Publications

March 2006 (Revised December 2009)
Compilation

Skype

By: Peter A. Coles and Thomas R. Eisenmann

Presents eBay's rationale for its $2.6 billion acquisition in late 2005 of Skype, a fast growing voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) provider. Describes Skype's history, technology, business model, and competition, as well as government regulation of VoIP services. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Model; Communication Technology; Growth and Development Strategy; Network Effects; Competitive Strategy; Internet and the Web; Information Infrastructure; Telecommunications Industry

08 Apr 2009
Research & Ideas

Clayton Christensen on Disrupting Health Care

interrelated. People who have studied this industry for a long time have come up with a number of feasible ideas to get at the cost problem, including high-deductible insurance and health savings accounts. But until we make sure that the... View Details

Keywords: by Deborah Blagg; Health

July 2003 (Revised August 2003)
Case

Lamoiyan Corporation of the Philippines: Challenging Multinational Giants

A local Philippine toothpaste manufacturer, Lamoiyan Corp., faces the challenge of staying competitive against entrenched multinational giants. The company has managed to capture, at its peak, 20% of the Philippine toothpaste market and has become the number three... View Details

Keywords: Multinational Firms and Management; Competitive Strategy; Emerging Markets; Entrepreneurship; Consumer Products Industry; Philippines

December 2009 (Revised November 2012)
Teaching Note

Global Wine War 2009: New World versus Old (TN)

By: Christopher A. Bartlett

Teaching Note for [910405]. View Details

Keywords: Emerging Markets; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Segmentation; Competitive Advantage; Globalized Firms and Management; Consumer Behavior; Industry Structures; Food and Beverage Industry; United States

14 Oct 2014
First Look

First Look: October 14

Review Making Charity Pay By: Norton, Michael I., and Jill Avery Abstract—Companies are increasingly experimenting with the use of philanthropy to enhance consumer loyalty, brand awareness, View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

06 Oct 2015
First Look

October 6, 2015

technology and improved digital communication have been explored in a variety of contexts, the impact on economic activity—from consumer and entrepreneurial behavior to the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

27 Jan 2015
First Look

First Look: January 27

that agents experience reduced demand for service failures due to stockouts, but not for service failures due to network downtime, suggesting that consumers differentially ascribe responsibility for service... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

December 1994 (Revised May 1999)
Case

3M Optical Systems: Managing Corporate Entrepreneurship

By: Christopher A. Bartlett and Afroze A Mohammed

A middle-level division manager must decide whether he should support an investment request for a third attempt at launching a new product developed by a struggling business unit. Describes the long, difficult process by which the unit has developed the product--a... View Details

Keywords: Managerial Roles; Decision Choices and Conditions; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Product Launch; Problems and Challenges; Product Development; Consumer Products Industry

26 Jan 2004
Research & Ideas

What Developing-World Companies Teach Us About Innovation

software, consumer electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Such companies hold many important patents and boast R&D labs that rival facilities at the best universities in the... View Details

Keywords: by Donald N. Sull, Alejandro Ruelas-Gossi & Martin Escobari

April 2011
Supplement

Porcini's Pronto: 'Great Italian cuisine without the wait!', Spreadsheet Supplement (Brief Case)

By: James L. Heskett and Richard Luecke

Keywords: Franchising; Syndication; Quantitative Analysis; Performance Measurement; Human Resource Management; Incentives; Motivation; Motivation and Incentives; Analysis; Consumer Behavior; Franchise Ownership; Human Resources; Performance Evaluation

Video

Dr. R.S. Sodhi

Dr. R.S. Sodhi, former Managing Director of GCMMF (Amul), relates the history of the Amul name and traces the origins of "Amul butter girl" - one of the world's longest running ad campaigns. View Details

April 2012
Case

Introducing iSnack 2.0: The New Vegemite

By: Anat Keinan, Francis Farrelly and Michael Beverland

Vegemite is an iconic Australian breakfast spread and is often seen as a quintessential Australian product. This case focuses on Kraft's decision to revitalize brand performance through the introduction of a brand extension. Drawing on extensive social media analysis... View Details

Keywords: Food; Product Launch; Conflict and Resolution; Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

11 Sep 2007
First Look

First Look: September 11, 2007

from a manufacturing to an innovation-led enterprise. How would they balance short-term pragmatism versus long-term vision? Do they have the appropriate human resources to scale and innovate? Is their India-centric strategy appropriate,... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

26 Jun 2007
First Look

First Look: June 26, 2007

from investors. CircleLending is a pioneer in the informal lending market, a largely unstudied and little understood consumer finance segment. Asheesh Advani, the founder and... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

February 2017
Case

BlaBlaCar: The Road Ahead...

By: Karim R. Lakhani, Arun Sundararajan, Emilie Billaud and Caroline Caltagirone

In 2017, the co-founders of BlaBlaCar—the world’s largest long-distance carpooling company—reflected on the evolution of their venture and the way forward. BlaBlaCar had reached critical mass and size; yet staying still was not going to be enough to be relevant and... View Details

Keywords: Business Growth and Maturation; Business Startups; Transformation; Decision Making; Values and Beliefs; Growth and Development Strategy; Digital Platforms; Network Effects; Strategic Planning; Competitive Strategy; Expansion; Internet and the Web; Transportation Networks; Transportation Industry; Web Services Industry; France; Europe

August 1990 (Revised February 1991)
Case

Whirlpool Corp.

By: Michael Y. Yoshino and Sarah D. Hall

Examines the company's global strategy and potential acquisition of Philips' major domestic appliance operations in Europe in light of increasing trends toward globilization in the major appliance industry. Allows discussions weighing the advantages and risks of... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Joint Ventures; Global Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Risk and Uncertainty; Opportunities; Competitive Strategy; Consumer Products Industry; Europe

July 2020
Teaching Note

Shindigz

By: Frank Cespedes

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 819-010. Shindigz sells party and celebratory items through its branded direct online channel, third-party retail and wholesale channels, and online marketplaces. Shindigz has for decades successfully executed a premium-priced branded... View Details

Keywords: Ecommerce; Pricing; Price; Strategy; Decision Making; Distribution Channels; Brands and Branding; E-commerce; Consumer Products Industry