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The C case is the third in the Telezoo series that trraces the growth of this Internet start-up. The firm has now entered the economic decline of the late 1990's and has been caught in the collapse of the telecom industry. The case traces the options available to Ms. Murville and describe how Telezoo cna come back from the brink. The case further developes the cras of the Telecom industry and places Telezoo's challenges within this larger context.

Supplements the (A) case.

In August 1998, George Cohon, founder and senior chairman of McDonald's Russia, is facing an economic state of emergency. Russia is in the midst of a severe currency crisis--the ruble has plummeted in value, creating massive inflation and widespread economic disarray. Traffic in the 26 restaurants has plummeted, and Cohon is struggling to figure out how to entice consumers back to McDonald's. Cohon is debating two issues: whether to raise prices and whether to add low-priced items, such as cabbage soup, to the menu.

The case describes the transformation of a traditional Mexican company in response to growing international competition for the GCC (Ground Calcium Carbonate) market in Mexico. The company is considering whether to enter the U.S. market and the best method of entry. GCC is primarily utilized in the paper, plastics, and paint and coatings industries. Transportation costs and industry dynamics present a difficult challenge for senior management

Wal-Mart has been growing at 15% per year for the last 10 years. Can it keep growing at that rate for the next 10 years? CEO Lee Scott reflects on his strategy for achieving such growth, relying on a combination of supercenters, neighborhood markets, and international interest.

Glegg Water Co. is an international company that specializes in customizing premanufactured components into full industrial water treatment systems. In the early 1990s, the water treatment industry had introduced a process that removes charged particles from water used in industrial applications. This technology was superior to resin technology because it was more environmentally sound and more reliable. However, its applications were limited to low water flows. Glegg, through its development of the E-Cell, refined the technology, making it available to high water flow operations. Despite the clear technological superiority, Glegg was finding it difficult penetrating the market. The CEO must develop a strategy and marketing plan that will make E-Cell the industry standard.

Surfing on the crest of various consumption trends (health, organic foods, life-styled eating, convenience...), Fresh and Wild launches in the UK a chain of rather focused stores. Should they remain a niche player or try to reach out for the "mass market"? How should they reinforce their management skills and tweak their corporate culture to fulfil their strategic ambitions.

A student contemplates creating and selling calendars to fellow students in order to raise funds for charity. He must decide the nature of the calendars, the target audience, the pricing, promotion and distribution of the calendars. The supplement (B) case, product 9B02A019, outlines the promotion and distribution of the calendars, and provides a reaction to the calendar. The supplement (C) case, product 9B04A001 discusses the publishing of the third edition of the calendar.

Quality award-winning firms use seven key activities that dramatically improve the contribution of customer value and satisfaction (CVS) data. Although CVS as a management process cannot be reduced to just these seven keys, the goal here is to help firms focus on the most important applications and elements of CVS programs. A research study was undertaken to examine these leading-edge firms and find out how they apply their best practices: a customer-focused culture; executive support, persistence, and intensity; a set of customer listening tools; training, training, and more training; linking performance measures; identifying improvement opportunities; and evaluating and rewarding CVS performance.

Co-branding is an important strategy for the transition of brands. For multinational companies with global brands, it raises the chances of success in local markets. For local firms with strong brands, it secures their future through foreign investment and access to technology while maintaining consumer franchise and loyalty. In this review of co-branding and its relationship to consumer choice behavior, two case studies in the food industry lead to a set of guidelines for managers who want to use a co-branding strategy in brand transitions.

Global Healthcare Exchange Canada is a business-to-business exchange that connects hospitals and their major suppliers through an electronic procurement process. Founded as a subsidiary of its global parent, the exchange has become the leading health-care exchange in the country, but it is still far short of break-even. It must develop a compelling value proposition if it is going to drive adoption among hospitals and suppliers to the target levels. To do so, it must overcome considerable inertia among hospitals that are often very reluctant to change from frequently inefficient purchasing processes. Although there are major benefits to be realized from automating supply chain operations in the industry, the adoption decision process among hospitals is highly complex, but very idiosyncratic. In confronting these challenges, the exchange must also re-examine its own business model, in particular its pricing strategy for both suppliers and hospitals.

Three years after launching a content-based web site, a nationwide hard goods retailer invested in software to support Internet shopping. The online component was one element in a multiple-channel retailing approach, which also included retail stores, a phone-order service, and an annual catalog. Although the company is the country's most shopped retailer, the online retail segment has not turned a profit. The director of marketing must consider the effect of multiple-channel retailing on the company's profitability.

Provides an overview of the managing markets module in the Business Marketing course taught at HBS.

Traditionally, the people responsible for positioning brands have concentrated on the differences that set each brand apart from the competition. But emphasizing differences isn't enough to sustain a brand against competitors. Managers should also consider the frame of reference within which the brand works and the features the brand shares with other products. Asking three questions about your brand can help: Have we established a frame? A frame of reference signals to consumers the goal they can expect to achieve by using a brand. Are we leveraging our points of parity? Certain points of parity must be met if consumers are to perceive your product as a legitimate player within its frame of reference. Are the points of difference compelling? A distinguishing characteristic that consumers find both relevant and believable can become a strong, favorable, unique brand association, capable of distinguishing the brand from others in the same frame of reference.

Most executives know how pricing influences the demand for a product, but few of them realize how it affects the consumption of a product. In this article, the authors argue that the relationship between pricing and consumption lies at the core of customer strategy. The extent to which a customer uses a product during a certain time period often determines whether he or she will buy the product again. So pricing tactics that encourage people to use the products they've paid for help companies build long-term relationships with customers. The link between pricing and consumption is clear: People are more likely to consume a product when they are aware of its cost. But for many executives, the idea that they should draw consumers' attention to the price that was paid for a product or service is counterintuitive. Companies have long sought to mask the costs of their goods and services to boost sales. And rightly so--if a company fails to make the initial sale, it won't have to worry about consumption. The problem is that masking how much a buyer has spent on a given product decreases the likelihood that the buyer will actually use it.

A temporary discount can generate a lot of customer excitement, but the revenue effects can be short lived. Price promotions commonly increase manufacturer revenue and depress retailer revenue in the short term but have no persistent effect. Promotions are tactical, not strategic, and they need to be managed that way.

The project manager for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario faces store network decisions in southeast Toronto. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario has developed a new five-year strategy in which all of their stores will be revamped into one of the four new formats, which has led to a review of every one of their nearly 600 retail locations. With a store within five minutes of 86% of the population of Ontario, the project manager's task is not about expanding coverage but rather improving the performance of the retail network. The (A) case focuses on what to do about a particular store in the area. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (B): Market Segmentation, product 9B00A021 is a short follow-up about further decisions on store layout and merchandising. (A higher price applies to this case due to color exhibits.)

In its first two years as a direct response retail bank in Canada, ING Bank of Canada attracted more than 160,000 customers and assets of Cdn$1.6 billion. Several other direct banks have entered the marketplace with similar services and the management team needs to consider the company's next strategic move. The team must decide whether to recommend an alliance that would place ING automated banking machines in Canadian Tire stores nationwide. This case is a supplement to ING Bank of Canada (A), product 9A99A010.

How does a $2 million software sale happen? This case traces efforts by Siebel Systems to sell lead management software to discount broker Quick & Reilly. The buying process is mapped out over four years. Covers in detail the last six months--from Siebel's initial involvement to a challenge from competitor Oracle to the climax. The structure of Quick & Reilly's buying center is mapped, as is the role of its parent, Fleet Bank. The fortunes of the sale rise and fall as the Siebel account manager faces one obstacle after another. Presented in three parts, with opportunities to debate the account manager's choices and actions at each stage. Part 1 describes the start of the sale from the seller's perspective.

How does a $2 million software sale happen? This case traces efforts by Siebel Systems to sell lead management software to discount broker Quick & Reilly. The buying process is mapped out over four years. Covers in detail the last six months--from Siebel's initial involvement to a challenge from competitor Oracle to the climax. The structure of Quick & Reilly's buying center is mapped, as is the role of its parent, Fleet Bank. The fortunes of the sale rise and fall as the Siebel account manager faces one obstacle after another. Presented in three parts, with opportunities to debate the account manager's choices and actions at each state. Part 2 describes the start of the sale from the buyer's perspective.