Publications

29 Jul 2013
News

Opening New Markets for Black South African Winemakers

wine-making. But apartheid had prevented them from owning land or gaining access to capital. Wine had become a $3 billion export industry for South Africa, but just 2 percent of the market was held by black South Africans, who comprise 85... View Details

Keywords: wine; wine making; wine importing; Food Manufacturing; Manufacturing; Food and Beverage Stores; Retail Trade

05 Nov 2001
Research & Ideas

Venture Capital Goes Boom—or Bust?

Lerner Uncertainty About The Future There's no getting around it: Innovation is risky business. All entrepreneurial individuals and companies face uncertainty about the future—not only in terms of their own development possibilities, but also in terms of market and... View Details

Keywords: by Paul A. Gompers & Josh Lerner

May 1985 (Revised October 2001)
Case

Comdisco, Inc.

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin and Rita J. Seymour

Comdisco, the largest independent dealer and lessor of computers and peripheral equipment, needs financing in order to match its market's growth of 20-30% per year. The company has access to two types of risk capital, but there are substantial costs and risks... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Strategy; Cost vs Benefits; Capital Structure; Financing and Loans; Financial Strategy; Corporate Finance; Growth and Development Strategy; Computer Industry; Computer Industry

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October 2014 (Revised June 2015)
Case

Quiet Logistics (A)

By: Robert Simons and Natalie Kindred

This two-part case focuses on how to identify and manage strategic uncertainties in an innovative, entrepreneurial start-up company. In the (A) case, students learn about Quiet Logistics, an e-commerce fulfillment company working with high-end apparel retailers such as... View Details

June 2010 (Revised January 2011)
Case

Scientific Glass Incorporated: Inventory Management

By: Steven C. Wheelwright and William Schmidt

Scientific Glassware is a fast-growing, privately held company that provides specialized glassware for laboratory and research facilities. Excess inventory is tying up extra capital needed to fund the company's expansion plans. The newly hired Manager of Inventory... View Details

Keywords: Inventory Control; Inventory Management; Materials Management; Order Processing; Warehousing; Salesforce Management; Logistics; Operations; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Finance; Consumer Products Industry; Consumer Products Industry

May 1997
Teaching Note

Tale of Two Electronic Components Distributors TN

By: Ananth Raman and Bharat P. Rao

Teaching Note for (9-697-064). View Details

Keywords: Distribution Channels; Negotiation Deal; Consolidation; Growth and Development; Internet and the Web; Complexity; Electronics Industry

21 Jan 2009
First Look

First Look: January 21, 2009

factor-analytic procedures. Finally, we suggest how researchers, managers, and consultants can use our work to help owner-managers clarify and communicate their goals. Local Industrial Conditions and Entrepreneurship: How Much of the... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

20 Feb 2007
First Look

First Look: February 20, 2007

caught his attention. First, he noticed that an industry suit to block the government's proposed system to rate tires on tread wear, traction, and temperature resistance had been rebuffed by a U.S. appeals court. Although the court found... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

19 Sep 2012
News

On a Sound Track

management consultant at Monitor, which sharpened my perspective on business and industry strategy. I learned a huge amount at HBS in discussions of leadership, entrepreneurial marketing, finance, and ethics. I also spent some time at... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg; audio equipment; fashion; Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing; Manufacturing

05 Sep 2012
First Look

First Look: September 5

appropriate data. The U.S. film industry deploys two distinct allocations of property rights, which differentially affect marginal returns on a particular class of investments. In many cases, films are both produced and View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 2003
Teaching Note

Energis (A) (TN)

By: John R. Wells

Teaching Note for (9-703-505). View Details

Keywords: History; Demand and Consumers; Strategy; Distribution; System Shocks; Service Delivery; Organizational Structure; Telecommunications Industry; United Kingdom

July 2017 (Revised March 2019)
Technical Note

The Future of Mobility: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications

By: George Serafeim and David Freiberg

This technical note explores how advancements in technology are fundamentally transforming how consumers interact with mobility. Transformation is being driven by three independent trends: the emergence of affordable electric vehicles, the development of autonomous... View Details

Keywords: Oil ＆ Gas; Automobile Manufacturing; Technological And Scientific Innovation; Mobility; Inequality; Electric Vehicles; Ride-sharing; Ambidexterity; Transformation; Disruption; Change; Technological Innovation; Transportation; Equality and Inequality; Auto Industry; Technology Industry; Transportation Industry; Distribution Industry

Keywords: Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution; Electric Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution

24 Sep 2020
News

The Race for a Vaccine

companies and has a financial stake in Moderna.) There was a dollars-and-cents logic to this, since the big rewards that can be had in the pharmaceutical industry come with big financial risks. “There’s really no other View Details

Keywords: April White; COVID-19; Scientific Research and Development Services

01 Dec 2008
News

Green Talk at HBS

Nyquist reported that such emissions could be cut by a third through greater efficiencies. He also noted, however, that meeting the lowered emission goals set for 2050 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will require a larger increase in productivity than... View Details

February 2001 (Revised May 2001)
Case

Balance, Inc. (A)

By: Richard G. Hamermesh and Michele Lutz

Focuses on an entrepreneur who founded a successful health-food store and seeks to expand his retail concept. Illustrates the challenges he faces as he recruits his top management team. View Details

Keywords: Distribution Channels; Executive Compensation; Agreements and Arrangements; Outcome or Result; Recruitment; Management Teams; Selection and Staffing; Food and Beverage Industry

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06 Apr 2023
Blog Post

Circularity in Denmark

pumps they sell annually, but Grundfos is building the knowledge and infrastructure that will be necessary to scale. In Kalundborg, we saw circularity applied to energy as NGO Kalundborg Symbiosis presented Kalundborg Bioenergy’s production of biogas from local View Details

01 Oct 1998
News

Supplying Demand

whopping $5.2 billion. In creating Staples, Stemberg drew on the knowledge of modern distribution techniques he had acquired during his twelve years in the grocery business. As a vice president with the Jewel Companies' Star Market chain... View Details

Keywords: Paul Michelman

17 Jun 2020
News

Toronto Copes with COVID-19 Via Webinars; Alumni Respond to Pandemic in Philippines

to promote new behaviors and monitor symptoms. They man quarantine control points 24/7 and attend to patients that need to be isolated at village health stations. Many operate without light at night and lose communications when they cannot charge their phones. HSSI is... View Details

Keywords: Margie Kelley

May 2024 (Revised May 2024)
Case

MStudio and Djoli: Accelerating Startup Growth in Francophone Africa

By: Paul A. Gompers, Pippa Tubman Armerding and Temitayo Lawal

Djoli, a procurement platform, was one of the startups launched and supported by MStudio, a startup studio in Côte d'Ivoire, in 2023. After a year of operations, Djoli must look beyond MStudio, which had supported them financially and in kind in exchange for equity,... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Africa; Côte d'Ivoire