Departments

Baker Library is a group of experts from a variety of disciplines (education, economics, information science, journalism, librarianship, management, statistics, etc.) focused on supporting Harvard Business School (HBS)’s mission by enabling the creation and exchange of ideas, expertise, and information. Our team provides information services and products that:

• help faculty develop courses to achieve their learning objectives;

• provide in-depth research support from our information experts and global network;

• help faculty, students, staff, and alumni to access and use world class and often unique information sources either physically or virtually;

• ensure the School's information assets are organized and findable by the HBS community and external audiences;

• archive and preserve the School's intellectual capital and history, making it available to future generations of scholars and leaders so that they may build upon the work that went before.

• help faculty disseminate their knowledge to practitioners.

Customer Base

Harvard Business School and Harvard University Faculty, Students, Staff, HBS Alumni, Visiting scholars and researchers

Culture

Baker Library encourages a work environment based on knowledge sharing, collaboration, agility, and working towards strategic objectives. Managers work together to set strategy, priorities, and policies, determine resource allocation, manage performance and coach individual staff on their career goals, and measure results. Project teams are appointed as needed to accomplish specific packages of work. Decision making regarding work processes occurs at the lowest possible point in the organization.

Baker Library is organized into:

• Baker Library Collections (including contemporary and historical collections and the HBS Archives)

• Baker Library Services (BLS Operations, Baker Research Services, and Curriculum Services)

• Business Operations

• Executive Office

• Information Management Services ( Analytics, Taxonomy, Search, Data Management)

• Information Products Team (Working Knowledge, eBaker, Baker Library|Bloomberg Center Website, etc.)

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Customer orientation

• Analytical thinking

• Comfort with ambiguity

• Applied expertise

• Measurement-focused

What makes it challenging to work in Baker Library?

• Constant evolution in the information industry and scholarly publishing

• A shift to a more global strategy to support HBS’ global reach

• Anticipating HBS’ future information and knowledge management needs and staying abreast of state-of-the art technologies and practices to best meet them.
  

Customer Base
Admissions, Alumni, Career and Professional Development, Executive Education, External Relations, Faculty, Practitioners, Students

Culture
A passion for making a difference in the world and improving the environment. The ability to work with minimal structure and a desire to create something new.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Flexibility

• Attention to detail

• Ability to multitask and to embrace a broad spectrum of tasks from the mundane to complex

• Passion for Business and the Environment

• Ability to work with diverse constituents

• A motivated self-starter

• Someone who enjoys adding structure and creating new processes and programs

What makes it challenging to work in the Business and Environment Initiative?
As a new and very small department, our environment can be compared to a startup within the broader context of Harvard Business School. We are challenged with balancing the support of our multiple diverse stake holders and managing innovation, while operating as a small team.

Customer Base
The entire campus as well as the external world! The Dean’s Office is often the first point of contact when people call Harvard Business School (HBS).

Culture
The Dean’s Office is dedicated to providing excellent support to the Dean, the HBS community, and beyond. There is never a dull moment in the Dean’s Office because of the ever-changing nature of the work, and staff members must be able to maintain a strategic perspective of HBS while, at the same time, responding to daily challenges, issues, and initiatives. Due to the Office’s small size, work is extremely collaborative.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members
In addition to having a strong sense of curiosity about HBS and Harvard University, staff members must have the ability to:

• Work in an always changing environment

• Handle unpredictability

• Have the utmost discretion when dealing with highly confidential information

• Use good judgment

• Be friendly and inviting

What makes it challenging to work in the Dean’s Office?
Because this is the Dean’s Office, there is a tendency for people to expect that the staff will “have all the answers”. Always being “on” during office hours — e.g., there is no voicemail in the office so that someone calling in will always talk to a person.

Customer Base
Prospective Applicants, Applicants, Doctoral Students, Faculty, and Alumni

Culture
The department is organized around the doctoral programs and students. Given the small team environment, staff members have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the delivery of the Doctoral Programs. Since doctoral students pursue individualized programs of study and research — some of which are offered jointly with Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) — staff members must have strong customer service skills, initiative, be able to work as a team, and be flexible.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills

• Willingness to pitch in at any level

• Initiative and self-motivation

• Flexibility

• Knowledge of Harvard University systems

• Creativity

• Ability to be proactive

• Ability to work independently

What makes it challenging to work in the Doctoral Programs?

• Small size of the department

• Dynamic nature of the doctoral student experience requires flexibility to change focus at times

• The relatively less structured format of doctoral education (vs. the MBA programs)

Customer Base
Executives and organizations from around the world in every industry including for profit and not for profit.

Culture
Our Executive Education staff are very dedicated and care deeply about the quality and success of our programs. They have a great sense of pride in the organization and very high standards for customer service. They value working collaboratively in teams across the organization. There is a strong sense of community and an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees; staff are genuinely interested in and care about their fellow colleagues. We acknowledge the importance of our work, yet we approach it with perspective, flexibility, optimism, and humor.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• A business mindset balanced by an appreciation for working in a nonprofit institution

• Ability to work collaboratively in teams

• Very strong customer service orientation

• Flexibility, openness to change

• Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment

• Comfortable dealing with diversity of people including faculty, participants, other staff

• Committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all team members that represent different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints

What makes it challenging to work in Executive Education

• Cyclical business with intense peak periods characterized by long hours and weekend work (not a typical 9-5 business).

• Being responsible for generating a significant financial contribution but respecting the culture and norms of HBS as a mission driven, nonprofit institution

• Greatly impacted by external forces such as: economic cycles; world events, non-traditional and traditional competitors, etc.

External Relations is comprised of several areas, including:

• Development
  (includes fund raisers, researchers and stewardship)

• Alumni Relations
  (includes Alumni Clubs, professional career and development advisors, reunions and events teams)

• Alumni Marketing & Communications
  (includes web, print and alumni and development communications teams)

• Business Operations & Finance
  (includes gift processing and technology)

Customer Base
Alumni, Dean, Faculty and colleagues around the School and University

Culture
External Relations is known for employing service-oriented staff members who have a strong commitment to their constituents. Staff work in teams to reach shared goals and are proactive, outgoing and highly disciplined individuals.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Customer-centric

• Detail-oriented

• Articulate

• Good listeners

• Flexible

• Collaborative

• Entrepreneurial

• Accountable

• Goal-oriented

Customer Base
Faculty, Staff, Students, Student Clubs and Associations, Alumni, Central Administration

Culture
The work of the individuals in the Financial Office tends to be autonomous, with cross training a major priority to ensure coverage when needed. Staff in the Financial Office must have varying levels of technical expertise, high attention to detail and be knowledgeable of both HBS and University-wide financial processes, policies and procedures.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Customer service orientation

• Attention to detail

• Responsive

• Collaborative

• Flexible

What makes it challenging to work in the Financial Office?
Team building opportunities can be limited because of the functional set up of the office.
Staff members need to occasionally enforce unfavorable policies to faculty, students, employees and non-employees.

Customer Base
Students, Faculty, Alumni, Executive Education Participants, Healthcare "centers" around the University

Culture
The Initiative consists of enthusiastic staff members who are proactive and organized and demonstrate a passion for providing high quality service to key stakeholders. We work as a close team to accomplish our goals and juggle many activities at once.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Flexibility

• Ability to multi-task and appropriately prioritize

• Eagerness to learn

• Customer Orientation

• Good communication skills

• Ability to work collaboratively in teams

• A positive and professional attitude

• Patience

• Experience working with students and faculty

What makes it challenging to work in the Healthcare Initiative?
We are a small department with broad goals and high aspirations. Continuing to adapt to our stakeholders needs while maintaining consistency and continuity is challenging.

Customer Base

• Staff

• Prospective Job Seekers

• Local Allston/Brighton Community

Culture
Although each member of the Human Resources has a different role, staff members work together as a team, creating a supportive, collaborative and fun work environment.

• Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Desire to help others succeed

• Willingness to pitch in and help others

• Flexibility

• Ability to work independently and work as part of a team

What makes it challenging to work in the Human Resources Department?
In HR we're involved with many of the positive aspects of working at HBS, but we also often see people when they are unhappy or going through a difficult time.
The constant need to balance the needs of the University, the departments and the individual staff members

Customer Base
Faculty, Staff and Students

Culture
Within Harvard University, the HBS IT is the largest IT department on campus. Virtually every project within IT is team based. The department consists of avid technologists who provide a high level of customer service. The climate is one of experimentation, change and constant learning.

HBS IT is comprised of several areas, including:

• Administrative Technology, which includes:

  • Application Development

  • Database Services

  • Quality Engineering

• Educational Technology, which includes:

  • Content & Instructional Design

  • Creative

  • Educational Software Development

  • Program Innovation

• IT Operations, which includes:

  • Infrastructure Support

  • Media Services

  • Technology Consulting

  • Technology Services for Faculty, MBA Students, Executive Education Participants, and Staff

• IT Security

• Project Management Office

• Web & Intranet

While no day or project is the same, some of IT's recent accomplishments include:

• Web-based collaboration spaces to enable virtual collaboration on and off campus
  Interactive learning tools, educational games, and simulations that are used in the core of our academic programs.

• A unified messaging platform; all digital classroom media infrastructure.
  

• Enhanced Web sites and social networking for students and alumni.
  

• Statistical computing grid to enhance research capabilities.
  

• An iPhone powered HBS Learning Nexus for Executive Education participants
  99.6% uptime.

Our Core Values
Members of the Information Technology Group share the following core values:

• Adhere to the highest standards of Integrity, ethics, and respect in a manner consistent with HBS Community Values.

• Foster a culture that embraces on-going improvement, adaptability, creativity, and collaboration.

• Consider the long term interest of the School in decision making.

• Open, honest, constructive communication.

• Keep our promises to ourselves and our partners.

• Shepherd the School's resources wisely.

• Build in a sustainable fashion.

• Deliver with pride.

• Learn, grow, and have fun.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Good work ethic

• Bright

• Eager to learn

• Nice and approachable

• Ability to juggle multiple demands

• Treats others with respect

What makes it challenging to work in IT?
IT is continuously challenged to balance its dedicated support of ongoing development and maintenance projects with its mission to innovate and explore new ways to learn.

Marketing & Communications embraces four interrelated functions:

• Branding

• Marketing

• Communications

• Public Relations

The group is engaged in a wide range of projects and activities across the campus, including marketing and communications strategy, market analysis, positioning and messaging, Web site development, publications development, event planning, emerging modes of communication and outreach, and media relations strategy and tactics.

Customer Base
Dean's Office, Faculty, Operational Heads for all HBS Programs and Initiatives, Reporters

Culture
The Marketing and Communications department is an extremely close knit team who "thinks together." Staff members are mutually supportive and highly cooperative.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Organizational savvy

• Interest in HBS information

• Desire to improve oneself

• Thirst for knowledge

• High energy

• Both intellectual and street smarts

• Creativity

• Willingness to change

• Inquisitive

• Writing, communication and time management skills

What makes it challenging to work in Marketing and Communications?

• Rapid pace of work.

• Need to balance competing priorities

• The focus of the group is broadening to embrace a stronger marketing and branding focus.

• Constantly adapting to different customer styles.

We are organized into seven sub-departments, including:

• Admissions & Financial Aid

• Career & Professional Development

• Community Values

• Program Administration
  (Communications, Financial Management, HR, Joint Degree Programs, Operations, and Technology)

• Registrar Services & Course Materials Distribution

• Student & Academic Services

• Support Services

Key Constituencies
Faculty, Current Students, Prospective Students, Alumni, Corporate Recruiters, Other Staff at HBS and across Harvard

Culture
The MBA Program has a talented team in place, and it is committed to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in support of the School's mission to develop leaders who make a difference in the world. We are a customer-focused department, proactively supporting the needs of faculty, students, and administrators across the university, and we value both cross-functional and collaborative work with our colleagues. We are problem solvers and view challenges as opportunities. Our shared Community Values include respect, honesty, integrity, and personal accountability, and we are committed to investing in staff capabilities, career development, and well-being.

Customer Base
Admissions, Alumni, Career Services, Executive Education, Faculty, Practitioners, Students

Culture
The staff members bring spirit, energy and passion to their work. The Initiative is continuously looking at new ideas and operates in a dynamic environment.

Attributes of Successful Staff Members

• Passion

• High autonomy

• Flexible

• Work well under pressure

• Diplomatic

• Interest in and understanding of social sector

What makes it challenging to work in Social Enterprise?
The balance between maintaining a strategic focus and being responsive to stakeholder needs.