Category: network effects

Network effects

Posted on

Symbian, Google & Apple in the Mobile Space (teaching materials) with Fernando Suarez and Arati Srinivasan

Suarez, Fernando, Benjamin Edelman, and Arati Srinivasan. “Symbian, Google & Apple in the Mobile Space (A).” Harvard Business School Case 909-055, April 2009. (educator access at HBP. request a courtesy copy.)

Symbian, maker of a leading mobile smartphone operating system, faces new competition from Google and Apple. Symbian evaluates changes to its software and its relationships with distributors in order to meet these competitors.

Supplement:

Symbian, Google & Apple in the Mobile Space (B) – Supplement (HBP 909056)

Posted on

Restaurant Promotions in 2015 (teaching materials)

Edelman, Benjamin. “Restaurant Promotions in 2015.” Harvard Business School Case 909-034, January 2009. (Revised July 2015.) (educator access at HBP. request a courtesy copy.)

A variety of services offer consumers discounts when dining at participating restaurants. This case examines four such services: Entertainment Book, Restaurant.com, Rewards Network, and Groupon. Despite key functional similarities, each of the services chooses an importantly different approach–different pricing, different benefits to consumers, different benefits to restaurants, and different underlying technologies.

Teaching Materials

Online Restaurant Promotions – Teaching Note (HBP 909063)

Posted on

Consumer Payment Systems — United States (teaching materials) with Andrei Hagiu

Edelman, Benjamin, and Andrei Hagiu. “Consumer Payment Systems — United States.” Harvard Business School Case 909-006, August 2008. (Revised July 2011.) (educator access at HBP. request a courtesy copy.)

In 2008, the U.S. consumer payments landscape was characterized by the ongoing prevalence of credit and debit card networks, the decline of checks, the rise of stored value cards, and the growth of new payment methods such as PayPal, Bill Me Later, and decoupled debit. This case presents the structure of these payment methods, focusing on incentives for both consumers and merchants, including direct costs, efficiency benefits, rebates, and treatment in case of loss or fraud.

Teaching Materials:

Consumer Payment Systems — United States and Japan – Teaching Note (HBP 909039)

Posted on

TheLadders (teaching materials) with Peter Coles, Brian Hall, and Nicole Bennett

Coles, Peter A., Benjamin Edelman, Brian J. Hall, and Nicole Bennett. “TheLadders (A).” Harvard Business School Case 908-061, April 2008. (Revised March 2015.) (educator access at HBP. request a courtesy copy.)

Despite strong appeal among job seekers and outside recruiters, TheLadders’ corporate job listings seem to lag. Could raising prices help solve the problem? TheLadders considers this strategic paradox.

Supplments:

The Ladder (B) – Supplement (HBP 914017)

The Ladder (C) – Supplement (HBP 916017)

Teaching Materials:

The Ladder – Teaching Note (HBP 909005)