Publications

December 1998 (Revised March 1999)
Case

Disruptive Technology a Heartbeat Away: Ecton, Inc.

By: Clayton M. Christensen and Edward G Cape

Describes an innovating start-up company with a disruptive technology to the large, expensive echocardiography machines that leading cardiologists use to create images of heart functions for diagnostic purposes. Ecton's machine is small, cheap, portable, and can't... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Disruption; Machinery and Machining; Entrepreneurship; Innovation and Invention; Marketing; Product; Commercialization; Technology; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

April 1998
Case

Becton Dickinson: Worldwide Blood Collection Team (Abridged)

By: Clayton M. Christensen

Becton Dickinson's Vacutainer business was largely based in the United States, but in 1980 management determined to grow the business aggressively first in Europe and then Japan. These areas demanded new products that were tailored to local markets. Despite the change... View Details

Keywords: Resource Allocation; Growth and Development Strategy; Change Management; Product Development; Global Strategy; Expansion; Innovation and Invention; Multinational Firms and Management; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States; Europe; Japan

March 1997 (Revised October 2017)
Case

Hospital Equipment Corporation

By: Clayton M. Christensen and Rory McDonald

Hospital Equipment Corp. is a very successful maker of hospital beds. Due to outstanding performance in new product development, it grew to dominate its primary market and is searching for other opportunities to grow through new product development. It discovers that... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Innovation and Management; Opportunities; Business Processes; Product Development; Technological Innovation; Expansion; Markets; Problems and Challenges; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States

April 1977
Teaching Note

Insight Optical Equipment Co., Teaching Note

By: Steven C. Wheelwright

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

08 Apr 2009
Research & Ideas

Clayton Christensen on Disrupting Health Care

insurance, drug, retail, and medical device companies; deans of medical schools; and employers, who pay the bulk of health-care costs. All these parties interact in an... View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg; Health

August 1983 (Revised June 1985)
Teaching Note

EMI and the CT Scanner (A) and (B), Teaching Note

By: Christopher A. Bartlett

Teaching Note for (9-383-194) and (9-383-195). View Details

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

2023
Article

Building the Business Case for an Inclusive Approach to Digital Health Measurement with a Web App (Market Opportunity Calculator): Instrument Development Study

By: Mitchell Tang, Yashoda Sharma, Jennifer C. Goldsack and Ariel Dora Stern

Background: The use of digital health measurement tools has grown substantially in recent years. However, there are concerns that the promised benefits from these products will not be shared equitably. Underserved populations, such as those with lower education and... View Details

Keywords: Demographics; Product Development; Health Care and Treatment; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Read Now

November 1997 (Revised July 1999)
Case

Guidant: Cardiac Rhythm Management Business (B)

By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Mikelle Eastley

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

April 2010
Teaching Note

Supply Chain Partners: Virginia Mason and Owens & Minor (TN) (A), (B), and (A) (Abridged)

By: V.G. Narayanan and Lisa Brem

Teaching Note for [109076], [109077], and [110063].. View Details

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

March 2010 (Revised May 2010)
Case

Boston Scientific Corporation (A)

By: Regina E. Herzlinger and Charlie Attlan

Boston Scientific Corporation just bought Guidant at a record breaking price to expand their cardiovascular franchise. They need to rationalize their product portfolio to make the acquisition work. What should they sell and why? View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth and Development; Product Marketing; Product Development; Franchise Ownership; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

February 2008
Supplement

Terumo (C)

By: David Godes, Masako Egawa and Mayuka Yamazaki

This case provides a further update on the firm's decision regarding its U.S. sales strategy for its catheter products and the progress of Solution Pack. It also discusses the expansion of the firm's “Medical Pranex,” a unique facility offering training and meeting... View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Global Strategy; Sales; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States

December 2003 (Revised August 2004)
Case

Circon (A) (Abridged)

By: Brian J. Hall, Christopher Rose and Guhan Subramanian

In 1996, U.S. Surgical launched a hostile takeover bid against Circon Corp. CEO Richard Auhll recruited an old HBS friend, George Cloutier, to the Circon board to help him defend the company. Circon's primary defenses include a "poison pill" and a staggered board and... View Details

Keywords: Motivation and Incentives; Governing and Advisory Boards; Executive Compensation; Trust; Relationships; Acquisition; Business and Shareholder Relations; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States

March 1996 (Revised January 2002)
Case

CIBA Vision: The Daily Disposable Lens Project (A)

By: Gary P. Pisano

Examines CIBA Vision's decision on whether to launch a major new R&D initiative to develop a low-cost, daily disposable contact lens, and how to organize such a project should it proceed. One group of executives favors setting up a small, autonomous project team... View Details

Keywords: Product Development; Operations; Research and Development; Decision Making; Production; Strategy; Management; Organizational Design; Globalization; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

March 1993 (Revised May 1993)
Case

Becton Dickinson: Advanced Diagnostics Division

By: Marco Iansiti

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Find at Harvard

September 1987
Case

Resotech, Inc.

By: Kim B. Clark

Keywords: Product Development; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Find at Harvard

December 1980 (Revised March 1991)
Case

Sof-Optics, Inc. (A)

The marketing director of a fast-growing firm must make some decisions about the customer service department. The volume in the department has been rising steadily, eye doctors are waiting longer for orders to be filled, and morale in the department is slipping. With... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Customer Focus and Relationships; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

May 1967 (Revised June 1984)
Case

Instrumentation Laboratory, Inc.

By: Wickham C. Skinner

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Find at Harvard

May 1989 (Revised October 1989)
Teaching Note

Becton Dickinson & Co.: VACUTAINER Systems Division, Teaching Note

By: Frank V. Cespedes

Teaching Note for (9-587-085). View Details

Keywords: Medical Devices and Supplies Industry