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- Faculty Publications (36)
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- June 2020
- Case
Agile Consumer Product Innovation with Alibaba's Tmall Innovation Center
By: William R. Kerr, Daniel O'Connor and James Palano
Consumer products companies were beset by changes on all sides during the 2010s. Customers were increasingly turning to ecommerce platforms rather than shopping in-store. Meanwhile, nimble, digitally-savvy competitors were gaining market share by capitalizing on the...
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- April 2020 (Revised July 2020)
- Case
Amazon in China and India
By: Krishna G. Palepu and Kairavi Dey
Amazon has been unsuccessful in its efforts to develop a business in China. Even though Amazon was an early entrant into China’s e-commerce space, its domestic rivals, especially Alibaba, created innovative business models uniquely suited for the conditions in China. ...
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- January–February 2020
- Article
Competing in the Age of AI
By: Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani
Today’s markets are being reshaped by a new kind of firm—one in which artificial intelligence (AI) runs the show. This cohort includes giants like Google, Facebook, and Alibaba, and growing businesses such as Wayfair and Ocado. Every time we use their services, the...
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- June 2019
- Case
Fangda Partners: A Step Ahead
By: Ashish Nanda and Lisa Rohrer
Elite Chinese law firm Fangda Partners has steered Alibaba and other Chinese and international clients through the complex legal, corporate, and regulatory challenges associated with executing international transactions. “Fangda has traveled a long distance in a short...
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- February 2019
- Teaching Note
Talent@Tencent
By: Tarun Khanna
Late in 2016, two senior human resources (HR) executives at Tencent Holdings (Tencent), China’s leading Internet services firm, are assessing the effectiveness of the company’s talent management practices in responding to Tencent’s sustained hypergrowth. Over the...
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- February 2019 (Revised September 2019)
- Case
Amazon in Fashion
By: John R. Wells, Benjamin Weinstock and Gabriel Ellsworth
According to many analysts and industry observers, in 2018 Amazon became the largest retailer of apparel in the United States and the second largest in the world, behind Alibaba. Much of Amazon’s apparel was made by third-party retailers on its platform, but Amazon had...
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Keywords:
Amazon;
Amazon.com;
Fashion;
Fashion Accessories;
Retail;
Retailing Industry;
Retailing;
Asos;
Inditex;
Multi-channel Retailers;
Online Retail;
Online Retailing;
Positioning;
Private Label;
Delivery;
Spending;
Online Technology;
Competitive Strategy;
Fashion Industry;
Retail Industry;
Apparel and Accessories Industry
- January 2019 (Revised October 2019)
- Case
Rural Taobao: Alibaba's Expansion into Rural E-Commerce
By: Tarun Khanna, Ryan Allen, Adam Frost and Wesley Koo
Alibaba's Rural Taobao initiative had been launched in 2014 as a public service initiative to increase e-commerce adoption in China’s remote rural areas. In the first two iterations of the initiative, dubbed “1.0” and “2.0,” Alibaba had partnered with local businesses...
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Keywords:
Strategy;
Business Growth;
Ecommerce;
Corporate Social Responsibility;
Business And Government;
Emerging Market;
Market Platforms;
Online Technology;
Emerging Markets;
Rural Scope;
Growth and Development Strategy;
Competitive Strategy;
Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact;
Business and Government Relations;
Decision Making;
China
- June 2018 (Revised January 2020)
- Case
Voice War: Hey Google vs. Alexa vs. Siri
By: David B. Yoffie, Liang Wu, Jodie Sweitzer, Denzil Eden and Karan Ahuja
By early 2018, voice-controlled intelligent assistants had become a major new front in the battle between the giants of the technology sector. "Voice War" focuses on Alphabet’s strategy for Google Assistant, its entrant in the voice assistant space, and asks how the...
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- May 2018 (Revised February 2019)
- Case
The Powers That Be (Internet Edition): Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft
By: Jeffrey F. Rayport, Julia Kelley and Nathaniel Schwalb
As of early 2018, five U.S. technology companies—Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft—were among the largest companies in the world. Similarly, three Chinese technology firms—Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, or BAT—had emerged as global players due in part to the...
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- April 2018 (Revised November 2019)
- Case
JD: Envisioning the Future of Retail (A)
By: Feng Zhu and Shirley Sun
JD, China’s second largest e-commerce company by gross merchandise volume (GMV) after Alibaba, had expanded rapidly from 2012 to 2016. When the company celebrated its 13th birthday in 2017, Richard Liu, its founder, deliberated on the company’s growth strategies. The...
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- March 2018
- Case
Lufax: FinTech and the Transformation of Wealth Management in China
By: Christopher J. Malloy, Lauren H. Cohen and Anthony K. Woo
This case examines the rise and competitive positioning of Lufax, an online marketplace headquartered in Shanghai, China, and a pioneer in the origination and trading of financial assets. The company had grown at a remarkable rate, and was awarded “Trading Platform of...
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- January 2018 (Revised March 2019)
- Teaching Note
Jumia Nigeria: from Retail to Marketplace (A) and (B)
By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Karen Elterman
Founded in 2012, Jumia Nigeria, a startup effort by Germany-based Rocket Internet, aimed to become an African Amazon. The company entered the nascent market and immediately enjoyed an uptick in consumer spending fueled by the strength of Nigeria’s oil-based economy. By...
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- January 2018
- Supplement
Jumia Nigeria PowerPoint Supplement
Founded in 2012, Jumia Nigeria, a startup effort by Germany-based Rocket Internet, aimed to become an African Amazon. The company entered the nascent market and immediately enjoyed an uptick in consumer spending fueled by the strength of Nigeria’s oil-based economy. By...
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- November 2017
- Teaching Note
Tencent
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
Teaching Note for HBS No. 718-426.
Tencent had undergone many transformations since it was founded in 1998 as a simple messaging service. In 2017, it was the largest online games provider in China with a wide range of game types, China’s largest social networking...
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Keywords:
Tencent;
Tencent Holdings;
Wechat;
Social Networking;
Social Networks;
Gaming;
Gaming Industry;
Video Games;
Computer Games;
Mobile Gaming;
Portals;
Payments;
Mobile Payments;
O2o;
Online-to-offline;
E-commerce;
Messaging;
Subscription Model;
Freemium;
Mobile App Industry;
Smartphone;
Pc;
Monetization Strategy;
Antitrust;
Streaming;
Cloud Computing;
Artificial Intelligence;
Big Data;
Alibaba;
Facebook;
Jd.com;
Tesla;
Bundling;
Synergies;
Digital Strategy;
Imitation;
Licensing;
Agility;
Entry Barriers;
Online Platforms;
Advertising;
Online Advertising;
Business Ventures;
Acquisition;
Mergers and Acquisitions;
Business Conglomerates;
Business Growth and Maturation;
Business Organization;
For-Profit Firms;
Joint Ventures;
Restructuring;
Communication Technology;
Blogs;
Interactive Communication;
Interpersonal Communication;
Entertainment;
Film Entertainment;
Games, Gaming, and Gambling;
Music Entertainment;
Investment;
Investment Portfolio;
Price;
Revenue;
Geographic Scope;
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Global Strategy;
Multinational Firms and Management;
Globalized Markets and Industries;
Business History;
Innovation Strategy;
Technological Innovation;
Business or Company Management;
Goals and Objectives;
Growth and Development Strategy;
Product Positioning;
Social Marketing;
Network Effects;
Market Entry and Exit;
Market Platforms;
Two-Sided Platforms;
Industry Growth;
Monopoly;
Media;
Distribution Channels;
Service Delivery;
Organizational Change and Adaptation;
Organizational Structure;
Public Ownership;
Problems and Challenges;
Business and Government Relations;
Groups and Teams;
Networks;
Opportunities;
Social and Collaborative Networks;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Commercialization;
Competition;
Competitive Advantage;
Competitive Strategy;
Cooperation;
Corporate Strategy;
Diversification;
Expansion;
Horizontal Integration;
Vertical Integration;
Information Technology;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Search Technology;
Software;
Technology Networks;
Technology Platform;
Web;
Web Sites;
Wireless Technology;
Value Creation;
Emerging Markets;
Product Development;
Segmentation;
Business Units;
Communication;
Profit;
Communications Industry;
Entertainment and Recreation Industry;
Financial Services Industry;
Information Industry;
Information Technology Industry;
Media and Broadcasting Industry;
Motion Pictures and Video Industry;
Music Industry;
Service Industry;
Technology Industry;
Telecommunications Industry;
Video Game Industry;
Web Services Industry;
Asia;
China;
Canton (province, China)
- November 2017
- Teaching Note
Amazon.com, 2016
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
Teaching Note for HBS No. 716-402.
On January 28, 2016, Amazon announced record 2015 operating profits of $2.2 billion on $107 billion of sales, and the markets responded with cautious optimism. For years, founder and CEO Jeffrey Bezos had prioritized growth and...
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Keywords:
Strategic Analysis;
Retail;
E-commerce;
Amazon;
Amazon.com;
Amazonfresh;
Jeff Bezos;
Cloud Computing;
Marketplaces;
Streaming;
E-reader Market;
Digital Media;
Mobile App;
Online Retail;
Shipping;
Database;
Tablet;
Kindle;
Kindle Fire;
Smartphone;
Delivery;
Market Platforms;
Two-Sided Platforms;
Competition;
Internet;
Corporate Strategy;
Online Advertising;
Business Growth and Maturation;
Business Model;
Business Organization;
For-Profit Firms;
Film Entertainment;
Games, Gaming, and Gambling;
Music Entertainment;
Television Entertainment;
Profit;
Revenue;
Global Strategy;
Multinational Firms and Management;
Taxation;
Business History;
Human Resources;
Resignation and Termination;
Books;
Human Capital;
Working Conditions;
Business or Company Management;
Goals and Objectives;
Growth and Development Strategy;
Growth Management;
Management Practices and Processes;
Industry Growth;
Industry Structures;
Media;
Distribution;
Distribution Channels;
Order Taking and Fulfillment;
Infrastructure;
Logistics;
Product Development;
Supply Chain;
Supply Chain Management;
Organizational Culture;
Public Ownership;
Work-Life Balance;
Problems and Challenges;
Labor and Management Relations;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Competitive Strategy;
Diversification;
Expansion;
Integration;
Horizontal Integration;
Vertical Integration;
Hardware;
Information Technology;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Technology Networks;
Technology Platform;
Web;
Web Sites;
Price;
Software;
Marketing;
Marketing Strategy;
Working Capital;
Customer Focus and Relationships;
Customer Value and Value Chain;
Retail Industry;
Advertising Industry;
Distribution Industry;
Electronics Industry;
Entertainment and Recreation Industry;
Information Technology Industry;
Manufacturing Industry;
Motion Pictures and Video Industry;
Music Industry;
Publishing Industry;
Shipping Industry;
Technology Industry;
Video Game Industry;
Web Services Industry;
United States;
Washington (state, US);
Seattle
- October 2017 (Revised March 2019)
- Case
Jumia Nigeria: from Retail to Marketplace (A)
By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Namrata Arora
Founded in 2012, Jumia Nigeria, a startup effort by Germany-based Rocket Internet, aimed to become an African Amazon. The company entered the nascent market and immediately enjoyed an uptick in consumer spending fueled by the strength of Nigeria’s oil-based economy. By...
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- September 2017
- Case
Tencent
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
Tencent had undergone many transformations since it was founded in 1998 as a simple messaging service. In 2017, it was the largest online games provider in China with a wide range of game types, China’s largest social networking service provider with several of the...
View Details
Keywords:
Tencent;
Tencent Holdings;
Wechat;
Social Networking;
Social Networks;
Gaming;
Gaming Industry;
Video Games;
Computer Games;
Mobile Gaming;
Portals;
Payments;
Mobile Payments;
O2o;
Online-to-offline;
E-commerce;
Messaging;
Subscription Model;
Freemium;
Mobile App Industry;
Smartphone;
Pc;
Monetization Strategy;
Antitrust;
Streaming;
Cloud Computing;
Artificial Intelligence;
Big Data;
Alibaba;
Facebook;
Jd.com;
Tesla;
Bundling;
Synergies;
Digital Strategy;
Imitation;
Licensing;
Agility;
Entry Barriers;
Online Platforms;
Advertising;
Online Advertising;
Business Ventures;
Acquisition;
Mergers and Acquisitions;
Business Conglomerates;
Business Units;
Business Growth and Maturation;
Business Organization;
For-Profit Firms;
Joint Ventures;
Restructuring;
Communication;
Communication Technology;
Blogs;
Interactive Communication;
Interpersonal Communication;
Entertainment;
Film Entertainment;
Games, Gaming, and Gambling;
Music Entertainment;
Investment;
Investment Portfolio;
Price;
Profit;
Revenue;
Geographic Scope;
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Global Strategy;
Multinational Firms and Management;
Globalized Markets and Industries;
Business History;
Innovation Strategy;
Technological Innovation;
Business or Company Management;
Goals and Objectives;
Growth and Development Strategy;
Product Positioning;
Social Marketing;
Network Effects;
Emerging Markets;
Market Entry and Exit;
Market Platforms;
Two-Sided Platforms;
Industry Growth;
Monopoly;
Media;
Distribution Channels;
Product Development;
Service Delivery;
Organizational Change and Adaptation;
Organizational Structure;
Public Ownership;
Problems and Challenges;
Business and Government Relations;
Groups and Teams;
Networks;
Opportunities;
Social and Collaborative Networks;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Commercialization;
Competition;
Competitive Advantage;
Competitive Strategy;
Cooperation;
Corporate Strategy;
Diversification;
Expansion;
Horizontal Integration;
Vertical Integration;
Segmentation;
Information Technology;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Search Technology;
Software;
Technology Networks;
Technology Platform;
Web;
Web Sites;
Wireless Technology;
Value Creation;
Communications Industry;
Entertainment and Recreation Industry;
Financial Services Industry;
Information Industry;
Information Technology Industry;
Media and Broadcasting Industry;
Motion Pictures and Video Industry;
Music Industry;
Service Industry;
Technology Industry;
Telecommunications Industry;
Video Game Industry;
Web Services Industry;
Asia;
China;
Canton (province, China)
- September–October 2017
- Article
Managing Our Hub Economy: Strategy, Ethics, and Network Competition in the Age of Digital Superpowers
By: Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani
A small number of digital superpowers—Alibaba, Amazon, Microsoft, and others—have become “hub firms” because they control access to billions of mobile customers coveted by all kinds of product and service providers. These hubs drive increasing returns to scale and...
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- March 2017 (Revised March 2019)
- Case
Ant Financial (A)
By: Feng Zhu, Ying Zhang, Krishna G. Palepu, Anthony K. Woo and Nancy Hua Dai
Headquartered in Hangzhou (China), Ant Financial has grown into a fintech “Unicorn.” The fintech empire that the company established spanned verticals such as mobile and online payment (Alipay), money market fund (Yu’e Bao), wealth management (Ant Fortune),...
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- May 2016
- Case
The Inexorable Rise of Walmart? 1988—2016
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
In October 2015, Walmart surprised investors by announcing that it expected flat sales growth for 2015 and growth of only 3% to 4% over the coming three years. Profits would also fall due to significant investments in people and technology. The company’s stock price...
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Keywords:
Asda;
Costco;
David Glass;
Convenience Stores;
Discount Retailing;
Dollar Stores;
Doug Mcmillon;
E-commerce;
Online Retail;
General Merchandise;
Grocery;
Lee Scott;
Mike Duke;
Multichannel Retailing;
Omnichannel;
Neighborhood Market;
Sam Walton;
Sam's Club;
Store Formats;
Supercenter;
Supermarket;
Warehouse Clubs;
Merchandising;
Walmart;
Wal-mart;
Globalized Firms and Management;
Competitive Strategy;
Corporate Strategy;
Growth and Development Strategy;
Business Units;
Business Divisions;
Business Growth and Maturation;
Business Model;
Business Organization;
For-Profit Firms;
Film Entertainment;
Television Entertainment;
Banks and Banking;
Price;
Profit;
Revenue;
Food;
Global Range;
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Global Strategy;
Business History;
Compensation and Benefits;
Employees;
Human Capital;
Labor Unions;
Wages;
Business or Company Management;
Goals and Objectives;
Management Succession;
Brands and Branding;
Product Positioning;
Distribution;
Supply Chain;
Supply Chain Management;
Public Ownership;
Problems and Challenges;
Labor and Management Relations;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Competition;
Competitive Advantage;
Diversification;
Expansion;
Segmentation;
Information Technology;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Web;
Web Sites;
Retail Industry;
Food and Beverage Industry;
Distribution Industry;
Banking Industry;
United States;
Arkansas;
Bentonville