Publications

15 Nov 2020
News

Fostering Innovation in Social Enterprise Across Harvard

Gifts to the HBS Fund support a wide range of people and programs like this. On April 16, video screens were glowing as spectators watched the finale of HBS’s annual New Venture Competition (NVC). COVID-19 turned the View Details

01 Dec 2003
News

Can Manufacturing Keep Its Edge?

base. As a result, they get cost savings, and we get sales.” Welcome to the new reality in U.S. manufacturing, where, more than ever, intense foreign competition is driving product and strategy innovations. Even those firms without direct... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Manufacturing

June 2024
Module Note

Value Creation Potential of New Business Models

By: David J. Collis

A business model is composed of three elements. These describe a generic way of creating value and identify the maximum potential value of that model for customers. The elements of a business model are the “job to be done” for the customer, the asset configuration, or... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Corporate Strategy; Mission and Purpose; Competitive Strategy; Value Creation

September 2007 (Revised April 2013)
Case

Peter Welz: When a Marquee Prospect Plays Hardball (A)

By: James K. Sebenius and Ellen Knebel

Describes the hardball tactics facing Peter Welz, who seeks to negotiate a make-or-break contract with a vastly larger potential client. Welz's counterpart team is led by Preston Spitzer, a notoriously tough player who fully understands his side's massive advantages in... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Process; Negotiation Tactics; Behavior; Conflict and Resolution; Competitive Advantage

December 2003
Case

Fox Bids for the NFL-1993

By: Bharat N. Anand and Catherine M. Conneely

The Fox television network, launched in 1987 by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. was in a precarious position in 1993. Although it had met its business plan targets, its ratings in the recently concluded November "sweeps" were indifferent, several of its newly launched... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Competitive Strategy; Financial Reporting; Bids and Bidding; Revenue; Television Entertainment; Media and Broadcasting Industry

March 2002 (Revised October 2005)
Case

Apple Computer 2002

By: David B. Yoffie and Yusi Wang

In 1980, Apple was the leader of the personal computer industry, but by 2002 it had suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Wintel camp. This case examines Apple's strategic moves as the PC industry evolves in the 21st century and poses the question: Can Steve Jobs... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Leadership Style; Information Technology; Supply and Industry; Competitive Advantage; Computer Industry; Retail Industry; California

13 Oct 2020
News

Running a Decathlon

Bill and Sandra Patton (photo by Tony LaBruno) While serving on the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee in 1979, William Patton Jr. (PMD 21, 1971) met Orange County superintendent of schools Robert Peterson, who told him about his idea for a View Details

November 2022 (Revised April 2023)
Supplement

HTC and Virtual Reality (B)

By: Andy Wu and Matt Higgins

In April 2023, Cher Wang, CEO and Chairwoman of HTC, reflected on her time as a leader in the virtual reality industry from her office high above Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It had been a roller coaster ride of new product introductions and unexpected challenges for HTC and... View Details

Keywords: VR; Virtual Reality; Strategy; Metaverse; Market Entry and Exit; Competition; Technology Industry; Taiwan; China; United States

November 2002 (Revised May 2003)
Case

DaChan Great Wall Group

By: Ray A. Goldberg and Cate Reavis

Describes the challenges facing a leading Taiwanese agribusiness concern as it competes in an increasingly complex business environment in China. View Details

Keywords: Agribusiness; Brands and Branding; Competition; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Taiwan; China

Find at Harvard

June 1989 (Revised September 1992)
Case

Dominion Motors & Controls Ltd.

The leading manufacturer of motors in Canada is threatened by a loss of market share in oilfield pumping motors because a major customer, having tested several competing motor brands, finds a competitor's motor to be superior. A central issue is whether to make a... View Details

Keywords: Product; Competition; Product Marketing; Manufacturing Industry; Canada