In June 2023, OceanGate''s Titan submersible imploded attempting to reach the Titanic shipwreck site 3,800 meters below sea level. All five passengers aboard died, including OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush. Before the tragedy, many in the deep-sea exploration community made their concern for the Titan''s safety known, including James Cameron and OceanGate employees. What could Rush have done to avoid the implosion? And was the capital-intensive .....more

Spreadsheet supplement for case 125042.

This case reviews IBM''s efforts to widen its hiring funnel and broaden its talent pool.

In this short vignette on the boundaries of professionalism, Alex Harding, recently promoted to Team Leader, faces a difficult decision regarding his client. While serving the CFO of the client company in preparation for an upcoming merger, he and his team uncover questionable behavior that occurred under the CFO''s direction. Though the Partner on his team advises him to let it go, Alex wonders whether that is really the right thing to do.

Recounts a pivotal moment in Martin Luther King Jr.''s life during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where a profound prayer amidst threats to his life renewed his faith and resolve to lead the movement. This transformative experience marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to nonviolent resistance, culminating in the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and his pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and the creation of a "beloved .....more

In 2017, FedEx''s European division - acquired the year before for $5 billion - was hit by a devastating cyberattack that destroyed thousands of computers and business systems across several countries. Corporate Chief Information Officer Rob Carter put the company''s disaster recovery plans into action, sending teams from the Memphis headquarters to Europe to assess the damage and try to keep packages moving. Carter wondered how the company''s meticulous .....more

Set in 2024, this (B) case provides an update to the (A) case (no. 625-049) about a devastating cyberattack that destroyed thousands of computers and business systems at FedEx''s European division in 2017. It describes lessons learned and changes made in the wake of the attack.

Founded in 2010, in just one decade, the Swiss company On had established itself as a main player in global sports footwear and apparel. Based on an unconventional strategy which one of the founders labeled as "obsessively distinct," On grew its sales with a compound annual growth rate of more than 75% between 2013 and 2021, and went public in 2021. In 2022, On was on the verge of launching a revolutionary new subscription-based service that exclusively .....more

This case delves into the expansion strategy of Foodology, a cloud kitchen startup based in Bogot that operated across four Latin American countries (Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru). Co-founders Daniela Izquierdo and Juan Guillermo Azuero (both HBS, 2019) grappled with the challenge of balancing the growth of the startup presence in the region while improving cost efficiency and profitability. Set in March 2023, the case tracks Foodology''s .....more

In July 2023, Peter Kang''iri, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Quickmart, Kenya''s second-largest retail chain, sat in his Nairobi office reviewing the company''s first half financial results before the weekly executive committee (EXCO) meeting. The company was in the second year of its five-year plan, following its most profitable year ever in 2022. Quickmart''s five-year plan was to increase its revenues by 82% to $541 million by opening 50 .....more

This case study examines Tonik, the first digital bank in the Philippines, as it navigates the challenges of scaling its lending operations and achieving profitability in an evolving fintech landscape. It explores Tonik''s journey from its launch in 2018 to early 2024, highlighting the company''s innovative approach to digital banking, its rapid deposit growth, and its struggles to fine-tune its lending products. Key themes include the tension between .....more

This case focuses on the inclusive innovation journey of Dr. Bererly Moy, clinical director of the Breast Oncology Program and director of Community Outreach. Dr. Moy led the approach of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center (CC) team to reduce disparities in cancer care outcomes. The MGH Cancer Center tried multiple approaches over several years, but still faces challenges enrolling and retaining a diverse patient population for .....more

Build a strong network of alliances to support you.

You don''t have to put up with bad behavior.

With employees increasingly speaking out on political and social issues, the authors use their research on activist voices in the workplace to suggest three ways organizational leaders can determine if and how to respond. First, it''s important to understand the range of responses available and their pros and cons. Second, you should consider five factors that will help you decide whether it''s appropriate and productive to step in. Finally, give .....more

This case describes an inspiring story of a young real estate developer in India, Rahul Rajan, who- built an affordable green residential building named Scorpio, targeting middle class families in India, which won the Platinum Green Building rating by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The case provides a detailed description of the various innovative features that helped make Scorpio a Net Energy Positive building. The case also narrates, .....more

The mobile phone industry is notorious for its lack of sustainability. Fairphone started as a campaign to draw attention to ''conflict minerals'' and the plight of tantalum miners. It became a social enterprise by launching its first ''fair phone'', the FP1, with conflict-free tantalum. The FP2 was more broadly sustainable, with a five-year lifespan, replaceable parts, and recycling of old handsets, but it was expensive and appealed mostly to die-hard .....more