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
  • April 2007
  • Article
  • Management Science

Wintel: Cooperation and Conflict

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and David B. Yoffie
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:5
ShareBar

Abstract

We study competitive interactions between Intel and Microsoft, two producers of complementary products. In a system of complements, like the PC, the value of the final product depends on how well the different components work together. This, in turn, depends on the firms' investment in complementary R&D. We ask whether Intel and Microsoft will want to cooperate and make the final product as valuable as possible. Contrary to the popular view that two tight complements will generally have well aligned incentives, we demonstrate that natural conflicts emerge over pricing, the timing of new product releases, and who captures the greatest value at different phases of product generations.

Keywords

Conflict and Resolution; Competition; Cooperation; Value; Performance Effectiveness; Research and Development; Motivation and Incentives; Investment; Price; Product Launch; Product

Citation

Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon, and David B. Yoffie. "Wintel: Cooperation and Conflict." Management Science 53, no. 4 (April 2007): pp. 584–598.
  • Find it at Harvard

About The Authors

Ramon Casadesus-Masanell

Strategy
→More Publications

David B. Yoffie

Strategy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • November 2022
    • Faculty Research

    HBS Case Video Bosch eBike

    By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
    • November 2022
    • Faculty Research

    What are the lessons learned to make intrapreneurship successful in a large company

    By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
    • November 2022
    • Faculty Research

    What are the lessons learned from the e-bike business for other Bosch divisions

    By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
More from the Authors
  • HBS Case Video Bosch eBike By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
  • What are the lessons learned to make intrapreneurship successful in a large company By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
  • What are the lessons learned from the e-bike business for other Bosch divisions By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
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