|
|
|
|
Alphabetically : Q
- To include an item in your complimentary custom book, click the item's Add link.
If there is a View link next to an item, you can view the pages by clicking on the link.
- To review the list of items you have selected so far, click on the word Review in the progress bar above.
QI-Tech: A Chinese Technology Company for Sale
|
|
|
|
| 22 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Kuemmerle, Walter; Ellis, Chad Publication Date: 02/09/1999 Revision Date: 03/17/2004 Product Type: Case (Field) Product Description: Describes QI-TECH, a Chinese manufacturer of precision coordinate measurement machines. A foreign investor who holds 50% of QI-TECH must negotiate a sale with its Chinese partner and a potential buyer (a large Western measurement machine company). For this purpose the foreign investor must value the joint venture and develop a viable deal structure and negotiation strategy. Teaching Purpose: Financing of growth company in China, international joint ventures, valuation of joint ventures, and mobilizing resources. HBS Number: 9-899-079 Geographic Setting: ChinaIndustry Setting: machinery and equipmentNumber of Employees: 130Gross Revenues: $3 million revenues Event Year Start: 1998Event Year End: 1998 Subjects: China; Entrepreneurial finance; International entrprnl finance; Joint ventures; Machinery; Mergers; Negotiations; Restructuring; Valuation Academic Discipline: Entrepreneurship Supplementary Materials: Teaching Note, (5-803-122), 19p, by Walter Kuemmerle, Alexander Berson
Source: Harvard
|
QINGFENG TEXTILE COMPANY: THE CHALLENGES OF RECRUITING, TRAINING AND RETAINING TALENT IN SMEs
|
|
|
|
| 16 pp.
| Case
Velamuri, S R; Xin, F Publisher: China Europe International Business School Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 409-013-1 Language: English Category: Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour Data source: Field research Product Year: 2009 Geo location: Shanghai, China Industry: Textile trading Size: 20-60 employees Timing: 2003-2007 Topics: Small and medium enterprises (SME); Entrepreneurship; Growth; China; Professionalisation; Human resource management; Textile Abstract: Qian set up Qingfeng, a textile design and trading company, in Shanghai in 2003. Over the next four years, he successfully led Qingfeng past the survival phase by developing two innovative products, which were very well received by the market. These two products brought Qingfeng fast growth in sales revenues and a good reputation in the industry. However, the inability of the company to build a stable team of sales representatives prevented it from fully exploiting this advantage and realising its true sales and profit potential. Although Qian kept recruiting and training new staff, he could not make serious progress. In 2007, a group of salespeople left Qingfeng and set up two competitor companies. By the end of the year, the majority of new recruits had left the company. Qian realised by now that there was a major flaw in his approach to recruiting, training and retaining staff and that this would be a major obstacle to the companys growth. The case describes the typical human resource management (HR) problems faced by small and medium enterprises, and seeks to provoke discussion on the different HR strategies and leadership styles that are appropriate at the different phases of their growth.
Source: ecch
|
QUADREM: E-PROCUREMENT FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY
|
|
|
|
| 25 pp.
| Case
Koen, K; Townsend, S Publisher: Wits Business School - University of the Witwatersrand Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 904-020-1 Language: English Category: Knowledge, Information and Communications Systems Management Data source: Field research Product Year: 2004 Geo location: South Africa Industry: Mining Size: Medium Timing: 2003 Topics: e-Commerce; e-Procurement; Internet strategy Abstract: By 2003, Quadrem, a global e-marketplace that facilitated electronic transactions between buyers and suppliers from the mining, metals and minerals industry, was in its third year of operation. While some of the regions such as North America, Australasia and South Africa managed to operate profitably on a regional level, Quadrem as a whole was not yet profitable mainly because of its high fixed centralised costs. The shareholders however, expected Quadrem to break even by the end of the second quarter in 2004. The case study revolves around Quadrem Africa, based in South Africa, and its dilemma to increase its growth to help Quadrem break even globally.
Source: ecch
|
Quality Asphalt, Inc.
|
|
|
|
| 24 pp.
| Case
Lynda L. Goulet, University of Northern Iowa Peter G. Goulet, University of Northern Iowa Timothy E. Williams, MBA, University of Northern Iowa Quality Asphalt Inc. (QA) is a small asphalt paving firm. After a period of solid growth in the late 1980s, sales growth in the 1990s was flat, while profits fluctuated erratically, with net income ranging from $12,000 to $166,000. QAs environment was very competitive and the firm had to confront a variety of threats in the 1990s including: price wars, consolidation among its competitors, and decreased ease of access to vital raw materials. Internally, the firm faced the retirement of its family owners, generational succession issues, and the need to consider a variety of decisions related to prospective capital investments and possible changes in its market focus, all under the constraint of limited resources. The case includes all needed environmental information and is disguised. Financial data has been adjusted, although the actual sales growth rates, performance percentages, and key ratios have been preserved. Source: The Society for Case Research, Annual Advances 1998, Publication Date: 2000
Topics: Strategic Planning; Entrepreneurship; Cost Analysis; Small Business
Source: SOCCR
|
QUALITY GIRLS HOSTEL
|
|
|
|
| 7 pp.
| Case
Dimba, B Strathmore Business School Renart, L IESE Business School Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 806-068-1 Language: English Category: Entrepreneurship Data source: Field research Product Year: 2006 Geo location: Nairobi, Kenya Industry: Service Size: Micro enterprise Timing: March 2005 Topics: Business planning; Marketing; Business risks; Business challenges; Business location Abstract: On 15 March 2005, Maryanne Ratiro, Owner of Quality Girls Hostel was reviewing the overall situation in the girls hostel. She wondered what action plans, if any, she should design and implement in preparation for the following academic year, July to October, 2005, of Strathmore University, the biggest institution from where her student residents came. The Quality Girls' Hostel business was situated in Nairobi West Estate in Nairobi. This case was written for an introductory course in business management of a micro enterprise but could also be applied in a bigger organisation. It gives students the chance to develop their skills in analysing both the internal and external environments of an organisation when planning for managing a business. It is desirable to do a qualitative analysis to reinforce student skills. The case writing process was financed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of Kenya through an IFC / IDA credit to support micro, small and medium enterprises (Project P085007). The process was managed by the Management Education and Research Consortium.
Source: ecch
|
Quality Imaging Products (QIP)
|
|
|
|
| 21 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Spear, Steven; Groberg, Jonathan P. Publication Date: 08/26/2002 Revision Date: 12/10/2002 Product Type: Case (Field) Product Description: Martin Stein, a recent business school graduate, is the new owner of Quality Imaging Products (QIP), a $10-million-a-year remanufacturer of printer and copier ink cartridges. Within weeks of buying the company, QIPs VP for finance, gives an ultimatum: a raise or he walks, leaving Stein with the burden of straightening out a nonfunctional financial system while customers, suppliers, product managers, and production staff compete for his attention. Teaching Purpose: Students must wrestle with Steins immediate reaction while establishing priorities for his improvement efforts and for the culture he seeks to create in the company. Presents Stein as an example of a small-company manager who must juggle a far broader range of issues in greater depth than his big-company counterparts to meet the needs of customers profitably. Gives students the vicarious experience of balancing financial, human resources, product, market, customer, supplier, and employee issues on a day-to-day basis while establishing and maintaining a longer term consistency in strategic objectives and methods. HBS Number: 9-603-057 Geographic Setting: CaliforniaIndustry Setting: manufacturing, remanufacturingNumber of Employees: 150Gross Revenues: $10 million revenues Event Year Start: 2000Event Year End: 2002 Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Human resources management; Manufacturing; Operations management; Small business Academic Discipline: Operations management
Source: Harvard
|
QUALITY MANAGEMENT AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
|
|
|
|
| 15 pp.
| Case
Quazi, H A; ONeil, E Publisher: Asian Business Case Centre Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 604-029-1 Language: English Category: Production and Operations Management Data source: Field research Product Year: 2004 Version Date: 5 April 2004 Geo location: Singapore Industry: Government, public, non-profit sector Size: Small Timing: 2000 Topics: ISO 9000 international standards; Quality assurance systems; Government bodies; Singapore Quality Award Abstract: In late 2000, Mr Pitt Kuan Wah, Director of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS), was in the position to implement an organisation-wide quality assurance system. His task was to assess and compare the following options: Singapore Quality Award for Business Excellence (SQA), ISO 9000, Six Sigma, to create in-house guidelines, and to select the most appropriate system to implement within the NAS.
Source: ecch
|
QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN A SMALL ENGINEERING FIRM: BARCOL-AIR ENGINEERING AND ISO 9002-1994 CERTIFICATION
|
|
|
|
| 7 pp.
| Case
Quazi, H A; Quek, P Publisher: Asian Business Case Centre Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 404-075-1 Language: English Category: Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour Data source: Field research Product Year: 2004 Version Date: 23 June 2004 Geo location: Singapore Industry: Building services and power generation Size: Small Timing: 1987-1998 Topics: ISO 9000; Engineering; Singapore Abstract: Faced with a client not trained to draft the quality and procedure manuals for an ISO 9000 certification project, Alex Tan, the principal consultant, pondered over the alternatives for motivating his client to resume the project. In 1996, Daniel Ang, Managing Director of Barcol-Air Engineering Pte Limited (BAE) in Singapore, decided to pursue a project to seek certification under the ISO 9002-1994 international standard to counteract competition from rival ISO 9000-certified small and medium enterprises in tendering for contracts in the public sector, and to implement a proper quality management system in tandem with rapid business growth. However, Alex Tan and Jason Goh, two consultants from Entrepreneurship Forum Singapore (EFS) hired to guide BAE in the project, suggested the firm prepare the quality and procedure manuals under the facilitation of the consultants. With less than 13 full-time employees, Daniel Ang was hard-pressed to spare two to three staff to fully devote their attention to ISO 9000 matters. The project was eventually delayed for one year.
Source: ecch
|
QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN ST STEPHENS SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, AJMER (RAJASTHAN)
|
|
|
|
| 5 pp.
| Case
Singhal, D Goa Institute of Management Martins, A Goa Institute of Management Singhal, K Goa Institute of Management Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 606-055-1 Language: English Category: Production and Operations Management Data source: Field research Product Year: 2006 Geo location: Ajmer (Rajasthan), India Industry: Educational institution Size: 2,360 students (approx) Timing: June to August 2006 Topics: Quality management; QMS (quality management system) in education; TQM (total quality management); Quality management principles; Quality improvement Abstract: St Stephens School, Ajmer ( Rajasthan) was founded in 1985 by educationist Mr Gilroy Martins and his wife Dr Deepa Martins. The school started with six staff members and now has more than 100. The schools academic performance is the best in Rajasthan as shown by the Rajasthan Board results. The school is highly regarded by parents for its academic excellence, quality education, discipline, value-oriented education and for inculcation of team spirit and social concern among students. This case study would give a flavour of the changes that occurred within St Stephen's as a result of educational advancement etc. St Stephen's School has become the first school in Ajmer (Rajasthan) to achieve ISO 9001: 2000 certification from ICL Certifications Ltd. This case study would highlight the implementation process of a quality management system and would focus on several principles of total quality management.
Source: ecch
|
QUANTUM CARS PART 2: (1988-1991) GROWING THE BUSINESS
|
|
|
|
| 8 pp.
| Case
Brown, R; Withers, C; Edwards, N; Ogilvy, J Publisher: Cranfield School of Management Distributor: ecch (www.ecch.com) Reference: 397-116-1 Language: English Category: Strategy and General Management Data source: Field research Product Year: 1997 Geo location: West Midlands, UK Industry: Kit-car manufacturing Size: u1.2 million in 1996 Timing: 1988-1991 Topics: Start-up; Difficulties of getting into business; Family business issues and support; ; Entrepreneurship qualities; Small business growth stages; Early growth problems Abstract: This is the second of a three-case series (397-115-1, 397-116-1 and 397-117-1). It describes the start-up difficulties of a kit-car manufacturing company, early growth problems and final achievements in becoming a profitable company and winner of a Training and Enterprise Councils Small Business of the Year' award. The case demonstrates the determination of the founding entrepreneurs, their concern for quality in manufacturing and their ability to develop skills and competencies in laminating and business development, which contribute to the success of their new venture. The virtues and qualities of a 'family business' (the three engineering partners are brothers, with financial support from their parents) are also demonstrated. The case is designed to familiarize students with the different growth phases of a new business and to acquaint them with the sorts of problems and opportunities of such an undertaking. A video 'Quantum Cars' (397-115-3) is available to accompany the case series.
Source: ecch
|
Quantum Corp.: eSupplyChain Group
|
|
|
|
| 21 pp.
| Case
Author(s): McAfee, Andrew; Bounds, Gregory Publication Date: 01/23/2001 Revision Date: 03/31/2003 Product Type: Case (Field) Product Description: The eSupplyChain group has been recently formed with Quantum Corp.s Hard Disk Drive Group to evaluate Internet/IT-based approaches to improving supply chain performance. The Hard Disk Drive Group has endured several quarters of poor financial performance, and has already embarked on a number of supply chain initiatives. The eSupplyChain group has been tasked with extending these, and with understanding how to take advantage of eHITEX, a web-based exchange just founded by a group of high-tech manufacturers, including Quantum. Teaching Purpose: Illustrates challenges around defining and executing an "eBusiness strategy." Quantum and the eSupplyChain group must decide which initiatives to pursue, and how to work with all involved stakeholders, both internal and external, to execute them successfully. Also highlights the role of IT platforms both within and outside the firm. HBS Number: 9-601-099 Geographic Setting: Silicon Valley, CAIndustry Setting: computersNumber of Employees: 6,300Gross Revenues: $4.7 billion revenues Event Year Start: 2000Event Year End: 2000 Subjects: Business to business; California Research Center; Customer service; Forecasting; Information technology; Inventory management; Silicon Valley; Supply chain Academic Discipline: Operations management Supplementary Materials: Teaching Note, (5-603-032), 18p, by Andrew McAfee, Sarah Macgregor
Source: Harvard
|
Queensland Rainforest Resort
|
|
|
|
| 6 pp.
| Case
Janine S. Hiller, Sam A. Hicks, France Belanger, Nancy G. McGehee, all of Virginia Tech Description: An engaging case involving a detailed complaint about lousy service during a customers stay at the resort, an IT managers nonchalant attitude about security holes that facilitate identity theft, the decision of whether to engage in spamming customers who have stayed at the resort, and the monitoring of employee email and Internet usage. Illustrates why and how unethical behavior is sometimes driven by personal goals and organizational politics. Calls for wide-ranging recommendations regarding ethics compliance and new approaches to strategy execution. Excellent for oral team presentations. Publication Date: 2007 Geographic Setting: Australia Industry Setting: hospitality Event Year Start: 1987 Event Year End: 2005 Courses: Business Policy, Business Ethics Course Sequence: Ethics, Strategy, and Social Responsibility Subjects: Business policy, business ethics, corporate responsibility Supplements: Teaching Note Case Number: THM16030
Source: Thompson
|
Quest Scholars Program
|
|
|
|
| 20 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Meehan, William F., III; Koenig, Lesley ; Ransom, Robert Publication Date: 08/17/2001 Revision Date: 08/21/2006 Product Type: Case (Field) Publisher: Stanford University HBS Number: SI11 Geographic Setting: California Subjects: Mission statements; Change management; Organizational culture; Children & youth Academic Discipline: Competitive strategy Product Description: In the winter of 2001, the Quest Scholars Program faced strategic growth issues. Several months earlier following five summers running a youth empowerment program at Stanford University for low-income, at-risk, bright high school students Quests founders had added a program at Harvard, and the organization had been granted nonprofit 501(c)3 status. Program graduates were gaining entry to top universities, but was college acceptance a viable definition of success in the eyes of the founders? How was success defined by the nonprofits other stakeholders? Could the founders simultaneously refine their mission, replicate their program, and support a financially responsible and sustainable organization? With their first board of directors meeting fast approaching, Quest's founders face tough questions about the organization's future and their roles in it.
Source: Harvard
|
|
|
|
| 20 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Meehan, William F., III; Koenig, Lesley ; Ransom, Robert Publication Date: 08/17/2001 Revision Date: 08/21/2006 Product Type: Case (Field) Publisher: Stanford University HBS Number: SI11 Geographic Setting: California Subjects: Mission statements; Change management; Organizational culture; Children & youth Academic Discipline: Competitive strategy Product Description: In the winter of 2001, the Quest Scholars Program faced strategic growth issues. Several months earlier following five summers running a youth empowerment program at Stanford University for low-income, at-risk, bright high school students Quests founders had added a program at Harvard, and the organization had been granted nonprofit 501(c)3 status. Program graduates were gaining entry to top universities, but was college acceptance a viable definition of success in the eyes of the founders? How was success defined by the nonprofits other stakeholders? Could the founders simultaneously refine their mission, replicate their program, and support a financially responsible and sustainable organization? With their first board of directors meeting fast approaching, Quest's founders face tough questions about the organization's future and their roles in it.
Source: Harvard
|
Quick Wins Paradox
|
|
|
|
| 16 pp.
| Article
Author(s): Van Buren, Mark E.; Safferstone, Todd Publication Date: 01/01/2009 Product Type: Harvard Business Review Article HBS Number: R0901D Subjects: Change management; Leadership; Teams Academic Discipline: Organizational behavior & leadership Product Description: Many leaders taking on new roles try to prove themselves early on by going after quick wins fresh, visible contributions to the business. But in the pursuit of early results, those leaders often fall into traps that prevent them from benefiting from their achievements. To succeed in their new positions, leaders must realize that the teams they have inherited are also experiencing change. Instead of focusing on an individual accomplishment, leaders need to work with team members on a collective quick win. In a study of more than 5,400 new leaders, the authors found that those who were struggling tended to exhibit five behaviors characteristic of people overly intent on securing a quick win. They focused too much on details, reacted negatively to criticism, intimidated others, jumped to conclusions, and micromanaged their direct reports. Some managed to eke out a win anyway, but the fallout was often toxic. The leaders who were thriving in their new roles, by contrast, shared not only a strong focus on results necessary for early successes but also excellent change-management skills. They communicated a clear vision, developed constructive relationships, and built team capabilities. They seemed to realize that the lasting value of their accomplishment would be the way they managed their teams through the transition. Collective quick wins established credibility and prepared them to lead their teams to harder-won victories. The authors provide a diagnostic tool for identifying opportunities for collective quick wins, and they share some advice for organizations: When grooming new leaders, dont just shore up their
Source: Harvard
|
QuickenInsurance: The Race to Click and Close (A)
|
|
|
|
| 27 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Applegate, Lynda M. Publication Date: 02/04/2000 Revision Date: 11/18/2002 Product Type: Case (Field) Publisher: Harvard Business School HBS Number: 800295 Gross Revenue: $853 million revenues Event Year Start: 1994 Event Year End: 2000 Subjects: Computers; Entrepreneurial management; Business models Academic Discipline: General management Supplementary Materials: Case Teaching Note, (802138), 15p, by Lynda M. Applegate; Supplement, (803071), 8p, by Lynda M. Applegate Product Description: ES Technologies started in 1976 as a storefront in Tempe, Arizona selling personal computer kits to hobbyists. Twenty years later, revenues exceeded $3.5 billion, and the business had evolved from a computer store to a master reseller and full-line integrator of information technology products. At the time of the case, the founder (who remains as CEO) must decide whether to reinvent the company yet again to become an online orchestrator for the information technology (IT) industry.
Source: Harvard
|
Quickturn Design Systems, Inc. (A)
|
|
|
|
| 20 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Lorsch, Jay W.; Pick, Katharina Publication Date: 07/12/1999 Revision Date: 04/30/2001 Product Type: Case (Field) Product Description: Quickturn Design Systems, Inc. faces a hostile takeover bid from its competitor, Mentor Graphics. Mentor makes the bid at a moment when Quickturns stock price is depressed and the company is defending against a patent suit filed by Mentor. The two companies have a history of patent disputes, all of which Quickturn has won. Teaching Purpose: Examines the Quickturn boards fiduciary duties in the context of a hostile takeover as well as the effectiveness and legality of various defensive measures. HBS Number: 9-400-001 Geographic Setting: Silicon Valley Number of Employees: 400 Gross Revenues: $110 million revenues Event Year Start: 1998 Event Year End: 1999 Subjects: CAE; Corporate governance; Legal aspects of business; Organizational behavior Academic Discipline: Organizational behavior & leadership Supplementary Materials: Supplement (Field), (9-400-005), 5p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick; Supplement (Field), (9-400-006), 2p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick; Supplement (Field), (9-400-011), 1p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick; Supplement (Field), (9-400-012), 1p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick; Supplement (Field), (9-400-004), 6p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick; Supplement (Field), (9-400-003), 4p, by Jay W. Lorsch, Katharina Pick
Source: Harvard
|
Quorum Health Group, Inc.
|
|
|
|
| 23 pp.
| Case
Sahlman, William A.; Green, Jason Facing increasing competition from much larger industry players, Jim Dalton, CEO of Quorum, and Russ Carson, Managing Partner of Welch, Carson, Anderson & Stowe attempt to set the future direction for the company. Quorum was successfully spun-off from HCA in a management buyout and subsequently started acquiring hospitals to add to their management control service operation. Teaching Purpose: To illustrate a successful consolidation strategy in the health care field. To understand the value-added venture capital and sophisticated financial backers. HBS Number: 9-295-156 Type: Case (Field) Publication Date: 6/16/1995 Geographic Setting: Tennessee Industry Setting: health care services Number of Employees: :5,000 Gross Revenues: $640 million revenues Event Year Start: 1994 Event Year End: 1994 Subjects: Entrepreneurial finance; Hospital administration; Leveraged buyouts; Mergers; Venture capital
Source: Harvard
|
QVC, Inc.
|
|
|
|
| 32 pp.
| Case
Author(s): Rayport, Jeffrey F.; Louie, Dickson L. Publication Date: 09/16/1996 Revision Date: 06/20/1997 Product Type: Case (Field) Product Description: Illustrates the Service Profit Chain in action. QVC, whose initials stand for Quality, Value,, and Convenience, demonstrates clearly how a strong customer focus can lead to establishing a strong franchise in the retail sector and a highly profitable business whose revenue has grown 14% per year for 1992-96 usually at the expense of the rival Home Shopping Network and through higher customer retention. HBS Number: 9-897-050 Geographic Setting: West Chester, PA Industry Setting: Retail industry Number of Employees: 7,000 Gross Revenues: $1.6 billion revenues Event Year Start: 1996 Event Year End: 1996 Subjects: Customer relations; Service management Academic Discipline: Service management
Source: Harvard
|
The Quest for Customer Focus
|
|
|
|
| 16 pp.
| Article
Author(s): Gulati, Ranjay; Oldroyd, James B. Publication Date: 04/01/2005 Product Type: Harvard Business Review Article HBS Number: R0504F Subjects: Customer relations; Customer retention; Data bases; Market segmentation; Marketing information systems; Marketing strategy Academic Discipline: Marketing Product Description: Companies have poured enormous amounts of money into customer relationship management, but in many cases the investment hasnt really paid off. Thats because getting closer to customers isn't about building an information technology system. It's a learning journey that begins with the creation of a companywide repository containing every customer interaction with the company, organized by customer. Communal coordination is what's called for at this stage, as each group contributes its information to the data pool separately from the others and then taps into it as needed. In the second stage, one-way serial coordination from centralized IT through analytical units and out to the operating units allows companies to go beyond just assembling data to drawing inferences. In stage three, companies shift their focus from past relationships to future behavior. Through symbiotic coordination, information flows back and forth between central analytic units and various organizational units like marketing, sales, and operations, as together they seek answers to questions like How can we prevent customers from switching to a competitor? and Who would be most likely to buy a new product in the future? In stage four, firms begin to move past discrete, formal initiatives and, through integral coordination, bring an increasingly sophisticated understanding of their customers to bear in all day-to-day operations.
Source: Harvard
|
The Quest for Customer Focus (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition)
|
|
|
|
| 20 pp.
| Article
Author(s): Gulati, Ranjay; Oldroyd, James B. Publication Date: 04/01/2005 Product Type: Harvard Business Review Article HBS Number: 9645 Subjects: Customer relations; Customer retention; Data bases; Market segmentation; Marketing information systems; Marketing strategy Academic Discipline: Marketing Product Description: This is an enhanced edition of HBR article R0504F, originally published in April 2005. HBR OnPoint articles include the full-text HBR article plus a summary of key ideas and company examples to help you quickly absorb and apply the concepts. Companies have poured enormous amounts of money into customer relationship management, but in many cases the investment hasnt really paid off. Thats because getting closer to customers isn't about building an information technology system. It's a learning journey that begins with the creation of a companywide repository containing every customer interaction with the company, organized by customer. Communal coordination is what's called for at this stage, as each group contributes its information to the data pool separately from the others and then taps into it as needed. In the second stage, one-way serial coordination from centralized IT through analytical units and out to the operating units allows companies to go beyond just assembling data to drawing inferences. In stage three, companies shift their focus from past relationships to future behavior. Through symbiotic coordination, information flows back and forth between central analytic units and various organizational units like marketing, sales, and operations, as together they seek answers to questions like How can we prevent customers from switching to a competitor? and Who would be most likely to buy a new product in the future? In stage four, firms begin to move past discrete, formal initiatives and, through integral coordination, bring an increasingly sophisti
Source: Harvard
|
The Quest for Resilience
|
|
|
|
| 16 pp.
| Article
Author(s): Hamel, Gary; Valikangas, Liisa Publication Date: 09/01/2003 Product Type: Harvard Business Review Article HBS Number: R0309C Subjects: Business models; Competition; Competitive strategy; Corporate strategy; Entrepreneurship; Financial planning; Forecasting; Future; General management; Growth strategy; Innovation; Management of change; Organizational behavior & leadership; Planning; Strategy formulation Academic Discipline: Competitive strategy Product Description: In less turbulent times, executives had the luxury of assuming that business models were more or less immortal. Companies always had to work to get better, but they seldom had to get different not at their core, not in their essence. Today, getting different is the imperative. Its the challenge facing Coca-Cola as it struggles to raise itsshare of throat in noncarbonated beverages. Its the task that bedevils McDonald's as it tries to restart its growth in a burger-weary world. It's the hurdle for Sun Microsystems as it searches for ways to protect its high-margin server business from the Linux onslaught. Continued success no longer hinges on momentum. Rather, it rides on resilience on the ability to dynamically reinvent business models and strategies as circumstances change. Strategic resilience is not about responding to a onetime crisis or rebounding from a setback. It's about continually anticipating and adjusting to deep, secular trends that can permanently impair the earning power of a core business. To achieve strategic resilience, companies will have to overcome the cognitive challenge of eliminating denial, nostalgia, and arrogance; the strategic challenge of learning how to create a wealth of small tactical experiments; the political challenge of reallocating financial and human resources to where they can earn the best returns; and the ideological challenge of learning that strategic renewal is as i
Source: Harvard
|
|
|
|
|