Publications

March 2003
Background Note

Customer Migration and Customer Types

By: Das Narayandas

Describes the evolution of customer relationships using the price vs. cost-to-serve matrix. View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Cost; Price; Service Operations

May 1995
Background Note

Note on Product Liability

By: Willis M. Emmons III, Monica Brand and Greg Keller

This note provides an overview to the evolution and current state of product liability law in the United States. View Details

Keywords: Goods and Commodities; Legal Liability; Safety; Product Marketing; Business Strategy; Policy; Government and Politics; United States

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March 2019 (Revised June 2019)
Case

Global Sourcing at Nike

By: Nien-hê Hsieh, Michael W. Toffel and Olivia Hull

This case explores the evolution of Nike’s global product sourcing strategy, in particular ongoing efforts to improve working conditions at its suppliers’ factories. When the case opens in July 2018, Vice President of Sourcing Amanda Tucker and her colleagues in Nike’s... View Details

August 1985 (Revised March 1986)
Case

InteCom

Looks at the evolution of industry structure, the use of strategy to create competitive advantages, and the sustainability of competitive advantage. View Details

Keywords: Competitive Advantage; Industry Structures

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16 Sep 2015
News

How Smart, Connected Products Are Transforming Companies

January 1994 (Revised November 2002)
Case

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

By: Stephen P. Bradley and Pankaj Ghemawat

Focuses on the evolution of Wal-Mart's remarkably successful discount operations and describes the company's more recent attempts to diversify into other businesses. The company has entered the warehouse club industry with its Sam's Clubs and the grocery business with... View Details

Keywords: Stocks; Price; Marketing Channels; Competitive Strategy; Diversification; Information Technology

June 1997
Background Note

A Note on the Internet

By: Paul A. Gompers and Jeffrey A. Farrell

Examines the evolution and structure of the Internet. A particular focus is placed on various business segments and possible applications of Internet technology. View Details

Keywords: Industry Structures; Internet and the Web

21 May 2013
Working Paper Summaries

If Technology Has Arrived Everywhere, Why Has Income Diverged?

Keywords: by Diego A. Comin & Martí Mestieri Ferrer

February 1991 (Revised May 2016)
Background Note

Note on Organizational Structure

By: Ethan Bernstein and Nitin Nohria

Provides the reader with a basic understanding of organizational structure. The first section outlines some of the key tools and criteria that must be taken into account in designing organizational structures. In the second section, some archetypal forms of... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Structure

Awards

European Case Clearing House (ecch) Award in the Marketing Category

By: John A. Deighton

Won a 2012 European Case Clearing House (ecch) Award in the Marketing category for his case "Dove: Evolution of a Brand" (HBS Case 508-047). View Details

February 2000 (Revised February 2001)
Case

Streamline (B)

By: Jeffrey F. Rayport

Updates the (A) case. Describes competitive developments and the evolution of Streamline's strategy through 1999. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: Competitive Strategy

20 Apr 2021
Cold Call Podcast

What Went Wrong with the Boeing 737 Max?

Keywords: Air Transportation

12 PM – 1 PM EST, 06 Nov 2018
Webinars: Trending@HBS

China in the Age of Xi Jinping: Domestic Changes and Global Ambitions

China's outward push will remake the global economic and political environment, and business leaders need an understanding of China's leadership to navigate this new world. Join Associate Professor Rithmire to discuss the evolution of the business landscape in China. View Details

December 2010 (Revised March 2011)
Case

The Euro in Crisis: Decision Time at the European Central Bank

By: J. Gunnar Trumbull, Dante Roscini and Diane Choi

This case traces the origins and evolution of the European Central Bank, with attention to its 2010 decision concerning the purchase of Greek sovereign debt. View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Borrowing and Debt; Currency; Central Banking; Financial Management; Sovereign Finance; Policy; Crisis Management; Europe; Greece

February 2001
Case

California PERS (B)

By: Jay O. Light, Jay W. Lorsch, James O. Sailer and Katharina Pick

The largest state pension fund continues the evolution of its approach to corporate governance contemplating "relationship investing" and other new approaches. View Details

Keywords: Investment; Corporate Governance; Financial Management; Asset Management; Business and Shareholder Relations; Investment Funds; Financial Services Industry; California

30 Sep 2013
News

IT'S A (RED) BULL MARKET AFTER ALL

June 1999
Case

Matching Dell (A)

By: Jan W. Rivkin, Michael E. Porter, Charles E. Bruin, Markus Chappel, Thomas M Galizia and Laila J Worrell

After years of success with its vaunted "Direct Model" for computer manufacturing, marketing, and distribution, Dell Computer Corp. faces efforts by competitors to match its strategy. This case describes the evolution of the personal computer industry, Dell's strategy,... View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Competitive Strategy; Industry Structures; Adoption; Computer Industry

October 2004 (Revised April 2005)
Case

American Medical Association

By: Ashish Nanda

Describes the evolution of the American Medical Association from its origin in 1847 to 1997, when two-thirds of physicians chose not to join the association. View Details

Keywords: Organizations; Trust