Publications
Publications
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- All HBS Web
(776)
- Faculty Publications (157)
- November 1997 (Revised February 1998)
- Case
WESCO Distribution, Inc.
By: Das Narayandas
In 1996, WESCO, a national distributor of electrical equipment and supplies, charted out a growth of 6 to 8 percent in sales, and 12 to 16 percent in profitability over the next five years. The centerpiece of this growth strategy is the National Accounts (NA) program... View Details
- September 1997 (Revised March 1998)
- Background Note
Automobile Retailing in the U.S.
By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell
In the mid-1990s, the U.S. automobile retailing industry is on the brink of profound change. This case traces the drivers of change, the history of the industry, and potential distribution systems of the future. View Details
- July 1997 (Revised February 1998)
- Case
Aladdin Knowledge Systems
By: John A. Quelch
The founder, president, and CEO of a leading software security company has just announced the $5.1 million cash acquisition of a key competitor. As a result, his company becomes the market share leader in Europe and number two in the United States. But now, he and the... View Details
- May 1997
- Teaching Note
Module Overview: Coordinating and Managing Supply Chains: Matching Supply and Demand TN
By: Ananth Raman
Prepares students to configure operating and distribution systems to provide product (or service) supply to match customer demand. Begins by introducing students to the supply-demand mismatch problem, documenting its significance in many companies, and suggesting ways... View Details
- 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
- October 1995
- Case
Robert Mondavi Corporation
By: Ray A. Goldberg and Thomas N. Urban Jr
As the Mondavi Corp. moves from a private to a public company and increases the number of types of wine it sells, how does it position itself in various segments of the market and what brand and distribution system is most important? View Details
- August 1995
- Teaching Note
Polaroid Corporation: European Distribution System TN
By: Janice H. Hammond and Afroze A Mohammed
Teaching Note for (9-695-038). View Details
- June 1995
- Case
Polaroid Corporation: European Distribution System
By: Janice H. Hammond and Afroze A Mohammed
Describes distribution operations in Polaroid Europe. In the late 1980s, Polaroid senior management in the United States proposed moving from a system of 12 decentralized warehouses to a centralized distribution system in which all inventory for European retailers... View Details
- February 1995
- Teaching Note
Vanity Fair Mills: Market Response System TN
By: David E. Bell
Teaching Note for (9-593-111). View Details
- February 1995 (Revised October 1995)
- Case
Doing Business in a Distributed World: Clients, Servers, and the Stuff in Between
By: Lynda M. Applegate and Geoffrey Bock
Examines business computing as it is evolving in the 1990s. Compares the highly centralized and tightly controlled systems of the past with today's flexible, networked, client/server technology. Serves as an introduction to client/server terminology and technology. View Details
- June 1994 (Revised October 1999)
- Background Note
Beer Game, The: Board Version
The beer game is an exercise that demonstrates supply channel dynamics. Simulates the flow of material and information in a simplified channel of beer production and distribution, focusing on the linkages among a beer manufacturer, its distributors, a wholesaler, and a... View Details
- May 1994
- Background Note
Reorienting Channels of Distribution
Traditionally, distribution channels have been viewed as vertical marketing systems where responsibility was transferred from one layer to the next, like passing a baton in a relay race. Distribution channels in the future are likely to look more like horizontal... View Details
- March 1994
- Case
Bose Corp.: The JIT II Program (A)
By: Roy D. Shapiro and Bruce Isaacson
Bose Corp. is evaluating an unusual plan to manage relationships with vendors that supply components for Bose speakers. The company must decide: 1) which planning and ordering activities should be performed by Bose and which can be performed by vendors, 2) how much... View Details
- July 1993
- Case
Future of Distributed Systems at Aetna, The
By: F. Warren McFarlan and Chris L Marshall
- March 1993 (Revised April 1995)
- Case
IBM After-Sales Service
IBM has established a service delivery system to provide service and maintenance parts for its installed base of computers. The case outlines the competitive pressures IBM faces from alternative providers of maintenance services (e.g. other OEMs, third-party... View Details
- February 1993 (Revised September 1994)
- Case
Hewlett-Packard Imaging Systems Division: Sonos 100 C/F Introduction
By: Frank V. Cespedes and Marie Bell
The marketing manager for the Imaging Systems business unit (ISY) at Hewlett-Packard Medical Products Group is considering channel strategy and channel management issues raised by the upcoming introduction of a new cardiac imaging product. Product marketing's plans... View Details
- October 1991 (Revised August 2000)
- Case
Becton Dickinson & Company: VACUTAINER Systems Division (Condensed)
By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Frank V. Cespedes
Becton Dickinson, a phenomenally successful company with an 80% market share in the blood collection needles and syringes market faces a change in the customer buying environment (cost containment pressures at hospitals). This forces a reevaluation of the company's... View Details
- September 1991 (Revised September 2010)
- Case
Dore-Dore
By: Janice H. Hammond and Audris Wong
Dore-Dore, a French manufacturer of socks and children's knitwear, has just converted a portion of its knitwear operations to a flexible modular system to allow faster response and greater flexibility. The case provides an opportunity to assess the changes in knitwear... View Details
- April 1991 (Revised March 2017)
- Teaching Note
Westchester Distributing, Inc. (A) and (B)
By: Robert Simons
Teaching Note for (9-191-118) and (9-191-119). View Details
- May 1990
- Article
Price Discounting in Multi-echelon Distribution Systems
By: R. Jaikumar and V. K. Rangan