Harvard Business

JUNE 7, 2017

Ronald Coase nailed it back in 1937 when he identified scalable efficiency as the key driver of the growth of large institutions. Scalable efficiency works best in stable environments that are not evolving rapidly. Scalable efficiency doesn’t just demand conformity among the individuals within the institution.

Operations 134

Operations Efficiency Productivity Examples 134

Tom Spencer

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Business operations teams play a critical role in the success and growth of both big companies and small startups. Let’s explore the role of business operations teams in greater detail for both big companies and small startups.

Operations 88

Operations Company Efficiency Resources 88

Tom Spencer

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

From telemedicine to wearable devices, health-tech innovations are not only improving patient outcomes but also making healthcare more accessible and efficient. Big data analytics is also being used to optimize hospital operations, such as reducing wait times and improving resource allocation.

Healthcare 78

Healthcare Data Trends Efficiency 78

Tom Spencer

MARCH 28, 2025

And its transforming how businesses operate. LLMs as Infinite Puzzle Solvers Imagine a puzzle master who has studied millions of jigsaw puzzles. From writing assistance to automated data analysis, LLMs enable users to work more efficiently, thereby freeing up time to focus on higher-value tasks. AI isnt coming, its already here.

Productivity 88

Productivity McKinsey Data Training 88

Tom Spencer

OCTOBER 25, 2024

This article delves into the rising importance of ESG metrics, how companies are integrating them into their operations, provides leading examples, and highlights the evolving regulatory landscape. ESG metrics provide a framework for evaluating business performance along three dimensions.

Metrics 78

Metrics Ethics Government Financial 78

Tom Spencer

JULY 28, 2023

By harnessing the potential of AI, companies can optimize the integration and management of clean technologies , leading to increased efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability. Consulting firms play a crucial role in guiding businesses through the integration of AI-powered renewables into their operations.

Operations 78

Operations Energy Data System 78

Harvard Business

APRIL 5, 2017

While a laudable effort in principle, measuring a company’s tendency to make myopic operating and investing decisions is fiendishly complex. But the other indicators probably pick up legitimate differences in how companies in the sample operate, as opposed to whether they are myopic.

Metrics 99

Metrics Study McKinsey Cash Flow 99

Harvard Business

MARCH 1, 2017

Business leaders often think of “efficiency” and “productivity” as synonyms, two sides of the same coin. When it comes to strategy, however, efficiency and productivity are very different. Efficiency is about doing the same with less. Let me explain.

Efficiency 70

Efficiency Productivity Company Talent 70

Harvard Business

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

By replacing rules-of-thumb and gut feeling with precise science rooted in biology, we believe social media scheduling can not only be more cost-efficient, but also be a strong part of content platforms’ profitability. Putting an Ad Hoc Strategy to the Test.

Media 132

Media Study Advertising Sports 132

Progressus

MAY 24, 2024

Milgro has a rich history of… The post Milgro Nursery Plants the Seed for Continual Operational Efficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Velosio SilverLeaf appeared first on Velosio.

Efficiency 52

Efficiency Operations Retail Research 52

Tom Spencer

JUNE 9, 2023

In the digital age, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to gain a competitive edge and streamline their operations. From enhancing customer experiences to optimizing decision-making processes, AI is reshaping the way businesses operate and opening up new possibilities for growth.

Data 147

Data Operations Efficiency System 147

Harvard Business

MAY 8, 2018

Prior studies have two common methodological limitations. Our research , which focused on CEO succession in the American health care system, examined the impact of CEO succession on productivity and efficiency. So which CEOs are “better”? Finally, we looked for a large enough set of organizations. Enter the U.S.

Study 71

Study Productivity Efficiency Analysis 71

Tom Spencer

APRIL 12, 2024

Whether you are in consulting, strategy, operations, or product management, the ability to manage meetings effectively is a crucial skill that can significantly impact the success of your endeavors. Keeping participant numbers limited to those who are essential to the discussion is crucial for efficiency.

Meeting 143

Meeting Productivity Management How To 143

Harvard Business

JULY 9, 2018

But it’s particularly difficult for large, traditional firms , especially those which operate in consolidated, non-growth industries (think pulp and paper, steel, airlines) and which are often located away from the metropolitan areas where data scientists live. There were no processes in place to share the learning.

Talent 116

Talent Recruiting Recruitment Boston Consulting Group 116

Harvard Business

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Small startup firms are already developing proprietary technologies — such as machine vision, deep learning, and other innovations —– that could help large investors evaluate opportunities and risks with far greater accuracy and efficiency than was previously possible.

Operations 70

Operations Finance Media Financial 70

Harvard Business

MAY 25, 2016

Our goal in this article is to offer specific, real-world case studies to show how big data has provided value for companies that have worked with Microsoft’s analytics teams. Operations in a Connected World. Smoothly operating supply chains are vital for stable profits. Insight Center. Sponsored by Accenture.

Data 132

Data Advertising Operations Case Study 132

Harvard Business

MAY 3, 2016

Although machine-reengineering is new, companies are already seeing striking results with it, particularly in boosts to speed and efficiency. Studying 168 early adopters, we’ve seen speed improvements of two times or more for most business processes — and some organizations are reporting speed improvements of 10 times or more.

Efficiency 70

Efficiency Company Data Engineering 70

Harvard Business

MARCH 15, 2018

” In a two-part study, we observed that venture capitalists adopt markedly different stereotypical notions of female and male entrepreneurs during their decision-making processes. Before presenting our study, some context is helpful. This is one of the most common beliefs among the VCs we studied.

Data 129

Data Real Estate Finance Financial 129

Brimstone Consulting

MARCH 29, 2022

CASE STUDY. The STAP helped the leadership team increase trust, establish operating mechanisms, and to unify the group around a single strategic view of the division and its future. Download Case Study. Agile strategy leads to 220% increase in revenue.

Agile 96

Agile Strategy Strategy Strategy& 96

Harvard Business

OCTOBER 6, 2016

In a Deloitte study of 7,000 organizations this year, 89% of executives rated “ strengthening the leadership pipeline ” an urgent issue. To explain why, I’ll share some findings from a study my colleagues and I just completed at Deloitte. Paul Garbett for HBR. Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders.

Leadership 133

Leadership Deloitte Culture Pharmaceuticals 133

Tom Spencer

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

ECONOMICS is the study of how individuals, firms and government make decisions to manage scarce resources. Governments can sometimes improve market outcomes: Sometimes a market may fail to allocate resources efficiently, and government regulation can be used to improve the outcome. Mankiw’s 10 Principles of Economics.

Consulting 128

Consulting Government Resources Case Interview 128

Harvard Business

MARCH 1, 2018

The constantly fluctuating number of barrels of crude available from nimble shale operations is a primary driver, but so are the long-term impact of increased fuel efficiency and the fits and starts of the global transition away from fossil fuels on world demand. These increasingly efficient survivors now represent half of U.S.

Cash Flow 128

Cash Flow Transportation Energy Balance Sheet 128

Management Consulted

AUGUST 1, 2013

After building a successful model in financial services, Oliver Wyman expanded to offer pure strategy consulting services to non-financial services groups and now has 2 internal divisions that operate relatively independently. Strategic Information Technology and Operations. Oliver Wyman became own firm again. Mercer buys Oliver Wyman.

Oliver Wyman 201

Oliver Wyman Interviews Mercer NERA Economic Consulting 201

Harvard Business

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

While our study assessed the impact of low literacy on administrative expenses, two decades of research has documented the impact of literacy on the overall health economy — some estimate the cost to add up to as much as $238 billion, or 17%, of all U.S. health expenditures. Amazon and other digital retailers have done just that.

System 123

System Insurance Insurance Education 123

Harvard Business

MAY 16, 2017

This was Sasha’s summary: Department Administrator – Efficiency Expert – Staff Manager - Crisis Handler. Manage and evaluate performance of work-study students and graduate assistants. Initiated contact with Director, staff, students, and faculty to minimize disruption of department’s operations.

Transportation 134

Transportation Real Estate Financial Operations 134

Harvard Business

DECEMBER 8, 2016

Editor's Note This fictionalized case study will appear in a forthcoming issue of Harvard Business Review, along with commentary from experts and readers. If you’d like your comment to be considered for publication, please be sure to include your full name, company or university affiliation, and email address.

Case Study 70

Case Study Case Studies Study Construction 70

Harvard Business

AUGUST 12, 2016

Editor's Note This fictionalized case study will appear in a forthcoming issue of Harvard Business Review, along with commentary from experts and readers. That wasn’t a disaster—the farm had invested in wells to tap groundwater and drip irrigation to use the water efficiently—but it was a disappointment.

Case Study 70

Case Study Case Studies Study Operations 70

Harvard Business

OCTOBER 10, 2017

Bernstein studied assembly-line performance at a company he called “Precision.” industries, and a review of hundreds of academic studies on the psychology of human performance, shows that most leaders and organizations tend to focus on just one type of performance. We made a number of operational changes to the call center.

Metrics 133

Metrics Engineering Operations Sales 133

Harvard Business

AUGUST 1, 2016

An estimated 21% of carbon emissions in the United States are attributable to companies, and yet to date there is scant research on how to make firm operations more efficient in terms of reducing pollution. million reduction in fuel costs for the firm over the eight-month study period.

Efficiency 70

Efficiency Metrics Study Groups 70

Harvard Business

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

In a study of nearly 250 manufacturers over a 10-year period (2005–2015), we found that 78% of firms had improved their ability to fill their total actual market demand but had lost control over costs. All kinds of companies had failed at operational flexibility. Hardly a desirable position. We found three common traits.

Automotive 70

Automotive Operations Efficiency Tools 70

Harvard Business

MAY 18, 2018

Study after study puts the failure rate closer to 70-90%. To infuse change agility into your culture, mid- and front-line leaders — who are closest to the markets, customers, and daily operations — need to be encouraged and incented to see opportunities in what they do every day. Patrizia Savarese/Getty Images.

Agile 135

Agile Efficiency Culture Trends 135

Harvard Business

AUGUST 8, 2018

In our global study of more than 1,000 companies at the forefront of implementing AI systems, we have found that the greatest performance gains are achieved not when machines are used to replace employees, but when they are deployed to work alongside them. How companies are using artificial intelligence in their business operations.

Engineering 130

Engineering Training Training Analysis 130

Harvard Business

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Tight cultures have an efficient orderliness and reassuring predictability, but are less adaptable. Rooted firmly in the manufacturing industry, Amazon has defined processes to maximize its efficiency. Employees operate within a hierarchy and are well aware of the guidelines that dictate their behavior.

Culture 132

Culture Operations Efficiency Company 132

Harvard Business

APRIL 18, 2017

Some studies have found that diversity can erode trust among individuals and social cohesion within societies. Higher diversity is therefore associated with lower productivity, which inhibits the capacity of the economy to operate efficiently. But what about at the national level?

Construction 127

Construction Culture Policies Development 127

BCG

MAY 9, 2016

BCG’s Retail-Banking Excellence benchmarking study (REBEX) profiles the operational and digital practices and performance of 20 of the world’s leading retail banks, a group of 40 institutions chosen for their size and the strength of their capabilities. At the heart of the benchmarking are core operational metrics.

Retail 40

Retail Operations Banking Benchmarking 40

Harvard Business

JUNE 6, 2018

As an experienced manager, he knew that his manufacturing and operation division’s success depended on getting creative ideas from his employees. As you might expect, our studies have revealed that encouraging creativity can backfire if employees lack the resources, support, or mechanisms to develop and implement their ideas.

How To 131

How To System Resources Development 131

Harvard Business

AUGUST 28, 2017

And AI success stories are becoming more numerous and diverse, from Amazon reaping operational efficiencies using its AI-powered Kiva warehouse robots, to GE keeping its industrial equipment running by leveraging AI for predictive maintenance. Make no mistake: The next digital frontier is here, and it’s AI.

Survey 134

Survey Tools Industry Automotive 134