Publications

September 2011
Case

Driving Profitable Growth at US Auto Parts

USAP faces extraordinary opportunities to change the way that automobiles are serviced in the US by selling parts at fair prices though online channels. View Details

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Disruptive Innovation; Business Model; Internet and the Web; Business Strategy; Internet and the Web; Machinery and Machining; Cost Management; Auto Industry; Retail Industry; United States

May 2009
Teaching Note

F-Secure Corporation: Software as a Service (SaaS) in the Security Solutions Market (TN)

By: Lynda M. Applegate, Robert D. Austin, Kalle Lyytinen, Esko Penttinen and Timo Saarinen

Teaching Note for [809099]. View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Applications and Software; Innovation and Invention; Opportunities; Business Growth and Maturation; Service Operations; Problems and Challenges; Web Services Industry; Information Technology Industry

February 2019 (Revised June 2019)
Case

Where to Grow Next at Online Marketplace OLX

By: Thales Teixeira, Leandro A. Guissoni and Samy Dana

The CEO of OLX Brazil, an online classifieds platform business, is debating among multiple paths to grow sustainably (i.e., profitably) without the need for investor money. The options under consideration are (1) penetration growth by focusing on the core, (2) new... View Details

Keywords: Online Marketplace; Growth; Customer Acquisition; Facebook; Two-sided Network; E-commerce; Classifieds; Naspers; Schibsted; Innovation; Startup; Digital Platforms; Internet and the Web; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Model; Innovation and Invention; Business Startups; Decision Choices and Conditions; Brazil

01 Mar 2012
News

She’s Got Your Back

want things to be done right, but we don’t want to invest a lot of thought and process in finding a solution.” Online reviews are nothing new, of course. But Angie’s List was early to the game and operates under an almost unthinkable View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; online reviews; News, Library, Internet, and Other Services; Information; Real Estate

01 Apr 2002
News

Back on Course

the fact that those models produced 70 percent of the firm's revenue. "They were practical, but ugly," noted Heese, who expressed distaste for the "fiberglass bathtubs" that are all too common these days. Chris- Craft plans to launch a... View Details

01 Apr 2001
News

Beyond the Rim: New Paths to Success in Asia

infrastructure in the world. What are the implications for their ability to leapfrog content and technical developments in this sector in the United States? Internet development in China. Online marketing and consumer behavior in South Korea. View Details

Keywords: Alejandro Reyes and Deborah Blagg; David Lane; Educational Services

06 Nov 2014
News

Building a Startup Community Beyond Commencement

As director of the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-lab), Jodi Goldstein (MBA 1996) has watched a number of innovative student businesses thrive at the space in its three years of operation. But watching those students lose their access to this... View Details

May 2025 (Revised May 2025)
Case

Humana Commits to Value-Based Care

By: V.G. Narayanan, Henry Eyring and David Lane

In late 2023, CEO Bruce Broussard reviewed health insurer Humana’s transformation into a value-based care ecosystem. Under its CenterWell brand, the several millions of members in Humana Medicare Advantage plans now had access to Humana-provided primary care, home... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business Units; Financing and Loans; Innovation Strategy; Growth and Development Strategy; Service Operations; Mergers and Acquisitions; Insurance; Health Care and Treatment; Partners and Partnerships; Health Industry; Insurance Industry; United States

13 Dec 2011
First Look

First Look: Dec. 13

company's superior productivity and market share gain in Brazil's cosmetics, fragrances, and toiletries (CF&T) industry. By 2009, Natura's direct sales business model generated income for over 1 million... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

25 Aug 2022
News

A New Platform for Alumni Engagement

the design thinking process they used. “HBS is applying the innovation model to teaching, which will make it possible to creatively inspire engaged learning, share more information, and impact more people.” REINVENTING THE FUTURE OF View Details

Keywords: April White

September 2021 (Revised June 2023)
Case

Mission edX: Balancing Social Good and Financial Sustainability

By: John J-H Kim, David J. Collis and James Barnett

In March 2021, online education platform edX considers how to achieve financial sustainability without compromising its mission to provide universal access to high-quality education. View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Education; Values and Beliefs; Internet and the Web; Financial Strategy; Mission and Purpose; Education Industry; United States

August 2015
Case

Yabbly (A)

By: Shikhar Ghosh and Christopher Payton

In November 2013, with less than 10 months of cash on hand, Tom Leung, the founder and CEO of Yabbly, must decide where to focus his resources. His startup, a question-and-answer application for shopping decisions, had benefited from a strong showing at the SXSW... View Details

Keywords: Startup; Mobile; Online Product Reviews; Consumer Products; Business Model; Business Plan; Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; Innovation Strategy; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Internet and the Web; North America; United States; Washington (state, US); Seattle

15 Nov 2011
First Look

First Look: November 15

essential to develop the self-awareness, compassion, emotional intelligence, and authenticity required to be inspired human beings and inspiring leaders. Book: http://www.bkconnection.com/ProdDetails.asp?ID=9781609940072&PG=1&Type=AUTH&PCS=BKP View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

October 1998 (Revised April 2001)
Case

Preview Travel (B)

By: William A. Sahlman and Nicole Tempest

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Business Model; Initial Public Offering; Internet and the Web; Business Plan; Capital; Financial Strategy; Travel Industry; United States

September 1999 (Revised October 2000)
Case

Eggrock Partners, LLC (A)

By: Thomas J. DeLong, Myra M. Hart and Sharon Peyus

Explores the challenges of choosing how to grow a professional services firm (PSF). Before developing a growth strategy, the partners need to agree on what business(es) the company should be in. Each of the three partners has differing views of what the company should... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Business or Company Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Model; Expansion; Business Processes; Industry Structures; Customer Focus and Relationships; Employees; Partners and Partnerships; Service Industry

Find at Harvard

01 Oct 2000
News

Internet Tsunami

service. As for customers, in addition to making purchases, they use Rakuten for online auctions and chats about the site's vendors. According to Business Week (July 7, 2000), Rakuten, founded in 1997, has 3,100 vendors, attracts some 70... View Details

Keywords: Nonstore Retailers; Retail Trade

January 2018
Supplement

Peak Games: Hiring Priorities in Times of Rapid Growth (B)

By: William R. Kerr and Gamze Yucaoglu

On November 7, 2017, Sidar Şahin, founder and CEO of Peak Games, a Turkey-based global mobile gaming company, had just closed the sale of Peak Games’ card games studio. This sale included three of the company’s top grossing games and half of its team. Sahin was happy... View Details