Publications

April 2001 (Revised January 2003)
Case

Robert Shapiro and Monsanto

Traces Monsanto's efforts to become a global biotech powerhouse under Shapiro's leadership. Examines how his crusade to save the world through genetic modification foundered. View Details

Keywords: Genetics; Supply Chain Management; Alliances; Global Strategy; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Biotechnology Industry

January 1997 (Revised December 1999)
Case

OXO International

By: H. Kent Bowen, Marilyn Matis and Sylvie Ryckebusch

OXO, a kitchen tools and gadgets company, was started by a businessman who had 30 years of experience in the housewares industry. With his wife and son as founders, he creates a new niche in the gadgets industry for high-end gourmet stores. The company has headquarters... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Supply Chain Management; Production; Design; Ownership; Business Startups; Acquisition; Consumer Products Industry; Asia; New York (city, NY); Connecticut

October 1993 (Revised November 1994)
Case

Becton Dickinson & Co.: Multidivisional Marketing Programs

By: Frank V. Cespedes

In response to a potential competitive inroad at a key account, managers at Becton Dickinson are considering a multidivisional marketing effort. View Details

Keywords: Marketing Communications; Accounting Audits; Management; Supply Chain Management; Organizations; Sales; Change Management; Health Industry

2020
Case

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastic Packaging

By: Andrew J. Hoffman

Plastic has become essential to global day-to-day activities, yet it is also causing extreme environmental degradation. Many leaders in the plastics industry are starting to question its sustainability. This case presents insights into the future of the plastic... View Details

Keywords: Plastic Waste; Environmental Sustainability; Cooperation; Supply Chain Management; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Consumer Products Industry

August 2015
Teaching Note

Rana Plaza (C): Primark and Victim Compensation

By: John A. Quelch

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; Business Ethics; Human Resource Management; Workplace Safety; Safety; Working Conditions; Supply Chain Management; Ethics; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Human Resources

26 Mar 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, March 26, 2019

long-term innovation output rather than for private benefits. Code Contingencies: Designing Monitoring Regimes to Promote Improvement in Supply Chain Working Conditions By: Short, Jodi L., Michael W. Toffel,... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

July 2023 (Revised January 2025)
Teaching Note

Sian Flowers: Fresher by Sea?

By: Willy Shih and Michael W. Toffel

April 2012
Supplement

Meli Marine, Instructor Supplement (Brief Case)

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Sunru Yong

Keywords: Asia; Singapore; Industry Structure; Operations Management; Capacity Analysis; Packaging Cartons ＆Containers; Supply Chain Management; Competitive Strategy; Logistics; Industry Structures; Performance Capacity; Singapore

April 2012
Supplement

Meli Marine, Spreadsheet Supplement (Brief Case)

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Sunru Yong

Keywords: Asia; Singapore; Industry Structure; Operations Management; Capacity Analysis; Packaging Cartons ＆Containers; Supply Chain Management; Competitive Strategy; Logistics; Industry Structures; Performance Capacity; Singapore

23 Jun 2009
Research Event

Business Summit: Global Environment-Transformed Organization

According to two panel sessions, successful organizations must continually transform themselves in today's dynamic world. Panelists said globalization has played or will play a key role in the transformations of their organizations, through low-cost global View Details

February 2007 (Revised May 2007)
Case

Li & Fung 2006

By: F. Warren McFarlan, William C. Kirby and Tracy Manty

Describes the opportunities and strategy facing one of the most innovative global supply-chain companies, and the strategy it has chosen to deal with the expanding demand for its services. Li & Fung links thousands of factories in India, China, and elsewhere to nearly... View Details

Keywords: Customer Value and Value Chain; Supply Chain Management; Distribution Channels; Global Range; Strategy; Information Technology; Service Industry; Distribution Industry; China; India; United States; Europe

August 2000 (Revised February 2003)
Case

Borders Group, Inc.

By: Zeynep Ton and Ananth Raman

Describes Borders Group, a well-known retail chain, in late 1999 and its traditional strengths and rapid growth in the 1990s. By 1990, however, the company had fallen behind Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble in leveraging the Internet for book retailing, although it... View Details

Keywords: Supply Chain Management; Customer Value and Value Chain; Distribution Channels; Service Operations; Business Growth and Maturation; Economic Growth; Industry Growth; Growth and Development; Internet; Business Model; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Supply and Industry; Retail Industry; Publishing Industry

24 Oct 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, October 24, 2017

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=53388 Intermediation in the Supply of Agricultural Products in Developing Economies By: Ferreira, Kris Johnson, Joel Goh, and Ehsan Valavi Abstract—Problem Definition: Farmers face several... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

16 May 2016
HBS Case

Food Safety Economics: The Cost of a Sick Customer

prided itself on avoiding artificial ingredients, opting instead to use a relatively short supply chain of local growers for many of its ingredients. That strategy just might have been part of its problem,... View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman; Food & Beverage

Fast Answer

Sustainability in Construction Industry

aspects of sustainability in construction industry such as future HR management, construction software & technologies, building materials, city design, next generation of supply chain operations, etc.... View Details

August 2017 (Revised March 2020)
Case

Flex Hungary: Launching Production (A)

By: Willy Shih

This case examines design choices in the construction of flow lines. Flow lines are a popular way of arranging production because they are simple and inherently efficient. Equipment or workstations are arranged according to the sequence of steps in which a product is... View Details

Keywords: Manufacturing; Line-balancing; Flow Line; Conveyor-paced Line; Consumer Goods; Consumer Products; Production Management; Production Planning; Production Scheduling; Operations; Production; Management; Supply Chain; Design; Analysis; Goods and Commodities; Consumer Products Industry; Manufacturing Industry; European Union