Publications

01 Jun 2017
News

Inbox: From Das’s Desk

research has focused on various aspects of customer management in B2B contexts, including customer selection and portfolio management; managing a spectrum of customer... View Details

Keywords: Das Narayandas

January 2004 (Revised August 2005)
Case

Kikkoman Corporation: Consumer Focused Innovation

By: Rohit Deshpande and Hal Hogan

In May 2003, the president and CEO of Kikkoman Corp. sat in his Tokyo office weighing various options for strengthening the company's long-term growth. Kikkoman was the world's largest producer of soy sauce, largely due to its pioneering role since the 1950s as the... View Details

Keywords: Customer Relationship Management; Innovation Strategy; Marketing Strategy; Product Positioning; Adaptation; Competitive Strategy; Japan

August 2002 (Revised February 2005)
Case

Gillette Company (A): Pressure for Change

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and James Weber

After years of strong performance with market-dominating brands, Gillette's performance slips and a new CEO is selected from outside the company to lead a turnaround. This case describes the business and financial situation he inherited and asks what he should do... View Details

Keywords: Business History; Performance Consistency; Product Positioning; Selection and Staffing; Change Management; Leading Change; Competitive Strategy; Planning; Retail Industry

01 Oct 2001
News

New Economy Notables: Peter C. Wendell

portfolio of companies. Some go great and some don't. But the individual entrepreneur has all his or her eggs in one basket. They are the real actors; we're just the stagehands. Where the new economy is going We've clearly had our... View Details

Keywords: Young, Susan; Finance

June 2001 (Revised March 2002)
Case

Ducati

Focuses on the turnaround and strategic repositioning of Ducati, an Italian maker of high-end sport motorcycles, and describes the current concerns with the growth prospects of the company. Federico Minoli, the CEO and strategic mind behind the turnaround, knew that... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Product Positioning; Management Teams; Brands and Branding; Motorcycle Industry

01 Mar 2006
News

Faculty Books

its decision-making, marketing, brand management, innovation, acquisition strategies, corporate culture, and human-resource management. Managing Product and Service Development by Stefan H. Thomke... View Details

Keywords: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

15 Oct 2012
Research & Ideas

Why Business IT Innovation is so Difficult

chains, and speeding communications. The result: "People can spend more time thinking up new products and servicing customers, and less time checking boxes." To get there, most firms must be willing to engage in radical change and... View Details

Keywords: by Maggie Starvish

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

07 Oct 2011
News

Tea’s Time

landed a job at Siebel Systems out of HBS, Rawdon was well on her way to building a portfolio of professional experiences that would, she felt, improve her chances of successfully launching a business. Within a few weeks, however, she... View Details

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

December 1997 (Revised April 2000)
Case

John Trani's First Year

By: Hugo Uyterhoeven

John Trani is Stanley Works' new CEO. This case describes his philosophy, communications, and actions during his first seven months in office, aiming at a major transformation of strategic postures, organizational structure, and company culture. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Strategic Planning; Communication; Personal Development and Career; Organizational Culture; Leadership Style; Management Skills; Consumer Products Industry

January 2004
Article

Corporate Venturing: The Origins of Unilever's Pregnancy Test

By: Geoffrey Jones and Alison Kraft

The relative ability of different sizes of firm and organisational designs to develop and sustain dynamic capabilities in innovation and create new businesses remains a matter of contention. While Chandler among many others has emphasised the pre-eminent role of large... View Details

Keywords: Business Ventures; Organizational Design; Technological Innovation; Business Startups; Venture Capital; Brands and Branding; Multinational Firms and Management; Product Development; Product Launch; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Great Britain