Harvard Business Review

Description of publication

Despite its academic roots, Harvard Business Review (HBR) has matured into an excellent market magazine (i.e., it has colorful articles in both senses of the word, editorials, advertisements, book reviews, etc.). It is very useful for perusing erudite topics and issues of recent interest in the business environment. Its layout, language, and format are done in a user-friendly and pleasing manner.
If the $13.50 per copy (as of this date) at the newsstand puts you off, you should know that it costs just about double overseas, where you obviously get some very serious readers. The bottom line, of course, is whether you should spend the money in any case (you get two months' worth...since it comes out once every two months). You can find HBR in practically every library in the developed world-the rest is up to you.
Today HBR has a very nice layout compared to the old stodgy times. One particularly useful attribute is the comprehensive table of contents. Each article, department, and special piece in the magazine is annotated to brief the reader on what may be interesting and what is not. Besides the articles, there are four "departments": (1) "HBR Case Study," which creates a fictitious company and its problems, and then solicits some reactions by experts offering solutions; (2) "Thinking About..." identifies a business issue and analyzes it; (3) "Ideas at Work," discusses the practical applications of concepts (e.g., getting the most out of your product development process); and (4) "Books in Review," which reviews a couple of recent books relating to business or economics. One unique section, not listed as one of the departments, is called "Executive Summaries" and provides a brief overview of each article in that particular issue of HBR, as well as information on ordering reprints and what to expect in the next issue. There are also special topics, for example, information on the McKinsey awards or something called, "Strategic Humor." Throw in the letters to the editor and you have it!

If you really like what you read and wish to get a reprint, call: (617) 496-1449 or (800) 988-0886, which gets you HBR's Customer Service Team.
HBR's relatively new format still has the soul of an academic publication and as such may be courted by writers who seek fame and fortune in one of the world's most prestigious journals. If you are one of those, the HBR editors strongly suggest that you obtain a copy of HBR's "Guidelines for Authors" before submitting manuscripts. To obtain a copy, write: The Editor, Harvard Business Review, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163 or fax (617) 495-9933 or e-mail hbr_editorial@cchbspub.harvard.edu.

This is good material. If you want to be a professional manager, you better get used to reading professional literature that will help train and educate you to your job. While we are on the topic of Harvard, I would be remiss in not pointing out that there are two other sources of excellent information: (1) the Harvard Business School Core Collection and (2) the Harvard Business School Teaching Materials Catalog.

The Harvard Business School Core Collection is part of the Baker Library Reference Series. The Core Collection contains a variety of books (no periodicals are included) reflecting the research and teaching interests of the Harvard Business School; included are a selection of graduate textbooks, certain business classics, handbooks, most of the more recent Harvard Business School faculty publications, as well as current business books of general interest. According to the editors, the collection was begun about 20 years ago to enable Baker's patrons to browse easily through a compact, choice selection. Books are added throughout the year, and titles no longer in demand are weeded regularly. It now contains over 3,500 titles. Each entry contains full bibliographic information along with the price. There are four indexes: Geographic, Detailed Subject, Name, and Title. There is also a list of publishers' addresses.

The Harvard Business School Teaching Materials Catalog is for business educators and provides information on such items as case studies (including 200 Stanford case studies and 30 Design Management Institute case studies), videos, Harvard Business Review articles (including 50 California Management Review articles), and Harvard Business School Press books. The catalog contains annotated listings and comprehensive indexes of teaching materials available for purchase from Harvard Business School Press. One other unique service that the Harvard Business School provides is its new Custom Coursebook Series. The Series publishes customizable coursebooks that have been developed to incorporate case studies, background and industry notes, and HBR articles, as well as selected reading from outside sources. At the professor's request, HBS will provide a sample coursebook containing an entire semester of readings. The class can use the entire coursebook, or the professor can select only those readings he or she wishes to use.

Want to Go to Harvard?

If you're interested in going to Harvard, there are a couple of things you may want to know. Costs for 1997-98 tuition and fees were listed as $22,800 and room and board, $7,278; personal expenses, books, supplies, and similar costs averaged $2,624; travel expenses vary. All financial aid awards at Harvard/Radcliffe are based on need. Approximately two-thirds of the undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance.

Undergraduates come from every state and nearly 100 countries. More than 16,000 applicants from both public and private schools compete for 1,600 spots in the freshman class. Application deadlines are November 1 and January 1. Call (617) 495-9707 for transfer admissions.
Harvard and Radcliffe's faculty is an outstanding group of scholars, teachers, and researchers. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences consists of 700 full-time members, all of whom hold a doctorate; they may be assisted by teaching fellows who are doctoral candidates. In a typical course, a faculty member teaches a group of approximately 25 students.

hbr.org
custserv@cchbspub.harvard.edu
CD available

Harvard Business Review

Bimonthly publication
ISSN 0017-8012
For more information, call
Harvard Business Review
Phone: (800) 274-3214
Fax: (617) 496-1029.