Publications

February 2008
Article

Where Do Transactions Come From? Modularity, Transactions, and the Boundaries of Firms

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin

This article constructs a theory of the location of transactions and the boundaries of firms in a productive system. It proposes that systems of production can be viewed as networks, in which tasks-cum-agents are the nodes and transfers—of material, energy and... View Details

Keywords: Boundaries; Production; Market Transactions; Supply Chain; Management; Cost; Theory; Performance Productivity; Information Management; Complexity

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Web

Courses by Faculty Unit - Course Catalog

Manager’s Role (MDD) (also listed under Strategy) Amy Edmondson Tiona Zuzul Spring 2026 Q3Q4 3.0 Managing Service Operations Ryan Buell Robert Markey Fall 2025 Q1Q2 3.0 Supply Chain Management Kris Ferreira... View Details

2015
Working Paper

Multi-Product Duopoly With Cross-Product Cost Interdependencies

By: Gary Biglaiser and Andrei Hagiu

Many multi-product firms incur a complexity fixed cost when offering different product lines in different quality tiers relative to the case when offering all products lines in the same quality tier (high or low). Such fixed costs create an interdependency between... View Details

Keywords: Multi-product Duopoly; Vertical Differentiation; Fixed Costs; Cost; Profit; Business Strategy; Duopoly and Oligopoly

SSRN

May 2004 (Revised October 2007)
Background Note

Best Practices: Decision Making Among Venture Capital Firms

By: G. Felda Hardymon, Josh Lerner and Ann Leamon

Describes investment decision-making processes, based on interviews with 56% of the top 38 venture capital firms in the country. Discusses some implications for the future growth of the industry. View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Venture Capital; Investment; Industry Growth

12 May 2009
First Look

First Look: May 12, 2009

http://hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=809142 Supply Chain Partners: Virginia Mason and Owens & Minor (A) Harvard Business School Case 109-076 Virginia Mason Medical Center (VM) hired... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

04 Oct 2021
Blog Post

Tapping into “Nontraditional” Private Equity and Venture Capital Talent at HBS

After a year and half as a Process Engineer at Exxon Mobil in Texas, followed by a year and a half working in supply chain optimization at Pinnacle Foods in New Jersey, Sheil faced a choice – begin her MBA... View Details

Keywords: Private Equity; Venture Capital

16 Mar 2023
Blog Post

HySynergy and Crossbridge Energy

challenged efforts to transition to a “greener” economy, and this site provided a stark example of energy transformation in process. The Crossbridge Energy refinery was acquired from Royal Dutch Shell by American private equity (PE) firm Postlane Partners, and View Details

July–August 2019
Article

Coupling Labor Codes of Conduct and Supplier Labor Practices: The Role of Internal Structural Conditions

By: Yanhua Bird, Jodi L. Short and Michael W. Toffel

Exploitive working conditions have spurred companies to pressure their suppliers to adopt labor codes of conduct and to conform their labor practices to the standards set forth in those codes. Yet little is known about whether organizational structures such as codes... View Details

Keywords: Organization Theory; Economic Sociology; Social Responsibility; Sustainability; Auditing; Process Improvement; Organizational Structure; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Supply Chain; Labor; Working Conditions

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September 2010 (Revised December 2011)
Case

WildChina: Taking the Road Less Traveled

By: Mukti Khaire, Daniel Isenberg, Victoria Song and Shirley Spence

This case deals with supplier difficulties faced by WildChina—a travel service provider in China. WildChina is a classic case of a company that is trying to bring a local, within-country product to a market outside the country (in this case, travelers to China from... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business Startups; Customer Focus and Relationships; Local Range; Globalized Markets and Industries; Supply Chain Management; Conflict Management; Travel Industry; China

February 2010
Teaching Note

Fabindia Overseas Pvt. Ltd. (TN)

By: Mukti Khaire

Teaching Note for [807113]. View Details

Keywords: For-Profit Firms; Expansion; Mission and Purpose; Problems and Challenges; Employment; Rural Scope; Supply Chain; Profit; Retail Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; India

August 1993 (Revised April 1994)
Case

Flanders of Springfield

By: Arthur Schleifer Jr.

Flanders is a catalog merchandiser. Various decisions on catalog distribution policy, ordering and inventory policy, and catalog format design are considered. This was a final examination, and serves as a review for a number of topics in the course. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Policy; Distribution; Product Design; Supply Chain; Mathematical Methods; Consumer Products Industry

Web

Tough Tech Ventures - Course Catalog

incorporating intellectual property concerns and “technoeconomic” forecasting Articulate paths to market and business models while accounting for tough tech value chains and competition Explore and negotiate strategic partnerships and... View Details

20 Feb 2013
Research & Ideas

Big Deal: Reflections on the Megamerger of American and US Airways

powerful economic incentive to lend to companies in Chapter 11. (Although American did not need such debtor-in-possession financing, United and Delta together raised almost $3.5 billion in DIP financing in their bankruptcies.) Chapter 11... View Details

Keywords: Re: Rosabeth M. Kanter & Stuart C. Gilson; Air Transportation

31 Mar 2022
Blog Post

Setting Interns Up for Success at Your Startup

used to create the food that ends up in our stomachs (land, water, energy, etc.) is wasted.” Sani’s enthusiasm for Mori grew after speaking with Belsito when he learned more about the company’s focus on integrating within supply View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship

12 Mar 2018
Blog Post

Applying to HBS in Round 3?

engineering roles to product and brand marketing ones, I realized that I wanted to learn about skills and perspectives I couldn’t learn on the job: a macro view of finance and economics, how to think and implement strategy and leadership... View Details

24 Apr 2007
First Look

First Look: April 24, 2007

traditional handicraft artisans in rural India. Established in 1960 as an exporter of home furnishings, Fabindia has grown as a consumer-facing retailer of apparel, home furnishings, organic food, and body care products, and has plans to expand further. Given their... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

04 Jun 2024
Blog Post

ClimateCAP 2024

complex interplay between reducing reliance on fossil fuels and the growing demand for vital minerals like cobalt. Exploring innovative solutions, from recycling critical minerals to implementing regulations ensuring supply View Details

11 Dec 2014
News

Fashion's Retail Revolution

Dressing by Number Dressing by Number Ivy Ross Creating the Shopping Experience of the Future Creating the Shopping Experience of the Future Today, though, the case studies are on a multitude of fashion businesses—“fast fashion” chain... View Details

Keywords: April White; fashion; Finance; Finance; Finance

2009
Working Paper

Strategic Interactions in Two-Sided Market Oligopolies

By: Emmanuel Farhi and Andrei Hagiu

Strategic interactions between two-sided platforms depend not only on whether their decision variables are strategic complements or substitutes as for one-sided firms, but also -and crucially so- on whether or not the platforms subsidize one side of the market in... View Details

Keywords: Two-Sided Markets; Strategic Complements; Strategic Substitutes; Cost; Investment; Profit; One-Sided Platforms; Two-Sided Platforms; Duopoly and Oligopoly; Competitive Advantage