Publications

July 2009 (Revised May 2010)
Case

The Millennium Challenge Corporation and Ghana

By: Alnoor Ebrahim and V. Kasturi Rangan

A U.S. government agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), provides aid to developing countries, focusing on poverty reduction through economic growth. It measures results through an economic rate of return based on increases in farmer incomes anticipated... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Economic Growth; Investment Return; Measurement and Metrics; Welfare; Ghana; United States

February 2009 (Revised December 2009)
Case

Merck: Global Health and Access to Medicines

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

The case describes the effort of Merck, a global leader in pharmaceuticals, in making available its medicines to the poor. The challenge for the company (or for that matter, any pharmaceutical company) is how to integrate its business strategy with its corporate social... View Details

Keywords: Globalized Firms and Management; Health Care and Treatment; Emerging Markets; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Poverty; Business Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry

February 2008 (Revised February 2009)
Case

The International Finance Corporation's Grassroots Business Initiative

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

Grassroots Business Initiative was set up to financially assist small enterprises engaged in creating social value. Three years later, Harold Rosen, its creator, wished to explore an alternative funding model to provide it with scale and sustainability. View Details

Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Microfinance; Investment Funds; Social Enterprise

December 2007 (Revised July 2010)
Case

Who Killed Bhavani Manjula? A Story of Microfinance in Andhra Pradesh (A)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

Keywords: Microfinance; Complexity; Networks; Andhra Pradesh

October 1997 (Revised July 1999)
Case

Best Buy

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Balaji Chakravarthy

Documents the evolution of Best Buy, an electronics retailer, from its founding in 1966 to its very successful "Concept 2" strategy in 1996, boosting its sales ($7.2 billion) past industry #1 Circuit City. Its CEO Richard Schulze offers a new vision (Concept 3) to... View Details

Keywords: History; Business Model; Competitive Strategy; Adaptation; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customization and Personalization; Retail Industry

June 2007 (Revised February 2008)
Teaching Note

PSI: Social Marketing Clean Water (TN)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Keywords: Social Marketing

November 2002
Teaching Note

Dell--New Horizons (TN)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Teaching Note for (9-502-022). View Details

Keywords: Technology Industry; Computer Industry; United States

May 2000
Teaching Note

RadioShack TN

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Teaching Note for (9-500-081). View Details

July 1995 (Revised July 1995)
Teaching Note

Nestle Refrigerated Foods (A): Contadina Pasta & Pizza TN

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell

Teaching Note for (9-595-035). View Details

Keywords: Food and Beverage Industry

November 1993 (Revised July 1994)
Background Note

Industrial Marketing

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Bruce Isaacson

Keywords: Marketing

September 1990 (Revised November 1991)
Case

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Steven Russel

Keywords: Aerospace Industry; United States

October 1987 (Revised March 1992)
Supplement

Boston Fights Drugs (B): Converting Research to Action

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Jennifer Lawrence

Describes the results of the advertising pre-test described in the (A) case. The group must now decide how to implement its findings for maximum impact. View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Welfare; Strategy; Advertising Industry; Boston

04 Nov 2015
News

M.B.A.s Get Lessons in Income Inequality

10 Mar 2014
News

Two HBS Faculty Members Win Global Case Writing Competition

Article

Coming Out of Recession: The Role of Business in Alleviating Poverty

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Djordjija B. Petkoski

Keywords: Economics; Business Ventures; Poverty

Read Now

September 1995 (Revised October 1996)
Supplement

Sunbeam Television (B)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and E. Scott Lathrop

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Electronics Industry

September 1995 (Revised October 1996)
Case

Sunbeam Television (A)

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and E. Scott Lathrop

Sunbeam Television, owner of a television station in Miami (a Fox affiliate), buys Channel 7 (a CBS affiliate) in Boston. They bring to the Boston station the concepts and ideas of their Miami news product--that is, a crisp, content-based design rather than one... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Change; Decisions; Design; Television Entertainment; Product; Motivation and Incentives; Value; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Boston

June 1994 (Revised September 1994)
Background Note

Beating the Commodity Magnet

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and George T. Bowman

All markets follow a cycle of growth and maturity, then commoditization and decline. This note argues that while commoditization of an industry may seem inevitable, the better managed firms find a way to make money in the commodity cycle. These firms know how and when... View Details

Keywords: Goods and Commodities; Financial Markets; Competitive Strategy; Financial Services Industry