Harvard Business School Selects Bill Strickland and Bidwell Training Center for a Fourth Case Study--

The team met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 25th & 26th, 2009.

 

 

 

Pictured left to right:

Michael Zamagias, Zamagias Properties;

Toby Stuart, Harvard Business School;

G. Felda Hardymon, Harvard Business School; Ann Leamon, Harvard Business

School;

Bill Strickland, CEO Manchester Bidwell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The fact that Harvard is doing a 4th case speaks volumes to the viability of the business model and the importance of the MBC brand in the field of social enterprise" Bill Strickland

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toby Stuart, Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, tells Beckham Media why Harvard Business School is conducting their fourth case study on Strickland.

 

 

 

 

 

Beckham: This is the fourth case study Harvard Business School is conducting on Bill Strickland and his program at Bidwell, how and why are you interested in another study? What is the goal of the study?

Stuart: The last version of our case was updated in 2006. We would like an up-to-date version that tracks the progress the team has made in replicating the Bidwell model in other cities.

Beckham: What is so interesting about Bill Strickland to you and your students?

Stuart: Bill Strickland’s story is amazing. He has acquired international recognition for the fantastic work that the Center does in Pittsburgh and he has a bold vision for addressing some of the fundamental problems created by a broken educational system and unacceptable levels of urban poverty.
        
Beckham: What elements will be addressed in your study?

Stuart: The history of Bidwell and the challenges of replicating the model in dozens or even hundreds of additional cities.

Beckham: How will the study be used? What do you hope the outcomes will outline?

Stuart: It will be used as a teaching case that will be taught in the core course on entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School (and we will make it available for use by professors at other universities).
 
Beckham: You mentioned your students are interested in Bill, why do you think that is the case?

Stuart: I have met many business leaders and entrepreneurs from all different sectors of the economy and regions of the world. Simply put, Bill Strickland is one of the most entrepreneurial and inspiring leaders I have encountered. Our students find his story, his philosophy, and his vision to be extraordinarily compelling.