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- All HBS Web
(786)
- News (145)
- Research (540)
- Events (1)
- Multimedia (1)
- Faculty Publications (205)
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- 21 Nov 2016
- Research & Ideas
It Matters That Your CEO Doesn't Know Much About Sales
CEOs need to roll up their sleeves and learn more about the customer-facing sides of their businesses, like sales. Source: AlexBrylov Let’s face it: To most C-suite executives, sales processes are often an afterthought or a somewhat... View Details
Keywords: by Michael Blanding
- December 2003
- Case
Sale of Hephaestus, Inc. to Vulcan Ventures, Inc.
Henry Hephaestus founded Hephaestus, Inc. in 1895. Its first product was a tapered roller bearing for use with horse-drawn wagons and carriages. It reduced friction on the axle and reduced the force necessary to move a heavy load, thereby enabling one horse to do the... View Details
Bagley, Constance E. "Sale of Hephaestus, Inc. to Vulcan Ventures, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 804-104, December 2003.
- March–April 2014
- Article
Do Bonuses Enhance Sales Productivity? A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Bonus-Based Compensation Plans
By: Doug J. Chung, Thomas Steenburgh and K. Sudhir
We estimate a dynamic structural model of sales force response to a bonus based compensation plan. Substantively, the paper sheds insights on how different elements of the compensation plan enhance productivity. We find evidence that: (1) bonuses enhance productivity... View Details
Chung, Doug J., Thomas Steenburgh, and K. Sudhir. "Do Bonuses Enhance Sales Productivity? A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Bonus-Based Compensation Plans." Marketing Science 33, no. 2 (March–April 2014): 165–187. (Lead article. Featured in HBS Working Knowledge.)
- 02 Sep 2019
- What Do You Think?
Are Overlooked Forces Shielding the US from Severe Economic Downturns?
will be very important in determining the length of the current US economic expansion. Those were the messages from responses to this month’s column. Steve Adcock was optimistic about the influences of technology and services on economic cycles. As he put it, “these... View Details
- January 1994
- Case
ABC Sales and Service Division: A Case Study of Personal and Organizational Transformation
By: D. Quinn Mills, Brock W. Orwig, Janet M. Pumo, Todd C. Stilson and Richard C. Wei
In the midst of dramatic changes in the information systems industry and declining profits at the ABC Co., the vice president in charge of the sales and service division, Jeff, and his managers attempt to transform their division. The transformation gets off to a good... View Details
Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Transformation; Motivation and Incentives; Resignation and Termination; Communication; Business or Company Management; Information Technology Industry
Mills, D. Quinn, Brock W. Orwig, Janet M. Pumo, Todd C. Stilson, and Richard C. Wei. "ABC Sales and Service Division: A Case Study of Personal and Organizational Transformation." Harvard Business School Case 494-075, January 1994.
- December 2021
- Article
Employee Responses to Compensation Changes: Evidence from a Sales Firm
By: Jason Sandvik, Richard Saouma, Nathan Seegert and Christopher Stanton
What are the long-term consequences of compensation changes? Using data from an inbound sales call center, we study employee responses to a compensation change that ultimately reduced take-home pay by 7% for the average affected worker. The change caused a significant... View Details
Keywords: Employees; Wages; Compensation and Benefits; Change; Performance; Resignation and Termination; Retention; Analysis
Sandvik, Jason, Richard Saouma, Nathan Seegert, and Christopher Stanton. "Employee Responses to Compensation Changes: Evidence from a Sales Firm." Management Science 67, no. 12 (December 2021): 7687–7707.
- 22 May 2024
- HBS Case
Banned or Not, TikTok Is a Force Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore
system to get each of their users to contribute to the content,” Ghosh notes. Unlike other social platforms that force people to build a following in order for content to be seen, the tool enables users of all abilities to build on... View Details
- 2012
- Book
The Culture Cycle: How to Shape the Unseen Force That Transforms Performance
By: James Heskett
The contribution of culture to organizational performance is both substantial and quantifiable. This book presents the results of field research that demonstrates how an effective culture can account for up to half of the differential in performance between... View Details
Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Learning; Framework; Policy; Retention; Books; Analytics and Data Science; Innovation and Invention; Management Practices and Processes; Organizational Culture; Performance Expectations; Research
Heskett, James. The Culture Cycle: How to Shape the Unseen Force That Transforms Performance. Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT Press, 2012.
- July 2005 (Revised September 2016)
- Case
24 Hour Fitness (A): The Rise, 1983–2004
By: John R. Wells, Elizabeth A. Raabe and Gabriel Ellsworth
In October 2004, Mark S. Mastrov, CEO of 24 Hour Fitness, reflected on how far his company had come in just over 20 years. From humble beginnings in 1983 in San Leandro, California, 24 Hour Fitness had grown to become the largest privately-owned health-club chain in... View Details
Keywords: 24 Hour Fitness; Mark Mastrov; Health Clubs; Fitness; Gyms; Chain; Weight Loss; Exercise; Personal Training; Retention; Sales Force Compensation; Incentive Systems; Buildings and Facilities; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; For-Profit Firms; Customers; Customer Focus and Relationships; Customer Satisfaction; Private Equity; Revenue; Geographic Scope; Multinational Firms and Management; Nutrition; Business History; Employees; Recruitment; Selection and Staffing; Human Capital; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development Strategy; Marketing; Operations; Service Operations; Private Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Sales; Salesforce Management; Sports; Strategy; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Advantage; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Segmentation; Information Technology; Internet; Technology Platform; Web; Web Sites; Capital Structure; Performance; Organizational Structure; Organizational Culture; Health Industry; United States; California; San Francisco
Wells, John R., Elizabeth A. Raabe, and Gabriel Ellsworth. "24 Hour Fitness (A): The Rise, 1983–2004." Harvard Business School Case 706-404, July 2005. (Revised September 2016.)
- May 2013
- Supplement
Paul Thomson: Walker Insurance
This is the Spreadsheet Supplement for Walker Insurance: Paul Thomson (HBS Case 813057). Includes Exhibit 1a, Exhibit 1b, Exhibit 2, Exhibit 4, Exhibit 5, Exhibit 6, and Exhibit 7. View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Organizations; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Search; Search Funds; Sales Force Management; Sales; Sales Channels; Insurance And Reinsurance; Insurance Companies; Acquisitions; Hiring; Service Management; Service; Insurance; Salesforce Management; Selection and Staffing; Insurance Industry; United States
- January 2016 (Revised July 2018)
- Case
Cyberdyne: A Leap to the Future
By: Doug J. Chung and Mayuka Yamazaki
Cyberdyne Inc. was a Japanese technology venture that wanted to commercialize a hybrid assistive limb (HAL). HAL was a robotic exoskeleton system for people who had difficulty walking due to nervous system disabilities resulting from stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI),... View Details
Keywords: Go-to-market Strategy; Pricing; Sales Channel; Technological Innovation; Marketing; Sales; Distribution; Strategy; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry
Chung, Doug J., and Mayuka Yamazaki. "Cyberdyne: A Leap to the Future." Harvard Business School Case 516-072, January 2016. (Revised July 2018.)
- June 2013
- Supplement
Walker Insurance: Paul Thomson (Video Supplement)
By: Jim Sharpe
This is the Video Supplement for Walker Insurance: Paul Thomson (HBS Case 813057). View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Organizations; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Search; Search Funds; Sales Force Management; Sales; Sales Channels; Insurance And Reinsurance; Insurance Companies; Acquisitions; Hiring; Service Management; Service; Insurance; Salesforce Management; Selection and Staffing; Insurance Industry; United States
Sharpe, Jim. "Walker Insurance: Paul Thomson (Video Supplement)." Harvard Business School Video Supplement 813-717, June 2013.
- June 2013
- Teaching Note
Elasto Therm: The Next Step
By: Jim Sharpe
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Organizations; Entrepreneurs; Careers; Empowerment; Job Design; Sales Channels; Sales Force Management; Pricing Strategy; Pricing; Pricing Policies; Employee Empowerment; Customer Focus; Entrepreneurship; Salesforce Management; Customer Focus and Relationships; Rubber Industry; United States
- February 2013 (Revised September 2013)
- Case
Elasto Therm: The Next Step
By: Jim Sharpe and James Weber
Julia and Nate Burstein were living their dream running their own business and balancing the demands between their work and family obligations while creating a company that was responsive to their employees' and their customers' needs. The Bursteins had joined a large... View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Management; Entrepreneurs; Pricing; Pricing Policies; Pricing Strategy; Pricing Structure; Sales Force Management; Acquisitions; Work/family Balance; Family-owned Business; Entrepreneurship; Growth and Development Strategy; Expansion; Work-Life Balance; Manufacturing Industry; Rubber Industry; United States
Sharpe, Jim, and James Weber. "Elasto Therm: The Next Step." Harvard Business School Case 813-030, February 2013. (Revised September 2013.)
- November 2012 (Revised August 2013)
- Teaching Note
Paul Thomson: Walker Insurance
By: Jim Sharpe
- May 2013
- Supplement
Elasto Therm: The Next Step
This is the spreadsheet supplement for case ElastoTherm: The Next Step(813030). This contains the electronic copy of exhibits 1 and 2. View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Management; Entrepreneurs; Pricing; Pricing Policies; Pricing Strategy; Pricing Structure; Sales Force Management; Acquisitions; Work/family Balance; Family-owned Business; Entrepreneurship; Growth and Development Strategy; Expansion; Work-Life Balance; Manufacturing Industry; Rubber Industry; United States
- April 2008
- Case
Campbell and Bailyn's Boston Office: Managing the Reorganization
By: Anne Donnellon and Dun Gifford Jr
Ken Winston, the regional sales manager at a securities brokerage firm, has reorganized his generalist salespeople into Key Account Teams (KAT) to increase sales of specialized, higher-margin fixed income products. Winston is also implementing a new corporate... View Details
Keywords: Organizational Behavior; Fixed Costs; Group Dynamics; Human Resource Management; Compensation; Matrix Organization; Sales; Leading Teams; Management; Leadership; Organizational Design; Organizational Structure; Groups and Teams; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Salesforce Management; Compensation and Benefits; Financial Services Industry; Boston
Donnellon, Anne, and Dun Gifford Jr. "Campbell and Bailyn's Boston Office: Managing the Reorganization." Harvard Business School Brief Case 082-182, April 2008.
- August 2012 (Revised June 2013)
- Case
Paul Thomson: Walker Insurance
By: Michael Roberts, Jim Sharpe and Sonia Nagala Change
Having just acquired Walker Insurance, Paul Thomson finds himself short of funds to support his original turnaround plan. He can request additional cash from his investor group, hunker down and grow at a slower rate or consider a proposal to buy his business. He has... View Details
Keywords: Crisis Management; Acquisitions; Search Funds; Entrepreneurial Management; Entrepreneurs; Insurance; Turnarounds; Boards Of Directors; Sales Force Management; Entrepreneurship; Insurance Industry; Florida
Roberts, Michael, Jim Sharpe, and Sonia Nagala Change. "Paul Thomson: Walker Insurance." Harvard Business School Case 813-057, August 2012. (Revised June 2013.)
- June 2013
- Supplement
Union Corrugating Co. (A) (Spreadsheet Supplement)
This is the spreadsheet supplement for HBS Case 803065, containing Exhibit 3 as an Excel document. View Details
Keywords: Family-owned Business; Entrepreneurial Organizations; Entrepreneurs; Sales Force Management; Salesforce Management; Operations Management; COST Control; Gender; Careers; Turnaround; Turnarounds; Supply Chain Management; Restructuring; Entrepreneurship; Customer Focus and Relationships; Supply Chain; Steel Industry; Construction Industry; North Carolina; United States
- June 2013
- Case
Comprosa
By: Jim Sharpe and Jose Luis Barbero
A Spanish manufacturer of packaging films has successfully returned to break even and is considering options to attain sustainable profitability. View Details
Keywords: Turnaround; Turnarounds; Distressed Debt; Private Equity; Cash Flow Analysis; Supplier Relationship; Supply Chain Management; Unions; Global Competitiveness; Leadership And Managing People; Sales Force Management; Sales Compensation; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Global Strategy; Salesforce Management; Cash Flow; Chemical Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Spain
Sharpe, Jim, and Jose Luis Barbero. "Comprosa." Harvard Business School Case 813-177, June 2013.