Publications

November 1998 (Revised February 1999)
Case

Microsoft Office: Finding the Suite Spot

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Steven Sinofsky

Describes a key decision-making process within Microsoft's Office products division. At a time when the PC software business has a great deal of uncertainty, Microsoft's management has to make a key decision regarding the future of software suites. A strengthening of... View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Applications and Software; Strategic Planning; Organizational Design; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Product Development; Managerial Roles; Growth and Development Strategy; Risk and Uncertainty; Goals and Objectives; Digital Platforms; Innovation and Management; Computer Industry; Information Technology Industry

December 2011 (Revised June 2012)
Case

Samasource: Give Work, Not Aid

By: Francesca Gino and Bradley R. Staats

Samasource sought to use work, not aid, for economic development. The company secured contracts for digital services from large companies in the United States and Europe, divided the work up into small pieces (called microwork) and then sent it to delivery centers in... View Details

Keywords: Development Economics; Growth and Development Strategy; Social Enterprise

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

Find at Harvard

December 2002 (Revised February 2003)
Case

Wyndham International: Fostering High-Touch with High-Tech

By: Lynda M. Applegate and Gabriele Piccoli

Examines a hotel chain's attempt to use information technology to achieve market dominance and build customer loyalty during a period of global industry decline. View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Competitive Strategy; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Satisfaction; Technological Innovation; Information Technology; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Accommodations Industry

15 Apr 2014
Research & Ideas

Calderón: Economic Arguments Needed to Fight Climate Change

growth are mutually exclusive endeavors. "We believe it's possible to do both," he said. "We need to switch from talking about carbon emissions to talking about economic growth, jobs, and... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Manufacturing

31 Jan 2017
Research & Ideas

The Dow at 20,000: What's That All About?

you see as some of key factors that led to this? Luis Viceira:The Dow is an index that has traditionally included the largest companies traded in the US stock market. Its growth since its inception reflects the View Details

Keywords: by Jim Aisner

04 Jan 2012
What Do You Think?

Income Inequality: What’s the Right Amount?

concentration of wealth is very high. Others view inequality as a potential drag on the economy, a deterrent to the development of a strong, large middle class, which in turn is considered essential to economic growth View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

09 Sep 2014
First Look

First Look: September 9

quantities of vaccines for the developing world. Purchase this case: http://hbr.org/product/vaxess-technologies-inc/an/514107-PDF-ENG Harvard Business School Case 714-034 Sasol: U.S. Growth Program Sasol, the world's largest producer of... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

20 Aug 2024
Book

Why Competing With Tech Giants Requires Finding Your Own Edge

thriving products at their core. To ensure sustained growth of an ecosystem, a company must prioritize the defensibility of its product. In the case of Anker, the company was able to convince industry leaders, such as Apple View Details

Keywords: by Feng Zhu; Technology; Information Technology

December 2007 (Revised April 2008)
Case

Alltech...naturally

By: David E. Bell and Mary L. Shelman

Entrepreneur Pearse Lyons had built Alltech into the fastest growing company in the global animal health industry through innovative technology, creative marketing, and strong branding. Sel-Plex, a proprietary Alltech product, had shown important health benefits for... View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Leadership Development; Customer Focus and Relationships; Expansion; Technological Innovation; Intellectual Property; Sales; Value Creation; Business Model; Growth and Development Strategy; Health Industry

September 2009
Article

Are You Having Trouble Keeping Your Operations Focused?

By: Robert S. Huckman

As a business broadens over time, it can lose the operational edge that led to its original success. Core strengths atrophy, efficiency or quality suffers, and sharper rivals close in to take advantage of the loss of focus. In his classic article "The Focused Factory"... View Details

Keywords: Business Units; Business Growth and Maturation; Goals and Objectives; Resource Allocation; Operations; Performance Efficiency

Find at Harvard

08 Jul 2025
Blog Post

In-Office, Remote, or Hybrid: Strategies for Success

regularly as priorities evolve. Use simple frameworks—like PPP: Progress, Plans, Problems—in weekly one-on-ones or team meetings to surface blockers, manage capacity, and identify growth opportunities. Tip:... View Details

19 Jul 2019
Blog Post

Making a Broader Impact with Multiple Disciplines

clinical, engineering, and business audiences is critical during the ideation and growth phase of any new life science venture. With this combined skillset, you serve as an... View Details

28 May 2013
First Look

First Look: May 28

non-American CEO, aims to reinvigorate the medical device maker's growth by focusing on emerging markets, therapy innovation, and creative business models. In 2012, budget constraints in mature economies,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

March 2018
Supplement

Chewy.com (B)

By: Jeffrey F. Rayport and Matthew G. Preble

Cohen and Chewy’s other board members decided to fully insource order fulfilment and commenced building an order fulfilment center near its 3PL partner’s facility. As soon as the 3PL learned that Chewy would be managing its own order fulfillment; however, it decided to... View Details

Keywords: Pet Food; Pet Products; Retail; Growth and Development Strategy; Service Operations; Decision Choices and Conditions; E-commerce; Retail Industry; Service Industry

20 Jan 2010
First Look

First Look: Jan. 20

Abstract Often considered one of the major forces behind economic growth and development, the entrepreneurial firm can accelerate the speed of innovation and dissemination of... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

May 2024
Teaching Note

AI21 Labs in 2023: Strategy for Generative AI

By: David Yoffie

Teaching Note for HBS Case 724-383. The case has 3 important teaching purposes: First, what are the advantages and disadvantages of imitation? (e.g., Should AI21 imitate OpenAI with a chatbot?) Second, what are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping new technology... View Details

Keywords: AI; Generative Ai; Generative Models; AI and Machine Learning; Innovation Strategy; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Model; Business Startups; Open Source Distribution; Competitive Advantage; Technology Industry; Israel

February 1995 (Revised February 1998)
Case

India in the 1990s

By: George C. Lodge and Ahu Bhasin

Describes the efforts of Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to deregulate and open up the Indian economy in the early 1990s. Focuses on the difficulties he encountered, reflected in the poor showing of the ruling Congress Party in state elections in December... View Details

Keywords: Development Economics; Emerging Markets; Social Issues; Economic Growth; Government and Politics; India