Purpose: This paper aims to reflect on 25 years of the social enterprise initiative at the Harvard Business School, examining the processes and thinking involved at key stages of this pioneering Initiative’s implementation and institutionalization. Design/methodology/approach: The authors...

Designing distribution systems requires two decisions, one strategic (i.e., the number of levels between the producer and the customer) and the other tactical (i.e., channel management policies such as trade discounts and rebates). While the modeling literature focuses on one or the other,...

Distribution channel design is a complex decision involving (a) the strategic choice of the appropriate channel structure, and (b) the tactical selection of the appropriate intermediaries. This paper presents a decision framework and a model to aid management in the tactical selection of the...

This paper proposes a channel design model based on the notion that distribution functions are the basic determinants of channel structure. The purpose of the model is to assist manufacturers in making effective channel decisions. The model evaluates what distribution structure the firm should...

Reply to commentaries (Blitzer, H. L. 1987. Commentary. 175–176 and Koon, R. E. 1987. Commentary. 177–178.) to author's paper (Rangan, V. K. 1987. The channel design decision: A model and an application. 156–174.).