The Transformation of IBM

Andrall E. Pearson; David B. Yoffie

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Case | HBS Case Collection | November 1990 (Revised September 1991)

The Transformation of IBM

by Andrall E. Pearson and David B. Yoffie

Abstract

John Akers, IBM's chairman, must confront how to transform a $60 billion, full line, global computer company that is the leader in every market it serves, yet losing share across the board. The case explores senior management's perspective on the process of organization change.

Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation; Transformation; Corporate Strategy; Adoption; Management Teams; Hardware; Information Technology; Multinational Firms and Management; Computer Industry;

Language: English

Format: Print

22 pages

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Citation:

Pearson, Andrall E., and David B. Yoffie. "The Transformation of IBM." Harvard Business School Case 391-073, November 1990. (Revised September 1991.)

About the Author

David B. Yoffie

Max and Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration

Strategy

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Case | HBS Case Collection | June 2016 (Revised March 2018)

Numenta: Inventing and (or) Commercializing AI

David B. Yoffie, Liz Kind and David Ben Shimol

In March 2016, Donna Dubinsky (co-founder and CEO) and Jeff Hawkins (co-founder) were struggling with a key question: Could Numenta be successful in both creating fundamental technology and building a commercial business? Located in Redwood City, CA, Numenta was founded in 2005 to expand Hawkins' research on the human brain, with the goal of "reverse engineering the neocortex" and then creating machines based on biological principals. Ultimately, Hawkins believed that Numenta could be a catalyst in creating intelligent machines that would lay the foundation for the next generation of computing with potentially broad ranging commercial opportunities.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; machine intelligence; Machine learning; strategy; technological innovation; Business Model; Entrepreneurship; Information; Technological Innovation; Research; Research and Development; Technology; Software; Technology Adoption; Technology Platform; Commercialization;

Citation:
Yoffie, David B., Liz Kind, and David Ben Shimol. "Numenta: Inventing and (or) Commercializing AI." Harvard Business School Case 716-469, June 2016. (Revised March 2018.) View Details

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Case | HBS Case Collection | July 2017 (Revised January 2018)

Upwork: Creating the Human Cloud

Dylan Minor and David Yoffie

Stephane Kasriel, the new CEO of Upwork, the leading platform for freelance labor, needs to decide on how to redesign its business model. While the firm has been growing rapidly since the merger of Odesk and eLance, the newly combined firm continues to face problems of clients "circumventing" the Upwork platform after an initial match. This case explores a variety of options for how Kasriel might prevent circumvention and reach his ambitious growth goals.

Keywords: strategy; platform; platform businesses; technology; Business Model; Multi-Sided Platforms; Growth and Development Strategy; Online Technology; Labor;

Citation:
Minor, Dylan, and David Yoffie. "Upwork: Creating the Human Cloud." Harvard Business School Case 718-402, July 2017. (Revised January 2018.) View Details

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Case | HBS Case Collection | October 2017 (Revised December 2017)

HTC and Virtual Reality

David B. Yoffie, Andy Wu and Allison M. Ciechanover

In fall 2017, HTC CEO and Chairperson Cher Wang was driving the company to focus on virtual reality (VR). HTC's first VR product, VIVE, released in spring 2016, was applauded for its superior immersive room-scale capabilities. However, early adoption of VR beyond gamers and technology enthusiasts was off to a slower start in general due to high cost, lack of quality content, and some user discomfort while using the technology. Wang endeavors to be the leading VR company, though competition from Sony, Facebook, and other technology leaders is mounting, and several, like HTC, are already pursuing second generation tetherless VR technology. As Wang seeks to develop the ecosystem by partnering with developers, creating a content platform, investing in VR startups, and launching VR arcades, she must decide the appropriate balance of fostering innovation in hardware, software and services, or both.

Keywords: Virtual reality; strategy; competition; technology; Strategy; Competition; Innovation and Management; Technology Industry;

Citation:
Yoffie, David B., Andy Wu, and Allison M. Ciechanover. "HTC and Virtual Reality." Harvard Business School Case 718-421, October 2017. (Revised December 2017.) View Details

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The Transformation of IBM

Abstract

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