Publications

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

September 1985 (Revised January 1986)
Case

Peter Wendell

Contains a description of a decision confronting an employee of IBM in late 1981. Should he leave IBM to become head of a new venture capital fund which will specialize in technology investments? The case is designed to expose students to the nature of the opportunity... View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career; Jobs and Positions; Opportunities; Valuation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Resignation and Termination; Venture Capital; Financial Services Industry; Financial Services Industry

August 1985
Background Note

Note on the Disk Drive Industry--1985

By: Frank V. Cespedes

Keywords: Computer Industry

May 1985 (Revised October 2001)
Case

Comdisco, Inc.

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin and Rita J. Seymour

Comdisco, the largest independent dealer and lessor of computers and peripheral equipment, needs financing in order to match its market's growth of 20-30% per year. The company has access to two types of risk capital, but there are substantial costs and risks... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Strategy; Cost vs Benefits; Capital Structure; Financing and Loans; Financial Strategy; Corporate Finance; Growth and Development Strategy; Computer Industry; Computer Industry

April 1985 (Revised October 1988)
Case

Everest Computer (A): The Development of the SuperMOS Process

By: Kim B. Clark

The research and development lab at the semiconductor development and manufacturing facility of a computer systems manufacturer has embarked on a radically improved semiconductor manufacturing process for application in a new computer system. The case offers a detailed... View Details

Keywords: Factories, Labs, and Plants; Governance Controls; Production; Research and Development; Hardware; Semiconductor Industry

February 1985 (Revised December 1988)
Teaching Note

Stratus Computer (TN)

By: Howard H. Stevenson and Michael J. Roberts

Teaching Note for (9-682-030). View Details

Keywords: Computer Industry

January 1985 (Revised February 1997)
Case

Lotus Development Corp.

Contains a description of the history and venture capital financing of Lotus Development. Focuses on issues related to the possible terms of investment in Lotus by a major venture capital firm. The pedagogic objectives in the case are: to explore the elements of the... View Details

Keywords: Technological Innovation; Business or Company Management; Venture Capital; Organizational Structure; Entrepreneurship; Financing and Loans; Outcome or Result; Corporate Finance; Planning; Computer Industry

January 1985 (Revised November 1985)
Background Note

Note on the Microcomputer Software Industry--January 1982

Contains a history of the microcomputer software industry from the mid-1970s through early 1982. During that period growth was explosive. Many new companies were formed. However, the eventual structure of the industry was not yet clear. No truly dominant firms had... View Details

Keywords: Industry Growth; Business Strategy; Software; Computer Industry

March 1984
Background Note

Note on the Personal Computer Industry (January 1983)

By: John A. Quelch

February 1984
Case

Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (Abridged)

By: William E. Fruhan Jr. and Thomas R. Piper

Keywords: Computer Industry; Computer Industry

January 1984
Article

A Simulation Analysis of Alternative Pricing Strategies for Dynamic Environments

By: Robert J. Dolan

Researchers of the strategic implications of the well-known demand (e.g., adoption and diffusion) and supply (e.g., experience effects) dynamics have typically sought analytical solutions. Their success in this has been achieved partly by limiting the richness of the... View Details

Keywords: Demand and Consumers; Price; Mathematical Methods; Supply and Industry

November 1983 (Revised September 1984)
Case

Computervision vs. Automatix (A)

By: Howard H. Stevenson and Michael J. Roberts

Keywords: Technology; Technology Industry; Technology Industry

May 1983 (Revised December 1987)
Case

Technical Data Corp.