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Mexico went through a major political transition in 2000, when Vicente Fox was elected President. Change was in the air throughout the country, and especially in government entities. One such entity was NAFINSA, the national development bank that had a stellar history in the first half of the twentieth century building the Mexican stock exchange and financing public projects. Its more recent history was less impressive, with charges of political influence, inefficiency and major problems in leadership. Fox had special plans for NAFINSA, however, wanting it to be a preeminent player in stimulating small and medium-sized business. He hired Mario Laborin, previously responsible for successful management of a private sector bank in Mexico, to turn NAFINSA around and advance this new policy mandate. The case, in two parts, centers on the approach Laborin and his team took to address this challenge. It intends to provoke discussion about the role of strategic management in complex contexts, the way different technical interventions can be used to facilitate change, and the question about where money should come from to facilitate change processes. HKS Case Number 1918.0

Mexico went through a major political transition in 2000, when Vicente Fox was elected President. Change was in the air throughout the country, and especially in government entities. One such entity was NAFINSA, the national development bank that had a stellar history in the first half of the twentieth century building the Mexican stock exchange and financing public projects. Its more recent history was less impressive, with charges of political influence, inefficiency and major problems in leadership. Fox had special plans for NAFINSA, however, wanting it to be a preeminent player in stimulating small and medium-sized business. He hired Mario Laborin, previously responsible for successful management of a private sector bank in Mexico, to turn NAFINSA around and advance this new policy mandate. The case, in two parts, centers on the approach Laborin and his team took to address this challenge. It intends to provoke discussion about the role of strategic management in complex contexts, the way different technical interventions can be used to facilitate change, and the question about where money should come from to facilitate change processes. HKS Case Number 1919.0

Fundescola is an educational reform introduced in Brazil in the first decade of the 21st century. It was introduced after Brazil's successful educational access reforms in the 1990s led to skyrocketing enrollment rates, leaving schools unprepared and under-resourced. This led to problems with education quality, especially in poorer communities and poorer states in the North-East. Fundescola was developed by the Federal Government and the World Bank in response. It blended decentralization of funds to schools with the adoption of various new management practices-like strategic planning-to make the schools more effective in providing education. The intervention was subjected to various World Bank evaluations and generally presented as a success. HKS Case Number 1928.1

Fundescola is an educational reform introduced in Brazil in the first decade of the 21st century. It was introduced after Brazil's successful educational access reforms in the 1990s led to skyrocketing enrollment rates, leaving schools unprepared and under-resourced. This led to problems with education quality, especially in poorer communities and poorer states in the North-East. Fundescola was developed by the Federal Government and the World Bank in response. It blended decentralization of funds to schools with the adoption of various new management practices-like strategic planning-to make the schools more effective in providing education. The intervention was subjected to various World Bank evaluations and generally presented as a success. HKS Case Number 1928.0

John Mwa is the newly appointed head of the Nomburan Revenue Agency (NRA), tasked by incoming President Orelio with improving revenue collections in the African nation of Nomburo. This case discusses how he goes about reaching performance targets set by the president, albeit facing constraints to do so. Unfortunately, some of the methods he employs to overcome constraints test the limits of political support and authorization. Mwa finds himself in trouble with opposition party members, procurement commissions, the president's coalition members, and even his own staff. It is a case that instructors can use to teach about the many dimensions of organizational effectiveness, the dangers of narrow performance focus in organizations, and the complexities of performing in constrained environments. It is particularly useful for instructors teaching about management in a developing country context and about revenue collection. HKS Case Number 1934.0

This short case is intended as a vehicle instructors can use to introduce cases to a management or leadership class and to start a discussion about what organizational effectiveness looks like. The case reviews the experiences of two different managers of top English soccer teams. Students must use the information provided to advise the boards of these teams about whether the two managers deserve to be sacked. Information in the first part of the case provides information about team performance (wins and losses), manager popularity, and other factors that influence perspectives on effectiveness. The second part of the case shows decisions about who was actually sacked, which may surprise some. The two parts together allow for an interesting discussion about what organizational effectiveness is really about. HKS Case Number 1933.0

This sequel is a follow-up to a short case intended as a vehicle instructors can use to introduce cases to a management or leadership class, and to start a discussion about what organizational 'effectiveness' looks like. The case reviews experience of two different managers in top English soccer teams. Students must use the information provided to advise the boards of these teams about whether the two managers deserve to be 'sacked'. Information in the first part of the case provides information about team performance (wins and losses), manager popularity, and such factors that influence perspectives on effectiveness. The second part of the case shows decisions about who was actually 'sacked' which may surprise some. The two parts together allow for an interesting discussion about what organizational 'effectiveness' is really about. HKS Case Number 1933.1