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A gifted project leader lacks significant new product development experience. The case highlights the issues and procedures related to defining the project strategy: organizing senior management approvals and support for creating a "heavyweight" team; aligning the disparate perspectives, interests, and biases of project members; and implementing best-practice tools for managing teams within the project. Creates a framework for establishing organizational design rules and key new product development processes, and also provides insights about models of leadership for new product development.

A brief note on the origins and uses of standard times in production process flow diagrams and on the benefits and drawbacks of division of labor. A rewritten version of two earlier notes.

The manager of the West Coast Division plant of The Universal Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd. had just been informed that the head office had received several complaints from customers concerning product quality and late deliveries. He had two weeks to determine the cause of these problems and decide what to do.

The dramatic reduction in crime in New York City during the 1990s grabbed the attention of the U.S. and the world, seeming to provide evidence that new policy and management approaches could make an enormous difference for the better. This case tells the story of key management decisions that the New York Police Department itself credits with the successful attack on the city's crime rate. Specifically, it describes the approach of Police Chief William Bratton in assembling a core, reform-oriented management team and the development of a computerized crime tracking system used as the foundation for the targeting of police manpower. The epilogue raises the dramatic question of whether the goal of minimizing the misuse of force by police officers is also amenable to the measurement techniques successfully employed to the activity of criminals. This case, in addition to the questions it raises, provides a powerful telling of one of the most successful public sector management initiatives of recent times. HKS case number 1530.0.

The dramatic reduction in crime in New York City during the 1990s grabbed the attention of the U.S. and the world, seeming to provide evidence that new policy and management approaches could make an enormous difference for the better. The main case tells the story of key management decisions that the New York Police Department itself credits with the successful attack on the city's crime rate. This epilogue raises the dramatic question of whether the goal of minimizing the misuse of force by police officers is also amenable to the measurement techniques successfully employed to the activity of criminals. HKS case number 1530.1.

The owner of Campbell Management Consulting, was putting the finishing touches on an industrial engineering study he had conducted at Lauzon Automotive in Southwestern Ontario over the past few months. The unionized employees had not been receptive to the study and had hampered his data collection. He was concerned about the union's likely negative reaction to his study and its recommendations.

The transistor has been called the most important invention of the 20th century because it is the basic building block for microprocessors and other integrated circuits. Over 20 years ago, Intel founders Noyce and Moore predicted continued exponential growth of the electronics industry, based on industry's ability to make cheaper and smaller transistors at a learning rate of 70%. The case traces what has since happened, comparing and contrasting the learning rate for transistors with that for automobiles, and exploring which form of Moore's Law holds for Intel's chips and for DRAM. Students should get a feel for how learning curve principles might be useful in setting company strategy or predicting industry growth.

Examines the market-entry strategy of a medical device company.

Describes a methodology for identifying markets for new technologies and for defining the highest value attributes of new products or services. It helps innovators escape the trap of incremental improvements to established product concepts by asking a straightforward question: What job did my customer expect this product to do for him or her?

The founders of Motive Communications, Inc., a recent start-up dedicated to reinventing the support chain involved in the delivery of information technology support services, put in place a development process hinged on extensive customer feedback. As part of this, a select group of "lighthouse customers" agreed to pay $50,000 to participate in beta testing--but as a deadline approached, none had sent in their checks. The founders therefore reevaluate the lighthouse policy and its rationale.

Describes the creation and operation of the initial two heavyweight teams for new drug development and launch. The primary focus is on one of the teams, Evista, although comparisons to the other team, Zyprexa, are included. Lilly must decide the next phase (postlaunch) for managing Evista's rollout.

Describes Ford's examination of its supply chain to evaluate whether the company should "virtually integrate" on the Dell Computers model.

Describes managing the threat of disruptive technology at the high end of the computer industry. Many aspects of the innovator's dilemma can be explored.

Although it continued to operate at about 7,000 surgeries per year, by late 1997 the portion of non-Canadian patients coming to Shouldice Hospital had declined to about five per cent with a corresponding change in the Hospital's economic fortunes. A marketing consultant has developed a marketing plan for the hospital. Students have to analyse the economic, political and technological changes that have occurred since 1983, evaluate the marketing plan and decide how the hospital should proceed. This case is intended to follow the 1983 Harvard case, Shouldice Hospital Limited (9-683-068).

Introduces the concepts and issues related to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology. Begins with a stylized example of ERP in action. Aa brief history of the ERP industry is provided, with reference to major events and players. Additional case examples of successful and unsuccessful implementations are offered to enhance students' understanding of the impact ERP can have on the organization and to illuminate ERP issues.

Spreadsheet supplement for case 699020.

Provides detailed instructions to prepare for factory demonstration day. A rewritten version of an earlier exercise.

Provides detailed instructions to prepare for factory demonstration day. A rewritten version of an earlier exercise.

Volant brought innovation to the ski equipment industry in 1989 by developing a stainless steel ski. He claimed the skis could turn more easily, could hold an edge in icy conditions, and were more stable than aluminum or fiberglass skis. The company's "soft-flex" technology was patented, and soon word spread throughout the skiing community about the new high-performance ski. The company decided to offer a narrow product line. In 1995, Volant was unable to fulfill all its orders due to lingering manufacturing problems. A new operations manager came in and improved manufacturing yields, lowered costs significantly, and brought in a CAD/CAM system to streamline prototype design. The 1997 season was heralded by on-time delivery of promised shipments, and the company's reputation climbed. With the leader in the ski equipment industry capturing less than 25% of the market, Volant considered its strategy for competing in a fragmented market. In 1994, hourglass-shaped skis became a new trend, and Volant decided to make shaped skis exclusively. They also acquired the rights to a snowboard design at its manufacturing facility in Denver. Although Volant was the fourth best-selling supplier in the United States by 1998, it still was not a profitable company. It had to consider new growth strategies to become a leader in its industry and to yield a return for its investors.

Reviews Tektronix's implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution in all three of its global business divisions. This case tells the story of three implementations, each with its own character and requirements. Tektronix managers needed to synchronize the requirements of each division with the company's overall need to standardize business practices and its desire to adhere to a common business model across the enterprise. Details the difficulty of major business change in a mature business and technical environment.