Technology & Operations Management
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- November 2023
- Case
Votorantim: Uniting Family and Business Across Generations
By: Christina R. Wing, Carla Larangeira and Pedro LevindoOver a 105-year span, the Ermírio de Moraes family built Votorantim, one of Latin America’s largest industrial conglomerates, and among Brazil’s topmost businesses, also credited for helping “build” the country over decades. By early 2023, Votorantim included diversified operations in 19 countries worldwide, with a net income above $1 billion. The conglomerate was privately owned by the Ermírio de Moraes family, with its ownership evenly split across four family branches. Over time, the family established a corporate governance structure with separate boards for ownership, business, and family affairs, leaving business operations to a professional management team. At the heart of this governance structure was the family board, viewed by many family members as the “glue and honey” bringing them together. Despite running multiple initiatives, Luciana Domit chair of the family board and a fifth-generation member, acknowledged, it was becoming increasingly hard to get its over 170 family members to spend time together and to engage in the activities they promoted. As the family enlarged and interests diverged, fostering its long-term unity could become more challenging. Were the family board’s current strategies and overall governance structure at Votorantim conducive towards keeping the family united in its values and preserving its legacy? Or would a transformation be needed if the Ermírio de Moraeses were committed to remaining at the forefront of the Votorantim’s governance structure?
- November 2023
- Case
Votorantim: Uniting Family and Business Across Generations
By: Christina R. Wing, Carla Larangeira and Pedro LevindoOver a 105-year span, the Ermírio de Moraes family built Votorantim, one of Latin America’s largest industrial conglomerates, and among Brazil’s topmost businesses, also credited for helping “build” the country over decades. By early 2023, Votorantim included diversified operations in 19 countries worldwide, with a net income above $1 billion. The...
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- 2023
- Working Paper
Toward a Better Understanding of Open Ecosystems: Implications for Policymakers
By: Feng Zhu and Carmelo CennamoThe digital realm is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the emergence of platform business models and the concept of open ecosystems. This paper delves into the intricate nature of ecosystem openness, underscoring the point that the openness of ecosystems must be understood more as a spectrum than a mere binary state. We then discuss the benefits and challenges associated with open ecosystems. The discussion also highlights the role of centralized governance to ensure ecosystems’ sustainable and effective functioning. Furthermore, we discuss our study’s implications in the context of emerging technologies such as large language models, XR, and quantum computing. We conclude by discussing the implications for policymakers.
- 2023
- Working Paper
Toward a Better Understanding of Open Ecosystems: Implications for Policymakers
By: Feng Zhu and Carmelo CennamoThe digital realm is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the emergence of platform business models and the concept of open ecosystems. This paper delves into the intricate nature of ecosystem openness, underscoring the point that the openness of ecosystems must be understood more as a spectrum than a mere binary state. We then...
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- November–December 2023
- Article
Storytelling That Drives Bold Change
By: Frances X. Frei and Anne MorrissWhen tackling urgent organizational problems, leaders usually work hard to identify underlying causes, tap a wide range of knowledge, and experiment with solutions. But once they’ve mapped out a plan, there’s one more crucial step they must take: crafting a story so compelling that it will harness their organizations’ energy and direct it toward change. Drawing on decades of experience helping senior executives lead large-scale transformations, Harvard professor Frei and leadership coach Morriss present an effective way to approach that challenge. They outline four key steps: (1) Understand your story so well that you can describe it in simple terms, (2) honor the past, (3) articulate a persuasive mandate for change, and (4) lay out a rigorous and optimistic path forward. Next you need to get others behind your story. Emotions can bring it to life and help drive employees’ commitment to change. You also should promote your narrative aggressively. Share it wherever the opportunity arises—in speeches, interviews, town hall meetings, one-on-ones—and incorporate it into different formats, from videos to images to guidebooks.
- November–December 2023
- Article
Storytelling That Drives Bold Change
By: Frances X. Frei and Anne MorrissWhen tackling urgent organizational problems, leaders usually work hard to identify underlying causes, tap a wide range of knowledge, and experiment with solutions. But once they’ve mapped out a plan, there’s one more crucial step they must take: crafting a story so compelling that it will harness their organizations’ energy and direct it toward...
About the Unit
As the world of operations has changed, so have interests and priorities within the Unit. Historically, the TOM Unit focused on manufacturing and the development of physical products. Over the past several years, we have expanded our research, course development, and course offerings to encompass new issues in information technology, supply chains, and service industries.
The field of TOM is concerned with the design, management, and improvement of operating systems and processes. As we seek to understand the challenges confronting firms competing in today's demanding environment, the focus of our work has broadened to include the multiple activities comprising a firm's "operating core":
- the multi-function, multi-firm system that includes basic research, design, engineering, product and process development and production of goods and services within individual operating units;
- the networks of information and material flows that tie operating units together and the systems that support these networks;
- the distribution and delivery of goods and services to customers.
Recent Publications
Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview
- November 2023 |
- Background Note |
- Faculty Research
Corporate Climate Targets
- November 2023 |
- Background Note |
- Faculty Research
Votorantim: Uniting Family and Business Across Generations
- November 2023 |
- Case |
- Faculty Research
Toward a Better Understanding of Open Ecosystems: Implications for Policymakers
- 2023 |
- Working Paper |
- Faculty Research
Storytelling That Drives Bold Change
- November–December 2023 |
- Article |
- Harvard Business Review
Keep Your AI Projects on Track
- November–December 2023 |
- Article |
- Harvard Business Review
Federated Electronic Health Records for the European Health Data Space
- November 2023 |
- Article |
- Lancet Digital Health
Open Source Software and Global Entrepreneurship
- November 2023 |
- Article |
- Research Policy
Harvard Business Publishing
Seminars & Conferences
There are no upcoming events.