Publications

May 1984 (Revised August 1987)
Case

Raymond Mushroom Corp.

By: Benson P. Shapiro

In April 1984 Deborah Raymond, president of Raymond Mushrooms was deciding whether or not to raise prices on Raymond canned mushrooms in conjunction with an advertising promotional program to build consumer preference. View Details

Keywords: Product Positioning; Advertising; Decisions; Price; Management Teams; Food and Beverage Industry

June 2012 (Revised March 2014)
Case

Best Buy in Crisis

By: John R. Wells and Galen Danskin

In June 2012, Best Buy was in crisis. In 1996, Best Buy overtook Circuit City as the world's leader in consumer electronics retailing; however, 18 years later, Best Buy now found this position threatened. With $51 billion in revenues, it was still the biggest CE... View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Forecasting and Prediction; Competitive Strategy; Ethics; Management Teams; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

24 Aug 2021
News

Having a Moment

Aisha Chottani (MBA 2015) Aisha Chottani (MBA 2015) As an engagement manager at McKinsey, Aisha Chottani (MBA 2015) often found herself in need of an afternoon energy boost. But caffeinated, sugary drinks left her feeling even more... View Details

Keywords: mindfulness; entrepreneurship; wellness; food and beverage; meditation; Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing; Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing

April 1999 (Revised August 1999)
Case

R&B Falcon

R&B Falcon is the world's leading offshore drilling contractor. Amid surging exploration budgets and increasing deepwater drilling activity, the company makes huge investments in several new state-of-the art $300 million ultra-deep-water drilling rigs. As day rates and... View Details

Keywords: Technology; Change Management; Industry Growth; Mining; Product Marketing; Mining Industry

Find at Harvard

Profile

Tiffany Niver

experiences. It also helped me think through the necessary skills and qualifications I need not only now, but also in the future. It gave me access and exposure to executives, their personal narratives and paths, and their advice and encouragement. Above all, however,... View Details

Keywords: Technology; Retail; Consulting

October 2007 (Revised April 2009)
Case

TH!NK: The Norwegian Electric Car Company

By: Joseph B. Lassiter III and David Kiron

On August 1, 2007, 61-year-old Jan-Olaf Willums' plane was flying along the Greenland coastline on his way back to Norway after intense discussions with several prominent U.S. venture capital investors, among them Kleiner Perkins and Rockport Capital Partners, about... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Innovation and Invention; Product Launch; Market Entry and Exit; Environmental Sustainability; Pollutants; Auto Industry; Green Technology Industry; Europe; Norway

March 2012 (Revised February 2013)
Background Note

The Hybrid Vehicle Market

By: Michael W. Toffel and Nazli Z. Uludere Aragon

This note describes the hybrid electic vehicle market, the results of different automaker strategies, and the environmental regulatory issues that can promote or inhibit market growth in the United States. Introduces students to the technologies and regulatory aspects... View Details

Keywords: Competitive Strategy; Environmental Sustainability; Product Development; Information Technology; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Auto Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Japan; United States

12 Jul 2017
Working Paper Summaries

Task Selection and Workload: A Focus on Completing Easy Tasks Hurts Long-Term Performance

Keywords: by Diwas S. KC, Bradley R. Staats, Maryam Kouchaki, and Francesca Gino; Health

04 Sep 2007
Research & Ideas

Jumpstarting Innovation: Using Disruption to Your Advantage

More importantly, when the CEOs were asked "What's your past level of success in managing significant change?" only 15 percent said they had been "very successful." Another 15 percent said they had had "little or... View Details

Keywords: by Lynda M. Applegate

10 May 2004
Research & Ideas

Rethink the Value of Joint Ventures

partners have a narrower view. For instance, decisions on where to source materials become more complicated if the multinational is trying to balance and manage a worldwide production process. Second, the... View Details

Keywords: by Cynthia Churchwell

20 Feb 2020
Blog Post

Know Your Audience – Recruiting HBS Students for Technology

companies students are interested in as well, from startups to high growth to the Fortune 500. Product management continues to be a popular functional area for students eager to use their general View Details

Keywords: Technology

21 Nov 2016
Research & Ideas

It Matters That Your CEO Doesn't Know Much About Sales

senior executives specializing in everything except sales. “The number of executives reporting to the CEO in the average S&P 500 company has doubled in the last 20 years,” says Frank V. Cespedes, a senior lecturer in the Entrepreneurial View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

03 Mar 2017
News

Big Blue’s Big Bet

that we’re smart in the things we’re attacking, and to try to solve real-world problems that make an impact.” Watson General Manager David Kenny (MBA 1986) adds: “The tech sector tends to reward short-term thinking.” But Watson is... View Details

Keywords: Paul Kix; illustrations by Dan Page

22 Feb 2010
Op-Ed

Tragedy at Toyota: How Not to Lead in Crisis

inquiry this week.) Meanwhile, he let serious product quality issues spiral out of control by understating safety risks and product problems. This left the media, politicians, and consumers to dictate the... View Details

Keywords: by William George; Auto

Web

Field Course: Startup Operations - Course Catalog

Organization: Structuring early teams and the processes by which to operate your business. Topics will include: Who to hire and when - from technical hires and managing freelancers/first hires to product... View Details

April 1988 (Revised March 1991)
Case

Tektronix: Portable Instruments Division (B)

Describes the new material-burdening system they have implemented and the cycle-time-burdening system they are proposing. Asks students to analyze the new cost system. View Details

Keywords: Cost Accounting; Production; Management Systems; Manufacturing Industry