Publications

June 2008 (Revised May 2017)
Case

Cook Composites and Polymers Co.

By: Deishin Lee, Michael W. Toffel and Rachel Gordon

This case describes how a company improves resource efficiency and process quality in its manufacturing process by developing a waste by-product into a new product. The case describes how CCP cleans production equipment between batches using styrene, which becomes a... View Details

Keywords: Innovation and Invention; Product Development; Business Processes; Performance Efficiency; Natural Environment; Wastes and Waste Processing; Pollutants; Environmental Sustainability; Chemical Industry; Manufacturing Industry

June 2011 (Revised December 2013)
Case

FIJI Water: Carbon Negative?

By: Francesca Gino, Michael W. Toffel and Stephanie van Sice

Seeking to go beyond global best practices in reducing environmental impacts, FIJI Water, a premium artesian bottled water company in the United States, launched a Carbon Negative campaign that would offset more greenhouse gas emissions than were released by the... View Details

Keywords: Carbon Footprint; Carbon Offsetting; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Brands and Branding; Negotiation Tactics; Business and Government Relations; Corporate Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; United States; Fiji

16 Apr 2019
First Look

New Research and Ideas, April 16, 2019

President of Sourcing Amanda Tucker and her colleagues in Nike’s Global Sourcing and Manufacturing division were focusing on three key supply chain challenges: sourcing from suppliers that meet compliance... View Details

Keywords: Dina Gerdeman

31 May 2016
First Look

May 31, 2016

additively separable in its state variables, leading to conquering the curse of dimensionality and the opportunity to manage the supply chain using independently acting managers. We develop conditions under... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

12 Mar 2013
First Look

First Look: March 12

lack of customer and geographic diversification, aggressive warranty policies, excessive production capacity growth, and supply chain risks. The case places students in the shoes of CFRA analysts who need to... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

01 Sep 2012
News

On a Sound Track

that is relevant in Shanghai, Panama, South Africa, Europe, or wherever. The United States is one big market. Contrast that with Europe, where we have a central office, but where there are lots of different markets that require different strategies and investments. Our... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg; audio accessories; Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores; Retail Trade

19 Jun 2007
First Look

First Look: June 19, 2007

http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/07-051.pdf Alignment in Cross-Functional and Cross-Firm Supply Chain Planning Authors:Santiago Kraiselburd and Noel Watson Abstract In this paper, we seek to use quantitative... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

28 May 2013
Research & Ideas

Can LEGO Snap Together a Future in Asia?

Both the managers and the students had to consider areas of potential risk for LEGO in Asia, including: Uncertainty of market growth forecasts. LEGO senior director John Kelley argues in the case that to supply the most optimistic sales... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard; Entertainment & Recreation

11 May 2010
First Look

First Look: May 11

tailor-made to the needs of each country's political, social, and economic priorities. Supplements the case "Nestlé's Milk District Model: Economic Development for a Value-Added Food Chain and Improved Nutrition." Purchase this... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

17 Sep 2013
First Look

First Look: September 17

to Operational Failures in Hospitals By: Tucker, Anita L., W. Scott Heisler, and Laura D. Janisse Abstract—The performance gap between hospital spending and outcomes is indicative of inefficient care delivery. Operational failures-breakdowns in internal View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 2019
Case

Afterpay U.S.: The Omnichannel Dilemma

By: Antonio Moreno, Donald Ngwe and George Gonzalez

In 2018, Nick Molnar, the founder of the Australia-based online payment service Afterpay began its expansion to the U.S. market. The service had gained a loyal following in Australia by enabling customers to pay for online purchases through four interest-free... View Details