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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(2,416)
- People (4)
- News (410)
- Research (1,772)
- Events (4)
- Multimedia (13)
- Faculty Publications (1,058)
- August 2020
- Article
Workplace Knowledge Flows
By: Jason Sandvik, Richard Saouma, Nathan Seegert and Christopher Stanton
We conducted a field experiment in a sales firm to test whether improving knowledge flows between coworkers affects productivity. Our design allows us to compare different management practices and to isolate whether frictions to knowledge transmission primarily reside... View Details
Keywords: Knowledge Sharing; Interpersonal Communication; Employees; Performance Productivity; Sales; Motivation and Incentives
Sandvik, Jason, Richard Saouma, Nathan Seegert, and Christopher Stanton. "Workplace Knowledge Flows." Quarterly Journal of Economics 135, no. 3 (August 2020): 1635–1680.
- November 2002
- Case
Siemens ShareNet: Building a Knowledge Network
By: Alan D. MacCormack, Sven Volpel and Kerry Herman
Describes the development of ShareNet, an innovative knowledge management system used by a division of Siemens. ShareNet attempts to capture the knowledge and experience of Siemen's many dispersed sales and marketing units around the globe, making it available to all.... View Details
Keywords: Cost Management; Investment Return; Revenue; Knowledge Acquisition; Knowledge Management; Sales
MacCormack, Alan D., Sven Volpel, and Kerry Herman. "Siemens ShareNet: Building a Knowledge Network." Harvard Business School Case 603-036, November 2002.
- May 2016
- Case
The Inexorable Rise of Walmart? 1988—2016
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
In October 2015, Walmart surprised investors by announcing that it expected flat sales growth for 2015 and growth of only 3% to 4% over the coming three years. Profits would also fall due to significant investments in people and technology. The company’s stock price... View Details
Keywords: Asda; Costco; David Glass; Convenience Stores; Discount Retailing; Dollar Stores; Doug McMillon; E-commerce; Online Retail; General Merchandise; Grocery; Lee Scott; Mike Duke; Multichannel Retailing; Omnichannel; Neighborhood Market; Sam Walton; Sam's Club; Store Formats; Supercenter; Supermarket; Warehouse Clubs; Merchandising; Walmart; Wal-Mart; Globalized Firms and Management; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Units; Business Divisions; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; Business Organization; For-Profit Firms; Film Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Banks and Banking; Price; Profit; Revenue; Food; Global Range; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Global Strategy; Business History; Compensation and Benefits; Employees; Human Capital; Labor Unions; Wages; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Management Succession; Brands and Branding; Product Positioning; Distribution; Supply Chain; Supply Chain Management; Public Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Labor and Management Relations; Strategy; Adaptation; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Advantage; Diversification; Expansion; Segmentation; Information Technology; Internet; Mobile Technology; Online Technology; Web; Web Sites; Retail Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Distribution Industry; Banking Industry; United States; Arkansas; Bentonville
Wells, John R., and Gabriel Ellsworth. "The Inexorable Rise of Walmart? 1988—2016." Harvard Business School Case 716-426, May 2016.
- February 2010
- Background Note
Marketing Analysis Toolkit: Market Size and Market Share Analysis
By: Thomas J. Steenburgh and Jill Avery
Marketers frequently need to estimate the size of their markets—both for existing products so that sales forecasts can be developed and for new products so that market opportunities can be assessed. This toolkit enables students to size a market and generate a sales... View Details
Keywords: Forecasting and Prediction; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Marketing Strategy; Markets; Demand and Consumers; Size; Strategic Planning; Sales
Steenburgh, Thomas J., and Jill Avery. "Marketing Analysis Toolkit: Market Size and Market Share Analysis." Harvard Business School Background Note 510-081, February 2010.
- April 2011 (Revised May 2011)
- Case
EMC2: Delivering Customer Centricity
By: Thomas Steenburgh and Jill Avery
This case introduces the concept of customer centricity and traces its development at EMC, the world's leading data storage hardware and information management software company. EMC's customers had historically relied on EMC salespeople to guide them through the... View Details
Keywords: Business Model; Interpersonal Communication; Customer Relationship Management; Knowledge Acquisition; Marketing Strategy; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Salesforce Management; Social and Collaborative Networks; Internet; Information Technology Industry
Steenburgh, Thomas, and Jill Avery. "EMC2: Delivering Customer Centricity." Harvard Business School Case 511-124, April 2011. (Revised May 2011.)
- November 2018 (Revised May 2019)
- Case
Almarai Company: Milk and Modernization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
By: Kristin Fabbe, Safwan Al-Amin, Esel Cekin and Natalie Kindred
With SAR 14 billion ($3.7 billion) in 2017 revenues, Almarai was Saudi Arabia’s largest dairy producer, distributor, and marketer, with a large portfolio of branded dairy products, juices, bakery goods, and infant formula and a sales presence across the Gulf region,... View Details
Keywords: Dairy; Agriculture; Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia; Almarai; Schorderet; Food Security; Public Policy; Self Sufficiency; Gulf; GCC; Business And Government; Agribusiness; Marketing; Distribution; Change Management; Leading Change; Strategy; Government and Politics; Policy; Diversification; Integration; Horizontal Integration; Vertical Integration; Food; Brands and Branding; Growth and Development Strategy; Business and Government Relations; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Saudi Arabia; Middle East
Fabbe, Kristin, Safwan Al-Amin, Esel Cekin, and Natalie Kindred. "Almarai Company: Milk and Modernization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Harvard Business School Case 719-020, November 2018. (Revised May 2019.)
- February 2000 (Revised April 2001)
- Case
CNET 2000
By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Pauline M Fischer
CNET's managers explain the strategic analysis that led to their decision to increase their annual marketing budget from $1 million to $100 million. CNET is an online information intermediary that helps consumers make purchase decisions about PC hardware and software,... View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Corporate Strategy; Budgets and Budgeting; Financial Strategy; Decisions; Growth and Development; Customer Focus and Relationships; Business Divisions; Marketing Strategy; Distribution Channels; Consumer Behavior; Online Technology; Information Technology Industry
Eisenmann, Thomas R., and Pauline M Fischer. "CNET 2000." Harvard Business School Case 800-284, February 2000. (Revised April 2001.)
- October 2015
- Teaching Note
Clef Company: Turnover
Clef Company sells keys and other products to retail outlets, which then sell these products to consumers. The case concerns turnover in Clef's sales force in the context of company strategy, financial performance, and a day in the life of a Clef salesperson. Among... View Details
- November 2011
- Case
Celeritas, Inc.: Leadership Challenges in a Fast-Growth Industry
By: Michael Beer and Ingrid Vargas
In 2011, Celeritas is a leading data communications company in the crowded, highly competitive, and ever-evolving enterprise-network optimization market. Having experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2003, Celeritas has recently seen sales decline and has begun... View Details
Keywords: Technology; Morale; Conflict; Organizational Change; Team Building; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Information Technology; Leadership; Communication; Groups and Teams; Attitudes; Conflict and Resolution; Information Technology Industry; Communications Industry
Beer, Michael, and Ingrid Vargas. "Celeritas, Inc.: Leadership Challenges in a Fast-Growth Industry." Harvard Business School Brief Case 114-360, November 2011.
- February 2003 (Revised February 2006)
- Case
Precise Software Solutions
When and how should a firm introduce an innovative new product? Introduce too early and functionality may not be there, too late and strong competition might appear. Precise Software Solutions, headquartered in Westwood, MA, is a small, growing company with a... View Details
Keywords: Applications and Software; Product Launch; Innovation and Invention; Product Development; Sales; Information Technology Industry; Massachusetts
Godes, David B. "Precise Software Solutions." Harvard Business School Case 503-064, February 2003. (Revised February 2006.)
- September 1986
- Case
BOC Group: Ohmeda (A)
The president of Ohmeda, a wholly owned company of the BOC Group, plans to grow the company's medical equipment sales from $95 million in 1985 to $158 million in five years by focusing on the sale of "high-tech" equipment. At the same time, the president expects to... View Details
Keywords: Marketing Communications; Salesforce Management; Marketing Channels; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry
Moriarty, Rowland T., Jr. "BOC Group: Ohmeda (A)." Harvard Business School Case 587-080, September 1986.
- May 2014
- Case
Groupon, Inc.
By: Krishna G. Palepu, Blythe J. McGarvie and James Weber
Internet coupon site "Groupon" grew revenues rapidly and went public, but struggled to impress investors or operate profitably. Did it have a sustainable business model?
Groupon sold coupons called Groupons which purchasers used to acquire goods or services at... View Details
- April 2005 (Revised June 2006)
- Case
Evergreen Investments: Mobile CRM (A)
Evergreen Investments has had a troubled history with its customer relationship management (CRM) system. Sales agents feel that they derive no value from it and that it is a tax on their jobs. Evergreen is investigating whether it can improve CRM by making its data... View Details
Keywords: Management; Customer Relationship Management; Information Technology; Financial Services Industry
McAfee, Andrew P. "Evergreen Investments: Mobile CRM (A)." Harvard Business School Case 605-057, April 2005. (Revised June 2006.)
Benson P. Shapiro
Benson P. Shapiro is a well-known authority on marketing strategy and sales management with particular interests in pricing, product line planning, and marketing organization. He is also the Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing Emeritus at the Harvard Business... View Details
Keywords: apparel; banking; beauty products; brokerage; chemical; computer; consulting; e-commerce industry; electrical equipment; electronics; financial services; food; high technology; industrial goods; information; information technology industry; internet; investment banking industry; manufacturing; marketing industry; metals; plastics; printing; professional services; software; steel; telecommunications; wholesale
- February 2008
- Case
EFI, Inc. (A)
By: David B. Godes and Lauren Barley
EFI has a unique sales compensation challenge. They cannot allocate sales credit for their core product to individual salespeople. So, they've historically paid the sales force as a team. This has worked out fine, since they've been a near-monopoly seller of a single... View Details
Keywords: Change Management; Compensation and Benefits; Performance Evaluation; Groups and Teams; Salesforce Management; Motivation and Incentives
Godes, David B., and Lauren Barley. "EFI, Inc. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 508-044, February 2008.
- August 2015 (Revised March 2017)
- Case
Planters Nuts
By: Robert J. Dolan and Donald K. Ngwe
In 2012 Planters had about $1 billion in U.S. annual revenues, but had experienced declining unit sales and household penetration over the past six years. The snack nuts category was growing overall, but household spending was shifting away from peanuts, cashews, and... View Details
Dolan, Robert J., and Donald K. Ngwe. "Planters Nuts." Harvard Business School Case 516-004, August 2015. (Revised March 2017.)
- March 2025
- Supplement
Wasabi Technologies (B)
By: Lou Shipley and Stacy Straaberg
Set in 2019, the “Wasabi Technologies (A)” case centers on Wasabi Technologies (Wasabi), a successful hot cloud storage company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founder and CEO David Friend is ready to scale the four-year-old venture rapidly. Wasabi had so far focused... View Details
Keywords: Information Management; Sales; Product Development; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Information Technology Industry; United States; Massachusetts; Boston
Shipley, Lou, and Stacy Straaberg. "Wasabi Technologies (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 825-035, March 2025.
- June 1981 (Revised May 1988)
- Case
L.L. Bean, Inc.: Corporate Strategy
By: Hirotaka Takeuchi
L.L. Bean, Inc., a Maine-based manufacturer and mail-order retailer of sporting goods and apparel, has grown from $3 million in sales (1967) to over $120 million (1980). Current projections predict an annual compounded growth of 25% through 1985. Management must decide... View Details
Keywords: Globalization; Growth and Development; Growth Management; Production; Quality; Sales; Situation or Environment; Corporate Strategy; Internet and the Web; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Retail Industry
Takeuchi, Hirotaka. "L.L. Bean, Inc.: Corporate Strategy." Harvard Business School Case 581-159, June 1981. (Revised May 1988.)
- August 1989 (Revised October 1989)
- Case
Avon Co.
Avon engineers developed a new type of electric adjustable speed drive. Executives began to make long-range plans for production and marketing. Members of the sales department wondered what pricing recommendations they should make to management on the basis of... View Details
Corey, E. Raymond. "Avon Co." Harvard Business School Case 590-022, August 1989. (Revised October 1989.)
V. Kasturi Rangan
Kash Rangan is the Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing at the Harvard Business School. Formerly the chairman of the Marketing Department (1998-2002), he is now the co-chairman of the school's Social Enterprise Initiative. He has taught in a wide variety of MBA... View Details