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  • All HBS Web  (254)
    • News  (3)
    • Research  (239)
  • Faculty Publications  (210)

Show Results For

  • All HBS Web  (254)
    • News  (3)
    • Research  (239)
  • Faculty Publications  (210)
← Page 11 of 254 Results →
  • November 2, 2015
  • Article

The Best Ways to Hire Salespeople

By: Frank V. Cespedes and Daniel Weinfurter
Companies typically spend more on hiring in sales than they do anywhere else in the firm. Average annual turnover in sales is 25% to 30%, while direct replacement costs for a telesales employee ranges from $75,000 to $90,000 and other sales positions cost as much as... View Details
Keywords: Selection and Staffing; Salesforce Management; Retention
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Cespedes, Frank V., and Daniel Weinfurter. "The Best Ways to Hire Salespeople." Harvard Business Review (website) (November 2, 2015).
  • March–April 2014
  • Article

Do Bonuses Enhance Sales Productivity? A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Bonus-Based Compensation Plans

By: Doug J. Chung, Thomas Steenburgh and K. Sudhir
We estimate a dynamic structural model of sales force response to a bonus based compensation plan. Substantively, the paper sheds insights on how different elements of the compensation plan enhance productivity. We find evidence that: (1) bonuses enhance productivity... View Details
Keywords: Performance Productivity; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits
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Chung, Doug J., Thomas Steenburgh, and K. Sudhir. "Do Bonuses Enhance Sales Productivity? A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Bonus-Based Compensation Plans." Marketing Science 33, no. 2 (March–April 2014): 165–187. (Lead article. Featured in HBS Working Knowledge.)
  • August 1995 (Revised October 1996)
  • Case

IDS Financial Services (Condensed)

By: John A. Deighton
Highlights the decision that must be made on balancing customer acquisition and retention and de-emphasizing the structural issues involved in administering the independent contractor sales force. View Details
Keywords: Customers; Customer Focus and Relationships; Decisions; Corporate Governance; Salesforce Management; Financial Services Industry
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Deighton, John A. "IDS Financial Services (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 596-045, August 1995. (Revised October 1996.) (request a courtesy copy.)
  • 30 Jan 2019
  • What Do You Think?

Who Will Measure up to These Two Remarkable Leaders?

and darmody1 nominated Alan Mulally as a candidate. Mulally completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas and an SM degree from the Sloan Program at MIT. FAQ proposed Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Satya Nadella of... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett; Air Transportation; Financial Services
  • August 1996 (Revised October 1996)
  • Case

Howard, Shea & Chan Asset Management(C): Recruiting and Selecting a Salesperson

By: Benson P. Shapiro
Goes to the heart of the sales strategy issues by asking discussion participants to: 1) develop a salesperson recruiting process, 2) choose among four resumes, and 3) develop a sales compensation approach. View Details
Keywords: Compensation and Benefits; Recruitment; Salesforce Management; Strategy
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Shapiro, Benson P. "Howard, Shea & Chan Asset Management(C): Recruiting and Selecting a Salesperson." Harvard Business School Case 597-023, August 1996. (Revised October 1996.)
  • 01 Oct 2020
  • What Do You Think?

Are CEOs the Wrong Leaders for Stakeholder Capitalism?

Interorganizational management in a channel of distribution is a complex matter. But it doesn’t hold a candle to the complexity of stakeholder capitalism, as suggested by responses to this month’s column on the subject. Reading them, it’s... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
  • April 1997
  • Case

Battle of Mannheim, The

By: Hugo Uyterhoeven
Focuses in detail on implementing a corporate restructuring program in ABB's German subsidiary. Special attention is given to Germany's unique form of industrial governance. Two major problem areas--power plants and power transformers--are described in detail, as is a... View Details
Keywords: Corporate Governance; Energy Generation; Salesforce Management; Business or Company Management; Restructuring; Programs; Energy Industry; Germany
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Uyterhoeven, Hugo. "Battle of Mannheim, The." Harvard Business School Case 397-098, April 1997.
  • September 1992 (Revised July 1993)
  • Case

Staples, Inc.

By: David E. Bell
Staples is dissatisfied with the merchandising of its office furniture. The case reviews the situation, allowing students to consider whether the category should be dropped or changed. Permits consideration of the portfolio of products a positioning implies, and... View Details
Keywords: Change; Product Positioning; Supply Chain; Salesforce Management; Manufacturing Industry
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Bell, David E. "Staples, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 593-034, September 1992. (Revised July 1993.)
  • October 2005 (Revised February 2008)
  • Case

Sales Force Integration at FedEx (A)

By: David B. Godes
Federal Express' (FedEx) recent acquisition of RPS--a ground delivery firm--gave the firm the potential to offer a single source for a client's delivery needs. However, to deliver on this potential, the firm needed to deliver the integrated solution through a single... View Details
Keywords: Horizontal Integration; Salesforce Management; Transportation; Compensation and Benefits; Transportation Industry
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Godes, David B. "Sales Force Integration at FedEx (A)." Harvard Business School Case 506-029, October 2005. (Revised February 2008.)
  • April 2004
  • Case

Case Vignette: The Salesman Saga

By: G. Felda Hardymon, Josh Lerner and Ann Leamon
A venture capitalist faces a situation in which a struggling portfolio company has found a promising vice president of sales through a recruitment agency. The candidate would be an excellent fit for another one of the investor's companies--one that is doing much... View Details
Keywords: Salesforce Management; Corporate Governance; Venture Capital; Ethics; Recruitment
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Hardymon, G. Felda, Josh Lerner, and Ann Leamon. "Case Vignette: The Salesman Saga." Harvard Business School Case 804-175, April 2004.
  • October 2000 (Revised April 2005)
  • Case

Z Corporation

By: Joseph B. Lassiter III, Matthew C. Lieb and Tom Clay
Tom Clay, president of Z Corp., and founder/CEO Marina Hatsopolous must decide between using a direct sales force or using a value-added reseller to begin selling the company's new 3-D printing prototype manufacturing system. View Details
Keywords: Technological Innovation; Salesforce Management; Distribution Channels; Conflict and Resolution; Technology Industry
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Lassiter, Joseph B., III, Matthew C. Lieb, and Tom Clay. "Z Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 801-210, October 2000. (Revised April 2005.)
  • April 2021
  • Article

The Effects of Quota Frequency: Sales Performance and Product Focus

By: Doug J. Chung, Das Narayandas and Dongkyu Chang
This study investigates the comprehensive and multidimensional effects of quota (goal) frequency on sales force performance. We develop a theory of salespeople’s behavior—aggregate effort and the product type focus—in response to the temporal length of a sales-quota... View Details
Keywords: Sales Force Compensation; Field Experiment; Quotas; Quota Frequency; Commissions; Bonuses; Goals; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits; Goals and Objectives; Behavior; Performance
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Chung, Doug J., Das Narayandas, and Dongkyu Chang. "The Effects of Quota Frequency: Sales Performance and Product Focus." Management Science 67, no. 4 (April 2021): 2151–2170.
  • March 1998 (Revised June 1999)
  • Case

DigitalThink: Building a Sales Force

By: Michael J. Roberts, Joseph B. Lassiter III and Christina L. Darwall
A broad set of issues faces a young company in the Internet-based training business as it begins to sell its product to corporate customers. Issues include: profile of attractive candidates, compensation, definition of territory, definition of quotas, and role of... View Details
Keywords: Internet and the Web; Salesforce Management; Business Startups; Service Industry
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Roberts, Michael J., Joseph B. Lassiter III, and Christina L. Darwall. "DigitalThink: Building a Sales Force." Harvard Business School Case 898-193, March 1998. (Revised June 1999.)
  • February 2008
  • Supplement

EFI, Inc. (C)

By: David B. Godes and Lauren Barley
This is a follow-on case to EFI, Inc. (A) and (B). It reports on the sales force's response to the new plan and provides some data as to their performance in the quarters immediately following the implementation of the new plan. View Details
Keywords: Motivation and Incentives; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits; Information Technology Industry
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Godes, David B., and Lauren Barley. "EFI, Inc. (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 508-046, February 2008.
  • February 2008
  • Supplement

EFI, Inc. (B)

By: David B. Godes and Lauren Barley
This is a follow-on case to EFI, Inc. (A). It reports on Dean Mills' decision to implement a new compensation approach that pays 25% of salespeople's bonus, based on their individual sales of software add-on products. He also recommends making public each salesperson's... View Details
Keywords: Motivation and Incentives; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits; Information Technology Industry
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Godes, David B., and Lauren Barley. "EFI, Inc. (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 508-045, February 2008.
  • January 1986 (Revised November 2006)
  • Case

Peripheral Products Company: The 'Gray Market' for Disk Drives

By: Frank V. Cespedes
In mid-1985, the vice president of marketing for a large manufacturer of disk drives is considering how to deal with a growing "gray market" for his company's products. The case provides good background material on the evolution of gray markets throughout the disk... View Details
Keywords: Price; Growth and Development; Code Law; Leadership; Marketing; Distribution; Production; Salesforce Management; Strategy; Distribution Industry
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Cespedes, Frank V. "Peripheral Products Company: The 'Gray Market' for Disk Drives." Harvard Business School Case 586-124, January 1986. (Revised November 2006.)
  • Web

Entrepreneurs Promise Signers - Alumni

CDO Solutions Eric Grossman (MBA 2014), TAIT Shalabh Gupta (MBA 2023), Liber Management Walter Haas (MBA 2014), Sacred Quality LLC Richard Horgan (MBA 2018), Cure Rare Disease Zachary Hoyt (MBA 2020) Jinfeng Huang (MBA 2012), Yatsen... View Details
  • April 1993 (Revised October 1996)
  • Case

ABB Deutschland (C)

By: Hugo Uyterhoeven
Addresses the results and the lessons from the German restructuring effort by focusing in detail on the relationship with the works council and the actions taken for power plants and power transformers, and the sales organization. Closes with a "second wave" of cost... View Details
Keywords: Restructuring; Trade; Cost Management; Leadership Style; Management Skills; Time Management; Relationships; Salesforce Management
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Uyterhoeven, Hugo. "ABB Deutschland (C)." Harvard Business School Case 393-132, April 1993. (Revised October 1996.)
  • June 2018
  • Case

Meridian Systems

By: Frank V. Cespedes and Michael J. Roberts
The Meridian Systems case focuses on a start-up in the restaurant point of sale (POS) systems market. In early 2018, Meridian is getting ready to roll out a POS system based on a new technology—a tablet-based, Wi-Fi-enabled POS system (the "tablet" system, or... View Details
Keywords: Business Startups; Sales; Strategy; Salesforce Management; Organizational Structure; Technological Innovation; Marketing Strategy
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Cespedes, Frank V., and Michael J. Roberts. "Meridian Systems." Harvard Business School Brief Case 918-533, June 2018.
  • January 2005 (Revised March 2005)
  • Case

Parisian: productivity and selling cost

By: Rajiv Lal and Arar Han
Presents the dilemma facing George Jones with respect to the high selling cost at Parisian Department Stores. The challenges to be considered reflect issues at different levels of the organization, including individual salespeople, the store itself, and the merchandise... View Details
Keywords: Cost; Executive Compensation; Production; Sales; Salesforce Management; Motivation and Incentives; Retail Industry
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Lal, Rajiv, and Arar Han. "Parisian: productivity and selling cost." Harvard Business School Case 505-052, January 2005. (Revised March 2005.)
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