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- 29 Sep 2008
- Research & Ideas
How Economics May Lead to Better Football Games
When economists watch football games they see more than flying pigskin and stadiums overflowing with fans. In the case of U.S. college football, Harvard Business School professor Alvin E. Roth along with Guillaume R. Fréchette and M. Utku Ünver studied the timing of team selection for championship bowls. What they found: Good teams are much better matched up than they used to be, and there are implications beyond sports. Q&A with Al Roth. Key concepts include: Until 1992, college teams were matched for bowl games before the regular football season had ended. Thanks to tweaks in the design of postseason play, larger numbers of teams can be potentially matched after their final rankings are known. The total viewership of college bowls has increased. Roth et al.'s paper may provide the first direct evidence and measurement of the inefficiency due to early transaction times in a naturally occurring market. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Aug 2008
- Working Paper Summaries
Unraveling Yields Inefficient Matchings: Evidence from Post-Season College Football Bowls
Many market institutions have evolved to coordinate the timing of transactions and to prevent them from taking place too early or at uncoordinated times. In the case of post-season college football games, called "bowls," during the early 1990s the determination of which teams would play in which bowls was often made with several games still remaining to be played in the regular season. Practically speaking, this meant that the teams with the best end-of-season records might not play one another, because at the time the matchings were determined it wasn't yet known which teams these would be. Over the last decade, however, this market has undergone a number of reorganizations that have delayed this matching decision until the end of the regular season. For this working paper, the authors used Nielsen rating data on television viewership and the AP sportswriters' poll of team rankings to show that, by matching later, the chance of matching the best teams has increased, and the result is an increase in television viewership. Key concepts include: By matching bowl games later, the quality of the matched teams has improved, the likelihood of a championship game has increased, and the television viewership of all bowls in the late-matching consortia has increased. This paper may provide the first direct evidence and measurement of the inefficiency due to early transaction times in a naturally occurring market. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 01 May 2008
- Research & Ideas
The Marketing Challenges of the China Olympics
The Olympic Games are normally a marketer's dream. Not so much this year, given widespread protests against the Chinese government. Professor John Quelch outlines the branding challenges posed by this year's Games in Beijing. Key concepts include: Political pressure directed at the Chinese government will also pose challenges for Olympic Games sponsors, who don't want to be associated with the controversy. Given the prominence of China as a supplier and customer, it is unlikely that we will witness grandstanding boycotts of the Games by any company. Some marketers are employing a dual marketing approach, with China-specific campaigns inside the country but less Beijing-centric messaging outside. Marketers are not over-committing funds to Olympics-related brand advertising and promotions. The normal Olympics year advertising boost may be less than expected. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Apr 2008
- Sharpening Your Skills
Sharpening Your Skills: Brand Management
Should I trust my brand to a sports endorser? Does B2B branding work? What does mystery writer James Patterson know about branding that I don't? Here are some recent Working Knowledge articles on issues that keep brand managers up at night. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Oct 2007
- HBS Case
Marketing Maria: Managing the Athlete Endorsement
Anita Elberse discusses her research on sports marketing and a case study on tennis powerhouse Maria Sharapova. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 11 Sep 2006
- Research & Ideas
Negotiating When the Rules Suddenly Change
Following the adoption of a collective bargaining agreement in 2005, National Hockey League GMs had one month to absorb the new rules and put a team together. How to best negotiate in an uncertain environment? Michael Wheeler advises looking to military science for winning strategies. Key concepts include: Traditional negotiation theory says little about crafting strategy in highly dynamic markets—but the military knows all about strategy and uncertainty. Make an informed bet on how you think events will unfold, but also identify the greatest threats to success. Prepare to make good decisions on the fly. Situational awareness and the ability to learn as you go are critical. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Aug 2006
- HBS Case
On Managing with Bobby Knight and “Coach K”
Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski are arguably the two most successful college basketball coaches in the country. But their leadership styles could not be more different. Professor Scott Snook wonders: Is it better to be loved or feared? Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Mar 2006
- Research & Ideas
Winners and Losers at the Olympics
We know which athletes won and lost in Turin, but what about the companies and individuals looking for business gold? Professor Stephen A. Greyser looks at the results—and the possibilities ahead in China. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 18 Apr 2005
- Lessons from the Classroom
NFL Players Touch Down at HBS
Thirty players from the National Football League sharpened their management skills at Harvard Business School, preparing for when their playing days are over. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
The Value of a ‘Portable’ Career
Can you predict whether star performers will replicate their success in a new environment? HBS professor Boris Groysberg and colleagues ask this question of professional football teams, and the results offer valuable lessons for star performers and hiring executives of business firms, too. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.