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- June 2025
- Case
TagHive: Edtech Pricing and Distributor Decisions
By: Isamar Troncoso, Frank V. Cespedes and Stacy Straaberg
Education technology (edtech) company TagHive, founded in 2017, used a direct sales team and third-party distributors to sell its Class Saathi hardware and software solution to 300 clients, mainly primary and secondary schools in India. The product aimed to improve... View Details
Keywords: Business Model; Marketing Channels; Marketing Strategy; Product Marketing; Social Marketing; Information Infrastructure; Information Technology; Internet and the Web; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Technology Adoption; Education; Teaching; Price; Customer Relationship Management; Customer Satisfaction; Growth and Development; Technological Innovation; Education Industry; Technology Industry; India; South Korea
Troncoso, Isamar, Frank V. Cespedes, and Stacy Straaberg. "TagHive: Edtech Pricing and Distributor Decisions." Harvard Business School Case 525-001, June 2025.
- March 27, 2025
- Article
How One Company Used AI to Broaden Its Customer Base
By: Sunil Gupta and Frank V. Cespedes
The software company SAP successfully leveraged AI tools to begin selling to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) market, which had previously been uneconomical for its in-person sales approach. By mapping the customer journey and deploying over 40 AI tools, SAP... View Details
Gupta, Sunil, and Frank V. Cespedes. "How One Company Used AI to Broaden Its Customer Base." Harvard Business Review (website) (March 27, 2025).
- June 2023 (Revised January 2024)
- Case
Communities In Schools (Atlanta): Innovating a College Program
By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Lynda M. Applegate and Alexis Lefort
Frank Brown, CIS of Atlanta's new Black CEO, was keen to extend CIS's well-honed case management in schools program to youth in college. Founded 50 years ago by Bill Milliken, CIS, a network of 110 affiliates, had built a strong program of assisting and supporting... View Details
Rangan, V. Kasturi, Lynda M. Applegate, and Alexis Lefort. "Communities In Schools (Atlanta): Innovating a College Program." Harvard Business School Case 823-070, June 2023. (Revised January 2024.)
- February 2021
- Case
Yellow Digital Retailers: Providing Solar Electricity to Transform Rural Africa
By: Lynda M. Applegate, Frank V. Cespedes and Michael Norris
In 2020, Mike Heyink and Maya Stewart, co-founders of the Pay-as-you-Go Solar company Yellow were considering how to grow their startup. They had achieved some success in their first market, Malawi, and had recently entered Uganda, where business was slower. What did... View Details
Keywords: Solar Energy; Business Model; Business Startups; Developing Countries and Economies; Alternative Energy; Renewable Energy; Social Entrepreneurship; Green Technology; Salesforce Management; Diversification; Expansion; Energy Industry; Africa; South Africa; Malawi; Uganda
Applegate, Lynda M., Frank V. Cespedes, and Michael Norris. "Yellow Digital Retailers: Providing Solar Electricity to Transform Rural Africa." Harvard Business School Case 821-041, February 2021.
- August 2018
- Teaching Note
IguanaFix
By: Frank V. Cespedes and Thomas Eisenmann
Teaching Note for HBS No. 817-056. IguanaFix, based in Argentina, is a platform business that connects consumers with home improvement contractors. The founders are evaluating growth options and an investment offer. The case focuses on scaling issues for a venture... View Details
- October 2016 (Revised April 2018)
- Case
DataXu: Selling Ad Tech
By: Frank V. Cespedes, John Deighton, Lisa Cox and Olivia Hull
DataXu served marketers by buying digital advertising for brands using its demand-side platform. It sought a way to build a more predictable revenue stream in the very transactional media marketplace, and hoped that two new marketing analytics products would give it a... View Details
Keywords: Sales Management; Pricing; Programmatic Ad Buying; "Marketing Analytics"; Advertising Technology; Sales; Digital Marketing; Marketing Strategy; Advertising Campaigns; Product Launch; Product Positioning; Media; Technology Industry; Advertising Industry; Boston; Massachusetts
Cespedes, Frank V., John Deighton, Lisa Cox, and Olivia Hull. "DataXu: Selling Ad Tech." Harvard Business School Case 817-012, October 2016. (Revised April 2018.)
- September 2013
- Case
SafeBlend Fracturing
By: Benson P. Shapiro, Frank V. Cespedes and Alisa Zalosh
The CEO of SafeBlend Technologies must set a price for the company's environmentally friendly fracturing fluid additive. The firm is negotiating a new contract with its biggest client, Bristol Natural Gas. For the last two years, SafeBlend has been the sole provider of... View Details
Keywords: Information Technology; Customer Relationship Management; Price; Negotiation; Competitive Advantage; Environmental Sustainability; Energy Sources; Sales; Energy Industry
Shapiro, Benson P., Frank V. Cespedes, and Alisa Zalosh. "SafeBlend Fracturing." Harvard Business School Brief Case 914-513, September 2013.
- September 2013
- Teaching Note
SafeBlend Fracturing (Brief Case)
By: Benson P. Shapiro, Frank V. Cespedes and Alisa Zalosh
- September 2013
- Supplement
SafeBlend Fracturing, Spreadsheet for Instructors (Brief Case)
By: Benson P. Shapiro, Frank V. Cespedes and Alisa Zalosh
- September 2013
- Supplement
SafeBlend Fracturing, Spreadsheet for Students (Brief Case)
By: Benson P. Shapiro, Frank V. Cespedes and Alisa Zalosh
- August 2009 (Revised August 2012)
- Case
Cabot Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
By: Frank V. Cespedes and John T. Gourville
Traces the 12-year career of a pharmaceutical salesperson, Bob Marsh, from recruitment to termination. Marsh has had an uneven career with Cabot Pharmaceuticals and eventually is asked to resign. Following his termination, a number of Marsh's former customers complain... View Details
Keywords: Customer Relationship Management; Employees; Resignation and Termination; Performance Evaluation; Salesforce Management; Alignment; Pharmaceutical Industry
Cespedes, Frank V., and John T. Gourville. "Cabot Pharmaceuticals, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 510-030, August 2009. (Revised August 2012.)
- January 2009
- Supplement
Live Nation Faces the Music (B)
By: Stephen P. Bradley, Frank V. Cespedes and Kerry Herman
In 2008, concert producer and promoter Live Nation, faces a decision about its strategy in light of the tumultuous changes in the music industry and the increasing power of the major artists. As the music business once again recreates itself in response to new... View Details
- January 2009 (Revised March 2013)
- Case
Live Nation Faces the Music
By: Stephen P. Bradley, Frank Cespedes and Kerry Herman
In 2008, concert producer and promoter Live Nation faces a decision about its strategy in light of the tumultuous changes in the music industry and the increasing power of the major artists. As the music business once again recreates itself in response to new... View Details
Keywords: Change Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Music Entertainment; Five Forces Framework; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Corporate Strategy; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Music Industry; Service Industry
Bradley, Stephen P., Frank Cespedes, and Kerry Herman. "Live Nation Faces the Music." Harvard Business School Case 709-441, January 2009. (Revised March 2013.)
- October 2008 (Revised March 2011)
- Case
Curled Metal Inc.—Engineered Products Division
By: Benson P. Shapiro and Frank V. Cespedes
Curled Metal Incorporated has declining sales but has developed a new product (curled metal pile driver pads) that, in field tests, deliver customer benefits that are many times CMI's manufacturing costs. Joseph Fernandez and Rajiv Sanwal of CMI's Engineered Products... View Details
Shapiro, Benson P., and Frank V. Cespedes. "Curled Metal Inc.—Engineered Products Division." Harvard Business School Case 709-434, October 2008. (Revised March 2011.)
- September 2008 (Revised June 2010)
- Case
Hearts On Fire - Brand Development Manager
By: Frank V. Cespedes and Benson P. Shapiro
Hearts On Fire, a successful branded diamond producer, established the position of Brand Development Manager (BDM) to build the company's presence, sales, and relationships with its retail customers. After one year, the CEO, CFO and President must evaluate the impact... View Details
Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Investment Return; Brands and Branding; Marketing Strategy; Business Processes; Salesforce Management; Business Strategy
Cespedes, Frank V., and Benson P. Shapiro. "Hearts On Fire - Brand Development Manager." Harvard Business School Case 709-436, September 2008. (Revised June 2010.)
- February 2008 (Revised August 2011)
- Case
Olympia Machine Company, Inc.
By: Frank V. Cespedes and Benson P. Shapiro
The management team of an industrial equipment supplier is debating the company's method of compensating salespeople. Different executives have offered different alternatives to the current method of straight salary plus expenses. Each option has different implications... View Details
Keywords: Governance Controls; Compensation and Benefits; Mission and Purpose; Salesforce Management; Motivation and Incentives; Business Strategy; Industrial Products Industry
Cespedes, Frank V., and Benson P. Shapiro. "Olympia Machine Company, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 708-490, February 2008. (Revised August 2011.)
- 1998
- Book
Sales Management
By: Benson P. Shapiro and Frank V. Cespedes
Shapiro, Benson P., and Frank V. Cespedes. Sales Management. Business Fundamentals. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 1998.
- 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
Keywords: Business Divisions; Customer Satisfaction; Demand and Consumers; Market Participation; Distribution Channels; Success; Corporate Strategy; Value Creation; Health Industry
Rangan, V. Kasturi, and Frank V. Cespedes. "Becton Dickinson & Company: VACUTAINER Systems Division (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 592-037, October 1991. (Revised August 2000.)
- 1989
- Manual
Going to Market: Case Studies in Industrial Distribution, Instructor's Manual
By: E. Raymond Corey, Frank V. Cespedes and V. K. Rangan
Keywords: Distribution
Corey, E. Raymond, Frank V. Cespedes, and V. K. Rangan. Going to Market: Case Studies in Industrial Distribution, Instructor's Manual. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing, 1989.
- 1989
- Book
Going to Market: Case Studies in Industrial Distribution
By: E. Raymond Corey, Frank V. Cespedes and V. K. Rangan
Corey, E. Raymond, Frank V. Cespedes, and V. K. Rangan. Going to Market: Case Studies in Industrial Distribution. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing, 1989.