Publications

August 1998 (Revised February 1999)
Case

Product Development at Dell Computer Corporation

By: Stefan H. Thomke, Vish V. Krishnan and Ashok Nimgade

Describes how Dell redesigned its new product development process after experiencing a major product setback and a significant decline in firm profits in 1993. Dell's new process is challenged during the development of a new line of portable computers when the incoming... View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Profit; Managerial Roles; Risk Management; Product Development; Business Processes; Problems and Challenges; Risk and Uncertainty; Hardware; Computer Industry

1998
Chapter

Trust and Organizational Learning

By: B. Moingeon and A. Edmondson

Keywords: Trust; Organizational Change and Adaptation

Article

Modes of Experimentation: An Innovation Process - and Competitive - Variable

By: S. Thomke, E. von Hippel and R. Franke

Keywords: Innovation and Invention; Competition

June 1998 (Revised April 2000)
Case

GM Powertrain

By: Amy C. Edmondson and Mikelle Eastley

Discusses a young MBA plant manager who is improving the operations of a small General Motors components plant in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At 29 years old, Joe Hinrichs is the youngest plant manager at GM, and in his new assignment, he is faced with the daunting... View Details

Keywords: Service Operations; Labor Unions; Problems and Challenges; Technological Innovation; Change Management; Machinery and Machining; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; United States

June 1998
Article

Managing Experimentation in the Design of New Products

By: S. Thomke

Keywords: Design; Product; Management

May 1998
Teaching Note

Concept of Operations Strategy,The TN

By: Gary P. Pisano

Teaching Note for instructors in teaching Operations Strategy. View Details

Keywords: Operations; Teaching; Strategy

May 1998 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Merchandising at Nine West Retail Stores

By: Ananth Raman and Colin S Welch

Describes the merchandising decision process (organization, structure, and incentives) at Nine West retail stores, a large footwear retailer in the United States. Also describes changes currently occurring at Nine West and thus provides a context in which students can... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Structure; Situation or Environment; Motivation and Incentives; Decision Making; Change; Budgets and Budgeting; Forecasting and Prediction; Brands and Branding; Marketing Strategy; Product Marketing; Retail Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; United States

May 1998
Article

Market Structure, Innovation and Vertical Product Differentiation

By: Shane Greenstein and Garey Ramey

We reassess Arrow's (1962) [Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Invention, in NBER, The Rate and Direction of Innovative Activity (Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ)] results concerning the effect of market structure on the returns from process... View Details

Keywords: Product; Market Design; Innovation and Invention; Monopoly; Competition

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01 May 1998
Conference Presentation

Rapid Learning and Adaptation in Product Development: An Empirical Study of the Internet Software Industry

By: Alan MacCormack, M. Iansiti and R Verganti

Keywords: Learning; Product Development; Software; Computer Industry; Information Technology Industry; Technology Industry

Article

Simulation, Learning and R&D Performance: Evidence from Automotive Development

By: S. Thomke

Keywords: Learning; Research and Development; Performance

April 1998
Case

Katie Burke (A)

By: Myra M. Hart, Marco Iansiti and Barbara Feinberg

Follows the career of Katie Burke, HBS MBA 1995. Offers the opportunity to discuss a variety of issues, including innovation, software development, entrepreneurship, new venture design, and career choices. View Details

Keywords: Information Technology; Entrepreneurship; Personal Development and Career; Business Startups; Innovation and Invention

April 1998
Case

Katie Burke (B)

By: Myra M. Hart, Marco Iansiti and Barbara Feinberg

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Entrepreneurship

April 1998 (Revised August 2002)
Teaching Note

Hamptonshire Express TN

By: V.G. Narayanan and Ananth Raman

Teaching Note for (9-698-053). View Details

4 Apr 1998
Conference Presentation

Responding to Changing Customer Needs: The Design of a Flexible Development Process

By: Alan MacCormack

Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Design; Production

April 1998 (Revised November 1999)
Case

CitySoft, Inc.

By: Myra M. Hart, Marco Iansiti, Andrea H. Chermayeff and Diana S. Gardner

Two entrepreneurs are discussing how to scale-up their new company. They face a variety of issues, ranging from hiring and training to strategy and focus. View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Business Strategy; Business Growth and Maturation; Selection and Staffing; Internet; Web Services Industry

April 1998
Case

X-IT Products, LLC

By: Marco Iansiti, Myra M. Hart and Barbara Feinberg

Two entrepreneurs, Andrew Ive and Aldo DiBerlardino, are poised to launch their first product. The decisions they make will have a crucial impact on the future of their company. View Details

Keywords: Forecasting and Prediction; Entrepreneurship; Product Launch; Outcome or Result

March 1998 (Revised August 1998)
Case

Eutech Cybernetics

By: Marco Iansiti, Myra M. Hart and Matthew J Wallach

Keywords: Information Technology Industry

March 1998 (Revised October 2015)
Case

Hamptonshire Express

By: V. G. Narayanan and Ananth Raman

Presents a series of problems that face a newspaper publisher, including inventory level, effort level, subsidy for unsold inventory, and commission for sales. Each problem is accompanied by one or more spreadsheets. Students must make various operational decisions. View Details

Keywords: Marketing Channels; Motivation and Incentives; Performance; Operations; Problems and Challenges; Decision Making; Sales; Demand and Consumers; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Publishing Industry; United States

1998
Working Paper

Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams

By: Amy C. Edmondson