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Can Lean Manufacturing Put an End to Sweatshops?

Harvard Business

Traditional mass manufacturing is based on principles of “Scientific Management” that date back to the 19th century. Managers hold virtually all decision-making authority. In addition to improved product quality and delivery times, the lean approach has been linked to improved terms of employment.

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How Customers Perceive a Price Is as Important as the Price Itself

Harvard Business

Financial asset managers have been out-price-cutting one another in exchange-traded funds in a bid to gain market share. But when managers reduce prices, a fundamental question sometimes goes unasked: Will customers notice and respond as expected? Price wars have broken out in consumer industries around the world.

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Deep Dive into Customer Segmentation (Part 1 of 2)

Tom Spencer

Determining appropriate product pricing (e.g. Prioritizing new product development efforts. Choosing specific product features. This form of segmentation is widely used since specific products often cater to individual needs relating to at least one demographic element. brick-and-mortar vs online).

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The Ways Customers Use Products Have Changed — but Brands Haven’t Kept Up

Harvard Business

Provide them with a platform to participate in your products and services — as Coca-Cola managed to do with its personalized “Share a Coke” initiative — and then you have the chance to embed people directly into the narrative or fabric of your brand. The Physics of Brand Systems. What exactly does this mean?

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Why Top Management Should Listen to Activist Investors

Harvard Business

Now, you will have to translate your strategic thinking into a value creation plan that your management team and board will embrace. Starbucks applies its capabilities in talent management and distinctive retailing to everything it does. If people believe your business fundamentals are sustainable, it will move the stock price higher.”

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Innovation Should Be a Top Priority for Boards. So Why Isn’t It?

Harvard Business

In contrast, 70% of respondents think their boards have effective processes for staying current on the company; 69% for compliance; 66% for financial planning; and 55% for risk management — although we should note that managing risks is a crucial consideration when pursuing innovation.

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An Emotional Connection Matters More than Customer Satisfaction

Harvard Business

In the search for profitable organic growth, more and more companies are making major investments in optimizing the end-to-end customer experience – every aspect of how customers interact with the company’s brand, products, promotions, and service offerings, on and offline.

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