Publications

April 1989
Case

Norton Auto Supply

By: Janice H. Hammond

Describes a multiechelon distribution system for the distribution of automobile spare parts. An analyst has been hired by the Norton Auto Supply Co. to improve the company's inventory planning and control techniques. Includes demand, cost, weight, and supplier lead... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Operations; Distribution Channels; Management Practices and Processes; Management; Strategy; Industrial Products Industry; Industrial Products Industry

January 1991 (Revised January 1993)
Case

Xerox Corp.: The Customer Satisfaction Program

In August 1990 the president and executive vice president of Xerox are reviewing the progress made on its customer satisfaction program. The emphasis placed on the program, the success of the program to date, and the drive to achieve the corporate goals of customer... View Details

Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

September 1984
Case

Henkel Corp.: International Sealants Brand SISTA (B)

By: Robert J. Dolan

Describes the outcome of implementation of the standardized plan described in Henkel (A). View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Globalization; Expansion; Profit; Conflict Management; Outcome or Result; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Europe; West Germany

November 1990 (Revised November 1991)
Supplement

Apple Computer (C1): Reorganizing the Human Resource Function

Provides a follow-up to the (C) case. A new organization chosen for the human resource (HR) function is described. Students must compare the design chosen by Apple's HR managers with the one they chose. View Details

Keywords: Organizational Design; Human Resources; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

January 1991 (Revised November 1994)
Case

Black Caucus Groups at Xerox Corp. (A)

In 1970 Xerox had a very progressive affirmative action program yet, once hired, black employees faced serious problems, due both to overt discrimination and to their exclusion from the informal networks of support, information and mentoring that the other salespeople... View Details

Keywords: Prejudice and Bias; Alliances; Race Characteristics; Employees; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States

29 Jun 2016
Blog Post

Emerging Into Singapore

I arrived to Singapore with little expectations of what the city, office, culture, and people would be like. I was excited to start, but like a cub stepping out for the first time, I was anxious about jumping into the real world in a new unfamiliar place known to be... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail; Consumer Products / Retail

01 Jun 2016
Blog Post

Reflecting and Digesting

Finals just ended, I said some goodbyes, and I am all packed and ready. My first year at HBS has already come to an end, way too quickly, and I just boarded my flight to Singapore. As you can probably imagine, I have not yet reflected on all that has happened over the... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail; Consumer Products / Retail

10 Sep 2014
Blog Post

A Summer Reflection

Looking back on my summer internship at Walmart, I have four main takeaways about the company: Walmart cares A LOT about maintaining the culture that Sam Walton initially put in place. It’s actively and constantly managed- 4 core values, 10 rules of doing business,... View Details

Keywords: Consumer Products / Retail; Consumer Products / Retail

David W. Mitchell

Mitchell orchestrated the acquisition of Tiffany’s & Company – expanding Avon to a $3 billion+ operation with over 1 million direct sales representatives. Mitchell produced exceptional financial returns while expanding Avon’s global presence. View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

Samuel C. Johnson II

Taking the helm of the family business in 1966, Johnson began a diversification plan to lessen the company’s exposure to the introduction of “no-wax” floors. He aggressively moved the company into the personal care field and developed a new line of recreational... View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

King C. Gillette

Gillette invented the safety razor, creating a new U.S. industry. In 1903, Gillette sold 51 of his razors and 168 blades. He increased these numbers dramatically so that by the end of the next year, he had sold 90,000 razors and 12.4 million blades. Gillette grew his... View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

Mary Kay Ash

Ash created a successful cosmetics company by and for women by utilizing a direct sales force and creative motivational sales techniques. At the end of its first year, Mary Kay Cosmetics boasted $198,514 in sales and 318 salespeople. By 1977, the company had over... View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

Samuel B. Colgate

Despite the fact that Colgate’s term as head of Colgate-Palmolive came at the height of the Depression, Colgate was able to grow the company significantly. When Colgate took over, the company had $62 million in annual sales. Five years later, Colgate had increased... View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

Gilbert Colgate

Colgate merged with the Peet Company and B. J. Johnson, maker of Palmolive soap, the largest selling soap brand in America in the early 1900s. Colgate led the newly merged Colgate, Palmolive-Peet Company with assets of $63 million. The company’s volume increased... View Details

Keywords: Personal Care & Home Products

September 1993 (Revised May 2005)
Teaching Note

Forest Policy in Malaysia TN

By: Forest L. Reinhardt

Teaching Note for (9-792-099). View Details

Keywords: Forest Products Industry; Forest Products Industry; Malaysia

May 1992 (Revised August 1993)
Case

Forest Policy in Malaysia

By: Forest L. Reinhardt

The governments of Malaysia and the Malaysian State of Sarawak need to assess possible changes in forest policy. Environmentalist pressure threatens traditional market relationships and patterns of business-government interaction. Harvest regulations, subsidies, trade... View Details

Keywords: Natural Environment; Policy; Government and Politics; Environmental Sustainability; Trade; Business and Government Relations; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Forest Products Industry; Forest Products Industry; Malaysia