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(237)
- People (2)
- News (48)
- Research (168)
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- August 2022
- Article
Contract Duration and the Costs of Market Transactions
By: Alexander MacKay
The optimal duration of a supply contract balances the costs of reselecting a supplier against the costs of being matched to an inefficient supplier when the contract lasts too long. I develop a structural model of contract duration that captures this tradeoff and... View Details
Keywords: Supply Contracts; Intermediate Goods; Switching Costs; Vertical Relationships; Transaction Costs; Contract Duration; Identification; Supply Chain; Cost; Contracts; Auctions; Mathematical Methods
MacKay, Alexander. "Contract Duration and the Costs of Market Transactions." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics 14, no. 3 (August 2022): 164–212.
- 1986
- Working Paper
Price Competition with a Distribution of Switch Costs and Reservation Prices
By: Jerry R. Green and Suzanne Scotchmer
When there is a distribution of switch costs and of reservation prices for a good, and marginal cost of producing the good is zero, equilibrium in pure price strategies may (and sometimes must) exhibit price dispersion. Equilibrium may or may not exist, and there may... View Details
Green, Jerry R., and Suzanne Scotchmer. "Price Competition with a Distribution of Switch Costs and Reservation Prices." Harvard Institute of Economic Research Discussion Paper, No. 1260, September 1986.
- Article
Switching Costs and Bidding Parity in Government Procurement of Computer Systems
By: Luis Cabral and Shane Greenstein
Cabral, Luis, and Shane Greenstein. "Switching Costs and Bidding Parity in Government Procurement of Computer Systems." Journal of Law, Economics & Organization 6, no. 2 (Fall 1990): 453–469.
- 2020
- Working Paper
Contract Duration and the Costs of Market Transactions
By: Alexander MacKay
The optimal duration of a supply contract balances the costs of reselecting a supplier against the costs of being matched to an inefficient supplier when the contract lasts too long. I develop a structural model of contract duration that captures this tradeoff and... View Details
Keywords: Vertical Relationships; Transaction Costs; Contract Duration; Identification; Supply Chain; Cost; Contracts; Auctions; Mathematical Methods
MacKay, Alexander. "Contract Duration and the Costs of Market Transactions." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 18-058, December 2017. (Revised May 2020. Direct download.)
- October 1988 (Revised June 1993)
- Case
Siemens Electric Motor Works (A): Process-Oriented Costing
Explores how a cost system can help support a firm's decision to change strategies. In the process, the students are introduced to a simple activity-based cost system. Siemens Electric Motor Works found itself facing an increasingly competitive environment and so made... View Details
Cooper, Robin, and Karen Wruck. "Siemens Electric Motor Works (A): Process-Oriented Costing." Harvard Business School Case 189-089, October 1988. (Revised June 1993.)
- Research Summary
Overview
Downstream businesses that utilize global suppliers frequently use auditing programs to monitor their suppliers’ working conditions and are often deployed to address reputational concerns associated with procuring from unregulated suppliers. Despite their widespread... View Details
- September 2016
- Article
History-based versus Uniform Pricing in Growing and Declining Markets
By: Oz Shy, Rune Stenbacka and David Hao Zhang
We analyze the Markov Perfect Equilibria of an infinite-horizon overlapping generations model with consumer lock-in to compare the performance of history-based and uniform pricing in growing and declining markets. Under history-based pricing, firms charge higher prices... View Details
Keywords: History-based Pricing; Introductory Discount; Uniform Pricing; Consumer Lock-in; High Switching Costs; Demand and Consumers; Competition; Price; Market Entry and Exit; Product Marketing
Shy, Oz, Rune Stenbacka, and David Hao Zhang. "History-based versus Uniform Pricing in Growing and Declining Markets." International Journal of Industrial Organization 48 (September 2016): 88–117.
- October 1994
- Case
Kamakura Ironworks Company, Ltd.
Describes cost management techniques in a supplier chain in the Japanese automotive industry. Exposes students to interorganizational cost management systems and explores when cost systems are required and when they can be switched off. Also illustrates supportive... View Details
Cooper, Robin, and Takeo Yoshikawa. "Kamakura Ironworks Company, Ltd." Harvard Business School Case 195-056, October 1994.
- Article
Are Self-service Customers Satisfied or Stuck?
This paper investigates the impact of self-service technology (SST) usage on customer satisfaction and retention. Specifically, we disentangle the distinct effects of satisfaction and switching costs as drivers of retention among self-service customers. Our empirical... View Details
Keywords: Service Delivery; Information Technology; Customer Satisfaction; Competition; Cost; Banks and Banking; Behavior; Market Transactions; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques
Buell, Ryan W., Dennis Campbell, and Frances X. Frei. "Are Self-service Customers Satisfied or Stuck?" Production and Operations Management 19, no. 6 (November–December 2010). (Awarded the Decision Sciences Institute Stan Hardy Award for Outstanding Paper Published during 2010 in the Field of Operations Management.)
- August 2011 (Revised September 2011)
- Supplement
Enman Oil, Inc. (G)
By: David F. Hawkins
Oil and gas company Enman Oil attempts to lower its total leverage value by switching from the successful efforts method to the full costs method. View Details
Hawkins, David F. "Enman Oil, Inc. (G)." Harvard Business School Supplement 112-026, August 2011. (Revised September 2011.)
- July 1990 (Revised October 1997)
- Case
Siemens Electric Motor Works (A) (Abridged)
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Explores how a cost system can help support a firm's decision to change strategies. In the process, the students are introduced to a simple activity-based cost system. Siemens Electric Motor Works found itself facing an increasingly competitive environment and so made... View Details
Keywords: Activity Based Costing and Management; Cost Accounting; Cost; Adoption; Cost vs Benefits; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Production; Business Strategy; Electronics Industry; Manufacturing Industry
Kaplan, Robert S. "Siemens Electric Motor Works (A) (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 191-006, July 1990. (Revised October 1997.)
- May–June 2021
- Article
Capturing Value in Platform Business Models that Rely on User-Generated Content
By: Hemang Subramanian, Sabyasachi Mitra and Sam Ransbotham
Business models increasingly depend on inputs from outside traditional organizational boundaries. For example, platforms that generate revenue from advertising, subscription, or referral fees often rely on user-generated content (UGC). But there is considerable... View Details
Keywords: Business Model; Network Effects; Mergers and Acquisitions; Valuation; Risk and Uncertainty
Subramanian, Hemang, Sabyasachi Mitra, and Sam Ransbotham. "Capturing Value in Platform Business Models that Rely on User-Generated Content." Organization Science 32, no. 3 (May–June 2021): 804–823.
- 01 Sep 2015
- News
Judge gives go-ahead to Uber lawsuit
- June 2004 (Revised March 2005)
- Background Note
Question of LIFO or FIFO, The; Which Is Preferable?
By: William J. Bruns Jr. and Sharon M. Bruns
Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of alternative inventory flow assumptions allowed in the United States. A single exhibit shows that in Year 2, a company using LIFO in Year 1 could report higher net income by switching to FIFO at a cost of higher income... View Details
Bruns, William J., Jr., and Sharon M. Bruns. "Question of LIFO or FIFO, The; Which Is Preferable?" Harvard Business School Background Note 104-087, June 2004. (Revised March 2005.)
- 19 May 2015
- News
Uber may never dominate in China—but it doesn't need to
- 11 Mar 2025
- HBS Seminar
JP Dubé, University of Chicago
- August 2001 (Revised February 2005)
- Case
Dakota Office Products
By: Robert S. Kaplan
The senior management team of Dakota, an office products distributor, is concerned about the company's first loss in history. Explores the role for activity based costing and customer profitability measurement in a distribution company. Dakota's customers are... View Details
Keywords: Activity Based Costing and Management; Order Taking and Fulfillment; Profit; Distribution; Customers; Distribution Industry
Kaplan, Robert S. "Dakota Office Products." Harvard Business School Case 102-021, August 2001. (Revised February 2005.)
- April 1975 (Revised November 1984)
- Case
Enzone Petroleum Corp.
By: Thomas R. Piper
A large integrated oil company is debating whether to switch from a single hurdle rate to multiple hurdle rates for project analysis purposes. Raises questions on: 1) determination of the cost of equity; 2) the usefulness of multiple hurdle rates to adjust for project... View Details
Piper, Thomas R. "Enzone Petroleum Corp." Harvard Business School Case 275-113, April 1975. (Revised November 1984.)
- August 2012
- Case
Polar Sports, Inc.
By: W. Carl Kester and Wei Wang
Polar Sports, Inc. is a fashion skiwear manufacturing company in Littleton, Colorado. The company has a unique design for skiwear using a special synthetic material that improves insulation and durability. The ski apparel industry is highly competitive and the best way... View Details
Keywords: Production; Decision Choices and Conditions; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Finance; Manufacturing Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Sports Industry; Colorado
Kester, W. Carl, and Wei Wang. "Polar Sports, Inc." Harvard Business School Brief Case 913-513, August 2012.
The Elasticity of Science
The adjustment costs of science -- getting scientists to study what you want them to -- are very large.
Abstact: This paper identifies the degree to which scientists are willing to change the direction of their work in exchange for resources.... View Details
Abstact: This paper identifies the degree to which scientists are willing to change the direction of their work in exchange for resources.... View Details