Business School Case Studies

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2004.

In just seven days, the Ritz-Carlton transforms newly hired employees into "Ladies and Gentlemen Serving Ladies and Gentlemen." The case details a new hotel launch, focusing on the unique blend of leadership, quality processes, and values of self-respect and dignity, to create award-winning service.

Used during the Executive Action Planning Meeting Fall 2006.

Used in: Executive Action Planning Meeting Spring 2005

This HBS case is used to discuss issues of customer service - how do you take a routine service, like retail banking, and make it fun? Discussion can be tailored to address school district issues of responsiveness and interaction with key stakholder groups, such as parents or taxpayers.

Available for purchase at Harvard Business School Publishing.

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2007

This HBS case is used to discuss aspects of brand portfolios and communications management. How do we manage a diverse portfolio of offerings, but yet achieve consistency in our brand?

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2009

This HBS case follows multiple phases of cost cutting and coinciding leadership challenges at Ericsson. What can we learn from Carl-Henric Svanberg?

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2006

This HBS case discusses the storied human capital management systems of General Electric. Key themes for discussion include feedback and performance evaluation, leadership development, job rotation and systemic management.

Executive Action Planning Meeting Spring 2006

This HBS case evaluates the use of compensation and non-compensation based motivation management approaches at Harrah's.

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2008

This HBS case discusses the development of a new leadership development initiative at Goldman Sachs, one of the world's leading professional services firms.

Executive Action Planning Meeting Fall 2005

This HBS case discusses the talent management protocols of Microsoft.

Superintendents' Strategy Summit 2008

This HBS case is a continuation of an earlier case on Goldman Sachs, and evaluates the new leadership development effort Goldman pursued after part 1 of the case ended.

This is a PELP case study.

To support a strategy that puts decisions about instruction and resources in the hands of school communities, the superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School district implemented a weighted formula to allocate resources to school sites based on the learning characteristics of the students attending each school. Considers full in-district choice for parents regarding which school their child will attend, academic planning and resource allocation by local school site councils, and an accountability system with performance consequences for schools unable to meet academic targets or attract enough students to remain financially viable.

This is a PELP case study.

Introduces the concept and importance of coherence and the use of the Public Education Leadership Project coherence framework. Describes the challenges and opportunities facing Portland Public Schools Superintendent Vicki Phillips during her first seven months on the job.