Leadership
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- 28 Mar 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
CEO Behavior and Firm Performance
This paper combines a new survey methodology with a machine learning algorithm to measure the behavior of CEOs in large samples. Results show that larger and more complex firms require CEOs with a more coordinative—and less micromanaging—behavior. Inefficiencies in the way CEOs match with firms have important consequences for firm productivity.
- 27 Feb 2017
- Research & Ideas
Reputation is Vital to Survival in Turbulent Markets
Reputation and resilience are key ingredients that determine whether companies will survive tumultuous markets, according to a new paper by Geoffrey Jones, Tarun Khanna, Cheng Gao, and Tiona Zuzul. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 23 Feb 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: Franklin Leonard, 'Black List' Mastermind
Using crowdsourcing to identify Hollywood’s hottest yet unproduced screenplays, Franklin Leonard's Black List is a coveted place to be—three films that appeared on the list are nominated for Best Picture awards this year. Professor Henry McGee, former president of HBO Home Entertainment, discusses his case study about Leonard and navigating Hollywood's film industry. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 16 Feb 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: A Remarkable Legacy of Firsts, Maggie Lena Walker
Maggie Lena Walker used her leadership of the Independent Order of St. Luke to form a bank, newspaper, and department store—all in the stronghold of the Confederacy. Tony Mayo discusses his case study about this pioneering African American woman. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 14 Feb 2017
- Research & Ideas
A Strategy For Steady Leadership in an Unsteady World
Management is tough enough in normal times. But what are leaders to do when their companies are buffeted by global uncertainty? Bill George explains charting a course True North. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 09 Feb 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: Putting Diversity to Work
In theory, most companies would love to diversify their workforce. In practice, hiring specifically to increase diversity can cause a variety of cultural problems within an organization. Professor Robin Ely discusses two case studies that train a critical lens on race-based and race-blind hiring. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 02 Feb 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: The Entrepreneurship Behind Ebony Magazine
Over seven decades Ebony magazine has covered the most important African-American issues, personalities, and interests. Now it faces difficult times that most publications confront. Senior Lecturer Steve Rogers discusses his case study of Ebony's past, present, and future in this podcast. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 20 Jan 2017
- Research & Ideas
Here’s How Businessman Trump Is Likely to Approach the Presidency
Harvard Business School professors weigh in on how Donald Trump’s nearly 50 years of experience in building a global corporate empire (and zero years of political experience) might shape his approach to leading a nation. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 12 Dec 2016
- HBS Case
Business Lessons from Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
Actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and partner Dany Garcia are quickly gaining ground in Hollywood as producers. A recent case study by Anita Elberse details the story behind their company, Seven Bucks Productions. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Nov 2016
- What Do You Think?
How Do Leaders Manage the Tension Between Pride and Arrogance?
SUMMING UP: James Heskett's readers agree that leaders can and should influence whether an organization crosses the line from pride to arrogance, and that it's possible to lead close to the line without crossing it. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 21 Nov 2016
- Research & Ideas
It Matters That Your CEO Doesn't Know Much About Sales
Sales appears to be getting short-changed in the C-suite, says Frank Cespedes. What’s needed are more links between top executives and the customer-facing side of the business. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 14 Nov 2016
- Op-Ed
5 Lessons I Hope Marketers Don’t Learn from Donald Trump
Donald Trump's election should not serve as a model of marketing success, argues John A. Deighton. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Sep 2016
- Book
Resolve Your Toughest Work Problems with 5 Questions
In Managing in the Gray, Joseph Badaracco offers managers a five-question framework for facing murky situations and solving tough problems. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 23 Aug 2016
- Working Paper Summaries
CEO Personality and Firm Policies
This study analyzes the linguistic content of the Q&A portion of more than 70,000 conference calls in order to explore the relationship between individual traits of senior executives, the investment and financing choices made by these executives, and firm performance. Among the findings, openness is positively associated with R&D intensity and negatively associated with net leverage. Conscientiousness is negatively associated with growth. In performance tests, extraversion is negatively associated with both contemporaneous and future return on assets and cash flow.
- 08 Aug 2016
- Lessons from the Classroom
Panic Management: Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Many of us respond with a knee-jerk reaction when adversity hits, but a more considered approach is better for a successful resolution. Joshua Margolis discusses the resilience regimen. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 03 Aug 2016
- What Do You Think?
How Can We Hold the “Leadership Industry” Accountable?
SUMMING UP This month’s reader comments provide little hope that the leadership-development industry can achieve its goals, says James Heskett. So why does the leadership industry continue to thrive? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Jul 2016
- Research & Ideas
The Truth About Authentic Leaders
Is "Be yourself" terrible advice for a leader? Bill George, the creator of the "authentic leadership" approach to management, answers critics and outlines the path for executives to be more effective. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 13 Jun 2016
- Lessons from the Classroom
That's Classic: Modern-Day Business Lessons from Ancient Rome
What can MBAs learn from the Roman emperors Tiberius and Claudius? All Roads Lead to Rome, a course taught by HBS professor Frances Frei and Harvard history and classics professor Emma Dench, surfaces insights into the age-old issue of leadership. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 May 2016
- Cold Call Podcast
The Real Cost of Ignoring Mental Health in the Workplace
The statistics are startling: about one-third of American workers suffer from chronic work stress; $27 billion worth of work days are lost to mental health-related absences each year. Professor John Quelch discusses his case on the state of mental health in the U.S. workplace, and why even though companies are better than ever about providing services to their workers, the stigma attached to mental health leaves a lot of work yet to be done. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
Op-Ed: Courage: The Defining Characteristic of Great Leaders
Courageous leaders inspire employees, energize customers, and position their companies on the front lines of societal change. Bill George explains why there aren't more of them. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.