Publications

17 Jun 2025
Blog Post

Balancing Career Stability with Creative Pursuits with Jeff Roslund (MBA 2013)

critically, while courses in marketing, finance, and strategy opened entirely new perspectives. I had never received formal training in those areas—everything was new. Learning those frameworks was a huge leap forward, and I still use... View Details

13 Mar 2025
Blog Post

Advancing Health Care Innovation and Impact with Anita Gupta (GMP 29, 2020)

experience. I needed a broader perspective, new strategic tools, and a stronger network to drive systemic change. What I gained at HBS went beyond business strategy or policy frameworks—it was a fundamental shift in how I saw leadership.... View Details

09 Mar 2020
Research & Ideas

Warring Algorithms Could Be Driving Up Consumer Prices

18 months. Because of differences in operational infrastructure, the companies varied in how often they updated prices on their websites: two changed their prices hourly or faster, one updated its prices daily, and two updated prices... View Details

Keywords: by Kristen Senz; Retail

January 2009 (Revised June 2009)
Case

Distribution at American Airlines (A)

By: Benjamin Edelman

American Airlines sought to reduce the fees it pays to global distribution services (GDSs)—such as SABRE—to reach travel agents. But GDSs held significant tactical advantages. For example, GDSs had signed long-term exclusive contracts with the corporate customers who... View Details

Keywords: Price; Globalized Firms and Management; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Distribution; Service Operations; Competition; Air Transportation Industry; Travel Industry

June 2010
Teaching Note

Design Thinking and Innovation at Apple (TN)

By: Stefan H. Thomke

Teaching Note for 609066. View Details

Keywords: Product Development; Strategy; Product Design; Innovation and Management; Computer Industry; Electronics Industry

13 Mar 2007
First Look

First Look: March 13, 2007

to developing a strategy map and Balanced Scorecard that places economic, environmental, and social objectives as the highest-level objectives. He faces the challenges of cascading the corporate Balanced Scorecard to View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

April 1986 (Revised September 1993)
Case

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (A)

By: Steven C. Wheelwright

Sun Microsystems managers must decide whether to launch a new product into manufacturing. Teaching objectives include: 1) an analysis of the competitive environment, 2) examination of technological choices, 3) understanding of the new product development process, and... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Product Launch; Product Development; Production; Competitive Strategy; Computer Industry

Find at Harvard

October 1994 (Revised July 1995)
Case

RCI Master Distributor: Evolution of Supplier Relationships

By: V. Kasturi Rangan

Traces the evolution of RCI as a master distributor from the time it was founded in 1946 until 1994. The second-generation owner of the distribution company faces several challenges unique to the 1990s environment that his father did not face. As Danny Schwartz... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Distribution Channels; Problems and Challenges; Relationships; Situation or Environment; Corporate Strategy; Distribution Industry

01 Jun 2007
News

Alumni Books

professionals to eliminate IT waste and reduce capital expenses. The additional material covers IT governance and strategy, outsourcing, offshoring, data-center management, IT problem management, disaster recovery, systems security, and open-source software. The View Details

Keywords: Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information

31 Jul 2007
First Look

First Look: July 31, 2007

designs. At higher frequency, managers use designs to search for high-performing operational choices. The two searches are coupled: organizational design molds the choice among operational alternatives, and... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

29 Mar 2016
First Look

March 29, 2016

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=50822 forthcoming Manufacturing & Service Operations Management How Do Customers Respond to Increased Service Quality Competition? By: Buell, Ryan W., Dennis Campbell, and Frances X. Frei... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

28 Jun 2010
HBS Case

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Technology and Operations Management course (TOM), the case offers valuable takeaways for future managers of any complex service organization. "It's a good TOM case in that it includes hard numbers and rigorous analysis,"... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Health

Profile

Zihan Lin

that's pretty significant," Z says. His expectations have not gone unmet. "For marketing, ethics, leadership, strategy — the cases are simply awesome. Sometimes, I just sit back and listen. Often, the insights from people... View Details

November 1993 (Revised September 1994)
Case

Food Distribution in Russia: The Harris Group and the LUX Store

By: David E. Bell, Walter J. Salmon and Dinny Starr

Discusses the challenges facing businesses entering the Russian business environment, especially focusing on food retailing and distribution in that country. Highlights one small, entrepreneurial company, The Harris Group, which, with the help of both Russian partners... View Details

Keywords: Business Ventures; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Distribution; Partners and Partnerships; Expansion; Food and Beverage Industry; Retail Industry; Russia

Find at Harvard

October 2017 (Revised September 2018)
Supplement

Jumia Nigeria: from Retail to Marketplace (B)

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Namrata Arora

This follow up case study explores the ramifications of Jumia's decision to move from a retail-led to a markplace business model for its e-commerce platform. The case visits the company's successes as well as its many failures when adopting this vendor-led strategy. ... View Details

Keywords: Retail; Marketplace; Inventory; Funding; Business Ecosystems; Business Ecosystem; Competition; Business Model; Globalization; Emerging Markets; Expansion; Logistics; Retail Industry; India; Nigeria; Africa

March 2008 (Revised November 2008)
Case

Sony Digital Entertainment, Japan

By: Anita Elberse

It is late 2007. So-called cell phone ("keitai") novels have turned into an extremely popular form of entertainment-on-the- go in Japan, in particular among young, female readers. In fact, consisting mostly of love stories written by amateurs in short sentences and... View Details

Keywords: Books; Marketing Strategy; Open Source Distribution; Competition; Mobile Technology; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Publishing Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Japan