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Who Has the D?: How Clear Decision Roles Enhance Organizational Performance
Decision making and problem solving Magazine ArticleYour organization can become more decisive—and can implement strategy more quickly—if you know where the bottlenecks are and who’s empowered to break through them. -
Oil and Troubled Waters
Power and influence Magazine ArticleWhen a crisis forces outside directors to navigate major changes, investors and directors must adopt new roles. The largest such case to date provides some useful lessons. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group was a 60/40 joint venture between Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading. It was run by a five-person committee of managing directors […] -
New Ventures for Corporate Growth
Innovation Magazine ArticleAs the traditional avenues of corporate growth become less attractive, many companies find the appeal of new venture strategies harder to resist. Though difficult to implement and often slow to repay investment, these strategies do offer the promise of facilitating entry into new business areas with innovative, usually technology-based products. And for large companies with […] -
Culture Clash in the Boardroom (Commentary for HBR Case Study)
Organizational Development Magazine ArticleLiu Peijin is the president of Almond China, a subsidiary of the German company Almond Chemical. Almond China's joint venture with Chongqing No. 2 Chemical... -
Trouble in Paradise (HBR Case Study and Commentary)
Global Business Magazine ArticleMike Graves, the general manager of a U.S. apparel company's 50/50 joint venture with a Chinese manufacturer, has made the joint venture into a big success,... -
Use Joint Ventures to Ease the Pain of Restructuring
Finance & Accounting Magazine ArticleFor large corporations that are refocusing their portfolios, the problem of how best to dispose of basically sound but underperforming businesses remains.... -
Your Alliances Are Too Stable
Strategy & Execution Magazine ArticleA 2004 McKinsey survey of more than 30 companies reveals that at least 70% of them have major alliances that are underperforming and in need of restructuring.... -
When Your Contract Manufacturer Becomes Your Competitor
Strategy & Execution Magazine ArticlePC maker Lenovo started out as a distributor of equipment made by IBM and other companies; now it has formed a joint venture with IBM and will eventually... -
With Friends Like These: The Art of Managing Complementors
Competitive strategy Magazine ArticleWhile in-depth analysis of competitors and suppliers is de rigueur in formulating strategy, surprisingly few companies pay much attention to firms that sell complementary products and services. -
China vs the World: Whose Technology Is It?
Global Business Magazine ArticleNo longer content with being the world's factory for low-value products, China has quietly opened a new front in its campaign to become the globe's most... -
Don’t Give up On Russia
Global strategy Magazine ArticleIn the midst of hardship, the climate for foreign investment in Russia has never been better. But Westerners should learn from the mistakes of the first wave of joint ventures. -
The Upside of Losing Innovative Employees to Competitors
R&D ResearchA study of pharmaceutical firms finds that it leads to valuable collaborations. -
Aligning Incentives in Supply Chains
Costing Magazine ArticleA supply chain stays tight only if every company on it has reasons to pull in the same direction. -
What We Don’t Know About Soviet Management
International business Magazine ArticleWestern managers nurse a number of untested assumptions about Soviet management. The most common are: 1. The Soviets know little about management. Their system has failed and failed widely. They are basically trying with very limited success to apply superior Western management methods. 2. Western and Soviet management systems are operationally incompatible. 3. The two […] -
Research: Joint Ventures that Keep Evolving Perform Better
Joint ventures Digital ArticleMarket leaders maximize returns by actively shaping — and reshaping — their partnership portfolios. -
The Rules of Co-opetition
Strategy & Execution Magazine Article"Co-opetition"--cooperating with a competitor to achieve a common goal or get ahead--has been gaining traction for three decades. Yet many companies are... -
Way to Win in Cross-Border Alliances
Global Business Magazine ArticleWar stories about failed alliances make executives wary of forging new joint ventures. However, the strategic benefits of cross-border alliances are compelling.... -
Lilly Pulitzer’s Target Disaster Was Actually a Success
Brand management Digital ArticleBranding doesn’t always go as planned. -
The Global Logic of Strategic Alliances
International business Magazine ArticleCompanies are just beginning to learn what nations have always known: in a complex, uncertain world filled with dangerous opponents, it is best not to go it alone. Great powers operating across broad theaters of engagement have traditionally made common cause with others whose interests ran parallel with their own. No shame in that. Entente—the […] -
Collaborate with Your Competitors—and Win
Joint ventures Magazine ArticleCollaboration between competitors is in fashion. General Motors and Toyota assemble automobiles, Siemens and Philips develop semiconductors, Canon supplies photocopiers to Kodak, France’s Thomson and Japan’s JVC manufacture videocassette recorders. But the spread of what we call “competitive collaboration”—joint ventures, outsourcing agreements, product licensings, cooperative research—has triggered unease about the long-term consequences. A strategic alliance […]
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Ensure that Your Joint Ventures Meet Your ESG Goals
Joint ventures Digital ArticleFew companies report the impact of operations they don’t fully control — but scrutiny on these investments is growing. -
Preparing for Your Company’s First Meeting with a Startup Collaborator
Collaboration and teams Digital ArticleThree priorities to help lay the groundwork for success. -
How Midsize Companies Can Compete in AI
AI and machine learning Digital ArticleJoint AI ventures can help them keep up with giants and startups alike. -
Research: Joint Ventures that Keep Evolving Perform Better
Joint ventures Digital ArticleMarket leaders maximize returns by actively shaping — and reshaping — their partnership portfolios. -
The Rules of Co-opetition
Collaboration and teams Magazine ArticleRivals are working together more than ever before. Here’s how to think through the risks and rewards. -
Joint Ventures and Partnerships in a Downturn
Competitive strategy Magazine ArticleHow to think about your existing collaborations—and the new ones you should seek out -
How to Win with Machine Learning
Strategy Magazine ArticleAnd how to catch up if you’re lagging behind -
Research: Only 10% of Joint Venture Board Members Are Women
Boards Digital ArticleJVs are subject to far less public exposure — and fewer quotas and disclosure requirements — than other businesses. -
To Be More Data Driven, Look for the Right Business Partner
Growth strategy Digital ArticleIt’s smart to pool resources. -
How to Monetize a Business Ecosystem
Business models Digital ArticleThree elements to focus on. -
The Upside of Losing Innovative Employees to Competitors
R&D ResearchA study of pharmaceutical firms finds that it leads to valuable collaborations. -
The Executive Director of a UN Agency on Running It Like a Business
International business Magazine ArticleCost control and risk management have been crucial. -
United Way’s CEO on Shifting a Century-Old Business Model
Technology and analytics Magazine ArticleTechnology has enabled the charity to make strong connections with individual donors. -
There’s Only One Way to Break into China’s Crowded Retail Market
Global strategy Digital ArticleYou’ll have to partner with Alibaba or Tencent. -
How Companies, Governments, and Nonprofits Can Create Social Change Together
Public-private partnerships Digital ArticleA framework for collaborating more effectively. -
The Right Kind of Conflict Leads to Better Products
Managing conflicts Digital ArticleEven alliances with outside partners benefit from a little friction. -
Managing Multiparty Innovation
Innovation Magazine ArticleHow big companies are joining forces to seize opportunities at their intersections -
Why Your Partnership Contract Is Too Important to Be Left to the Lawyers
Economics Digital ArticleManaging in the face of incomplete contracts. -
What We Can Learn from Merger Deals That Never Happened
Mergers and acquisitions Digital ArticleLessons from a trio of recent high-profile busts. -
A Hands-Off Approach to Open Innovation Doesn’t Work
Innovation ResearchThe right way to partner with a startup.
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Airbus vs. Boeing (K): New Partnerships (2018)
Strategy & Execution Case Study5.00View Details This case describes Airbus's partnership with the Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer Bombardier beginning in 2017. The two companies partnered on the... -
An NHL/Ridefilm Attraction
Global Business Case Study8.95View Details The National Hockey League (NHL) was battling within a competitive market to increase the exposure of hockey throughout the United States. Many new franchises... -
Chrysler and BMW: Tritec Engine Joint Venture
Technology & Operations Case Study6.95View Details A gifted project leader lacks significant new product development experience. The case highlights the issues and procedures related to defining the project... -
Strategic Alliances That Work: Selecting the Right Partner
Leadership & Managing People Case Study8.95View Details This note is part of a series entitled Strategic Alliances That Work. Key factors to consider during the selection process are the overall strategic fit... -
Albert "Jack" Stanley in Nigeria (C)
Technology & Operations Case Study8.95View Details The international joint venture that successfully bid for $6 billion in contracts to build LNG trains on Nigeria's Bonny Island became entangled in a... -
Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network
Leadership & Managing People Case Study8.95View Details Chip and Joanna Gaines, who have shot to fame as stars of the hit television show Fixer Upper, are preparing to launch their own television network. It... -
A Note on International Joint Venture Advisory Roles
Strategy & Execution Case Study8.95View Details Most managers in an international business are likely to be involved with international joint ventures (IJVs) during their career. IJVs have a greater... -
Czech Mate: CME and Vladimir Zelezny (B1)--CME Negotiates
Finance & Accounting Case Study5.00View Details Supplements the (A) case. -
Glenn Defense Marine Asia (A)
Finance & Accounting Case Study15.05View Details This case describes the growth of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) under the leadership of Leonard Glenn Francis. GDMA provided ship husbanding and logistical... -
TELEFÓNICA'S BID FOR THE MOBILE MARKET IN BRAZIL (F)
Finance & Accounting Case Study5.00View Details Case A of this series sets the scene for the largest merger and acquisition (M&A) deal in the telecom industry in Brazil and Latin America. Cases B to... -
Honda-Rover (A): Crafting an Alliance
Strategy & Execution Case Study8.95View Details Faced with vexing financial challenges in 1993, British Aerospace (BAe) is determined to shed its loss-making automaker, Rover. It offers to sell its... -
Parker Biscuits, Inc.: Venturing into China
Technology & Operations Case Study8.95View Details Carol Wittenberg's first major task as president of the Asia/Pacific business for Parker's Biscuits is to set up a joint venture to manufacture biscuits... -
Managing International Alliances: Conceptual Framework
Global Business Case Study8.95View Details Provides an overview of key issues on management of international alliances, including: 1) the logic of collaboration; 2) selecting partners; 3) structuring... -
Pressure Makes Diamonds: Investing in Copper Mining in Laos (Pre-Reading)
Management Case Study8.95View Details The case centres on the difficulties of weighing up the pros and cons of a foreign investment decision in the natural resources sector, characterized... -
Toyota's Strategy and Initiatives in Europe: The Launch of the Aygo
Organizational Development Case Study8.95View Details Toyota is one the most successful car companies in the world. The company set the ambitious growth goal of a 15% share of the global markets by 2010 (up... -
IBM: Design Thinking
Leadership & Managing People Case Study8.95View Details This case describes the 2012-2020 effort at IBM to implement design thinking throughout the company and hire thousands of designers to serve on every... -
ALPES S.A.: A Joint Venture Proposal (A)
Finance & Accounting Case Study8.95View Details The senior vice-president for corporate development for Charles River Laboratories must prepare a presentation to the company's board of directors requesting... -
Enemies with benefits: Daimler and BMW's mobility ecosystem "YOUR NOW"
Strategy & Execution Case Study8.95View Details The case study "Enemies with benefits: Daimler and BMW's mobility ecosystem" portrays how the German automotive giants Daimler AG and the BMW Group, strong... -
Hyundai Card/Hyundai Capital and GE Money: Re-branding Decisions in a Successful Joint Venture
Sales & Marketing Case Study8.95View Details The case presents a description of the JV between GE Money and Hyundai Card/Hyundai Capital from its inception through 2006 when the venture's success... -
PEPSI: The Indian Challenge
Strategy & Execution Case Study8.95View Details On November 9, 1987, the Government of India's Project Approval Board approved PepsiCo's second proposal to enter the country. The package that had been...
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Who Has the D?: How Clear Decision Roles Enhance Organizational Performance
Decision making and problem solving Magazine ArticleYour organization can become more decisive—and can implement strategy more quickly—if you know where the bottlenecks are and who’s empowered to break through them. -
The Deutsch-Casella Joint Venture and [Yellow Tail]® Wines: Trading Up or Trading Down?, Teaching Note
Strategy & Execution Digital ArticleTeaching note for NA0302. -
Oil and Troubled Waters
Power and influence Magazine ArticleWhen a crisis forces outside directors to navigate major changes, investors and directors must adopt new roles. The largest such case to date provides some useful lessons. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group was a 60/40 joint venture between Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading. It was run by a five-person committee of managing directors […] -
Cenabal (A), (B) and (C), Teaching Note
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Digital ArticleTeaching Note for [908M20], [908M21], and [908M22]. -
Airbus vs. Boeing (K): New Partnerships (2018)
Strategy & Execution Case Study5.00View Details This case describes Airbus's partnership with the Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer Bombardier beginning in 2017. The two companies partnered on the... -
New Ventures for Corporate Growth
Innovation Magazine ArticleAs the traditional avenues of corporate growth become less attractive, many companies find the appeal of new venture strategies harder to resist. Though difficult to implement and often slow to repay investment, these strategies do offer the promise of facilitating entry into new business areas with innovative, usually technology-based products. And for large companies with […] -
An NHL/Ridefilm Attraction
Global Business Case Study8.95View Details The National Hockey League (NHL) was battling within a competitive market to increase the exposure of hockey throughout the United States. Many new franchises... -
Chrysler and BMW: Tritec Engine Joint Venture
Technology & Operations Case Study6.95View Details A gifted project leader lacks significant new product development experience. The case highlights the issues and procedures related to defining the project... -
Valuing Currency Management: TOM vs. U.S. Commerce Bank, Teaching Note
Global Business Digital ArticleTeaching note for CU118. -
Strategic Alliances That Work: Selecting the Right Partner
Leadership & Managing People Case Study8.95View Details This note is part of a series entitled Strategic Alliances That Work. Key factors to consider during the selection process are the overall strategic fit...