Citing Harvard Business Review Articles: A Definitive Guide

So, you’ve been delving into the insightful world of the Harvard Business Review (HBR) and now you need to give credit where it’s due? Let’s cut to the chase: Citing an HBR article requires understanding which citation style you’re using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and then meticulously applying its specific rules. Each style has its nuances regarding author order, title formatting, publication dates, and retrieval information.

Mastering Citation Styles for HBR Articles

The key to properly citing an HBR article lies in adapting the general rules of your chosen citation style to the specific characteristics of the article. HBR often features a unique blend of practical advice, academic rigor, and sometimes, even interviews or case studies. Here’s a breakdown of the most common styles and how they handle HBR citations.

APA Style: Precision and Clarity

APA (American Psychological Association) style emphasizes clarity and authority. Here’s how you’d generally cite an HBR article in APA 7th edition:

Journal Article (Print):

• Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Article title. Harvard Business Review, Volume(Issue), Page numbers.

Example:

• Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 89(1/2), 62-77.

Journal Article (Online):

• Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Article title. Harvard Business Review, Volume(Issue), Page numbers. Retrieved from URL

Example:

• Gino, F., & Pisano, G. P. (2011). Why leaders don’t learn from success. Harvard Business Review, 89(4), 68-74. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/04/why-leaders-dont-learn-from-success

Important Considerations for APA:

• Italicize the journal title (Harvard Business Review) and the volume number.
• Include the issue number in parentheses immediately after the volume number.
• Include the page range for the article.
• If the article is retrieved online, include the URL at the end of the citation.
• For HBR articles found in databases, you generally don’t need to include the database name.

MLA Style: Elegance and Accessibility

MLA (Modern Language Association) style prioritizes clarity and ease of reference. Here’s how you might cite an HBR article in MLA 9th edition:

Journal Article (Print):

• Author, Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Harvard Business Review, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Page numbers.

Example:

• Christensen, Clayton M., et al. “How Will You Measure Your Life?” Harvard Business Review, vol. 90, no. 7/8, 2012, pp. 46-51.

Journal Article (Online):

• Author, Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Harvard Business Review, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Page numbers. Name of Website, URL.

Example:

• Grant, Adam. “There Are Two Kinds of Giving. Which One Are You?” Harvard Business Review, vol. 91, no. 3, 2013, pp. 86-93. Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2013/03/there-are-two-kinds-of-giving.

Key Points for MLA:

• Put the author’s last name first, followed by a comma and their first name.
• Enclose the article title in quotation marks.
• Italicize the journal title (Harvard Business Review).
• Include “vol.” before the volume number and “no.” before the issue number.
• If accessed online, include the name of the website (typically Harvard Business Review) followed by the URL.

Chicago Style: Depth and Precision

Chicago style (specifically, the Notes and Bibliography system) is known for its detailed approach. Here’s how you might cite an HBR article in Chicago 17th edition:

Journal Article (Print):

• Author, First Name Last Name. “Article Title.” Harvard Business Review Volume, no. Issue (Year): Page numbers.

Example (Bibliography):

• Collins, Jim. “Turning Goals into Results: The Power of Catalytic Mechanisms.” Harvard Business Review 77, no. 4 (1999): 70-79.

Journal Article (Online):

• Author, First Name Last Name. “Article Title.” Harvard Business Review Volume, no. Issue (Year): Page numbers. URL.

Example (Bibliography):

• Aguinis, Herman, and Tatiana Gavrilova Aguilar. “Testing What We Teach: Experimental Designs for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.” Management Learning & Education 21, no. 1 (2022): 105-28. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2021.0234.

In-Text Citations (Chicago):

• Shortened form (Author, “Article Title,” Page Number).

Important Notes for Chicago:

• The bibliography entry will have the author’s name in “Last Name, First Name” format.
• The journal title (Harvard Business Review) is italicized.
• The issue number follows the volume number, separated by “no.”
• The year of publication is enclosed in parentheses.
• For online versions, include the URL or DOI.
• In the notes, you’ll typically use a shortened form of the citation.

FAQs: Deep Dive into HBR Citation Specifics

Here are some frequently asked questions that delve deeper into the intricacies of citing Harvard Business Review articles, ensuring you’re covered in various scenarios:

1. What if an HBR article has more than three authors?

• APA: For three or more authors, list the first author followed by “et al.” (e.g., Smith et al., 2023). In the reference list, include all authors if there are 20 or fewer. If there are more than 20, list the first 19 followed by an ellipsis (…) and then the last author.
• MLA: List only the first author followed by “et al.” (e.g., Johnson et al.).
• Chicago: List all authors in the bibliography. In subsequent notes, use “Author, et al.”

2. How do I cite an HBR article that’s a case study?

• Treat it like a regular journal article but be sure the title accurately reflects it’s a case study. The citation format remains the same as mentioned before, adapted to your chosen style. Include the case study number if available.

3. What if the HBR article doesn’t have an author?

• Start the citation with the article title. The rest of the format remains the same, with the title taking the place of the author’s name.

4. How do I cite an HBR article from a database like EBSCOhost or ProQuest?

• APA: No need to include the database name. Just provide the URL from the HBR website if available. If a DOI is available, use that instead of the URL.
• MLA: Similar to APA, you can usually skip the database name. If the article is exclusively available through the database, list the database name in italics after the journal information.
• Chicago: Similar to APA, include the DOI if available, otherwise include the URL.

5. How do I cite an HBR blog post?

• Adapt the citation style for a web page or blog post.

  • APA: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of post. Blog Name. URL
  • MLA: Author, Last Name, First Name. “Title of Post.” Blog Name, Date Published, URL.
  • Chicago: Author, First Name Last Name. “Title of Post.” Blog Name, Date Published. URL.

6. What about citing HBR content found on LinkedIn or other social media platforms?

• Cite it as a social media post.

  • APA: Author or Account Name. (Year, Month Day). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Description of source]. Platform Name. URL
  • MLA: Author or Account Name [Username]. “Content of Post.” Platform Name, Date, Time, URL.
  • Chicago: Author or Account Name. “Content of Post.” Platform Name, Date, Time. URL.

7. How should I handle in-text citations for HBR articles?

• APA: (Author, Year, p. Page number) or (Author, Year) if referring to the whole article.
• MLA: (Author Last Name, Page Number)
• Chicago: Use a shortened form of the citation in the notes (e.g., Author, “Article Title,” Page Number).

8. What if an HBR article has a DOI (Digital Object Identifier)?

• Always use the DOI if available. It’s a persistent link that guarantees access to the article, even if the URL changes. Include it in your citation according to your chosen style.

9. Is it necessary to include the “Retrieved from” date when citing online HBR articles?

• APA: Not generally required unless the content is likely to change (like a wiki).
• MLA: Not typically required.
• Chicago: Not required.

10. How do I cite an interview published in HBR?

• Treat it as a contribution to a periodical. The format is similar to a regular article citation. Make sure the title clearly indicates it’s an interview.

11. What if I am citing the HBR website, rather than an article?

• Cite the website in the same way as any website, according to your chosen style. Be sure to include the URL and the date you accessed the site.

12. How do I handle citing HBR articles in different languages?

• Provide the citation in the original language. You can include an English translation of the title in brackets if needed.

By understanding these guidelines and adapting them to the nuances of your specific HBR source and citation style, you’ll ensure accuracy and academic integrity in your work. Now go forth and cite with confidence!