Harvard Business Review Case Study Analysis: Leadership and Strategy

This document presents a synopsis and analysis of two case studies. The first case, "Humor or Harassment," examines a situation where an employee feels discriminated against due to inappropriate workplace humor, highlighting the perspectives of different experts and the complexities of cultural understanding. The second case, "The Big Idea - The Performance Frontier," discusses how companies can integrate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues into their strategies to benefit stakeholders and improve financial performance. The analysis covers the trade-offs involved, the importance of aligning ESG issues with business strategy, and the need to minimize barriers to implementation. The document references articles from the Harvard Business Review and explores the practical application of leadership and management principles in addressing ethical dilemmas and driving sustainable business practices.

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Table of Contents
Case Study 1 – Humour or Harassment.................................................................................................3
Case Study 2 – The Big Idea- The Performance Frontier – innovating for a Sustainability Strategies....4
References.............................................................................................................................................5

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Case-Study 1
This article relates to the problem faced by an employee on personal jokes or remarks. Sema,
a young Turkish married woman who relocated to Europe, was subjected to humour and fun
because of petite look in new office because of her senior Jack. Jack have good reputation in
company and is known for his informal behaviour which ease the pressure of the team during
stressed situation. Sema feels discriminated and harassed by Jack’s humour on her body type
and nationality.
Here two experts, Gina and Hans Cleton have shared their views. Gina feels that Sema should
approach to Head HR and complain about Jacks behaviour as it comes under discrimination
whereas Hans thinks Sema overreacted in the situation. As she is from different culture it’s
difficult for her to understand Jack’s English humour. The article concludes that how one
should take office-humour if cross a boundary (Bevelander, Page and Nolan, 2015).

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Case-Study 2
The article explains the method that how ESG (environment, social and governance) issues
cane to strategically materialise benefitting the company, its stakeholders, employees and
society. It discusses the sustainable programs adopted by the various multinational those
failed to lure the stakeholders resulting in no profit or awards.
In the case study, trade-offs are examined and based on this framework is created for creating
sustainable strategies which helps in finance and ESG performance. The important things are
the best ESG issues to materialize the impact on shareholder, improvement in product
innovation and process. These strategies will impact on financial profits and be shared with
everyone to win rewards. Company needs to minimize its barriers like incentives, expertise
with time and training. This process can bring change in many sustainable processes which
are helpful for environment and nature as well for people by adding profits in their profits
(Eccles and Serafeim, 2013).

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References
Bevelander, D., Page, M. and Nolan, J. (2015). Case Study: Humor or Harassment. Harward
Business Review.
Eccles, R. and Serafeim, G. (2013). The Big Idea - the performance frontier - innovating for
sustainable strategies. Harvard Business Review.