Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • March 1998 (Revised March 1999)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Dell Online

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Marie Bell
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:27
ShareBar

Abstract

Dell started online commerce for its PCs in 1996, and by 1997 had achieved a sales rate of $3 million a day. The case describes the internal process that led to these dramatic results and poses the question of how the firm should leverage this activity to meet Michael Dell's goal of achieving 50% of the company's anticipated $20 billion in sales by the year 2000 via Internet channels.

Keywords

Consumer Behavior; Market Transactions; Goals and Objectives; Business Processes; Distribution Channels; Internet and the Web; Information Infrastructure; Competitive Advantage; Computer Industry; Retail Industry

Citation

Rangan, V. Kasturi, and Marie Bell. "Dell Online." Harvard Business School Case 598-116, March 1998. (Revised March 1999.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

V. Kasturi Rangan

Marketing
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • April 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Transformative Social Impact: Health Leads (B)

    By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Sarah Appleby
    • January 2024 (Revised June 2024)
    • Faculty Research

    Equal Justice Initiative: Mercy, Truth and Dignity

    By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Gerald Chertavian and Brittany Logan
    • January 2024 (Revised August 2024)
    • Faculty Research

    Essex County Community Foundation: Pivot to Systems Philanthropy

    By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Brian Trelstad and Courtney Han
More from the Authors
  • Transformative Social Impact: Health Leads (B) By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Sarah Appleby
  • Equal Justice Initiative: Mercy, Truth and Dignity By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Gerald Chertavian and Brittany Logan
  • Essex County Community Foundation: Pivot to Systems Philanthropy By: V. Kasturi Rangan, Brian Trelstad and Courtney Han
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.