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Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2016 (Revised May 2018)

Zurich Insurance: Zurich Oxygen

by Boris Groysberg and Katherine Connolly

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Abstract

Zurich Insurance was undergoing organizational change after implementing five new people practices focused on manager development, diversity and inclusion, job model and data analytics, recruitment, and talent pipeline. The case “Zurich Insurance: Fostering Key People Management Practices” (HBS No. 417-035) provides background for the company and an outline of each people practice. This case takes a closer look at the implementation of the manager development initiative “Zurich Oxygen.”

Keywords: managing change; human capital; management development; human resources; leadership; Insurance; Organizational Change and Adaptation; organizational culture; Organization Behavior; Management Skills; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Leadership Development; Human Capital; Human Resources; Insurance; Insurance Industry;

Language: English Format: Print 9 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Groysberg, Boris, and Katherine Connolly. "Zurich Insurance: Zurich Oxygen." Harvard Business School Case 417-036, September 2016. (Revised May 2018.)

Related Work

  1. Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2016 (Revised May 2018)

    Zurich Insurance: Zurich Oxygen

    Boris Groysberg and Katherine Connolly

    Zurich Insurance was undergoing organizational change after implementing five new people practices focused on manager development, diversity and inclusion, job model and data analytics, recruitment, and talent pipeline. The case “Zurich Insurance: Fostering Key People Management Practices” (HBS No. 417-035) provides background for the company and an outline of each people practice. This case takes a closer look at the implementation of the manager development initiative “Zurich Oxygen.”

    Keywords: managing change; human capital; management development; human resources; leadership; Insurance; Organizational Change and Adaptation; organizational culture; Organization Behavior; Management Skills; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Leadership Development; Human Capital; Human Resources; Insurance; Insurance Industry;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, and Katherine Connolly. "Zurich Insurance: Zurich Oxygen." Harvard Business School Case 417-036, September 2016. (Revised May 2018.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related
  2. Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | June 2018

    Zurich Insurance

    Boris Groysberg, David Lane and Joni Coughlin

    This teaching note addresses six cases in the Zurich Insurance series, the overview case (HBS No. 417-035) and five cases focused on particular change efforts (HBS Nos. 417-036 through 417-040).
    Zurich Insurance was undergoing organizational change after implementing five new people practices focused on manager development, diversity and inclusion, job model and data analytics, recruitment, and talent pipeline. The overview case provides background for the company, as well as a description of how its culture was changing and how its allocation of resources was being examined as it tried to improve its position in the marketplace. Students are asked to prioritize which people practices are most important for Zurich as it tries to shift its culture and more effectively leverage its human capital in order to reach its organizational goals. The focused cases each treat one of the five new people practices listed above.

    Keywords: managing change; human capital; management; human resources; leadership; Insurance; Organizational Change and Adaptation; organizational culture; organizational behavior; Diversity Management; organizational architecture; recruiting; succession planning; Management; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Human Capital; Human Resources; Insurance; Leadership; Diversity; Organizational Structure; Recruitment; Leadership Development; Management Succession; Insurance Industry;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, David Lane, and Joni Coughlin. "Zurich Insurance." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 418-071, June 2018.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsPurchase Related

About the Author

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Boris Groysberg
Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration
Organizational Behavior

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More from the Author

  • Case | HBS Case Collection | October 2019 (Revised December 2019)

    Swizz Beatz

    Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

    This case explores the life and career of rapper and music producer Swizz Beatz. Set in 2019, it covers the evolution of Swizz’s musical career and his new venture into the commercial art market.

    Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Entrepreneurship; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Fine Arts Industry; Music Industry; United States;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, Annelena Lobb, and Sarah Mehta. "Swizz Beatz." Harvard Business School Case 420-034, October 2019. (Revised December 2019.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducators Related
  • Case | HBS Case Collection | October 2019 (Revised December 2019)

    Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple

    Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

    Set in 2018, this case follows married couple and music industry titans Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys as they consider how best to use their platforms to achieve their goals. Since achieving professional success in the music industry early in their lives, Swizz and Keys had explored many different personal and professional pursuits. Swizz was particularly interested in the arts and had launched an initiative aimed at supporting emerging visual artists of color. Keys had taken on acting roles, written a children’s book, and had become an increasingly vocal advocate for social justice causes. Anchoring their professional work, Swizz and Keys had built a loving family rooted in communication and mutual respect. As one of the music industry’s most recognizable power couples, Swizz and Keys now considered how they might use their joint platform to continue to drive positive change for artists and creators of all stripes.

    Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Entrepreneurship; Power and Influence; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Music Industry; United States;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, Annelena Lobb, and Sarah Mehta. "Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple." Harvard Business School Case 420-035, October 2019. (Revised December 2019.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducators Related
  • Supplement | HBS Case Collection | November 2019

    California Closets - Bill Barton

    Boris Groysberg

    Video supplement for the HBS Case Study "California Closets: Organizing the Customer Experience," product number 419-004.

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris. "California Closets - Bill Barton." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 420-702, November 2019.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsPurchase Related
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