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Skip to Main Content Cold Call A podcast featuring faculty discussing cases they've written and the lessons they impart. Subscribe on iTunes 29 Sep...
- July 2019 (Revised November 2019)
- Case
Osaro: Picking the Best Path
By: William R. Kerr, James Palano and Bastiane Huang
The founder of Osaro saw the potential of deep reinforcement learning to allow robots to be applied to new applications. Osaro targeted warehousing, already a dynamic industry for robotics and automation, for its initial product—a system which would allow robotic arms...
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- January 2019 (Revised July 2019)
- Case
New Balance: Managing Orders and Working Conditions
By: Michael W. Toffel, Eileen McNeely and Matthew Preble
New Balance Athletics, Inc., a major U.S.-based athletic footwear and apparel brand, sources most of its footwear products from independent suppliers whose factories are located in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Monica Gorman, vice president of responsible leadership...
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Keywords:
Footwear;
Athletic Footwear;
Manufacturing;
Csr;
Sustainability;
Quality Management;
Supply Chains;
Operations;
Management;
Production;
Working Conditions;
Corporate Social Responsibility And Impact;
Labor And Management Relations;
Supply Chain Management;
Supply Chain;
order taking And fulfillment;
Apparel And Accessories Industry;
Consumer Products Industry
- 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;
Internet;
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
- November 2017
- Teaching Note
Reinventing Best Buy
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
Teaching Note for HBS No. 716-455.
On March 1, 2017, Best Buy Company, Inc., North America’s largest retailer of consumer electronics and appliances, announced a third year of comparable-store sales increases and a 20.8% increase in domestic comparable online sales....
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Keywords:
Best Buy;
Hubert Joly;
Renew Blue;
Showrooming;
Webrooming;
E-commerce;
E-commerce Strategy;
Online Retail;
Multichannel Retailing;
Omnichannel;
Marketplaces;
Turnaround;
Consumer Electronics;
Consumer Electronics Accessories;
Appliances;
Stores-within-stores;
Store Experience;
Store Size;
Store Pickup;
Store Management;
Delivery;
Delivery Models;
Amazon;
Amazon.com;
Pricing Strategy;
Business Subsidiaries;
Business Units;
Business Growth And Maturation;
Business Model;
For-profit Firms;
Customer Focus And Relationships;
Customer Satisfaction;
Entertainment;
Film Entertainment;
Games, Gaming, And Gambling;
Music Entertainment;
Television Entertainment;
Theater Entertainment;
Price;
Profit;
Revenue;
Geographic Scope;
Multinational Firms And Management;
Business History;
Cost;
Selection And Staffing;
Reports;
Technological Innovation;
Job Cuts And Outsourcing;
Human Capital;
Leading Change;
Business Or Company Management;
Goals And Objectives;
Growth And Development;
Growth And Development Strategy;
Management Teams;
Brands And Branding;
Product Marketing;
Consumer Behavior;
Demand And Consumers;
Media;
Distribution;
order taking And fulfillment;
Distribution Channels;
Infrastructure;
Product;
Service Delivery;
Service Operations;
Organizational Change And Adaptation;
Public Ownership;
Problems And Challenges;
Programs;
Groups And Teams;
Sales;
Salesforce Management;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Competition;
Competitive Advantage;
Competitive Strategy;
Corporate Strategy;
Expansion;
Technology;
Hardware;
Information Technology;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Search Technology;
Software;
Web;
Web Sites;
Wireless Technology;
Resource Allocation;
Computer Industry;
Electronics Industry;
Entertainment And Recreation Industry;
Information Technology Industry;
Retail Industry;
Service Industry;
Technology Industry;
Telecommunications Industry;
Video Game Industry;
United States;
Minnesota;
Minneapolis;
Saint Paul;
St. Paul
- Fall 2016
- Article
The Impact of Supplier Inventory Service Level on Retailer Demand
By: Nathan Craig, Nicole DeHoratius and Ananth Raman
To set inventory service levels, suppliers must understand how changes in inventory service level affect demand. We build on prior research, which uses analytical models and laboratory experiments to study the impact of a supplier’s service level on demand from...
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- March 2016 (Revised May 2018)
- Case
ASOS PLC
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
Launched in 2000, ASOS was one of the world’s largest online fashion specialists in 2018. Focusing on young consumers aged 16–25 years, the company offered over 85,000 items on its websites, many times more than the largest fashion stores, and added several thousand...
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Keywords:
Asos;
Asseenonscreen;
Online Fashion;
Online Apparel;
Nick Beighton;
Nick Robertson;
E-commerce;
E-commerce Strategy;
Online Retail;
Multichannel Retailing;
Omnichannel;
Social Media;
Marketplaces;
Shipping;
Advertising;
Online Advertising;
Business Growth And Maturation;
Business Model;
Business Startups;
For-profit Firms;
Customer Focus And Relationships;
Age;
Gender;
Currency Exchange Rate;
Profit;
Revenue;
Geography;
Geographic Scope;
Global Range;
Global Strategy;
Globalized Firms And Management;
Globalized Markets And Industries;
Business History;
Selection And Staffing;
Journals And Magazines;
Human Capital;
Business Or Company Management;
Crisis Management;
Goals And Objectives;
Growth And Development;
Growth And Development Strategy;
Growth Management;
Management Succession;
Brands And Branding;
Marketing Channels;
Marketing Communications;
Marketing Strategy;
Product Positioning;
Social Marketing;
Media;
Distribution;
Distribution Channels;
order taking And fulfillment;
Infrastructure;
Logistics;
Public Ownership;
Problems And Challenges;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Competition;
Competitive Strategy;
Corporate Strategy;
Expansion;
Vertical Integration;
Segmentation;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Search Technology;
Web;
Web Sites;
Apparel And Accessories Industry;
Fashion Industry;
Retail Industry;
United Kingdom;
England;
London
- March 2016 (Revised May 2018)
- Case
Reinventing Best Buy
By: John R. Wells and Gabriel Ellsworth
On March 1, 2017, Best Buy Company, Inc., North America’s largest retailer of consumer electronics and appliances, announced a third year of comparable-store sales increases and a 20.8% increase in domestic comparable online sales. These results were in marked contrast...
View Details
Keywords:
Best Buy;
Hubert Joly;
Renew Blue;
Showrooming;
Webrooming;
E-commerce;
E-commerce Strategy;
Online Retail;
Multichannel Retailing;
Omnichannel;
Marketplaces;
Turnaround;
Consumer Electronics;
Consumer Electronics Accessories;
Appliances;
Stores-within-stores;
Store Experience;
Store Size;
Store Pickup;
Store Management;
Delivery;
Delivery Models;
Amazon;
Amazon.com;
Pricing Strategy;
Business Subsidiaries;
Business Units;
Business Growth And Maturation;
Business Model;
For-profit Firms;
Customer Focus And Relationships;
Customer Satisfaction;
Entertainment;
Film Entertainment;
Games, Gaming, And Gambling;
Music Entertainment;
Television Entertainment;
Theater Entertainment;
Price;
Profit;
Revenue;
Geographic Scope;
Multinational Firms And Management;
Business History;
Cost;
Selection And Staffing;
Reports;
Technological Innovation;
Job Cuts And Outsourcing;
Human Capital;
Leading Change;
Business Or Company Management;
Goals And Objectives;
Growth And Development;
Growth And Development Strategy;
Management Teams;
Brands And Branding;
Product Marketing;
Consumer Behavior;
Demand And Consumers;
Media;
Distribution;
order taking And fulfillment;
Distribution Channels;
Infrastructure;
Product;
Service Delivery;
Service Operations;
Organizational Change And Adaptation;
Public Ownership;
Problems And Challenges;
Programs;
Groups And Teams;
Sales;
Salesforce Management;
Strategy;
Adaptation;
Business Strategy;
Competition;
Competitive Advantage;
Competitive Strategy;
Corporate Strategy;
Expansion;
Technology;
Hardware;
Information Technology;
Internet;
Mobile Technology;
Online Technology;
Search Technology;
Software;
Web;
Web Sites;
Wireless Technology;
Resource Allocation;
Computer Industry;
Electronics Industry;
Entertainment And Recreation Industry;
Information Technology Industry;
Retail Industry;
Service Industry;
Technology Industry;
Telecommunications Industry;
Video Game Industry;
United States;
Minnesota;
Minneapolis;
Saint Paul;
St. Paul
- February 2016
- Case
Express Scripts: Promoting Prescription Drug Home Delivery (A)
By: John Beshears, Patrick Rooney and Jenny Sanford
The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) sector processes prescription drug claims on behalf of companies that offer a prescription drug benefit to their employees. This case follows Bob Nease, Chief Scientist at Express Scripts, as he considers methods to promote home...
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Keywords:
Pharmaceuticals;
Prescription Drugs;
Pharmacy Benefit Manager;
Pbm;
Healthcare;
Behavioral Economics;
Choice Architecture;
Active Choice;
Service Delivery;
Decision Choices And Conditions;
Health Care And Treatment;
order taking And fulfillment;
Compensation And Benefits;
Pharmaceutical Industry
- February 2016
- Case
Express Scripts: Promoting Prescription Drug Home Delivery (B)
By: John Beshears, Patrick Rooney and Jenny Sanford
The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) sector processes prescription drug claims on behalf of companies that offer a prescription drug benefit to their employees. This case follows Bob Nease, Chief Scientist at Express Scripts, as he considers methods to promote home...
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- August 2015 (Revised October 2019)
- Case
Amazon.com, 2021
By: John R. Wells, Benjamin Weinstock, Gabriel Ellsworth and Galen Danskin
In February 2021, Amazon announced 2020 operating profits of $22,899 million, up from $2,233 million in 2015, on sales of $386 billion, up from $107 billion five years earlier (see Exhibit 1). The shareholders expressed their satisfaction (see Exhibit 2), but not all...
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Keywords:
Strategic Analysis;
Retail;
E-commerce;
Amazon;
Internet;
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
- July 2015 (Revised October 2015)
- Case
Building Strong Partnerships at the Inter-American Development Bank
By: Amy C. Edmondson, Erin L. Henry, Andreas Georgoulias and Natalie Bartlett
Building Strong Partnerships at the Inter-American Development Bank details the development of the bank's new Office of Outreach Partnerships to sustain a culture of innovation through maintaining and generating partnerships in order to fulfill the bank's greater...
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Keywords:
Business Organization;
Restructuring;
Change Management;
Organizational Culture;
Organizational Structure;
Nonprofit Organizations;
Non-governmental Organizations;
Expansion;
Partners And Partnerships;
Groups And Teams;
Business And Stakeholder Relations;
Business And Government Relations;
Business And Community;
Business And Shareholder Relations;
Wealth And Poverty;
Well-being;
Technology Adoption;
Wealth And Poverty;
Organizational Structure;
Groups And Teams;
Organizational Culture;
Technology Adoption;
Business And Stakeholder Relations;
Business And Shareholder Relations;
Business And Government Relations;
Change Management;
Nonprofit Organizations;
Expansion;
Partners And Partnerships;
Restructuring;
Welfare Or Wellbeing;
Business And Community Relations;
Non-governmental Organizations;
Banking Industry;
Latin America
- September – October 2011
- Article
The Manufacturer's Incentive to Reduce Lead Times
By: Santiago Kraiselburd, Richard Pibernik and Ananth Raman
It is generally a well acknowledged fact that, ceteris paribus, reducing the lead times between downstream and upstream parties in a supply chain is desirable from an overall system perspective. However, an upstream party (e.g., a manufacturer) may have strong...
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- June 2010 (Revised January 2011)
- Case
Scientific Glass Incorporated: Inventory Management
By: Steven C. Wheelwright and William Schmidt
Scientific Glassware is a fast-growing, privately held company that provides specialized glassware for laboratory and research facilities. Excess inventory is tying up extra capital needed to fund the company's expansion plans. The newly hired Manager of Inventory...
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- June 2010
- Case
FoldRite Furniture Company: Planning to Meet a Surge in Demand
By: Steven C. Wheelwright and Afarin Bellisario
Demand for folding and stackable chairs and tables at FoldRite Furniture Co. is unexpectedly strong. The company spent the previous two years improving manufacturing quality and efficiency, dropping poor-performing product lines, developing new products that are...
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- August 2009
- Case
The TSMC Way: Meeting Customer Needs at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
By: Willy C. Shih, Chen-Fu Chien, Chintay Shih and Jack Chang
When L.C. Tu receives an emergency order, he is confronted with a range of production scheduling choices, each of which has unique costs and trade-offs. The case was designed to help students understand job-shop style production and the impact of disruptions and...
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- April 2009
- Case
Supply Chain Optimization at Hugo Boss (A)
By: Ananth Raman, Nicole DeHoratius and Zahra Kanji
We evaluate the impact of a supply chain pilot implemented at Hugo Boss. This pilot entailed altering the way in which Hugo Boss orders from its suppliers. We explore the challenge of assessing the impact of supply chain change, the link between operational performance...
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- April 2008 (Revised May 2012)
- Case
Ti-Tech (A)
By: Benson P. Shapiro, John T. Gourville and Craig E. Cline
This case concerns the selection and scheduling of orders by a small industrial titanium fabricator that recently has been plagued by poor deliveries and a lack of capacity. At the time of the case, Ti-Tech must decide which of four orders to accept, with capacity...
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- April 2008
- Supplement
Ti-Tech (B)
By: Benson P. Shapiro and John T. Gourville
This case concerns the selection and scheduling of orders by a small industrial titanium fabricator that recently has been plagued by poor deliveries and a lack of capacity. At the time of the case, Ti-Tech must decide which of four orders to accept, with capacity...
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- May 2004 (Revised July 2004)
- Case
Clarence Saunders: The Comeback King
By: Nitin Nohria and Bridget Gurtler
Follows the rise and fall of the founder of the modern supermarket, Clarence Saunders. Prior to 1915, all staple shopping took place in the market or general store, where a clerk behind a counter pulled items from shelves for customers , measured them from a barrel, or...
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- March 2004 (Revised April 2005)
- Case
Midwest Office Products
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Presents an easy introduction to time-driven activity-based costing (ABC) that allows students to build a simple ABC model of order profitability. Midwest's time-driven ABC approach is based on two categories of parameter estimates. The first is the cost per hour of...
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