- 22 Dec 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Dove: Maintaining a Brand with Purpose
Unilever’s Dove soap became a brand with purpose when it launched the “Campaign for Real Beauty” to combat media-driven stereotypes of female beauty. Can Dove maintain both its market position and social impact in the future? Senior Lecturer, Mark Kramer discusses his case, “Dove and Real Beauty: Building a Brand with Purpose.” Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 17 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
The 10 Most Popular Stories of 2020
Few could have predicted how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic would upend life and business. Our most-read stories and research papers reflect the challenges of a year we won't forget. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 17 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
How Do CEOs Make Strategy?
A study of 262 Harvard Business School-educated CEOs traces differences in strategic decision-making across managers. CEOs leading larger, faster-growing firms tend to make highly structured strategic decisions and use more analytical deliberation. Management education has long-lasting effects on decision-making.
- 15 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
The Unspoken Messages of COVID-19 Restrictions
What does it take to cut through COVID-19 fatigue? Governments may need to refine how they convey exposure risks to a weary public, says research by Michael Luca and Edward Glaeser. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 15 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Biased Sampling of Early Users and the Direction of Startup Innovation
New ventures catering to female customers should be aware that the underrepresentation of women among early users on digital platforms can reduce the venture’s growth and chances of survival. As a result of gaining fewer early users, these ventures reduce future product development and are less likely to raise VC funding.
- 15 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Designing, Not Checking, for Policy Robustness: An Example with Optimal Taxation
The approach used by most economists to check academic research results is flawed for policymaking and evaluation. The authors propose an alternative method for designing economic policy analyses that might be applied to a wide range of economic policies.
- 14 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Nonprofit Boards: It is Time to Lift Your Gaze and See the System
Not every organization should attempt to solve problems at a system level, but can become more aware of systemic issues, ensuring that solutions dovetail into the macrosystem for best collective impact.
- 14 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
What Does December's Drug-Approval Dash Mean for COVID-19 Vaccines?
Even in the best of times, pharmaceutical regulators tend to rush through drug applications in December. Now add in a ruthless pandemic. Research and insights from Lauren Cohen. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 11 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
Economic Jitters Push Pandemic Job Seekers to Big Companies, Not Startups
Small companies are receiving fewer applications, particularly from experienced professionals, according to research by Shai Bernstein and colleagues. How can startups overcome pandemic fears and compete for talent? Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 08 Dec 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Uber's Strategy for Global Success
As Uber entered unique regional markets around the world, it adapted its business model to comply with regulations and compete locally. As the transportation landscape evolves, how can Uber adapt its business model to stay competitive in the long term? Alexander MacKay describes Uber’s global market strategy and responses by regulators and local competitors in his case, “Uber: Competing Globally.” Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 08 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Party-State Capitalism in China
China’s political economy has evolved from “state capitalism” to a distinctly party-driven incarnation. Party-state capitalism, via enhanced party monitoring and industrial policy, deepens ambiguity between the state and private sectors, and increases pressure on foreign capital, prioritizing the regime’s political survival above all.
- 08 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
Why Companies Hunt for Talent on Digital Platforms, Not in Resume Piles
Rather than sit back and wait for applicants to send resumes, companies are proactively targeting prospective employees on digital platforms and social media, often with a recruiter's help, says research by Rembrand Koning. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 06 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
'Repayment-by-Purchase' Helps Consumers to Reduce Credit Card Debt
Many consumers fail to pay off credit card debt each month and suffer financial consequences. Repayment-by-purchase, allocating payment toward specific purchases on a credit card bill, helps consumers gain a sense of progress and control over credit card debt.
- 03 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
Cut Payroll Costs with Transparency, Fairness, and Compassion
As cost-cutting continues across the turbulent economy, companies are challenged to be creative when managing their human capital, say Boris Groysberg and Sarah Abbott. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 01 Dec 2020
- What Do You Think?
How Can We Get Companies to Invest More in Low-Wage Workers?
Does income inequality hold back economic growth? James Heskett ponders what underlying factors keep low-wage workers down. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Nov 2020
- Research & Ideas
COVID Not Slowing VC Investment
Despite the economic uncertainty, most venture capitalists expect their investments to outperform major equity indexes and are still funding new endeavors, says Paul Gompers. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 30 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Short-Termism, Shareholder Payouts, and Investment in the EU
Shareholder-driven “short-termism,” as evidenced by increasing payouts to shareholders, is said to impede long-term investment in EU public firms. But a deep dive into the data reveals a different story.
- 24 Nov 2020
- Cold Call Podcast
Evaluating Innovative Health Care Solutions for Obesity
From Weight Watchers to bariatric surgery, innovations for combatting obesity abound. But which will do the most good for society and yield the best business results? Professor Regina Herzlinger discusses a new case study. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 24 Nov 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Accounting for Product Impact in the Consumer Finance Industry
A framework and method for measuring and monetizing product impact across industries, applying it to two competitors in the consumer finance space.
How Do We Sustain Organization Diversity?
Can workforce diversity take hold without inclusion? James Heskett reflects on one company's high-profile struggle to bring in more Black executives. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.