Publications

January 2022
Case

SpartanNash Company: The Amazon Warrants (A)

By: Benjamin C. Esty, E. Scott Mayfield and Daniel Fisher

As of 12/31/21, Amazon held $22 billion of equity and warrants in related companies. In fact, it often requests a free grant of warrants when it enters into a new commercial agreement with a supplier. Over the past 20 years, Amazon has gotten warrants in almost 20... View Details

Keywords: Valuation; Value Creation; Consumer Behavior; Negotiation; Distribution; Ownership; Partners and Partnerships; Business Strategy; Equity; Food and Beverage Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United States

Profile

Merve Ciplak

As a management consultant with Bain & Co. in Istanbul, Merve Ciplak had “almost complete freedom” to work for up to six months, without penalty, in any industry of her choice on an ‘externship’ from the firm. Merve applied the opportunity to serve the U.N.’s World... View Details

01 Mar 2024
News

Case Study: Testing the Waters

Illustration by Christina Spano Endurance training was nothing new to Lauren Picasso (MBA 2014), who’d raced through her younger years as a cross-country runner and swimmer. In 2017, when she was director of marketing at Jet.com and looking for a physical challenge,... View Details

Keywords: Jen McFarland Flint; Food and Beverage Stores; Retail Trade

Web

Sample Student Projects - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

Cluster (2010) The North Carolina Furniture Cluster (2009) Automotive Cluster in Michigan USA (2009) Washington D.C. Information Technology and Services Cluster (2008) The Chicago Processed Food Cluster (2006) The Los Angeles Motion... View Details

18 May 2011
Working Paper Summaries

Embracing Paradox

Keywords: Re: Michael L. Tushman

February 2020
Case

Rotoplas: Bringing More and Better Water

By: John D. Macomber and Carla Larangeira

Private companies were being turned to for potable water in the world’s megacities due to impacts of climate change including droughts and flooding. Mexico City had endured several water-related crises, with its population suffering from floods, droughts, water... View Details

Keywords: Water Supply; Water Management; Finance; Infrastructure; Urban Development; Business and Government Relations; Latin America; Mexico

December 1997 (Revised October 2008)
Case

Wolfgang Keller at Konigsbrau-TAK (A)

By: John J. Gabarro

Wolfgang Keller, manager of the Ukrainian subsidiary of a German beer company, faces a managerial dilemma. His subordinate, Dmitri Brodsky, is a talented and experienced commercial director who is not meeting his goals expediently and often requires considerable... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Performance Evaluation; Management Style; Managerial Roles; Behavior; Conflict Management; Situation or Environment; Failure; Employee Relationship Management; Food and Beverage Industry; Ukraine; Germany

Article

Cybersecurity Features of Digital Medical Devices: An Analysis of FDA Product Summaries

By: Ariel Dora Stern, William J. Gordon, Adam B. Landman and Daniel B. Kramer

Objectives:
To more clearly define the landscape of digital medical devices subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight, this analysis leverages publicly available regulatory documents to characterise the prevalence and trends of software and... View Details

Keywords: Digital; Medicine; FDA; Health Care and Treatment; Applications and Software; Safety; Cybersecurity; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

Read Now

February 2018 (Revised March 2019)
Case

Sandlands Vineyards

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Gregory Saldutte

Approximately 80% of the wineries in the U.S. break even or lose money. An even greater percentage lose money on an economic basis (i.e., after a charge for the cost of equity). Tegan Passalacqua is a successful, young, Californian winemaker who specializes in making... View Details

07 Feb 2023
Research & Ideas

Supervisor of Sandwiches? More Companies Inflate Titles to Avoid Extra Pay

If it seems like everyone is a manager these days, you may be onto something. Not only is there a profusion of assistant managers, there are also now carpet shampoo and food cart managers, directors of first impressions, assistant bingo... View Details

Keywords: by Scott Van Voorhis

Web

Topics - HBS Working Knowledge

Financial Markets (22) Financial Reporting (7) Financial Statements (1) Financial Strategy (11) Financing and Loans (22) Food (12) For-Profit Firms (1) Forecasting and Prediction (26) Foreign Direct Investment (5) Forms of Communication... View Details

Web

Adding a Social Dimension to Strategy - Institute For Strategy And Competitiveness

their value proposition, they tap into the potential for a competitive advantage that is more sustainable versus competitors than conventional cost and quality advantages. Whole Foods, the most economically successful food retailer in... View Details

16 Oct 2012
First Look

First Look: October 16

of the state-driven agenda for the foreseeable future. Publisher's Link: http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Economics/History/?view=usa&ci=9780199657964 Food Choices of Minority and Low-Income Employees: A Cafeteria... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

15 Jul 2011
Working Paper Summaries

Poultry in Motion: A Study of International Trade Finance Practices

Keywords: by Pol Antras & C. Fritz Foley; Agriculture & Agribusiness

01 Dec 2023
News

Elevator Pitch: Feedback

Laxmi Wordham (MBA 2001) Chief Growth Officer, Bright Feeds Concept: Bright Feeds uses patent-pending drying technology and an AI-driven processing technique to convert all varieties of food waste into a high-quality and consistent animal-feed replacement for the soy... View Details

Keywords: Illustration by Drue Wagner; Photo by ChiChi Ubiña

August 2015
Article

Poultry in Motion: A Study of International Trade Finance Practices

By: Pol Antràs and C. Fritz Foley

This paper analyzes the financing terms that support international trade and sheds light on how these terms shape the impact of economic shocks on trade. Analysis of transaction-level data from a U.S.-based exporter of frozen and refrigerated food products, primarily... View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; International Finance; Financing and Loans; Trade