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- All HBS Web
(940)
- News (163)
- Research (701)
- Multimedia (3)
- Faculty Publications (265)
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- 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.
- 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.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- April 1988 (Revised March 1991)
- Case
Tektronix: Portable Instruments Division (A)
Tektronix's Portable Instruments Division has recently converted to a JIT production process. The existing cost system was designed for conventional manufacturing and is obsolete. The case describes the new material-burdening system the firm implemented. This system... View Details
Cooper, Robin. "Tektronix: Portable Instruments Division (A)." Harvard Business School Case 188-142, April 1988. (Revised March 1991.)
- 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.)
- March 2018
- Case
EKOL Logistics: Thinking Outside the Box
By: Willy C. Shih and Esel Çekin
This case describes Ekol, an intermodal transportation and logistics company, and how it manages capacity planning. Its busiest routes linked motor vehicle assemblers in Germany and Turkey with many of their parts suppliers, but it had also developed key links in... View Details
Keywords: Growth And Development; Strategy; Intermodal Transportation; Short-sea Transportation; Capacity Management; Capacity Planning; Delivery Planning; Route Optimization; Car Spare Part; Auto Manufacturing; Automotive Supply Chain; Europe; Turkey; Service Design; Fast Fashion; Near-shoring; Supply Chain; Supply Chain Management; Operations; Performance Capacity; Performance Efficiency; Logistics; Transportation Industry; Auto Industry; Turkey; Germany; Spain; European Union; Europe
Shih, Willy C., and Esel Çekin. "EKOL Logistics: Thinking Outside the Box." Harvard Business School Case 618-037, March 2018.
- September 1998 (Revised October 1998)
- Case
Adventurous Computer Games, Inc. (Abridged)
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
A new company that manufactures computer games must begin to capitalize computer software development costs. Issues that must be addressed include the effects of capitalization and decisions about how to match costs with future revenues. View Details
Bruns, William J., Jr. "Adventurous Computer Games, Inc. (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 199-020, September 1998. (Revised October 1998.)
- April 1995 (Revised April 1995)
- Case
Pillsbury: Customer Driven Reengineering
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Pillsbury is transforming itself from an integrated producer of flour and bakery products to a value-added supplier of premium branded products. After initial successes applying activity-based costing to manufacturing operations, two senior executives decide to... View Details
Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Production; Cost Management; Activity Based Costing and Management; Customer Value and Value Chain; Food and Beverage Industry
Kaplan, Robert S. "Pillsbury: Customer Driven Reengineering." Harvard Business School Case 195-144, April 1995. (Revised April 1995.)
- January 2023
- Case
Velong: Rethinking 'Made in China'
By: Krishna G. Palepu, Nancy Hua Dai and Billy Chan
Velong is a supplier of kitchen equipment and backyard grills for major global brands and store brands of large western retailers. In light of the COVID-related disruptions to the global supply chains, and the evolving trade tensions between China and the Western... View Details
Keywords: Globalization; Supply Chain Management; Risk Management; Manufacturing Industry; China; India; Mexico; Turkey; Viet Nam
Palepu, Krishna G., Nancy Hua Dai, and Billy Chan. "Velong: Rethinking 'Made in China'." Harvard Business School Case 323-064, January 2023.
- October 1990
- Case
Beauregard Textile Co.
By: Francis Aguilar
The sales manager and controller have to decide on a price for a textile that lost significant market share as a result of a recent price increase. Information on manufacturing costs and on the pricing behavior of Beauregard and its only competitor are available for... View Details
Keywords: Activity Based Costing and Management; Cost Accounting; Cost Management; Price; Competitive Advantage; Competitive Strategy; Inflation and Deflation; Consumer Behavior; Apparel and Accessories Industry
Aguilar, Francis. "Beauregard Textile Co." Harvard Business School Case 191-058, October 1990.
- March 1994 (Revised April 1994)
- Case
Eli Lilly and Co.: The Flexible Facility Decision--1993
By: Gary P. Pisano
In 1993, Eli Lilly is preparing to build manufacturing capacity for three new pharmaceutical products that it expects to launch in 1996. Management wrestles with a decision of whether to add specialized manufacturing capacity or flexible capacity. This question touches... View Details
Keywords: Debates; Cost vs Benefits; Decisions; Investment; Goals and Objectives; Product Launch; Production; Corporate Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry
Pisano, Gary P. "Eli Lilly and Co.: The Flexible Facility Decision--1993." Harvard Business School Case 694-074, March 1994. (Revised April 1994.)
- September 1992
- Case
Kodak Business Imaging Systems Division
By: Marie-Therese M. Flaherty and Steven C. Wheelwright
Describes Kodak's decision regarding a manufacturing site for some of its products. Compares several types of products (with different cost structures) and several worldwide locations (with different characteristics). Provides a framework (model) for comparing and... View Details
Keywords: Framework; Production; Product; Global Range; Supply Chain Management; Factories, Labs, and Plants; Electronics Industry
Flaherty, Marie-Therese M., and Steven C. Wheelwright. "Kodak Business Imaging Systems Division." Harvard Business School Case 693-043, September 1992.
- 04 Dec 2008
- Working Paper Summaries
Local Industrial Conditions and Entrepreneurship: How Much of the Spatial Distribution Can We Explain?
- November 2012
- Article
Does Management Really Work?
By: Nicholas Bloom, Raffaella Sadun and John Van Reenen
HBR's 90th anniversary is a sensible time to revisit a basic question: Are organizations more likely to succeed if they adopt good management practices? The answer may seem obvious to most HBR readers, but these three economists cast their net much wider than that. In... View Details
Keywords: Best Practices; Consulting Firms; Corporations; Cost Control; Employee Training; Executive Ability (Management); Executives—training Of; Hospitals—administration; Industrial Management—research; Productivity Incentives; School Management Teams; Work Environment; Management; Research
Bloom, Nicholas, Raffaella Sadun, and John Van Reenen. "Does Management Really Work?" Harvard Business Review 90, no. 11 (November 2012).
- August 1993 (Revised June 1994)
- Case
21-Speed Gizmos, Inc.
In this hypothetical case, 21-Speed Gizmos, Inc., a manufacturer of electronic bicycle components for the serious cyclist, must decide what price to charge for a new product. Describes the product and includes cost and demand information available for making the... View Details
Dhebar, Anirudh S. "21-Speed Gizmos, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 594-024, August 1993. (Revised June 1994.)
- August 2021 (Revised November 2023)
- Teaching Note
Coats: Supply Chain Challenges
By: Willy C. Shih
Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 621-115.
Faced with continuing cost pressure, should Coats, the world's largest thread maker, relocate some of its make-to-stock manufacturing to an ultra-low-cost region while leaving make-to-order demand close to customers? View Details
- August 2012
- Case
Polar Sports, Inc.
By: W. Carl Kester and Wei Wang
Polar Sports, Inc. is a fashion skiwear manufacturing company in Littleton, Colorado. The company has a unique design for skiwear using a special synthetic material that improves insulation and durability. The ski apparel industry is highly competitive and the best way... View Details
Keywords: Production; Decision Choices and Conditions; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Finance; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Colorado
Kester, W. Carl, and Wei Wang. "Polar Sports, Inc." Harvard Business School Brief Case 913-513, August 2012.