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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(914)
- News (161)
- Research (702)
- Multimedia (3)
- Faculty Publications (266)
- December 2012 (Revised November 2014)
- Case
Lit Motors
By: Thomas R. Eisenmann and Alex Godden
In mid-2012 Lit Motors had created both engineering and design prototypes and conducted initial customer tests on less than $750,000 of investment. Lit Motors' founder, Daniel Kim, had started the company to design and manufacture an efficient electric 2-wheeled... View Details
Keywords: Lean Startup; Prototyping; Electric Vehicle; Urban Vehicle; Customer Tests; Gyroscope; Entrepreneurs; Development Stage Enterprises; Creativity; Disruptive Technologies; Consumer Surveys; Market Segmentation; Manufacturing Costs; Entrepreneurship; Auto Industry; United States; California
Eisenmann, Thomas R., and Alex Godden. "Lit Motors." Harvard Business School Case 813-079, December 2012. (Revised November 2014.)
- June 2013 (Revised June 2013)
- Teaching Note
Brazil's Enigma: Sustaining Long-Term Growth & Currency Wars
By: Laura Alfaro and Hilary White
Over the past decade, Brazil's future as a leading world economic power appeared certain. An expanding middle class and commodity boom had fueled economic growth, with GDP growth hitting a peak of 7.5% in 2010. However, the high cost of conducting business in Brazil,... View Details
Keywords: Exchange Rate; Inflation; Inflation Targeting; Industrialization; Infrastructure; Currency; Capital Controls; Stimulus; Commodity Prices; Manufacturing Costs; Globalization; Productivity Growth; Economics; Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Inflation and Deflation; Macroeconomics; Public Sector; Brazil; South America; Latin America
- 26 Jan 2021
- News
Numbers Talk at Tesla
When Zachary Kirkhorn (MBA 2013) became CFO of Tesla in early 2019, few envied him. The electric carmaker had just reduced headcount by 7 percent. Tesla needed to cut costs and its vehicle prices to avoid bankruptcy, CEO Elon Musk told... View Details
- Article
Survive Another Day: Using Changes in the Composition of Investments to Measure the Cost of Credit Constraints
By: Luis Garicano and Claudia Steinwender
We introduce a novel empirical strategy to measure the size of credit shocks. Theoretically, we show that credit shocks reduce the value of long-term relative to short-term investments. Empirically, we can therefore compare the reduction of long-term relative to... View Details
Keywords: Credit Constraints; Credit Crunch; Spain; Investment Behavior; Credit Squeeze; Financial Crisis; Economic Growth; Investment; Credit; Manufacturing Industry; Spain; European Union
Garicano, Luis, and Claudia Steinwender. "Survive Another Day: Using Changes in the Composition of Investments to Measure the Cost of Credit Constraints." Review of Economics and Statistics 98, no. 5 (December 2016): 913–924.
- September 2012 (Revised September 2015)
- Case
Doing Business in Ghana
By: Felix Oberholzer-Gee and Elena Corsi
An entrepreneur considered investing in tomato paste manufacturing in Ghana, an emerging economy, and pondered the opportunities and challenges of investing here. Ghana's economy had been growing over the last decade, reaching a peak of 14.4% growth rate in 2011. Now a... View Details
- October, 2022
- Article
The Economic Dynamics of Competing Power Generation Sources
By: Gunther Glenk and Stefan Reichelstein
Competing power generation sources have experienced considerable shifts in both their revenue potential and their costs in recent years. Here we introduce the concept of Levelized Profit Margins (LPM) to capture the changing unit economics of both intermittent and... View Details
Keywords: Renewable Energy; Intermittant; Cost Accounting; Profitability Analysis; Learning-by-doing; Cannibalization Effect; Energy; Environmental Management; Investment; Operations; Technological Innovation; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Europe; North America; South America; Africa; Asia
Glenk, Gunther, and Stefan Reichelstein. "The Economic Dynamics of Competing Power Generation Sources." Art. 112758. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 168 (October, 2022).
- April 2012
- Case
Bayonne Packaging, Inc.
By: Roy D. Shapiro and Paul E. Morrison
A printer and paper converter produces customized packaging used by industrial customers to deliver promotional materials, software, luxury beverages, and gift food and candy. The company specializes in creating innovative packaging solutions for its customers and... View Details
Keywords: Production Controls; Manufacturing; Capacity Analysis; Quality Control; Performance Management; Process Analysis; Quality; Production; Performance Productivity; Performance Capacity; Business Processes; Manufacturing Industry
Shapiro, Roy D., and Paul E. Morrison. "Bayonne Packaging, Inc." Harvard Business School Brief Case 124-420, April 2012.
- May 2011
- Case
Baria Planning Solutions, Inc.: Fixing the Sales Process
By: Steven C. Wheelwright and William Schmidt
Baria Planning Solutions (BPS) is a consulting firm that specializes in using spend analysis to help companies identify savings through reduced procurement costs and improved supplier performance. Management is concerned about the disappointing performance of the sales... View Details
Keywords: Quantitative Analysis; Technology; Operations Management; Product Lines; Manufacturing; Capacity Planning; Production Planning; Production; Management Practices and Processes; Service Operations; Supply Chain Management; Salesforce Management; Planning; Consulting Industry; North and Central America
Wheelwright, Steven C., and William Schmidt. "Baria Planning Solutions, Inc.: Fixing the Sales Process." Harvard Business School Brief Case 114-568, May 2011.
- January 2017 (Revised August 2017)
- Case
Earl Gordon - Eastern Circle
By: Steven Rogers and Greg White
This case follows an African-American entrepreneur through the process of sourcing a potential acquisition, valuing a company, and securing the funding to purchase the company. This entrepreneur must decide if he should close the deal and which financing term sheet to... View Details
Keywords: Negotiations; Manufacturing; LBO; Leveraged Buyout; Entrepreneurship; Term Sheets; Deal Structuring; Financial Statements; Acquisition; Leveraged Buyouts; Business Model; Forecasting and Prediction; Cost vs Benefits; Cash Flow; Borrowing and Debt; Cost of Capital; Private Equity; Negotiation Deal; Negotiation Offer; Negotiation Process; Valuation; Value Creation; California
Rogers, Steven, and Greg White. "Earl Gordon - Eastern Circle." Harvard Business School Case 317-061, January 2017. (Revised August 2017.)
- 01 Dec 2017
- News
2017 in Manufacturing: The Supply Chain Goes High Tech
must now be more cost competitive, in both domestic and foreign markets. Meanwhile, the explosion of digital technology has forced manufacturing to look at its competitive advantage not just in terms of... View Details
- August 2017 (Revised September 2018)
- Case
Accounting Turbulence at Boeing
By: Jonas Heese, Suraj Srinivasan, David Lane and James Barnett
Unlike its rival Airbus, Boeing had used a practice called program accounting to record its commercial aircraft expenses since the 1980s. Program accounting allowed Boeing to expense estimated average costs instead of the actual production costs of an aircraft. This... View Details
Keywords: Asset Recognition; Program Accounting; Airline Industry; Accounting; Production; Cost; Air Transportation Industry
Heese, Jonas, Suraj Srinivasan, David Lane, and James Barnett. "Accounting Turbulence at Boeing." Harvard Business School Case 118-020, August 2017. (Revised September 2018.)
- February 2013 (Revised December 2015)
- Case
Groom Energy Solutions: Selling Efficiency
By: Michael W. Toffel, Kira R. Fabrizio and Stephanie van Sice
Groom Energy Solutions helps organizations reduce their energy use and costs through the implementation of energy efficiency measures, which create long-term financial and environmental benefits. With early success serving customers in the cold storage and industrial... View Details
Keywords: Groom Energy Solutions; Jon Guerster; Salem, MA; Energy Management; Energy Efficiency Paradox; Sustainability Management; Manufacturing; Cold Storage; Commercial Real Estate; Enterprise Smart Grid; Carbon Accounting; LED Lighting; Sustainability Research; Entrepreneurship; Environmental Entrepreneurship; Energy Entrepreneurship; Energy Services; Electricity; Startup; Expansion; Growth; Sustainability; Business Startups; Forecasting and Prediction; Energy Conservation; Revenue; Geographic Location; Human Resources; Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Operations; Service Delivery; Strategic Planning; Science; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Society; Social Issues; Technology Adoption; Energy Industry; Green Technology Industry; Technology Industry; Utilities Industry; United States; Boston
Toffel, Michael W., Kira R. Fabrizio, and Stephanie van Sice. "Groom Energy Solutions: Selling Efficiency." Harvard Business School Case 613-054, February 2013. (Revised December 2015.)
- Article
The Re-Industrialization of the United States?
By: Willy C. Shih
Talk of "re-industrialization" in the United States has been supported by a seeming resurgence in manufacturing, but this is driven more by the end of labor arbitrage and increasing coordination costs of offshore manufacturing. Aggressive restructurings and significant... View Details
Keywords: U.S. Competitiveness; Re-industrialization; Re-shoring; Operations; Production; Supply and Industry; Supply Chain; Supply Chain Management; Geographic Location; Geography; Globalization; Globalized Economies and Regions; Globalized Firms and Management; Globalized Markets and Industries; Labor; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; United States; China; European Union
Shih, Willy C. "The Re-Industrialization of the United States?" Wirtschaftspolitische Blätter 60, no. 2 (Second Quarter 2013): 297–312.
- February 2019 (Revised May 2021)
- Case
Electric Car Wars, 2018
By: John R. Wells and Benjamin Weinstock
Electric cars had long been championed by environmentalists as a superior solution to the internal combustion engine (ICE), but, despite large government incentives and strong pioneering efforts by a few automakers over the years, electric and hybrid cars and light... View Details
Keywords: Electric Vehicle; Electric Vehicles; Electricity; Electric Motors; Electric Power Generation; Electricity Usage; Electricity Distribution; Internal Combustion Vehicle; Auto Manufacturing; Automobile Manufacturing; Automotive Industry; Tesla; General Motors; History; Nissan; Innovation; Batteries; Battery; Subsidies; Government Initiatives; Government Incentives; Political Issues; Energy Generation; Production; Infrastructure; Innovation and Invention; Government Legislation; Global Range; Business History; Auto Industry; China
Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Electric Car Wars, 2018." Harvard Business School Case 719-470, February 2019. (Revised May 2021.)
- October 1994
- Case
Olympus Optical Company, Ltd. (B): Functional Group Management
Documents the emergence of the functional group management system at Olympus's camera manufacturing facility. This system increases the pressure on the work force to decrease costs and improve output by treating the facility's 10 autonomous groups as profit centers,... View Details
Cooper, Robin. "Olympus Optical Company, Ltd. (B): Functional Group Management." Harvard Business School Case 195-073, October 1994.
- December 1989 (Revised April 1997)
- Case
Destin Brass Products Co.
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
A specialized manufacturer of brass valves, pumps, and flow controllers is troubled by competitive pricing in pumps and higher than expected margins for flow controllers. Managers suspect that cost accounting and cost allocations to products may be to blame. Two... View Details
Keywords: Cost Accounting; Activity Based Costing and Management; Five Forces Framework; Customer Value and Value Chain; Competition; Business Strategy; Design; Inflation and Deflation; Asset Pricing; Governance Controls; Manufacturing Industry
Bruns, William J., Jr. "Destin Brass Products Co." Harvard Business School Case 190-089, December 1989. (Revised April 1997.)
- September 1989 (Revised December 1989)
- Case
Siemens Electric Motor Works (A) and (B) (Combined)
Explores how a cost system can help support a firm's decision to change strategies. In the process, students are exposed to a simple activity-based cost system. Also examines Siemens policy for transferring products between sales and manufacturing divisions. Transfer... View Details
Cooper, Robin, and Karen Wruck. "Siemens Electric Motor Works (A) and (B) (Combined)." Harvard Business School Case 190-052, September 1989. (Revised December 1989.)
- December 1992 (Revised May 1993)
- Case
Porsche AG
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Describes the financial management of the research and development departments of an automobile manufacturer and technology supplier. Existing cost systems measure accurately the costs incurred by department and by project. But little formal information is provided... View Details
Keywords: Financial Management; Cost Accounting; Research and Development; Machinery and Machining; Auto Industry; Technology Industry
Kaplan, Robert S. "Porsche AG." Harvard Business School Case 193-071, December 1992. (Revised May 1993.)
- March 1996 (Revised February 2006)
- Case
Arborite
Describes the competitive position of Arborite, a Canadian manufacturer of high-pressure laminates (HPL) (a product sold under the Formica name in the United States). Arborite's market share has slipped, and a new general manager must evaluate whether a change in... View Details
McGahan, Anita M. "Arborite." Harvard Business School Case 796-146, March 1996. (Revised February 2006.)
- November 1990 (Revised May 2004)
- Case
Mile High Cycles
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
Introduces the concept of cost variances. Looking at a bicycle manufacturer with one product and three departments, the case presents budgeted and actual data for material, labor, and overhead. View Details
Bruns, William J., Jr. "Mile High Cycles." Harvard Business School Case 191-056, November 1990. (Revised May 2004.)