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When Failure Looks Like Success
Zolli, Andrew; Healy, Ann MarieArticle HBS-F1104Z-EService and Operations ManagementEfforts to bring clean water to Bangladesh by installing tube wells appeared to be a huge success, but over time they led to epic failures: widespread arsenic poisoning, a rise in crime and prostitution, a projected increase in diarrheal diseases as villagers resume using groundwater. Due to the highly graphical nature of the Vision Statement, we offer this reprint in color, PDF format only. We recommend printing it out in color to maximize its ...Starting at €8.20
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Tug-of-War (HBR Case Study and Commentary)
Sheffi, Yossi; Mozaffar, Shakeel; Moffat, Robert W., Jr.; Blascovich, John D.; Lahowchic, NickArticle HBS-R0509A-EService and Operations ManagementJack Emmons, the CEO of Voici Brands, knew his apparel company needed a supply chain overhaul. Over the past couple of years, sales had dropped because of late deliveries, stock-outs, and other supply problems. Meanwhile, a major competitor had significantly reduced its time to market and boosted its bottom line by outsourcing all its product lines to a dazzlingly efficient "supply chain city" in Shanghai. Unfortunately, Jack's company was just t...Starting at €8.20
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Just in Time for the Holidays (HBR Case Study and Commentary)
McNulty, Eric; Johnson, M. Eric; Brandstatter, Horst; Hausman, Warren H.; Omrod, AnneArticle HBS-R0512A-EService and Operations ManagementIt's the busiest time of year for North Pole Workshops. Production is in high gear, and the elves are on overtime in the sprint toward Christmas. But an unexpected spike in demand for one toy may leave children around the world disappointed on Christmas morning, whether they've been naughty or nice. At the same time, another toy's popularity threatens to plummet, leaving Santa and his elves faced with the prospect of millions of unloved plaything...Starting at €8.20
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Untangling the Knots in the New Silk Route
Ribera Segura, Jaume; Castillo, CristinaArticle ART-2081-EService and Operations ManagementWhile China remains the worlds factory, some companies are starting to realize that the extraordinary margins they once enjoyed are steadily being eroded. Why? The rising costs of raw materials and labor only partially explain why a growing number of companies are opting to bring back part or all of the production that they had previously outsourced to China. More likely, the disjointed and inefficient supply chain between China and Europe is th...Starting at €8.20
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Five Pillars for Doing Business in Africa
Mudida, Robert; Lago Esteban, AlejandroArticle ART-2670-EEconomics, Service and Operations Management, StrategyCompanies around the world are setting their sights on Africa as a new frontier for business. However, as with other emerging economies, African ones are tricky to navigate for the uninitiated. This article introduces the five pillars that companies need to consider in the African context. First the authors highlight the main macroeconomic trends; then they present a road map for companies planning to enter African markets. They draw on personal ...Starting at €8.20
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Rescate en el Egeo
IESE InsightArticle ART-2852Service and Operations ManagementDesde que Óscar Camps llegó a la isla de Lesbos, ha asistido a miles de refugiados con el equipo de socorristas de Proactiva Open Arms. A pesar de los obstáculos de todo tipo, ha conseguido su objetivo: hacer un poco más segura la travesía de los migrantes en el Mediterráneo. Su caso muestra algunas claves para llevar un proyecto a buen puerto.Starting at €8.20
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Inventory-Driven Costs (Spanish version)
Callioni, Gianpaolo; De Montgros, Xavier; Slagmulder, Regine; Van Wassenhove, Luk N.; Wright, LindaArticle HBS-R0503JService and Operations Managementcomponent devaluation costs for components still held in production; price protection costs incurred when product prices drop on goods distributors still have on their shelves; product return costs that have to be absorbed when distributors return and receive refunds on overstock items; and obsolescence costs for products still unsold when new models are introduced. By developing metrics to track those costs in a consistent way throughout the PC...Starting at €8.20
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Don't Tweak Your Supply Chain-Rethink It End to End (Spanish version)
Lee, Hau L.Article HBS-R1010CService and Operations ManagementWith the best of intentions, companies up and down supply chains experiment with isolated efforts to improve sustainability-only to encounter a long string of unanticipated consequences, often in the form of financial, social, or environmental costs. That's partly because most firms respond in a piecemeal way to pressure from customers, shareholders, boards, employees, governments, and NGOs. For instance, they demand that suppliers change their m...Starting at €8.20
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Taking the Measure of Mood (Spanish version)
O'Connell, PatrickArticle HBS-F0603FService and Operations ManagementThe Inn at Little Washington, a top U.S. restaurant, takes "know the customer" to a new level. Co-owner and Executive Chef Patrick O'Connell explains.Starting at €8.20
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It May Be Cheaper to Manufacture at Home
de Treville, Suzanne; Trigeorgis, LenosArticle HBS-R1010F-EService and Operations ManagementConventional financial tools can lead to supply chain mistakes. Most managers use the discounted cash flow (DCF) model to help them make decisions such as where to locate a new manufacturing plant or whether to use a foreign or domestic supplier. But DCF typically undervalues flexibility-and as a result, companies may end up with supply chains that are low cost as long as everything proceeds according to plan but extremely expensive if problems a...Starting at €8.20