Publications

Find at Harvard

February 1987 (Revised February 2000)
Case

Polysar Limited

By: Robert L. Simons

Canada's largest chemical company produces and markets butyl rubber in two divisions, each treated as a profit center. The new plant in the North American Division operates below capacity resulting in a significant volume variance and an operating loss. The European... View Details

Keywords: Loss; Profit; Financial Management; Volume; Performance Capacity; Financial Statements; For-Profit Firms; Market Participation; Chemical Industry; Chemical Industry; Canada

05 Jul 2022
Op-Ed

Hear Me Out: Introverts Can Be Loud and You Might Like Microsoft Teams

Novel Approach to Staff Shortages" “The article was interesting and the initial ideas presented by US Foods could help. However, one major way to attract and retain delivery... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

December 2009
Teaching Note

Diageo and East African Breweries Ltd.: Tapping New Markets for Social Good (TN)

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Matthew Bird

Teaching Note for [310010]. View Details

Keywords: Food and Beverage Industry; Kenya; United Kingdom

01 Jul 2016
News

Working in Tension

06 Aug 2018
Research & Ideas

Supersmart Manufacturing Tools are Lowering Prices on TVs, Bulbs, and Solar Panels

the boom in LED manufacturing, Chinese local governments would pay for 100 percent of the cost of the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) tool used to make LEDs, so naturally what followed was a dramatic over-expansion of... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Manufacturing; Electronics

01 Apr 1996
News

Stewards of the Seventh Generation

lowers the risk of infestation, thereby reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Chemicals that are required are delivered in water that circulates and is recycled.... View Details

Keywords: Marguerite Rigoglioso, Garry Emmons, Linda Goodspeed, and Elaine Gottlieb

December 2000
Case

Friona Industries, L.P.

By: Ray A. Goldberg, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis

As the food industry becomes more sophisticated, and as genomics and other factors provide for quality control from the producers to the consumers in the food chain, the beef industry has been one of the last commodity systems to organize the vertical systems to... View Details

Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Customer Value and Value Chain; Food; Management Systems; Supply and Industry; Performance Consistency; Quality; Partners and Partnerships; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry

24 Apr 2019
News

Thailand's Richest Family Is Getting Richer Helping China

October 2013 (Revised January 2015)
Case

Americhem: The Gaylord Division (A-1)

By: David A. Garvin

The Gaylord Division of Americhem, a large chemical company, is in the midst of the first use of a new zero-base budgeting system. The general manager of the division leading the process is experiencing disagreement and conflict among the members of the senior... View Details

Keywords: Budgets and Budgeting; Leadership; Management Practices and Processes; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges

December 1980 (Revised January 1992)
Case

Savannah West

By: William J. Poorvu and John H. Vogel Jr.

Allison Porter, a loan officer for Chemical Bank, must decide whether to make a construction loan on a 216-unit apartment building to be built in Savannah, Georgia. In teaching this case, one begins by looking at the economics, marketing data, etc., of the proposed... View Details

Keywords: Credit; Property; Financing and Loans; Banks and Banking; Housing; Risk Management; Valuation; Real Estate Industry; Banking Industry; Georgia (state, US)

15 Dec 2015
News

The Year in Ideas 2015

Americans Are Ready for GMO Produce J.R. Simplot’s White Russet is unique among potatoes: The flesh doesn’t brown when exposed to air and it resists bruising. For consumers, that means increased convenience—potatoes can be prepped in... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna, Christine Lejeune, Dan Morrell, and April White

28 Nov 2017
Video

Blavatnik Fellow Creates Virtual Brain Biopsy Software

November 2008 (Revised October 2012)
Case

Nestle

By: David E. Bell and Mary Louise Shelman

In April 2008, Paul Bulcke took over as CEO of the world's largest food and beverage company. His predecessor, Peter Brabeck, had delivered 12 years of outstanding results while moving the company toward a new vision of health, nutrition, and wellness. Bulcke's... View Details

Keywords: Globalized Firms and Management; Globalized Markets and Industries; Leadership Style; Growth and Development Strategy; Brands and Branding; Organizational Culture; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry

Career Coach

David Kay

David Kay was the first employee and Director of Communications at UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats). In his 7.5 years there he wore many hats including in PR, operations, business development,... View Details

April 2021 (Revised May 2021)
Case

Kitopi: The Brave New World of Cloud Kitchens

By: Antonio Moreno and Gamze Yucaoglu

The case opens in February 2021 as Mohamad Ballout, co-founder and CEO of Kitopi, a Dubai-based managed cloud kitchen platform, is looking over the company’s 2020 results. Propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery orders had been on the rise globally and dine-in... View Details

Keywords: Cloud Kitchens; Food; Operations; Growth and Development Strategy; Decision Choices and Conditions; Food and Beverage Industry; Middle East; North Africa

July 2008 (Revised March 2010)
Case

McDonald's Plan to Win (A)

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Karla Ingrid Gravis and Annette Kristine Rodriguez

As of 2007, McDonald's had made significant progress on its “Plan to Win,” and the company was rewarded by reaching an all-time high share price. However, McDonald's competitors had expanded beyond the typical fast food giants, such as Wendy's and Burger King, as... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Competitive Strategy; Complexity; Supply and Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry