Publications

March 2004 (Revised September 2005)
Case

Newell Rubbermaid: Strategy in Transition

By: Cynthia A. Montgomery, Rhonda Kaufman and Carole Winkler

Describes the transformation of a company's corporate-level strategy. Begins by laying out the strategy that brought the Newell Co. stunning success for nearly three decades. The highly integrated, internally consistent strategy was tailored for manufacturing and... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Corporate Strategy; Transformation; Problems and Challenges; Acquisition; Product Development; Brands and Branding; Manufacturing Industry; Retail Industry; United States

02 Apr 2008
Research & Ideas

Four Companies that Conquered America

built up a strong retail market share in the U.S., not under the RBS brand, but through a series of acquisitions of regional (not national) banks. RBS is adding value for its shareholders by letting these banks retain their individual... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch

June 2011 (Revised May 2012)
Case

Reckitt Benckiser: Fast and Focused Innovation

By: Rebecca M. Henderson and Ryan Johnson

Since its 1999 merger Reckitt Benckiser (RB), a global consumer goods company, led by its CEO Bart Becht, RB developed a reputation for rapid product innovation and industry leading profit margins. RB's stated strategy was to focus on its Powerbrands and high growth... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Global Strategy; Innovation Leadership; Leadership Style; Growth and Development Strategy; Brands and Branding; Product Development; Performance Improvement; Commercialization; Consumer Products Industry

15 Jan 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, January 15, 2019

acquisition by—industry giant Heineken. Purchase this case:https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/418017-PDF-ENG Harvard Business School Case 519-007 The Brand Management of Places The View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

28 Sep 2015
Research & Ideas

Six Lessons from Mobile Money Ventures in Developing Countries

Telesom ZAAD initially made mobile money services free and managers focused on customer acquisition and training employees to effectively explain the service to prospective customers. In addition to gaining indirect revenue from a... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Financial Services; Telecommunications

25 Apr 2005
Research & Ideas

New Learning at American Home Products

sales to Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol); Dristan and other cold and allergy-relief medicines; and drugs for asthma, hemorrhoids, and other ills. Canned and packaged goods brought in 11 percent, including such brands as Chef Boyardee... View Details

Keywords: by Alfred D. Chandler Jr.; Chemical; Health; Manufacturing; Pharmaceutical

12 Aug 2008
First Look

First Look: August 12, 2008

based on the principles of "faster, further, freer," Coty hired longstanding executives from other firms and liberated their entrepreneurial capabilities, refreshing brands which had been tarnished into a global mass color... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

June 2010
Teaching Note

Ebro Puleva (TN)

By: David E. Bell and Mary Louise Shelman

Teaching Note for 510026. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Transformation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Business or Company Management; Strategy; Brands and Branding; Financial Crisis; Business Exit or Shutdown; Organizational Structure; Globalization; Food and Beverage Industry; Spain

14 Aug 2018
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 14, 2018

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54794 Harvard Business School Case 518-047 Armarium: Luxury Fashion Brands for Rent Armarium, a two-sided online platform that offered consumers the opportunity to rent the most coveted,... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

24 Jul 2000
Research & Ideas

Linking the Globe: The Role of Media and Communications

"Linking the Globe: The Role of Media and Communications," amid deals-in-the-making. (The most notable of these, Vivendi's acquisition of Canada-based Seagram, was officially announced just after the conference.) But both media... View Details

Keywords: by Kenneth Liss; Information; Publishing; Journalism & News; Media & Broadcasting

17 Oct 2006
First Look

First Look: October 17, 2006

http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=707419 Lenovo: Building a Global Brand Harvard Business School Case 507-014 Announced in December 2004, the $1.75 billion acquisition of IBM's... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

February 2022
Teaching Note

AptDeco: Circular Economy Furniture Marketplace

By: Ayelet Israeli

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 521-069. AptDeco, a used furniture marketplace, was growing rapidly in the tri-state area. The co-founders were confident that the business model, financial position, and unit economics positioned AptDeco for scaling in the massive $120... View Details

Keywords: E-Commerce Strategy; Mobile; Word-of-Mouth; Word Of Mouth; Word-of-mouth Marketing; Internet Marketing; Growth Strategy; Platform; Platforms; Two Sided Markets; Two-sided Market; Two-sided Marketplace; Two-Sided Markets; Two-sided Network; Black Entrepreneurs; Black Leadership; African Americans; African-American Protagonist; Circular; Peer-to-peer Markets; Furniture Industry; Growth Hacking; Monetization Strategy; Growth Management; Marketing Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Digital Platforms; Marketing Channels; Digital Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Acquisition; Retention; Growth and Development Strategy; Customer Focus and Relationships; Expansion; Brands and Branding; E-commerce; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Technology Industry; Web Services Industry; United States; North America; New York (city, NY); New York (state, US)

21 May 2007
Research & Ideas

Fixing the Marketing-CEO Disconnect

decisions, but no one is singularly accountable for the results. Second, responsibility for brand equity still resides in the marketing function, yet brand equity has never been more volatile and important.... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

28 Oct 2019
Research & Ideas

Brick-and-Mortar Stores Are Making a Comeback

meant to be a channel of distribution; it’s an acquisition engine and a way to make a brand splash in a particular market. Moreno: Warby Parker also has photo booths in some of their stores, where you can... View Details

Keywords: by Jen McFarland Flint; Retail

April 1998
Case

Compaq, 1998

By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Matt Verlinden

In 1997, Compaq Computer Corp. had become a $25 billion powerhouse. It had accomplished its revenue growth projections, successfully made a number of strategic acquisitions, and increased its gross margins, principally by moving up market into servers, workstations,... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Transformation; Customer Relationship Management; Profit; Revenue; Growth and Development Strategy; Brands and Branding; Distribution Channels; Alliances; Customization and Personalization; Computer Industry