Publications
Publications
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(2,884)
- Faculty Publications (725)
- January 2008 (Revised February 2010)
- Case
Chocolates El Rey
By: Rohit Deshpandé, Gustavo Herrero and Regina Garcia-Cuellar
In late November 2006, Jorge Redmond, CEO of Chocolates El Rey, called a meeting with senior management to discuss the company's growth strategy. A relatively small firm with sales of around $14 million, El Rey produced top quality chocolate made with single origin... View Details
- 2008
- Article
Diversification of Chinese Companies: An International Comparison
By: Joseph P.H. Fan, Jun Huang, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Troy D. Smith and Mengxin Zhao
The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic comparison of the level of business diversification in China and eight other large economies for the 2001-2005 period. The reasons why publicly listed Chinese firms are more diversified than companies elsewhere are... View Details
- November 2007
- Class Lecture
The Baby Business (FSS)
By: Debora L. Spar
In vitro fertilization and genetic screening are possible with the advent of biotechnology. International adoptions, surrogacy, and other approaches to family planning are on the rise. But few rules govern these measures, medical costs can be prohibitive, and... View Details
- October 2007 (Revised January 2009)
- Background Note
Analyzing Relative Costs
By: Hanna Halaburda and Jan W. Rivkin
Introduces students to the technique of relative cost analysis, a core technique of strategists. Among the intricate quantitative analyses that strategists undertake, relative cost analysis may be the most common. The goal of a relative cost analysis is simply to... View Details
- September 2007
- Case
Metro International S.A.
By: Tarun Khanna, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Vincent Marie Dessain, Ane Damgaard Jensen and Anders Sjoman
Explores the business model of Metro International, a company publishing 70 editions of its free newspaper in 20 countries. Metro had been a pioneer in the free newspaper market, fighting incumbent publishers distributing traditional paid-for newspapers. Looks at the... View Details
- August 2007 (Revised October 2022)
- Case
Ken Durham and Unilever as a 'Multi-Local Multinational'
By: Geoffrey Jones and Stephanie Decker
Explores the opportunities and threats to Unilever's global business in 1978 based on the commercial and political challenges faced by three of its subsidiaries, Lever Brothers in the United States, Hindustan Lever in India, and United Africa Company in West Africa.... View Details
- August 2007
- Case
Lightspeed Venture Partners -- International Expansion
By: Krishna G. Palepu and Alison Berkley Wagonfeld
Looks at various international expansion models for a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley. Lightspeed Venture Partners believed that India had tremendous potential for venture capital returns--the question was how best to tap into that potential while also... View Details
- June 2007 (Revised April 2009)
- Case
Intel 2006: Rising to the Graphics Challenge
By: Willy C. Shih and Elie Ofek
Examines the evolution of the PC hardware industry over the span of two and a half decades. The open architecture design of the IBM Personal Computer followed by the rapid appearance of clones drove a high level of standardization and modularity in the industry, and... View Details
- June 2007 (Revised September 2021)
- Case
Thomas J. Watson, IBM and Nazi Germany
By: Geoffrey Jones, Grace Ballor and Adrian Brown
Considers the strategy of U.S.-owned IBM, then a manufacturer of punch cards, in Nazi Germany before 1937. Opens with IBM CEO Thomas J. Watson meeting Adolf Hitler in his capacity as President of the International Chamber of Commerce. IBM had acquired a German company... View Details
- June 2007 (Revised November 2007)
- Case
Italy: If not now, when?
By: Richard H.K. Vietor and Julia Galef
Describes Italy's main macroeconomic problems: low productivity growth, stagnant GDP growth, and high public debt. As of early 2007, the country's global competitiveness has plummeted and its debt remains well above the level allowed by the EU's Maastricht treaty.... View Details
- May 2007 (Revised March 2010)
- Case
Maria Sharapova: Marketing a Champion (A)
By: Anita Elberse and Margarita Golod
In July 2004, a then 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent at International Management Group (IMG), knew the championship would lead to a flood of new opportunities. What... View Details
- April 2007
- Case
Schibsted
By: Bharat N. Anand and Sophie Hood
In 2006, newspaper firms in developed markets were severely threatened on three fronts: the growth of online news, online classified advertising, and free newspapers. Schibsted, however, had managed to cope with these challenges successfully, and had become something... View Details
- April 2007 (Revised June 2008)
- Background Note
AmorePacific
By: Elie Ofek and Kerry Herman
Describes the dominant firm in the Korean cosmetics market up to the mid-2000s. Gives background on AmorePacific's historical evolution, its current brands, and the competition it faces from local and international players. Also provides information on the market... View Details
- 2007
- Working Paper
Global Competitors as Next-Door Neighbors: Competition and Geographic Concentration in the Semiconductor Industry
By: Minyuan Zhao and Juan Alcacer
Despite the many advantages offered by technology clusters, firms located in them face the risk of losing valuable knowledge to nearby competitors. In this study, we argue that multi-location firms strategically organize their R&D activities to appropriate the value of... View Details
- March 2007 (Revised June 2007)
- Case
Wal-Mart, 2007
By: David B. Yoffie and Michael Slind
In 2007, Wal-Mart faced challenges to its historically high growth rate. Lagging same-store sales and setbacks overseas led the company to consider strategic shifts. Wal-Mart was the world's largest retailer, but competition had become particularly acute as the company... View Details
- January 2007 (Revised August 2007)
- Case
Lobbying for Love? Southwest Airlines and the Wright Amendment
By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Dennis A. Yao, Libby Cantrill and Patricia Wu
The fall of 2004 brought exciting news to Love Field, the Texas headquarters of Southwest Airlines. Delta Airlines, one of Southwest's main competitors, had announced that it would dramatically decrease service from the nearby Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)... View Details
- January 2007 (Revised December 2008)
- Case
Mercy Corps: Positioning the Organization to Reach New Heights
By: Allen S. Grossman and Caroline Joan King
Mercy Corps, the world's 5th largest international relief and development agency, is at a turning point. The nonprofit's opportunities to grow and serve a larger number of beneficiaries are unprecedented. By looking at the unique relationship between headquarters and... View Details
- January 2007
- Class Lecture
How Countries Compete: National Strategies for Globalization (FSS)
- December 2006 (Revised February 2007)
- Case
Opportunity International: Measurement and Mission
By: Herman B. Leonard, Marc J. Epstein and Melissa Tritter
After a "first career" in business, HBS graduate Christopher Crane becomes CEO of a worldwide microfinance network. The organization's twin challenges are: 1) developing metrics to give it an accurate picture of its situation and impacts, and 2) generating rapid... View Details
- November 2006 (Revised January 2007)
- Case
Habitat for Humanity International in South Africa
By: Nicolas P. Retsinas, Arthur I Segel and Nelson Hioe
In March 2006, Larry English, Director of Program Design and Innovation for Habitat for Humanity International Africa and the Middle East, was reflecting on a large development project in Durbin that had stalled. Notwithstanding global attention led by former President... View Details