Publications

December 2020 (Revised April 2021)
Case

Arcos Dorados: A QSR Recovery Plan

By: Forest Reinhardt, José B. Alvarez, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago and Mariana Cal

Arcos Dorados—McDonald’s largest independent franchisee, covering Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)—faced a pandemic that was disrupting the entire consumer foodservice business in 2020. With the exclusive right to own, operate, and sub-franchise McDonald’s... View Details

November 2016
Case

Pete & Gerry's

By: Jose Alvarez and Natalie Kindred

2008
Article

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Whole-body Donations: A Regional Perspective from the United States

By: Michel Anteby and Mikell Hyman

Human cadavers are crucial to medical science. While the debate on how to secure sufficient cadavers has focused primarily on donors' behaviors, procuring organizations' roles in increasing donations remain less explored. The United States offers a unique setting in... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Behavior; Programs; Nonprofit Organizations; Business Ventures; Health Testing and Trials; Demand and Consumers; Supply Chain; For-Profit Firms; Organizations; Training; United States

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01 Nov 2012
Research & Ideas

Book Excerpt: Judgment Calls

particular challenge the company faced was about selling its line of prestigious, professional beauty tools to chain drugstores—risking dilution of the brand, losing existing core customers, and taking on financial commitments way beyond... View Details

Keywords: by Thomas H. Davenport & Brook Manville; Consumer Products

22 Feb 2011
Research & Ideas

Most Popular Articles, Papers of the Decade

the Service Profit Chain to Work for Unbeatable Competitive Advantage by HBS professors Jim Heskett and W. Earl Sasser and coauthor Joe Wheeler. Updating a Classic: Writing a Great Business Plan Published: October 6, 2008 Harvard Business... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

14 Apr 2009
First Look

First Look: April 14, 2009

Publications The Role of Execution in Managing Product Availability Authors: Nicole DeHoratius and Zeynep Ton Publication: Chap. 4 in Retail Supply Chain Management, edited by Narendra Agarwal and Stephen A. Smith. International Series in... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

21 Jul 2003
Research & Ideas

Don’t Get Buried in Customer Data—Use It

customers." He cites the example of a major hotel chain that asks guests to complete a multiple-question satisfaction survey via their room's TV set during their stay. When one guest answered "extremely dissatisfied" to all... View Details

Keywords: by Jean Ayers

01 Mar 2010
News

Eric Schiffer

Schiffer Illustration by Daniel Vasconcellos Founded in 1982, 99¢ Only Stores is the oldest single-price retail chain in the country, with 273 locations in California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada offering a mix of food, beverage, and... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Miscellaneous Store Retailers; Retail Trade

24 Apr 2007
First Look

First Look: April 24, 2007

traditional handicraft artisans in rural India. Established in 1960 as an exporter of home furnishings, Fabindia has grown as a consumer-facing retailer of apparel, home furnishings, organic food, and body care products, and has plans to expand further. Given their... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

13 Feb 2006
Research & Ideas

Turning High Potential into Real Reward

into outdoor gear. He builds up a worldwide supply chain by recruiting people who want to gamble that there is a customer need not being met by polyester. NB: For prospective entrepreneurs, what are the key lessons to be learned here?... View Details

Keywords: Re: Joseph B. Lassiter; Consumer Products

12 May 2015
News

A Flash of Insight

When American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on the bright, sunny morning of September 11, 2001, it set off a chain of dark events that would kill 3,000 people and change forever the way many Americans... View Details

Keywords: Robert S. Benchley; 9/11; Hospitals; Health, Social Assistance

01 Dec 2004
News

A Life by Design

president for product design and development with the company’s Old Navy chain of casual-clothing stores. Her influence is evident even in the corridors of Gap’s unassuming Chelsea office building in Lower Manhattan. There for everyone to... View Details

Keywords: Roger Thompson; toys; Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries; Arts, Entertainment; Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores; Retail Trade

28 Oct 2014
First Look

First Look: October 28

examines the operations strategy of Whole Foods, one of the largest natural grocery chains in the United States. In late 2013, Whole Foods was expanding rapidly, with a publicly stated goal of growing from 351 to 1,000 domestic stores by... View Details

Keywords: Carmen Nobel

11 Sep 2012
First Look

First Look: September 11

effect of efficiency wages on employee behavior and social norms. Working PapersSpatial Organization of Firms: Internal and External Agglomeration Economies and Location Choices Through the Value Chain Authors:Juan Alcácer and Mercedes... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

17 Jan 2012
First Look

First Look: January 17

products survive in equilibrium, even with competition. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/12-055.pdf Got Local Food? Authors:Baris Ata, Deishin Lee, and Mustafa H. Tongarlak Abstract We study the operational tradeoffs of a retailer and farmers in a... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

23 Feb 2010
First Look

First Look: Feb. 23

case decisions are 1) what factors are critical to the decision; 2) how to calculate the tradeoffs among transportation costs, inventory costs, and order costs; and 3) how the company's managers should coordinate to make the decision. Acts as a very effective... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

05 Aug 2008
First Look

First Look: August 5, 2008

http://papers.nber.org/papers/w14189 Cross-Functional Alignment in Supply Chain Planning: A Case Study of Sales and Operations Planning (revised) Authors:Rogelio Oliva and Noel H. Watson Abstract In most organizations, supply View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

29 Jun 2007
First Look

First Look: June 29, 2007

will be correlated with their types to achieve separation. The model's results have implications for various marketing communication tools such as advertising and sales forces. Motivating Supply Chain Behavior: The Right Incentives Can... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

January 2021 (Revised May 2021)
Case

Ocado Group: Ready for the Future

By: José B. Alvarez, Damien McLoughlin and Natalie Kindred