Publications

July 2023 (Revised May 2024)
Case

Vytal: Packaging-as-a-Service

By: George Serafeim, Michael W. Toffel, Lena Duchene and Daniela Beyersdorfer

The Germany-based startup Vytal operated the largest digital-native reusable packaging-as-a-service network globally, having raised nearly €15 million, established a large network of restaurant partners, and prevented the use of millions of single-use take-out food... View Details

Web

John H. McArthur | About

ground in entrepreneurship, leadership, ethics, strategy and a host of other areas. McArthur excelled at identifying promising generators of ideas and placing large institutional bets on them, leading colleagues to dub him “an intellectual View Details

20 Sep 2019
Research & Ideas

Solving the Riddle of How Companies Grow Over Time

different technologies become ascendant. Pisano likens it to a sprint around a track, with companies overall keeping a fast pace, but with a large distance between the laggards and the frontrunners, who are often switching order. “A... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding; Manufacturing

08 Mar 2022
Blog Post

Recalling My First Cold Call: A Conversation with Second-Year Students

like training a muscle, and it’s exactly what we are training here. VARUN NAGARAJAN (MBA 2022) Nagarajan is a member of the HBS Show Club, Entrepreneurship Club, and the South-Asian Business Association. He is also a part of the i-lab View Details

Web

Frequently Asked Questions | HBS Online

Launching Tech Ventures helps early-stage startups overcome management challenges across all aspects of their business model. Whether you’re a founder, startup employee, or investor, you’ll learn what’s needed to build a viable, valuable... View Details

November 2015 (Revised April 2018)
Case

Flipkart (A): Transitioning to a Marketplace Model

By: Das Narayandas, Sunil Gupta and Rachna Tahilyani

In 2015, Sachin and Binny Bansal, co-founders of India’s largest e-commerce company, are wondering if it is time to move from a hybrid model to a full marketplace. While Amazon runs a hybrid model, Alibaba operates a marketplace. In addition, Flipkart has been losing... View Details

Keywords: Marketplaces; Online Retail; Digital Platforms; Internet and the Web; Business Model; Growth and Development Strategy; Emerging Markets; E-commerce; Retail Industry; India

May 2022
Case

TikTok and National Security: Investment in an Age of Data Sovereignty?

By: Jeremy Friedman, Sarah Bauerle Danzman and David Lane

This case covers TikTok’s purchase of Musical.ly and the reaction of the United States government, including the review of the purchase by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the reaction of the presidential administration of Donald... View Details

Keywords: Data Security; Mergers and Acquisitions; Cybersecurity; Internet and the Web; International Relations; Laws and Statutes; Globalized Firms and Management

12 Jan 2023
News

‘Debiasing’ Debt with Data

father built the venture into a successful business; but his plan to expand to neighboring states hit a major roadblock when local bankers rejected his loan application 13 times. As an adult, Ballard discussed with his father the deeper... View Details

Keywords: Ralph Ranalli

Web

Charts & Statistics - Leadership

US Pre-1950 Founder 43% Family Business 26% Other CEO 31% US 1950 & After Founder 32% Family Business 14% Other CEO 54% THE 20th CENTURY ZEITGEIST Six contextual factors deeply influenced the opportunities available to 20th century business leaders: Demographics View Details

01 Dec 2022
News

Singing to the Corn

on a smaller, more sustainable scale is not just good for the soil, Keen says; it can also lead to better nutrition and economic sustainability for an indigenous population that has long suffered from obesity, diabetes, and poverty. Far... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; photographed by Vance Jacobs; Agriculture

15 Jun 2007
Research & Ideas

Remembering Alfred Chandler

of organizational capabilities, technological innovation through R&D, problem solving, knowledge, and continuous learning—investment in human capital and technology that only firms could generate.... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

February 2011 (Revised November 2012)
Case

PatientsLikeMe: An Online Community of Patients

By: Sunil Gupta and Jason Riis

PatientsLikeMe (PLM) is an online community where patients share their personal experiences with a disease, find other patients like them, and learn from each other. The company was founded by Jamie and Ben Heywood when their 29-year-old brother was diagnosed with ALS... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Health Disorders; Knowledge Sharing; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Launch; Digital Platforms; Social and Collaborative Networks; Health Industry

01 Mar 2021
What Do You Think?

What Does Remote Work Mean for Middle Managers?

defensive for years. Organizations have been delayering—eliminating middle management jobs—to try to be more agile, with faster decision making and execution. Downsizing in the name of economies of scale has hit middle management hard.... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

October 2010 (Revised November 2010)
Case

The NFL's Digital Media Strategy

By: Anita Elberse, C. Kelsey Calhoun and Daven Johnson

In late 2009, Brian Rolapp, senior vice president of media strategy and digital media for the NFL, was faced with the challenge of determining the league's strategic approach to the wireless market—and presenting his views to NFL team owners. What was the league's best... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Marketing Channels; Marketing Strategy; Media; Distribution Channels; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Sports Industry

April 2011 (Revised May 2011)
Case

EMC2: Delivering Customer Centricity

By: Thomas Steenburgh and Jill Avery

This case introduces the concept of customer centricity and traces its development at EMC, the world's leading data storage hardware and information management software company. EMC's customers had historically relied on EMC salespeople to guide them through the... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Interpersonal Communication; Customer Relationship Management; Knowledge Acquisition; Marketing Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Salesforce Management; Social and Collaborative Networks; Internet; Information Technology Industry

August 2023 (Revised December 2023)
Case

Money Fellows: The Quest for Expansion

By: Álvaro Rodríguez Arregui, Michael Chu and Ahmed Dahawy

This case explores the opportunities and challenges associated with expanding the operations of a complex entrepreneurial business model. It highlights how cultural aspects of different geographies impact a startup's operational and economic models. The case also... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Developing Countries and Economies; Geographic Scope; Business Strategy; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Business and Shareholder Relations; Financial Services Industry; Banking Industry; Egypt