Usted es me todos: Best of the Issue: A Marvel-ous Strategy

June 18, 2019

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A Marvel-ous Strategy

From Amy Bernstein
Editor, Harvard Business Review

Did you love Black Panther? So did I. And Captain Marvel. And Iron Man. It’s remarkable what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has accomplished with its 20-plus movies: Each stands on its own as stylish, original entertainment, and all have done well at the box office. That’s not exactly an easy feat to pull off — six of the eight worst-performing films in 2017 were meant to launch franchises. So how does Marvel continue to pump out hits without losing steam? As Spencer Harrison, Arne Carlsen, and Miha Škerlavaj explain in their new magazine feature, “Marvel’s Blockbuster Machine,” the studio has found a way to balance continuity and renewal. It hires directors who aren’t superhero specialists, which helps them challenge genre formulas, while also drawing from a stable of well-developed characters. (Speaking of which, do not miss the fantastic graphic in the article, showing which heroes have appeared in each film.)

If you’re a working parent, you've probably grappled with what Daisy Wademan Dowling describes as "the enormous task, both logistical and emotional, of earning a living and building a career while being an engaged and loving mother or father." In “A Working Parent’s Survival Guide,” Dowling identifies five sources of pressure and difficulty: transitions (when the status quo has been upended and you're scrambling to adapt), practicalities (logistical headaches), communication (asking for flex arrangements or negotiating a pickup schedule), loss (missing your baby's first steps while you were at work), and identity (are you hard-charging or nurturing?). She then offers sensible ideas for tackling them.

Most office cultures are pretty good at celebrating birthdays and new babies. But when a colleague experiences the death of a relative or friend, we usually respond with awkward silence. In “When a Colleague Is Grieving,” Gianpiero Petriglieri and Sally Maitlis explore the challenge we face in helping coworkers return to work. They walk us through the three phases of grief — anger, despair, and the slow reinvestment in life — and offer guidance on being compassionate and supportive to our colleagues who are in pain.

Thanks for reading,
Amy Bernstein

In the Issue:

Marvel's Blockbuster Machine

by Spencer Harrison et al.

Marvel Studios has redefined the franchise movie, in part by finding the right balance between creating innovative films and retaining enough continuity to make them all recognizably part of a coherent family. Analysis of interviews with over 300 producers, directors, and writers, plus 140 reviews from leading critics, reveals four principles that led to the studio's success: selecting for experienced inexperience, leveraging a stable core, continually challenging the formula, and cultivating customers' curiosity.

A Working Parent's Survival Guide

by Daisy Wademan Dowling

If you're passionate about your career — and about being a great mom or dad — you’re facing an ongoing struggle for at least 18 years. But you can learn techniques to reduce the stress and successfully balance your professional and family roles. These include rehearsing to prepare for transitions; framing your working-parent messages effectively; and using something called “today plus 20 years” thinking to put losses into perspective.

When a Colleague Is Grieving

by Gianpiero Petriglieri and Sally Maitlis

Grief is a universal human experience, yet workplace culture is often inhospitable to people suffering profound loss. Managers come to work prepared to celebrate births and birthdays, and even to handle illnesses, but when it comes to death, they fall silent and avert their gaze. This article provides guidance on how to understand the phases a grieving coworker will likely experience and the most helpful responses to each.