned with the leadership and management of the enterprise as a whole. This concern encompasses:

  • the personal values and qualities of effective general managers and enterprise leaders;
  • the philosophies, values, and strategies that inform successful enterprises; and
  • the relation of enterprise to the broader community and other external constituencies.

The Unit's work is conceived and carried out principally in four interest groups, each of which has its own leadership, research agenda, and teaching programs:

  • Management Policy and Process
  • Management Information Systems
  • Society and Enterprise
  • Leadership, Values, and Corporate Responsibility

Recent Publications

How Universities Die: It Has Happened Before in Centers of Learning Such as Berlin and Beijing. Is Boston Next?

By: William C. Kirby
  • June 1, 2025 |
  • Article |
  • Boston Globe
Keywords: Business Admnistration; University; University Administration; Harvard University; Higher Education; History; Boston
Citation
Find at Harvard
Read Now
Related
Kirby, William C. "How Universities Die: It Has Happened Before in Centers of Learning Such as Berlin and Beijing. Is Boston Next?" Boston Globe (June 1, 2025), K1–K4.

An Empirical Examination of Business Climate Alliances: Effective and/or Harmful?

By: Matteo Gasparini and Peter Tufano
  • 2025 |
  • Working Paper |
  • Faculty Research
This research studies business alliances that seek to address climate change, offering empirical evidence to address claims advanced by alliance supporters and critics. We study eleven major alliance mostly focused on financial services firms and 424 major publicly-traded financial institutions–some of which joined these alliances. We use diff-in-diff and other approaches to identify the effects of alliance membership and to study "booster", network, and peer effects. Financial service firms that join climate alliances show increased adoption of climate-aligned management practices; greater adoption of emissions targets; reductions of own-emissions; mixed evidence of increased funding for green projects; and greater pro-climate lobbying. We find no evidence of traditional antitrust violations in the form of pricing power or market concentration; no reduction in funding to oil and gas companies; and no lower risk-adjusted shareholder returns than non-alliance members. We find that participation in multiple alliances ("booster effects") is correlated with adoption of practices, emission targets, emissions reductions, and pro-climate lobbying–albeit with diminishing returns; and we find some evidence of network and peer effects.
Keywords: Alliances; Climate Change; Financial Institutions; Antitrust; Competition
Citation
Read Now
Related
Gasparini, Matteo, and Peter Tufano. "An Empirical Examination of Business Climate Alliances: Effective and/or Harmful?" Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 25-060, May 2025.

Trade and Industrial Policy in Supply Chains: Directed Technological Change in Rare Earths

By: Laura Alfaro, Harald Fadinger, Jay Schymik and Gede Virananda
  • 2025 |
  • Working Paper |
  • Faculty Research
Trade and industrial policies, while primarily intended to support domestic industries, may unintentionally stimulate technological progress abroad. We document this mechanism in the case of rare earth elements (REEs)—critical inputs for manufacturing at the knowledge frontier, with low elasticity of substitution, inelastic supply, and high production and processing concentration. To assess the importance of REEs across industries, we construct an input-output table that includes disaggregated REE inputs. Using REE-related patents categorized by a large language model, sectoral TFP data, trade data, and physical and chemical substitution properties of REEs, we show that the introduction of REE export restrictions by China led to a global surge in innovation and exports in REE-intensive downstream sectors outside of China. To rationalize these findings and quantify the global impact of the adverse REE supply shock, we develop a quantitative general equilibrium model of trade and directed technological change. We also propose a structural method to estimate sectoral input substitution elasticities for REEs from patent data and find REEs to be complementary inputs. Under endogenous technologies and with complementary inputs, input supply restrictions on REEs induce a surge in REE-enhancing innovation and lead to an expansion of REE-intensive downstream sectors.
Keywords: Industrial Policy; Global Value Chains; Directed Technological Change; Input-output Linkages; Innovation; Trade; Metals and Minerals; Technological Innovation; Supply Chain; Technology Industry
Citation
Read Now
Related
Alfaro, Laura, Harald Fadinger, Jay Schymik, and Gede Virananda. "Trade and Industrial Policy in Supply Chains: Directed Technological Change in Rare Earths." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 25-059, May 2025.

Trade Within Multinational Boundaries

By: Laura Alfaro, Paola Conconi, Fariha Kamal and Zachary Kroff
  • 2025 |
  • Working Paper |
  • Faculty Research
We leverage newly linked data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to study transactions within U.S. multinational enterprises (MNEs). We show that using administrative data on intrafirm trade allows us to correct for measurement error in survey data and to identify the positive relationship between input-output (IO) linkages and the probability of trade between U.S. parents and their foreign affiliates. We also document the prevalence of intrafirm trade: more than half (three-quarters) of affiliates worldwide (in North America) export to or import from their U.S. parent. Our findings provide strong empirical support for traditional theories of firm boundaries that predict trade between vertically linked units of the same firm, and underscore the importance of accounting for the trade frictions that shape MNEs’ regional supply chains.
Keywords: Multinational Enterprise; Input-output Linkages; Multinational Firms and Management; Trade; Supply Chain
Citation
Read Now
Related
Alfaro, Laura, Paola Conconi, Fariha Kamal, and Zachary Kroff. "Trade Within Multinational Boundaries." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 25-058, May 2025.

Upstream USA

By: Brian Trelstad and Alexis Lefort
  • May 2025 |
  • Case |
  • Faculty Research
Citation
Educators
Related
Trelstad, Brian, and Alexis Lefort. "Upstream USA." Harvard Business School Case 325-011, May 2025.

Social Enterprise in Latin America

By: Brian L. Trelstad and Karina Souza
  • May 2025 |
  • Background Note |
  • Faculty Research
This research note provides an overview of the social enterprise ecosystem in Latin America, exploring current dynamics across key markets, including country-specific insights on Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Central America. In a region characterized by persistent inequality, informal economies, and limited access to essential services, social enterprises have emerged as innovative actors capable of addressing systemic social and environmental challenges by applying market-based solutions. The note examines the ecosystem’s key drivers, including the influence of international organizations (such as Ashoka, IDB, and IFC), family and corporate foundations, and a growing network of impact investors. The note also highlights how regulatory progress has begun to formalize the sector in countries like Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay. It examines the complexity of financing pathways for early-stage ventures and tracks the evolution from microfinance to impact investing. It also identifies representative enterprises, ecosystem leaders, and local investors, offering a comprehensive view of the region’s efforts to build inclusive and sustainable development through social entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Latin America; Brazil; Mexico; Argentina; Colombia; Chile; Impact Investing; Developing Countries and Economies; Social Entrepreneurship; Emerging Markets; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Mission and Purpose; Ownership; Social Enterprise; Business Strategy; Equality and Inequality; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Banking Industry; Financial Services Industry; Information Technology Industry; Latin America; Brazil; Mexico; Argentina; Colombia; Chile; Guatemala; Central America
Citation
Educators
Related
Trelstad, Brian L., and Karina Souza. "Social Enterprise in Latin America." Harvard Business School Background Note 325-117, May 2025.

How to Build a Life: How to Take Charge of Your Family Inheritance

By: Arthur C. Brooks
  • May 15, 2025 |
  • Article |
  • The Atlantic
Citation
Register to Read
Related
Brooks, Arthur C. "How to Build a Life: How to Take Charge of Your Family Inheritance." The Atlantic (May 15, 2025).

Governing Sustainability in a Shifting Context (B)

By: Lynn S. Paine and Will Hurwitz
  • May 2025 |
  • Supplement |
  • Faculty Research
Citation
Purchase
Related
Paine, Lynn S., and Will Hurwitz. "Governing Sustainability in a Shifting Context (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 325-122, May 2025.
More Publications

In the News

    • 22 May 2025
    • Broadcast Retirement Network

    Your Employees Are Also Caregivers

    Re: Joseph Fuller
    • 20 May 2025
    • Trey Gowdy

    Arthur Brooks: Happiness, Legacy, and Living Properly

    Re: Arthur Brooks
    • 16 May 2025
    • Bloomberg

    Tariffs Got You Down? Brush Off the 1930s Playbook.

    Re: Geoffrey Jones
→More Faculty News

HBS Working Knowledge

    • 05 Nov 2024

    Building the Road to 'Small Business Utopia' with AI and Fintech

    Re: Karen Mills
    • 01 Nov 2024

    Layoffs Surging in a Strong Economy? Advice for Navigating Uncertain Times

    by Rachel Layne
    • 24 Oct 2024

    With Millions of Workers Juggling Caregiving, Employers Need to Rethink Support

    Re: Joseph B. Fuller
→More Working Knowledge Articles

Harvard Business Publishing

    • May 14, 2024
    • Article

    One Way to Help Employees Build Emergency Savings

    By: Timothy Flacke and Peter Tufano
    • April 2025 (Revised June 2025)
    • Case

    Governing Sustainability in a Shifting Context (A)

    By: Lynn S. Paine and Will Hurwitz
    • 2020
    • Book

    Capitalism at Risk: How Business Can Lead

    By: Joseph L. Bower, Dutch Leonard and Lynn S. Paine
→More Harvard Business Publishing

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There are no upcoming events.

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Harvard Business School seeks candidates in all fields for full time positions. Candidates with outstanding records in PhD or DBA programs are encouraged to apply.
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Contact Information

General Management Unit
Harvard Business School
Morgan Hall
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163

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