Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 9, 2025

In 2021, researchers at MIT and McKinsey teamed up to ask more than 100 companies how they were using AI in their operations and to learn what separated the highest-performing companies from the rest. They conducted a similar survey in 2023 to see what had changed.

Payback Period 27

Payback Period Company Maturity McKinsey 27

Strategy Driven

JUNE 8, 2016

Can nuclear plants be operated competitively in today’s market? Since 2013, utility executives have announced the early retirement of twelve reactors and Wall Street estimates reveal another dozen to be at risk; raising the question: Can nuclear plants be operated competitively in today’s market? For over 30 years, U.S.

Payback Period 50

Payback Period Power Chief Executive Officer Supply Chain 50

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

But amidst a seemingly scripted set of responses on Walmart's supply chain and operational greening efforts, the discussion took an interesting turn. It also recognizes that, in the meantime, operational managers will gain valuable experience and knowledge about how to optimize the new power systems.

ROI 15

ROI IRR Power Payback Period 15

Harvard Business Review

MAY 13, 2014

Under CEO Jack Welch in the 1980s and 1990s, they adopted operational efficiency approaches (“ Workout ,” “Six Sigma,” and “Lean”) that reinforced their success and that many companies emulated. General Electric Operations' GE is an icon of management best practices. They have branded it “FastWorks.”

Six Sigma 11

Six Sigma Incubator Payback Period Ries 11

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 29, 2018

operating rooms, recovery floors, emergency department), and ancillary departments (e.g., Consider, for example, a surgical patient who starts in the pre-operative area, then moves to the operating room, the post-anesthesia care unit, and the inpatient floor, with occasional side trips for imaging, testing, and physical therapy.

Budgeting 8

Budgeting System Innovation Payback Period 8

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 8, 2018

Business students have traditionally considered net present value, payback period, and hurdle rates as necessary tools to determine which project to select. Furthermore, the operating managers cannot take their eyes off day-to-day operations to focus on innovation. Traditional companies therefore rely on two strategies.

Report 8

Report GAAP Net Present Value CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 24, 2015

In our experience, well-designed retrofits can deliver 20%-50% energy savings with fast payback periods. But managing energy use—whether across a full corporation or just a single property—is as important as managing any other class of operating costs.

Management 8

Management Payback Period Energy Supply Chain 8