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John R. Wells

John R. Wells

Professor of Management Practice

Professor of Management Practice

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John Wells is a Professor of Management Practice in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School where he teaches the first year core course in strategy and his own second year elective course on strategic innovation and change. He also teaches in several executive education programs.

Dr. Wells graduated from Oxford University with first class honors in Physics, focusing on nuclear and solid state. Following training as a cost and management accountant at Unilever, he attended Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar and graduated as Valedictorian of the MBA Class of 1979. After two years at Boston Consulting Group, he joined Harvard Business School's Faculty to teach Industry and Competitor Analysis and Business Policy. In 1982 he was awarded a Dean's Doctoral Fellowship; he received his doctorate in 1984 after completing his thesis "In Search of Synergy", which quantified the impact of synergy on corporate profitability. The same year he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Business Policy Faculty, conducting research on the dynamics of competition and the application of artificial intelligence techniques to business problems. 

In 1986, Dr. Wells became Chief Executive of Monitor Company Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of the firm he helped create with Michael Porter and Mark Fuller. He built the European practice and directed strategy studies for numerous firms and national governments. During this time he also co-founded Datapaq, a digital data acquisition company serving the automotive and packaging industries that continues to be the leader in its field.

Dr. Wells joined PepsiCo in 1994, initially as CFO of the European snacks division. He was then appointed CEO of Wedel, a PepsiCo affiliate and Poland's number one chocolate, biscuits, confectionery and snacks producer. In 1997 he was appointed CFO of Frito-Lay International, based in Dallas, Texas, with responsibility for all international snack operations. 

In 1998, Dr. Wells joined the board of Thomson Travel Group, the UK's largest holiday company, responsible for the Group's strategy, mergers and acquisitions and e-commerce development. 

Dr. Wells invests in and advises a number of start-ups, and in early 2002, joined Archie Norman, the ex-Chairman of ASDA in the UK, in a $1.3 billion management buy-in of Energis, the UK's third largest telecommunications service provider. Energis was later sold to Cable and Wireless Plc. 

In the summer of 2002, he rejoined the Harvard Business School Faculty as the James M. Collins Fund Senior Lecturer in Strategy. In August 2003, he was appointed Professor of Management Practice. 

In 2008 Dr. Wells became the president of IMD, International Institute for Management Development, in Switzerland before returning to Harvard Business School as a Professor of Management Practice in 2011.

Dr. Wells’ current research addresses how companies overcome inertia and increase their strategic responsiveness.  He is examining strategic, structural and human factors that impede change and how they might be overcome. Some of his research is explained in his recent book, Strategic IQ: Creating Smarter Corporations, published in June 2012. John has also written over 50 case studies on strategy and change. He is currently examining the role of responsible leadership in business and society, the impact of social networking on strategic change and the importance of relevant learning.

Dr. Wells has worked and lived in Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. His business responsibilities and research have taken him to all corners of the world.

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John R. Wells
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Strategy
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Publications

Books
Books

  • Wells, John R. Strategic IQ: Creating Smarter Corporations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2012. View Details

Cases and Teaching Materials
Cases and Teaching Materials

  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Indian Premier League, 2020." Harvard Business School Case 721-362, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2020: Clinical Trials." Harvard Business School Case 721-391, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2010: Turbulent Times." Harvard Business School Case 721-390, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2004: Discovery." Harvard Business School Case 721-389, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "GreenFire Energy, 2020: Geothermal Innovation." Harvard Business School Case 721-392, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "24M Technologies." Harvard Business School Case 721-386, August 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Oxygen Esports." Harvard Business School Case 721-351, July 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "King's College Hospital in Crisis." Harvard Business School Case 721-356, July 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Sneha Biswas, and Benjamin Weinstock. "Schlumberger's WesternGeco Division." Harvard Business School Case 720-470, May 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Salary Finance US." Harvard Business School Case 720-421, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Celata Bioinnovations." Harvard Business School Case 720-427, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 720-419, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Gap, Inc., 2019." Harvard Business School Case 720-377, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Blenheim Chalcot." Harvard Business School Case 720-381, September 2019. (Revised December 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "pymetrics (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 720-375, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "pymetrics (A)." Harvard Business School Case 720-374, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Rechargeable Batteries, 2017: Gigafactory Wars in the Offing?" Harvard Business School Case 720-371, November 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Carole A. Winkler, and Benjamin Weinstock. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Case 720-373, September 2019. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "ClearScore, 2018." Harvard Business School Case 720-369, August 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Allstate Corporation, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 720-366, August 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Acelerex." Harvard Business School Case 720-360, July 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Salary Finance." Harvard Business School Case 720-355, July 2019. (Revised November 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "State of Charge: The Massachusetts Energy Storage Initiative." Harvard Business School Case 719-448, May 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Waymo LLC." Harvard Business School Case 719-477, March 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "HelloSelf: Foundation." Harvard Business School Case 719-492, March 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Benjamin Weinstock, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Amazon in Fashion." Harvard Business School Case 719-481, February 2019. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Electric Car Wars, 2018." Harvard Business School Case 719-470, February 2019. (Revised April 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Making UK Energy Smarter." Harvard Business School Background Note 719-438, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Good Energy Group PLC." Harvard Business School Case 719-439, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "First Utility Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 719-425, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2018: Rapid Growth." Harvard Business School Supplement 719-442, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2017: Launch." Harvard Business School Supplement 719-441, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2015: Foundation." Harvard Business School Case 719-440, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Progressive Corporation, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 719-413, September 2018. (Revised August 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Galen Danskin, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Inditex: 2018." Harvard Business School Case 718-515, May 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-456, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Tencent." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-457, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Reinventing Best Buy." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-442, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Amazon.com, 2016." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-441, November 2017. View Details
  • Luo, Hong, and John R. Wells. "CarMax: Disrupting the Used Car Market." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-434, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Hong Luo. "CarMax, Inc.: Disrupting the Used-Car Market." Harvard Business School Case 717-506, April 2017. (Revised December 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Tencent." Harvard Business School Case 718-426, September 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Cantel Medical." Harvard Business School Case 717-482, March 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Carole A. Winkler. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Case 717-473, March 2017. (Revised September 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Clear Channel (B): The Fall, 2004–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-477, March 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Clear Channel (A): The Rise, 1972–2003." Harvard Business School Case 717-476, February 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Danaher Corporation, 2007–2017." Harvard Business School Case 717-464, January 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The U.S. Health Club Industry, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Background Note 717-421, October 2016. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Six CEOs of Tyco International Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 717-459, January 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "JCDecaux, 2016: Global Leader ... Again." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-441, February 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "24 Hour Fitness (B): Ownership Changes, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-423, October 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Bally Total Fitness (B): The Fall, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-422, October 2016. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Quiet Ascension of LA Fitness." Harvard Business School Case 717-424, October 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Reinventing Best Buy." Harvard Business School Case 716-455, March 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "ASOS PLC." Harvard Business School Case 716-449, March 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "IC Group A/S." Harvard Business School Case 716-446, March 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Inexorable Rise of Walmart? 1988—2016." Harvard Business School Case 716-426, May 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Procter & Gamble, 2015." Harvard Business School Case 715-429, October 2014. (Revised October 2015.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Benjamin Weinstock, Gabriel Ellsworth, and Galen Danskin. "Amazon.com, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 716-402, August 2015. (Revised October 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "High Liner Foods, 2015." Harvard Business School Case 715-463, June 2015. (Revised October 2015.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Beckman Coulter, 2011." Harvard Business School Case 715-043, February 2015. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Nestlé SA, 2014." Harvard Business School Case 715-428, November 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "McKinsey & Company, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 715-424, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Mothercare, 2014." Harvard Business School Case 715-425, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Progressive, 2007-2013." Harvard Business School Case 715-427, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Radiometer, 2013." Harvard Business School Case 715-410, September 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Radiometer, 2003." Harvard Business School Case 715-409, September 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Babcock International Plc." Harvard Business School Case 714-496, March 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Inditex: 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-539, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Inditex: 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-538, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Hennes & Mauritz, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-512, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Hennes & Mauritz, 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-509, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Benetton Group S.p.A., 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-513, May 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Benetton Group S.p.A., 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-510, May 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Troubles at Tesco, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-452, October 2012. (Revised April 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "J Sainsbury Plc, Road to Recovery." Harvard Business School Case 713-453, October 2012. (Revised May 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "The Fall of Circuit City Stores, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 713-402, September 2012. (Revised November 2012.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "The Rise of Circuit City Stores, Inc. ." Harvard Business School Case 713-401, June 2012. (Revised November 2012.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Best Buy in Crisis ." Harvard Business School Case 713-403, June 2012. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Allstate Corporation (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 712-433, September 2011. View Details
  • Bradley, Stephen P., David J. Collis, Kevin P. Coyne, Andrei Hagiu, Mikolaj Jan Piskorski, Jan W. Rivkin, and John R. Wells. "How to Crack a Strategy Case." Harvard Business School Background Note 707-549, March 2007. (Revised February 2009.) View Details
  • "Strategy: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage." Harvard Business School Class Lecture 705-509, June 2005. (Revised September 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Allstate Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 708-485, January 2008. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Marina Lutova, and Ilan Sender. "The Progressive Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 707-433, August 2006. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The Rise of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 1962-1987." Harvard Business School Case 707-439, September 2006. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Whole Foods Market, Inc. (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-505, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Wild Oats Market, Inc. (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-506, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Whole Foods Market, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 705-476, June 2005. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Wild Oats Markets, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 707-438, September 2006. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The Rise of Kmart Corporation 1962-1987." Harvard Business School Case 706-403, July 2005. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Progressive Corporation (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-457, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Rise of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 1962-1978 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-459, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Rise of Kmart Corporation 1962-1987 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-460, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Providian Financial Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 707-446, September 2006. (Revised January 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Elizabeth A. Raabe, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Bally Total Fitness (A): The Rise, 1962–2004." Harvard Business School Case 706-450, November 2005. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Best Buy Co.,Inc.: Competing on the Edge." Harvard Business School Case 706-417, August 2005. (Revised October 2007.) View Details
  • Coughlan, Peter J., Jordan I. Siegel, and John R. Wells. "Lamoiyan Corporation of the Philippines: Challenging Multinational Giants (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 707-554, March 2007. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Elizabeth Raabe. "Update: The Music Industry in 2006." Harvard Business School Case 707-531, February 2007. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Pai-Ling Yin, and Michael G. Rukstad. "Ice-Fili (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 705-441, November 2004. (Revised January 2007.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The NFL." Harvard Business School Case 706-412, August 2005. (Revised September 2006.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Sean Hazlett, and Niladri Mukhopadhyay. "Riding with the Blackhorse (A)." Harvard Business School Case 706-484, June 2006. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Vincent Dessain. "JCDecaux." Harvard Business School Case 705-458, February 2005. (Revised June 2006.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Elizabeth Raabe. "Pharmaceutical Industry in 2005, The." Harvard Business School Case 706-423, October 2005. (Revised October 2005.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots (A)." Harvard Business School Case 706-413, August 2005. (Revised October 2005.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns." Harvard Business School Case 706-415, August 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 706-414, August 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Elizabeth A. Raabe, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "24 Hour Fitness (A): The Rise, 1983–2004." Harvard Business School Case 706-404, July 2005. (Revised September 2016.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Gabriel Ellsworth, and Benjamin Weinstock. "The U.S. Health Club Industry in 2004." Harvard Business School Background Note 705-445, November 2004. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Health Club Industry in 2004, The (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 705-453, January 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Strategic Agility: Managing Continuous Change." Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing Class Lecture, 2005. Electronic. (Faculty Lecture: HBSP Product Number 9-827-4C.) View Details
  • Corts, Kenneth S., and John R. Wells. "Alusaf Hillside Project." Harvard Business School Case 704-458, December 2003. (Revised October 2014.) View Details
  • Rukstad, Michael G., and John R. Wells. "Ice-Fili (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 704-437, December 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Energis (A)." Harvard Business School Case 703-505, April 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Energis (A) (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 703-506, April 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Major Home Appliance Industry in 1984 (Revised)." Harvard Business School Background Note 386-115, November 1985. (Revised December 1994.) View Details
  • Ghemawat, Pankaj, and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry in 1978 (A) (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 387-025, November 1986. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Corn Sweetener Industry." Harvard Business School Background Note 386-154, March 1986. (Revised June 1986.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: Commercial Roofing Division (A)." Harvard Business School Case 383-040, September 1982. (Revised August 1985.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: Commercial Roofing Division (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-041, September 1982. (Revised September 1983.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (C)." Harvard Business School Case 383-043, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-044, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-045, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (F)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-046, October 1982. View Details
All Publications

John Wells is a Professor of Management Practice in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School where he teaches the first year core course in strategy and his own second year elective course on strategic innovation and change. He also teaches in several executive education programs.

Dr. Wells graduated from Oxford University with first class honors in Physics, focusing on nuclear and solid state. Following training as a cost and management accountant at Unilever, he attended Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar and graduated as Valedictorian of the MBA Class of 1979. After two years at Boston Consulting Group, he joined Harvard Business School's Faculty to teach Industry and Competitor Analysis and Business Policy. In 1982 he was awarded a Dean's Doctoral Fellowship; he received his doctorate in 1984 after completing his thesis "In Search of Synergy", which quantified the impact of synergy on corporate profitability. The same year he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Business Policy Faculty, conducting research on the dynamics of competition and the application of artificial intelligence techniques to business problems. 

In 1986, Dr. Wells became Chief Executive of Monitor Company Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of the firm he helped create with Michael Porter and Mark Fuller. He built the European practice and directed strategy studies for numerous firms and national governments. During this time he also co-founded Datapaq, a digital data acquisition company serving the automotive and packaging industries that continues to be the leader in its field.

Dr. Wells joined PepsiCo in 1994, initially as CFO of the European snacks division. He was then appointed CEO of Wedel, a PepsiCo affiliate and Poland's number one chocolate, biscuits, confectionery and snacks producer. In 1997 he was appointed CFO of Frito-Lay International, based in Dallas, Texas, with responsibility for all international snack operations. 

In 1998, Dr. Wells joined the board of Thomson Travel Group, the UK's largest holiday company, responsible for the Group's strategy, mergers and acquisitions and e-commerce development. 

Dr. Wells invests in and advises a number of start-ups, and in early 2002, joined Archie Norman, the ex-Chairman of ASDA in the UK, in a $1.3 billion management buy-in of Energis, the UK's third largest telecommunications service provider. Energis was later sold to Cable and Wireless Plc. 

In the summer of 2002, he rejoined the Harvard Business School Faculty as the James M. Collins Fund Senior Lecturer in Strategy. In August 2003, he was appointed Professor of Management Practice. 

In 2008 Dr. Wells became the president of IMD, International Institute for Management Development, in Switzerland before returning to Harvard Business School as a Professor of Management Practice in 2011.

Dr. Wells’ current research addresses how companies overcome inertia and increase their strategic responsiveness.  He is examining strategic, structural and human factors that impede change and how they might be overcome. Some of his research is explained in his recent book, Strategic IQ: Creating Smarter Corporations, published in June 2012. John has also written over 50 case studies on strategy and change. He is currently examining the role of responsible leadership in business and society, the impact of social networking on strategic change and the importance of relevant learning.

Dr. Wells has worked and lived in Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. His business responsibilities and research have taken him to all corners of the world.

Books
  • Wells, John R. Strategic IQ: Creating Smarter Corporations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2012. View Details
Cases and Teaching Materials
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Indian Premier League, 2020." Harvard Business School Case 721-362, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2020: Clinical Trials." Harvard Business School Case 721-391, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2010: Turbulent Times." Harvard Business School Case 721-390, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Minerva 2004: Discovery." Harvard Business School Case 721-389, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "GreenFire Energy, 2020: Geothermal Innovation." Harvard Business School Case 721-392, September 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "24M Technologies." Harvard Business School Case 721-386, August 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Oxygen Esports." Harvard Business School Case 721-351, July 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "King's College Hospital in Crisis." Harvard Business School Case 721-356, July 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Sneha Biswas, and Benjamin Weinstock. "Schlumberger's WesternGeco Division." Harvard Business School Case 720-470, May 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Salary Finance US." Harvard Business School Case 720-421, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Celata Bioinnovations." Harvard Business School Case 720-427, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 720-419, January 2020. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Gap, Inc., 2019." Harvard Business School Case 720-377, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Blenheim Chalcot." Harvard Business School Case 720-381, September 2019. (Revised December 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "pymetrics (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 720-375, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "pymetrics (A)." Harvard Business School Case 720-374, September 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Rechargeable Batteries, 2017: Gigafactory Wars in the Offing?" Harvard Business School Case 720-371, November 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Carole A. Winkler, and Benjamin Weinstock. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Case 720-373, September 2019. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "ClearScore, 2018." Harvard Business School Case 720-369, August 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Allstate Corporation, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 720-366, August 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Acelerex." Harvard Business School Case 720-360, July 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Salary Finance." Harvard Business School Case 720-355, July 2019. (Revised November 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "State of Charge: The Massachusetts Energy Storage Initiative." Harvard Business School Case 719-448, May 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Waymo LLC." Harvard Business School Case 719-477, March 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "HelloSelf: Foundation." Harvard Business School Case 719-492, March 2019. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Benjamin Weinstock, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Amazon in Fashion." Harvard Business School Case 719-481, February 2019. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Electric Car Wars, 2018." Harvard Business School Case 719-470, February 2019. (Revised April 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Making UK Energy Smarter." Harvard Business School Background Note 719-438, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Good Energy Group PLC." Harvard Business School Case 719-439, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "First Utility Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 719-425, December 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2018: Rapid Growth." Harvard Business School Supplement 719-442, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2017: Launch." Harvard Business School Supplement 719-441, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Bulb 2015: Foundation." Harvard Business School Case 719-440, December 2018. (Revised July 2020.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "The Progressive Corporation, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 719-413, September 2018. (Revised August 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Galen Danskin, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Inditex: 2018." Harvard Business School Case 718-515, May 2018. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-456, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Tencent." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-457, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Reinventing Best Buy." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-442, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Amazon.com, 2016." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-441, November 2017. View Details
  • Luo, Hong, and John R. Wells. "CarMax: Disrupting the Used Car Market." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 718-434, November 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Hong Luo. "CarMax, Inc.: Disrupting the Used-Car Market." Harvard Business School Case 717-506, April 2017. (Revised December 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Tencent." Harvard Business School Case 718-426, September 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Cantel Medical." Harvard Business School Case 717-482, March 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Carole A. Winkler. "Facebook Fake News in the Post-Truth World." Harvard Business School Case 717-473, March 2017. (Revised September 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Clear Channel (B): The Fall, 2004–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-477, March 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Clear Channel (A): The Rise, 1972–2003." Harvard Business School Case 717-476, February 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Danaher Corporation, 2007–2017." Harvard Business School Case 717-464, January 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The U.S. Health Club Industry, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Background Note 717-421, October 2016. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Six CEOs of Tyco International Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 717-459, January 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "JCDecaux, 2016: Global Leader ... Again." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-441, February 2017. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "24 Hour Fitness (B): Ownership Changes, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-423, October 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Bally Total Fitness (B): The Fall, 2005–2016." Harvard Business School Supplement 717-422, October 2016. (Revised January 2017.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Quiet Ascension of LA Fitness." Harvard Business School Case 717-424, October 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Reinventing Best Buy." Harvard Business School Case 716-455, March 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "ASOS PLC." Harvard Business School Case 716-449, March 2016. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "IC Group A/S." Harvard Business School Case 716-446, March 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Inexorable Rise of Walmart? 1988—2016." Harvard Business School Case 716-426, May 2016. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Procter & Gamble, 2015." Harvard Business School Case 715-429, October 2014. (Revised October 2015.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Benjamin Weinstock, Gabriel Ellsworth, and Galen Danskin. "Amazon.com, 2019." Harvard Business School Case 716-402, August 2015. (Revised October 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "High Liner Foods, 2015." Harvard Business School Case 715-463, June 2015. (Revised October 2015.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Beckman Coulter, 2011." Harvard Business School Case 715-043, February 2015. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Nestlé SA, 2014." Harvard Business School Case 715-428, November 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "McKinsey & Company, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 715-424, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Mothercare, 2014." Harvard Business School Case 715-425, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Progressive, 2007-2013." Harvard Business School Case 715-427, October 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Radiometer, 2013." Harvard Business School Case 715-410, September 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Radiometer, 2003." Harvard Business School Case 715-409, September 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Babcock International Plc." Harvard Business School Case 714-496, March 2014. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Inditex: 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-539, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Inditex: 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-538, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Hennes & Mauritz, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-512, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Hennes & Mauritz, 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-509, June 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Benetton Group S.p.A., 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-513, May 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Benetton Group S.p.A., 2000." Harvard Business School Case 713-510, May 2013. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Troubles at Tesco, 2012." Harvard Business School Case 713-452, October 2012. (Revised April 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "J Sainsbury Plc, Road to Recovery." Harvard Business School Case 713-453, October 2012. (Revised May 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "The Fall of Circuit City Stores, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 713-402, September 2012. (Revised November 2012.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "The Rise of Circuit City Stores, Inc. ." Harvard Business School Case 713-401, June 2012. (Revised November 2012.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Galen Danskin. "Best Buy in Crisis ." Harvard Business School Case 713-403, June 2012. (Revised March 2014.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Allstate Corporation (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 712-433, September 2011. View Details
  • Bradley, Stephen P., David J. Collis, Kevin P. Coyne, Andrei Hagiu, Mikolaj Jan Piskorski, Jan W. Rivkin, and John R. Wells. "How to Crack a Strategy Case." Harvard Business School Background Note 707-549, March 2007. (Revised February 2009.) View Details
  • "Strategy: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage." Harvard Business School Class Lecture 705-509, June 2005. (Revised September 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Allstate Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 708-485, January 2008. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Marina Lutova, and Ilan Sender. "The Progressive Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 707-433, August 2006. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The Rise of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 1962-1987." Harvard Business School Case 707-439, September 2006. (Revised July 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Whole Foods Market, Inc. (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-505, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Wild Oats Market, Inc. (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-506, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Whole Foods Market, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 705-476, June 2005. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Wild Oats Markets, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 707-438, September 2006. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The Rise of Kmart Corporation 1962-1987." Harvard Business School Case 706-403, July 2005. (Revised April 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Progressive Corporation (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-457, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Rise of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 1962-1978 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-459, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "The Rise of Kmart Corporation 1962-1987 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 708-460, April 2008. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Providian Financial Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 707-446, September 2006. (Revised January 2008.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Elizabeth A. Raabe, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "Bally Total Fitness (A): The Rise, 1962–2004." Harvard Business School Case 706-450, November 2005. (Revised December 2016.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Best Buy Co.,Inc.: Competing on the Edge." Harvard Business School Case 706-417, August 2005. (Revised October 2007.) View Details
  • Coughlan, Peter J., Jordan I. Siegel, and John R. Wells. "Lamoiyan Corporation of the Philippines: Challenging Multinational Giants (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 707-554, March 2007. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Elizabeth Raabe. "Update: The Music Industry in 2006." Harvard Business School Case 707-531, February 2007. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Pai-Ling Yin, and Michael G. Rukstad. "Ice-Fili (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 705-441, November 2004. (Revised January 2007.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "The NFL." Harvard Business School Case 706-412, August 2005. (Revised September 2006.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Sean Hazlett, and Niladri Mukhopadhyay. "Riding with the Blackhorse (A)." Harvard Business School Case 706-484, June 2006. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Vincent Dessain. "JCDecaux." Harvard Business School Case 705-458, February 2005. (Revised June 2006.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Elizabeth Raabe. "Pharmaceutical Industry in 2005, The." Harvard Business School Case 706-423, October 2005. (Revised October 2005.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots (A)." Harvard Business School Case 706-413, August 2005. (Revised October 2005.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns." Harvard Business School Case 706-415, August 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R., and Travis Haglock. "Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 706-414, August 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R., Elizabeth A. Raabe, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "24 Hour Fitness (A): The Rise, 1983–2004." Harvard Business School Case 706-404, July 2005. (Revised September 2016.) View Details
  • Wells, John R., Gabriel Ellsworth, and Benjamin Weinstock. "The U.S. Health Club Industry in 2004." Harvard Business School Background Note 705-445, November 2004. (Revised September 2019.) View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Health Club Industry in 2004, The (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 705-453, January 2005. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Strategic Agility: Managing Continuous Change." Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing Class Lecture, 2005. Electronic. (Faculty Lecture: HBSP Product Number 9-827-4C.) View Details
  • Corts, Kenneth S., and John R. Wells. "Alusaf Hillside Project." Harvard Business School Case 704-458, December 2003. (Revised October 2014.) View Details
  • Rukstad, Michael G., and John R. Wells. "Ice-Fili (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 704-437, December 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Energis (A)." Harvard Business School Case 703-505, April 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Energis (A) (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 703-506, April 2003. View Details
  • Wells, John R. "Major Home Appliance Industry in 1984 (Revised)." Harvard Business School Background Note 386-115, November 1985. (Revised December 1994.) View Details
  • Ghemawat, Pankaj, and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry in 1978 (A) (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 387-025, November 1986. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Corn Sweetener Industry." Harvard Business School Background Note 386-154, March 1986. (Revised June 1986.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: Commercial Roofing Division (A)." Harvard Business School Case 383-040, September 1982. (Revised August 1985.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: Commercial Roofing Division (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-041, September 1982. (Revised September 1983.) View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (C)." Harvard Business School Case 383-043, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-044, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-045, October 1982. View Details
  • Porter, Michael E., and John R. Wells. "Fiber-Optics Industry (F)." Harvard Business School Supplement 383-046, October 1982. View Details
Areas of Interest
  • competitive advantage
  • competitive strategy
  • strategic change
  • strategy formulation
  • strategy implementation
  • Additional Topics
  • activity-based costing and management
  • balanced scorecard
  • business policy
  • business processes
  • business transformation
  • cognition
  • complexity
  • corporate culture
  • corporate entrepreneurship
  • corporate restructuring
  • corporate strategy
  • corporate values/value systems
  • creativity
  • customer profitability analysis
  • customer relationship management
  • decision-making
  • economic sociology
  • incentives
  • industry evolution
  • industry structure
  • managing innovation
  • networks
  • organizational change and transformation
  • organizational design
  • organizational learning
  • organizational strategy
  • organizational structure
  • self-organizing systems
  • strategic planning
  • strategy
  • technological innovation
  • trust
  • values
  • Industries
  • apparel
  • beauty products
  • biotechnology
  • broadcasting
  • communications
  • computer
  • consulting
  • consumer products
  • credit card
  • digital imaging
  • electronic publishing
  • entertainment
  • fashion
  • financial services
  • media
  • music
  • pharmaceuticals
  • professional services
  • retailing
  • telecommunications
  • television
  • tourism
  • travel
  • Geographies
  • China
  • Europe
  • India
  • United States
In The News

In The News

    • 02 Feb 2017
    • Harvard Business School

    Teaching the Patriot Way to Harvard MBAs

    • 01 Mar 2016
    • The Takeaway

    A Tech Giant Gets Bigger: Inside Amazon's Growing Global Business Strategy

    • 06 Oct 2014
    • HBR Blogs

    Why Tesco’s Strengths Are No Longer Good Enough

    • 06 Aug 2012
    • HBS Working Knowledge

    Strategic Intelligence: Adapt or Die

Areas of Interest

competitive advantage
competitive strategy
strategic change
strategy formulation
strategy implementation
 More

Additional Topics

activity-based costing and management
balanced scorecard
business policy
business processes
business transformation
cognition
complexity
corporate culture
corporate entrepreneurship
corporate restructuring
corporate strategy
corporate values/value systems
creativity
customer profitability analysis
customer relationship management
decision-making
economic sociology
incentives
industry evolution
industry structure
managing innovation
networks
organizational change and transformation
organizational design
organizational learning
organizational strategy
organizational structure
self-organizing systems
strategic planning
strategy
technological innovation
trust
values

Industries

apparel
beauty products
biotechnology
broadcasting
communications
computer
consulting
consumer products
credit card
digital imaging
electronic publishing
entertainment
fashion
financial services
media
music
pharmaceuticals
professional services
retailing
telecommunications
television
tourism
travel

Geographies

China
Europe
India
United States
 Less

In The News

    • 02 Feb 2017
    • Harvard Business School

    Teaching the Patriot Way to Harvard MBAs

    • 01 Mar 2016
    • The Takeaway

    A Tech Giant Gets Bigger: Inside Amazon's Growing Global Business Strategy

    • 06 Oct 2014
    • HBR Blogs

    Why Tesco’s Strengths Are No Longer Good Enough

    • 06 Aug 2012
    • HBS Working Knowledge

    Strategic Intelligence: Adapt or Die

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