Publications

November 1998 (Revised November 2001)
Case

BMW AG: The Digital Car Project (A)

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Describes how the German automotive firm BMW is trying to reduce its development time by half with the aid of computer-aided technologies. To leverage these technologies fully in the very competitive automotive industry, BMW is faced with the challenge of changing its... View Details

Keywords: Change; Competency and Skills; Management; Time Management; Product Positioning; Product Development; Business Processes; Performance; Problems and Challenges; Technology; Auto Industry

August 1998 (Revised July 2002)
Case

Innovation at 3M Corporation (A)

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Describes how 3M Corp. introduces and learns a new and innovative methodology called Lead User research to understand future customer and market needs. A team from 3M's Medical-Surgical Markets Division applies the Lead User methodology to the field of surgical... View Details

Keywords: Innovation and Management; Innovation Strategy; Managerial Roles; Marketing Strategy; Demand and Consumers; Market Timing; Product Development; Problems and Challenges; Business Strategy; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

August 1998 (Revised July 2002)
Supplement

Innovation at 3M Corporation (B)

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Manufacturing Industry

August 1998 (Revised October 1998)
Background Note

Note on Lead User Research

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Describes the Lead User concept and method (step-by-step) with brief examples from industrial practice. View Details

Keywords: Customers; Management Practices and Processes; Industry Growth

February 1998 (Revised March 2003)
Teaching Note

Eli Lilly and Company: Drug Development Strategy (A) and (B) TN

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Teaching Note for (9-698-010) and (9-698-026). View Details

February 1998 (Revised October 1998)
Background Note

Note on New Drug Development in the United States

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

An overview of the new drug development process in the United States, using the migraine drug Imitrex as an illustrative example. View Details

Keywords: Product Development; Research and Development; Health; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States

December 1997 (Revised September 2002)
Supplement

Eli Lilly and Company: Drug Development Strategy (B)

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Ashok Nimgade

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

January 1997
Case

STOCKO Singapore Pte Ltd.

By: Stefan H. Thomke and Paul Pospisil

Keywords: Singapore

Find at Harvard

June 1996
Teaching Note

Design for Manufacturing: An Exercise TN

1995
Dissertation

The Economics of Experimentation in the Design of New Products and Processes

By: Stefan Thomke

Keywords: Economics; Research and Development; Operations; Product Launch

1992
Thesis

Multivariate Quality Control of Flexible Manufacturing Processes

By: Stefan Thomke

Keywords: Quality; Production

1990
Thesis

Parameter Prediction and Visualization to Aid the Decision-Making Process in an Automated Fabrication Environment

By: Stefan Thomke

Research Summary

Building and Managing Product Centric Organizations

Building and Managing Product Centric Organizations View Details

Research Summary

Customer Experience Design

Please contact Professor Thomke for the most current description of his research on simulation and R&D performance and/or copies of research articles (published and working papers). View Details

Teaching Interest

General Management Program (GMP)

As global business challenges become more complex, companies are turning to exceptional general managers who can take on greater cross-functional responsibilities and contribute to corporate growth on a more strategic level. Moving beyond your field of expertise,... View Details

Teaching Interest

Leading Product Innovation