HBR On Strategy
Harvard Business Review
Business strategy isn’t a plan, it’s a framework for success.
Whether you’re building, innovating, or executing, HBR On Strategy is your destination for insights and inspiration from the world’s top experts on business strategy and innovation.
Every Wednesday, the editors at the Harvard Business Review hand-picked conversations and case studies from across HBR podcasts, videos, articles, and beyond to unlock new ways of doing business.
Whether you’re building, innovating, or executing, HBR On Strategy is your destination for insights and inspiration from the world’s top experts on business strategy and innovation.
Every Wednesday, the editors at the Harvard Business Review hand-picked conversations and case studies from across HBR podcasts, videos, articles, and beyond to unlock new ways of doing business.
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Jul 17, 2024 • 26min
When Collaborating with Competitors Makes Sense
Yale School of Management professor Barry Nalebuff discusses the benefits of collaborating with competitors, highlighting successful examples like Apple and Ford. The podcast explores co-opetition strategies, negotiation tactics, and collaboration in various industries. Insights on mitigating risks through contracts and performance guarantees are shared, emphasizing the value of strategic cooperation in business relationships.
Jul 10, 2024 • 31min
How Sodexo’s CEO Manages Global Strategy Across 50 Countries
Sophie Bellon, Chair and CEO of Sodexo, discusses talent management, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. Topics include global strategy, digital transformation impact, local vs global supply systems post-pandemic, and collaboration in the food sector.
39 snips
Jul 3, 2024 • 20min
Microsoft: A Case Study in Strategy Transformation
Harvard Business School professor Fritz Foley discusses Microsoft's strategic transformation in 2015, focusing on growth strategy, business models, and cultural evolution. Topics include shifting to subscription sales, aligning investors and employees, and overcoming risk-averse culture. Learn how Microsoft navigated challenges and drove growth.
Jun 26, 2024 • 30min
Should Your Business Sell on Amazon?
Hear Harvard Business School associate professor Ayelet Israeli discuss the pros and cons of selling on Amazon. Topics include costs, competition, data challenges, brand strategies, and the decision-making process for leveraging the Amazon marketplace.
53 snips
Jun 19, 2024 • 26min
Why Project-Based Work Fails — and How to Get It Right
Project management expert Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez discusses common failures in project-based work, blaming executives' lack of understanding and dedication. He provides strategies for better outcomes, such as proper framing, prioritization, and team engagement. The podcast explores the evolution of project management, challenges in project prioritization, and the shift towards project-based work in companies.
4 snips
Jun 12, 2024 • 28min
How Booking.com Sustains a Culture of Innovation
Harvard Business School professor, Stefan Thomke, discusses Booking.com's innovative culture driven by large-scale testing and experimentation. Topics include strategy, digital travel, platform, and challenging management norms. Learn how the company sustained growth through a data-driven approach to innovation.
9 snips
Jun 5, 2024 • 28min
How to Future-Proof Your Strategy
Peter Scoblic discusses the importance of scenario planning in future-proofing business strategies. He emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives, balancing short-term factors with long-term modeling, and preparing for potential crises. Scoblic uses examples like the US Coast Guard to illustrate the benefits of strategic foresight and imaginative scenario planning.
May 29, 2024 • 32min
How One Energy CEO Is Leading a Transition Toward Clean Energy
Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy, discusses the company's transition to renewables and net zero emissions. Topics include strategy adjustments for new technologies, testing assumptions, fostering collaborations, and navigating investments in grid infrastructure for clean energy transition.
32 snips
May 22, 2024 • 30min
A Better Framework for Solving Tough Problems
Anne Morriss, expert in change leadership and problem-solving strategies, shares a five-step process for solving tough problems. Emphasizing the importance of trust and speed, she highlights the need for open dialogue and swift action in effective change leadership. Key topics include strategy execution, managing people, collaboration, and problem solving.
May 15, 2024 • 26min
Ask These Questions Before Choosing a Manufacturing Location
Harvard Business School professor Willy Shih discusses choosing manufacturing locations using a case study about Fuyao. Topics include production costs, inventory management, risks like customs delays and labor strikes, and evaluating cross-cultural management in global strategy.
