Case Number: 5-310-511, Year Published: 2010, Revision Date: March 14, 2011
HBS Number: KEL571
Complexity, Product Portfolio, Core Product Offering, Extended Product Offering, Product Breadth, Selection, Trimming the Tail
HP sells configure-to-order products. With millions of part combinations going into an order, the challenge is deciding which parts to keep in the portfolio to balance costs with revenues. The case explains how one would approach this problem before product introduction, but focuses on managing the existing portfolio.
Students will develop a systematic, data-driven approach to decide on the best product portfolio to sell for a configure-to-order business. Which SKUs are candidates for a “global core” product offering? For an extended offering? For elimination?
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