Research &
Resources

Based on real-world public-sector labor negotiations in modern America, this three year simulation explores collective bargaining via a spectrum of coalitions including state representatives, teachers, and facilitators.

The overarching learning objectives of this case are designed to help participants explore and understand 1) why to use data; 2) how to use data; and 3) what to do to become—and remain—a more informed city hall.

The overarching learning objective of this case is to help senior leaders in government understand how to build data-analytic capabilities designed to tackle tough urban problems that require a...

Explores how cross-boundary collaboration mechanisms and different leadership styles enabled the city of Bilbao’s revival from a deep economic, political, and social crisis.

This case explores tensions between working to achieve a prescribed mission and adapting missions and organizational capacities to changing social, political, and practical realities.

Illustrates work by Mayor Daniel Rivera of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and his administration, to use data in decision-making around problem properties in the city.

Explores government innovation through the story of a program started by the United Arab Emirates government to spur projects toward faster, meaningful results.

The overarching learning objective of this case is to help leaders and practitioners examine the challenges of building capabilities for problem-oriented government action.

The overarching learning objective of this case is to help senior leaders in government understand or better diagnose challenges in developing state capabilities, and to introduce a framework for...

The rich details of this case can be used to support a class discussion on a policy issue, a strategic challenge, a leadership dilemma, or a combination of these areas.

This set is designed to teach negotiation concepts using the local, public sector context. Each of the six cases focuses on different negotiation concepts starting with fundamental ideas, such as...

This case is designed as the capstone case in a series of negotiation cases developed by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. It is recommended for participants with some negotiation experience.

This case focuses on the varying sources of power a city leader can leverage when pursuing their policy agenda.

This case focuses on how a well-organized setup and interpersonal strategies can create the necessary conditions to design better deals.

A set of materials designed to help educators and practitioners understand, utilize, and share the core concepts of the public value framework.

This case focuses on how positional bargaining prevents creative deal-making when negotiators fail to understand the interests of other parties.

The case focuses on negotiation concepts applied to a city context, with procurement as the scenario for analysis.

The case introduces basic concepts of negotiation within a procurement context.

These three short cases chronicle city officials leading civic engagement and public participation initiatives in pursuit of public goals. From a variety of positions in city government, the protag...

A set of materials designed to facilitate feedback and advice from peers in an open and psychologically safe environment, inviting greater clarity and focus to challenges that peers face, especially leadership challenges.

The case is designed to help mayors, city leaders, and other public executives think through adaptive leadership challenges with highly sensitive moral dimensions.

This set of materials is designed to help leaders understand and evaluate challenges with highly sensitive moral dimensions. Each of the cases focuses on a city leader forced to make a particular moral choice.

The overarching learning objective of this case is to help senior leaders in government understand how to mobilize resources for important priorities based on public spirit, especially when it...

The case is designed to help mayors, city leaders, and other public executives think through adaptive leadership challenges with highly sensitive moral dimensions.

This set of teaching cases explores the opioid crisis from different angles and perspectives in city government. The premise is that there are no “quick fixes” or technical solutions available...

The case navigates the challenges facing a new task force that needs to collaborate on defining the problem, collaborating effectively, and holding each other accountable.

The case navigates the strategic challenges of implementing change, particularly when introducing innovations that disrupt the status quo.

The case raises questions around how to deliver on a campaign promise when your organization seems to have hit a ceiling in performance improvement.

Focuses on leading collaborative work in cities, through the lens of a Louisville group established by Mayor Greg Fischer and designed to improve educational outcomes.

Highlight key design decisions made in the cases of five different collaborations (in Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Minnesota) to explore how to be effective if/when choosing...

The case is designed to help mayors, city leaders, and other public executives think through adaptive leadership challenges with highly sensitive moral dimensions.

The case is designed to help mayors, city leaders, and other public executives think through adaptive leadership challenges with highly sensitive moral dimensions.

This case is designed to help senior leaders in government better understand the need for adaptive leadership when dealing with crises, and the skills required for this work. In particular, the case...

This case asks students to think about the tasks and challenges associated with mayoral leadership during a major crisis and to consider how this type of leadership differs from overseeing city gov...