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  • October 2016 (Revised January 2018)
  • Case
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BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems?

By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Kelly McNamara
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:9
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Abstract

As the case opens in 1999, several key leaders at BlackRock, Inc., then a relatively small asset management firm, are trying to convince CEO Larry Fink and others that the firm should begin to offer Aladdin—its proprietary analytics and trading platform—to other asset managers. While some members of the senior team see “selling our systems” as an opportunity, others liken it to “selling weapons to the enemy” or “giving away the crown jewels.” What should Fink do? The case provides an overview of the asset management industry, the beginnings of BlackRock, and details around the Aladdin platform.

Keywords

Strategy; Competition; Information Technology; Asset Management; Competitive Strategy; Financial Services Industry; United States

Citation

Gulati, Ranjay, Jan W. Rivkin, and Kelly McNamara. "BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems?" Harvard Business School Case 717-404, October 2016. (Revised January 2018.)
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About The Authors

Ranjay Gulati

Organizational Behavior
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Jan W. Rivkin

Strategy
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Related Work

    • October 2016 (Revised January 2018)
    • Faculty Research

    BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM?

    By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin, Stuart C. Gilson and Aldo Sesia
    • October 2016 (Revised January 2018)
    • Faculty Research

    BlackRock (C): Integrating BGI

    By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Aldo Sesia
    • October 2016 (Revised January 2018)
    • Faculty Research

    BlackRock (D): Organizing for the Future

    By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Aldo Sesia
    • October 2016 (Revised January 2018)
    • Faculty Research

    BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems?

    By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Kelly McNamara
    • May 2025
    • Faculty Research

    BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems?

    By: Jan Rivkin
Related Work
  • BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM? By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin, Stuart C. Gilson and Aldo Sesia
  • BlackRock (C): Integrating BGI By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Aldo Sesia
  • BlackRock (D): Organizing for the Future By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Aldo Sesia
  • BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems? By: Ranjay Gulati, Jan W. Rivkin and Kelly McNamara
  • BlackRock (A): Selling the Systems? By: Jan Rivkin
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