A little over a week ago, Dean of Harvard Business School (HBS) Kim B. Clark '74 was explaining to a Sanders Theatre audience how technology advances business education.

He presented a practice management simulation in which a woman told her boss that she wouldn't attend a meeting since it wasn't a productive use of her time.

There were three ways to deal with her: A) wait until she did it again and then confront her about it B) bite the bullet and talk to her or C) talk to her immediate superior about how to handle the situation.

Clark turned to Provost Harvey V. Fineberg '67, who was sitting in the front row, and asked him to pick the solution.

Fineberg chose B, and Clark played out the result. Sanders rocked with laughter as the simulation showed the tactless boss offending her employee, telling her she had a reputation for not being a collaborator.

"Now, as you can see," Clark joked with the audience, "Harvey's in the soup."

For some in the audience, it was more than a little amusing to watch Clark and Fineberg joshing about management style. The two are currently considered the top contenders to succeed their outgoing boss, President Neil L. Rudenstine.

Indeed, for the next year, Fineberg and Clark are in the proverbial soup--already under scrutiny by the Harvard community and the nation as the University tries to equip itself for the post-Rudenstine era.