Differentiation - Publications - Faculty & Research

25 Jun 2019
Research & Ideas

The Powerful Strategic Tool Companies Should Not Try to Control

they forge relationships with user groups. Danielle Kost: How can companies engage user communities more effectively? What advantages can they provide a firm? Frank Nagle and Sonali K. Shah: User communities can differentiate a firm’s... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost

22 Sep 2003
Research & Ideas

When Protestors Knock at Your Door

are, and often to differentiate among different groups—examining, for example, which are more reasonable, which might want to work with the firm, and so on. Then, it's useful to plot out lines of complete disagreement and possible... View Details

Keywords: by Cynthia Churchwell

01 Jun 2009
News

Magician Turns HBS Upside Down

their wristwatches. “Randal’s energetic ease in his own skin, his masterful storytelling, and his ability to recall everyone’s name also electrified and mystified the crowd,” said Scott Spencer (MBA ’09). “That ability to connect with people often View Details

Keywords: magic; Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries; Arts, Entertainment

01 Oct 2001
Research & Ideas

Five Questions for James Austin

opportunity to differentiate the company and its products. It can also elicit positive reactions from government officials and regulators on important business issues. Q: It's clear that nonprofits get financial benefits from partnering... View Details

Keywords: by Carla Tishler

18 Oct 2017
Blog Post

4 Advantages of the MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences Program

and differentiating factor for HBS is the concept of “One Harvard.” In other words, by studying at HBS you will have access to the resources of not only HBS, but of the other 11 graduate and professional schools plus Harvard College.... View Details

25 Jul 2006
First Look

First Look: July 25, 2006

mishaps due to poor cross-functional integration in the supply/demand planning activities. The poor integration resulted from organization differentiation among the functions and an unsophisticated approach to integration. In response to... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

09 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

The Challenge of the Multi-site Nonprofit

unique characteristics that differentiate them from for-profit concerns: The real value creators for nonprofits are the dispersed units, where money is raised and good deeds accomplished. With for-profits, headquarters is usually where... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

19 Apr 2017
News

Chicago Becomes a Hub of Startup Action

Silicon Valley’s name is dominant in the history of entrepreneurship. So where does that leave other cities that want to get in on the action? On April 13 in Spangler Auditorium, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a panel of area business leaders discussed what View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Emmanuel

22 Nov 2019
Blog Post

Avant Ski Makes Turns in Ski Media Objectivity

include industry expert features, such as ski patrollers and instructors. Avant Ski further differentiates itself with its family-oriented, non-expert tilt on information that’s custom built for busy professionals—a different perspective... View Details

14 Jan 2016
Blog Post

Liberal Arts Major Pursues an MBA

easier to do when you come to HBS with a unique background. Your story naturally differentiates itself in interviews. Don’t lose that independence. Celebrate it. Own it. And look forward to where it will lead you in business school and in... View Details

01 Feb 2000
News

New Releases

mountaineer Yvon Chouinard, the company differentiates its clothing along environmental lines, using expensive organic cotton and polyester made from recycled bottles. Patagonia's margins shrank, but sales to its high-end retail clientele... View Details

01 Dec 2010
News

Do Good: Eat Chocolate

also differentiated by percentage of cacao solids, from 50 percent to 70 percent. In her HBS application essays, Endline wrote of wanting to start a business but instead went to Yahoo! as a product manager after graduating. “The company... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; candy; chocolate; Crop Production; Agriculture; Food Manufacturing; Manufacturing

18 Mar 2009
Research & Ideas

Marketing After the Recession

will bring greater commodity price and exchange rate predictability. Marketing will again come to the fore as a differentiator between successful businesses and also-rans. Join the discussion on Harvard Business Online. View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch; Retail

01 Sep 2016
News

The Big Business of Little Loans

Treasury taking a look at these upstart lenders. Funding Societies’ Teo says the attention can only help the sector: “Regulations would boost investor confidence about P2P and P2B [peer-to-business] lending and set the right operations standard, View Details

Keywords: Nancy Miller

07 Nov 2005
What Do You Think?

Is Less Becoming More?

the cause. F. Chircu helped frame the discussion by writing that "When producers want to differentiate themselves, up to a point the safest and quickest way . . . is to add features or increase product complexity. . . . Choice... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Consumer Products

05 Aug 2002
Research & Ideas

Are Consumers the Cure for Broken Health Insurance?

far-reaching. First, the number and variety of investment choices skyrocketed, as new mutual fund companies rushed into the market with creative, differentiated offerings. Today, according to Institutional Investor, more than 90 percent... View Details

Keywords: by Regina E. Herzlinger

15 Oct 2015
Blog Post

Why We Recruit: Medallia

true differentiator is the authenticity of our people and, by extension, our culture. Is there anything else you would like to share with fellow recruiters or those who are new to recruiting with HBS? It is a pleasure to work with HBS and... View Details

Keywords: Technology

01 Dec 2018
News

Lighting the Way

to believe that all things are possible and that your assets can be key differentiators in a sea of overachievers,” she says. “Determine what anchors you and leverage what sets you apart, and then go boldly into your future with... View Details

01 Dec 2011
News

Faculty Books

organizational performance is substantial and quantifiable. An effective business culture can account for up to half of the performance differential between organizations in the same business. Drawing on field research and case studies,... View Details

Keywords: Utilities

01 Mar 2007
News

Letters to the Editor

very substantial product differentiation from their competition or, in the case of the “Truth” anti-tobacco campaign, no competition — just a villain that was an easy target. I don’t know if the agency pursued such clients as a conscious... View Details

Publications