- 30 Nov 2021
- Cold Call Podcast
TikTok: Super App or Supernova?
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, was launched in 2012 around the simple idea of helping users entertain themselves on their smartphones while on the Beijing Subway. By May 2020, TikTok operated in 155 countries and had roughly 1 billion monthly active users, placing it in the top ranks of digital platforms globally. But the app had drawn the attention of competitors, regulators, and politicians, especially in the US, where commercial success was critical to its long-term enterprise value. Would TikTok become the first “Super App” with a global footprint, or did it run the risk of becoming a supernova that shone brightly only for a passing moment? Harvard Business School senior lecturer Jeffrey Rayport discusses these strategic challenges in his case, “TikTok in 2020: Super App or Supernova?” Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Oct 2019
- Cold Call Podcast
Can Gimlet Turn a Podcast Network into a Disruptive Platform?
John Deighton and Jeffrey Rayport discuss how two former public radio producers launched the Gimlet Media podcast network, entering the last frontier of digital media. Can they turn a content supplier into a disruptive platform? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Jan 2019
- Cold Call Podcast
Can Miguel McKelvey Build the ‘Culture Operating System’ at WeWork?
How deeply does the culture of a startup matter? Can it be shaped? Professor Jeffrey Rayport discusses WeWork cofounder Miguel McKelvey’s innovative role in building a company culture to support rapid growth. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 May 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
'Candy Crush' Was a Blockbuster; Can King Digital Capitalize?
The mobile game "Candy Crush Saga" was a megahit for Riccardo Zacconi and his studio, King Digital Entertainment. But can he scale up the business to include several hundred titles? A Cold Call podcast with Jeffrey Rayport. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Oct 2017
- First Look
First Look at New Research and Ideas, October 17, 2017
Beware the lasting impression of a temporary selfie ... Competing against Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto film festivals ... Should a leading game developer sell out?
- 15 Aug 2017
- First Look
First Look at New Research and Ideas, August 15, 2017
You’ll come around ... Is a deeply religious business culture ready for an acquisition? ... How historians should look at emerging markets
Chewy.com’s Make-or-Break Logistics Dilemma
In late 2013, Ryan Cohen, cofounder and then-CEO of online pet products retailer Chewy.com, was facing a decision that could determine his company’s future. Should he stay with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for all of Chewy.com’s e-commerce fulfillment or take that function in house? Cohen was convinced that achieving scale would be essential to making the business work and he worried that the company’s current 3PL may not be able to scale with Chewy.com’s projected growth or maintain the company’s performance standards for service quality and fulfillment. But neither he nor his cofounders had any experience managing logistics, and the company’s board members were pressuring him to leave order fulfillment to the 3PL. They worried that any changes could destabilize the existing 3PL relationship and endanger the viability of the fast-growing business. What should Cohen do? Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport discusses the options in his case, “Chewy.com (A).”