Publications

April 1989 (Revised December 1998)
Background Note

Household Furniture Industry in 1986

By: Michael E. Porter and Cynthia A. Montgomery

Profiles the household furniture industry in the United States in 1986. Designed for use with Masco Corp. (A) and (B). View Details

Keywords: Supply and Industry; Consumer Products Industry

June 2003 (Revised August 2003)
Case

Pension Policy at The Boots Company PLC

By: Luis M. Viceira and Akiko M. Mitsui

In early 2000, the trustees of the pension scheme at Boots considered a proposal to move 100% of the pension assets into a bond portfolio, which would be passively managed. The Boots Co. PLC was a leading retailer of cosmetics and toiletries in the United Kingdom, and... View Details

Keywords: Performance Productivity; Employees; Asset Management; Capital Structure; Investment Portfolio; Consumer Products Industry; United Kingdom

01 Dec 2014
News

Dressing by Number

More Retail Revolutions Manufacturing Makeup on Demand Although it isn’t available yet, Mink, a 3D home printer that produces custom makeup, has already made serial inventor Grace Choi (MBA 2013) a cosmetics celebrity. Katrina Lake knew... View Details

Keywords: Christine Lejeune; fashion; cosmetics; Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores

24 Sep 2014
Op-Ed

The ABCs of Addressing Climate Change (From a Business Perspective)

managing demand - using modern sensors and valves, remote measurement, big data optimization algorithms, mobile apps, and other innovations - is a more powerful way to benefit... View Details

Keywords: by John Macomber; Energy; Utilities

September 1999 (Revised November 2000)
Case

Swatch Group, The: On Internet Time

By: Luc R. Wathieu, Carin-Isabel Knoop and Cate Reavis

Under the leadership of Nicholas Hayek, the Swatch Group, makers of the Swatch watch, is widely credited with revitalizing the Swiss watch industry by offering a consistent set of brands addressing all segments of the global watch market. New opportunities beyond the... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Consumer Products Industry

15 Dec 2015
Blog Post

One MBA's Path to Boston Consulting Group

people. Lastly, I wanted to build out my consumer packaged goods knowledge that I began building while working at PepsiCo. Consulting felt like the right match but the question became which firm and why.... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail; Consumer Products / Retail

18 Oct 2021
Blog Post

How Much is Freedom Worth? For Gig Workers, a Lot.

For some gig workers, losing the flexibility to set their own schedules is equivalent to taking a 17 percent pay cut, according to new research that explores the wages and work habits of DoorDash drivers. App-based platforms that allow... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products

14 Jun 2011
First Look

First Look: June 14

conflict between the old and the new. Successful CEOs first develop a broad, forward-looking strategic aspiration that sets ambitious targets both for innovation and core business growth. They then hold the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

August 2019 (Revised August 2020)
Case

Magrabi: Fulfilling the Vision for the Future

By: John Beshears, Alpana Thapar and Boris Tsimerinov

In 2018, Magrabi was the leading retailer of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other optical products in the Middle East, and it was embarking on a major shift in strategy, transitioning from a brand focused on clinical expertise to a brand that combined technical excellence... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Transition; Luxury; Sales; Service Delivery; Strategy; Employees; Recruitment; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Middle East

20 Nov 2000
Research & Ideas

Moving from Supply Chains to Supply Networks

has supply chain management become such a hot topic in recent years? Shapiro: Changes in five factors are largely responsible for the increased attention. I'll quickly list them and then talk about each. Information technology Visibility... View Details

Keywords: by Staff

September–October 2022
Article

Should Your Company Sell on Amazon?: Reach Comes at a Price

By: Ayelet Israeli, Leonard A. Schlesinger, Matt Higgins and Sabir Semerkant

Selling on Amazon allows brands to reach millions of consumers—but that exposure comes with costs. They include smaller margins, more competition, the risk of commoditization, and less knowledge about customers. In this article, the authors present a scorecard to... View Details

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January 2006 (Revised October 2007)
Background Note

Managing Networked Businesses: Course Overview for Students

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann

Provides an overview for students of the MBA elective course Managing Networked Businesses (MNB). MNB focuses on management challenges in businesses that exhibit network effects. The first section of the note explains that such businesses comprise a large and growing... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Capital Structure; Business or Company Management; Network Effects; Organizational Design; Business and Government Relations; Social and Collaborative Networks; Competitive Strategy

07 Sep 2011
First Look

First Look: Sept. 7

hard to quantify in the time-series. While loan issuance falls in recessions, it is not clear if this is due to demand or supply. We address this question by studying firms' substitution between bank debt View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

February 1990 (Revised August 2001)
Case

Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA: The Transit Point Experiment

By: Janice H. Hammond and Maura G Kelly

Merloni Elettrodomestici is a leading Italian manufacturer of domestic appliances. In 1986, an exposition for Merloni customers is scheduled at its Milano regional warehouse. During the two-month period preceding the event, when the warehouse must be free of inventory,... View Details

Keywords: Logistics; Marketing Channels; Planning; Time Management; Distribution Channels; Competitive Advantage; Customer Relationship Management; Information Technology; Consumer Products Industry; Italy

September 2016 (Revised April 2020)
Case

Dwyane Wade

By: Anita Elberse and Jennifer Schoppe

In July 2016, while on his annual China tour to help promote the sportswear brand Li-Ning, basketball superstar Dwyane Wade and his long-time business manager, Lisa Joseph-Metelus, face a decision regarding one of his other business partnerships—that with the American... View Details

Keywords: Branding; Fashion; Superstar; Celebrity Endorsement; Innovation; Creative Industries; Talent; General Management; Sports; Entertainment; Brands and Branding; Marketing; Management; Strategy; Personal Development and Career; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; China

03 Feb 2009
First Look

First Look: February 3, 2009

to supermarket deli departments. In 2008, he was convinced that the time was right to make a big push in the fresh food area to satisfy consumers that were demanding more convenient, natural, good-tasting,... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

July 1991 (Revised August 1991)
Case

Philip Morris Companies, Inc. (B)

By: Samuel L. Hayes III

Looks at the company's plans for a new debt offering under the Rule 415 shelf underwriting provision--in this instance from the vantage point of the lead investment banker for the deal. The decision-maker must assess the risks of the issuer, the tone of the market, the... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Stocks; Initial Public Offering; Consumer Products Industry; United States