Author Profile
Chao, Raul O.
Autonomous Mobile Robot Implementation Checklist
OM-1832 | Published May 08, 2025 | 2 pages Exercise
Collection: Darden School of Business
Implementing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) requires careful planning and execution to ensure they integrate seamlessly into existing workflows. A comprehensive checklist such as this one can help st... Read More
ZIPS: Growth Through Industry Decline
Chao, Raul O. Kang, Cindy Sauro, Alessandra
OM-1821 | Published April 24, 2025 | 17 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In 2013, JPB Partners purchased ZIPS Cleaners, a low-cost dry-cleaning brand. Ten years later, facing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as rising labor rates and increased regulation, JPB m... Read More
How to Prototype a Prototype
OM-1837 | Published April 15, 2025 | 2 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
The goal of prototyping is to iterate as much as possible through build-and-learn or problem-solution-experiment cycles. This brief note provides some definitions and a strategy to employ when working... Read More
The North Fork Innovation District and the Route 29 Innovation Corridor
Chao, Raul O. Jorgensen, Seiver
OM-1829 | Published April 11, 2025 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Innovation districts are a real estate development phenomenon changing research parks across America and in other parts of the world. Whereas in many research parks, workers arrive at their jobs in th... Read More
Autonomous Mobile Robots and Amazon Operations
OM-1831 | Published April 01, 2025 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case explores the strategic and operational implications of expanding the use of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon), beyond warehouse automation, moving into last-mile d... Read More
A Step-by-Step Guide to Process Analysis
OM-1797 | Published March 26, 2025 | 3 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note provides a step-by-step approach to process analysis through an iterative framework. The framework begins with defining a high-level objective that is aligned with competitive stra... Read More
Southwest Airlines: The Next Frontier
Feldman, Pnina Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1816 | Published February 13, 2025 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In June 2024, Elliott Investment Management L.P. (EIM) purchased a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), representing approximately 11.3% of LUV’s market capitalization, making EIM and V... Read More
Can Zara Fast-Forward Fashion?
Feldman, Pnina Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1817 | Published February 13, 2025 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Zara, one of the brands under global retail apparel company Industria de Diseño Textil, S.A. (Inditex), made its name in the 1990s as the leader in fast fashion by pioneering a new product-development... Read More
Experimentation and Prototyping Exercise: Float Your Boat
OM-1789 | Published January 31, 2023 | 2 pages Exercise
Collection: Darden School of Business
The purpose of this exercise is to allow students to engage in a hands-on prototyping and testing exercise. Students are asked to form teams and create a prototype boat that can float on water carryin... Read More
How Operations Impacts Financial Performance
Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1779 | Published October 24, 2022 | 3 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This note explains the building blocks of common financial performance metrics and show how operations affect those metrics. Return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) are two key measures of t... Read More
ZS Associates: Refilling the Pipeline
Markou, Panos Grushka-Cockayne, Yael Chao, Raul O. Hattem, Joshua
OM-1775 | Published September 01, 2022 | 16 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
ZS Associates, a global consultancy, has been hired by the head of marketing at the global pharmaceutical firm Rensselaer to identify a promising strategy to protect and grow Rensselaer’s oncology bus... Read More
Product–Market Alignment
Markou, Panos Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca Katz, Arnon Kelly, A. Morgan
OM-1706 | Published April 19, 2022 | 12 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
The ability to achieve product–market alignment (PMA) differentiates businesses that will thrive from those that will fail. Yet many find it difficult to create—and sustain—products that continuously ... Read More
The Production System Frontier
Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1588 | Published December 07, 2017 | 3 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note covers the concept of the production system frontier. This includes understanding how best practices influence the production system frontier, and providing some examples of how yo... Read More
What Is Operations Management?
OM-1586 | Published December 07, 2017 | 3 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note outlines some basic concepts in operations management. This includes defining exactly what operations management is all about, explaining the key components of operations managemen... Read More
Production Systems
Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1587 | Published December 07, 2017 | 3 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note covers the fundamental issues that deal with production systems. This includes providing a definition of a production system, explaining how production systems work, and reviewing ... Read More
Innovation Strategy at Microsoft: Clouds on the Horizon (RUSSIAN)
Chao, Raul O. Kavadias, Stylianos (Stelios)
OM-1751 | Published November 08, 2017 | 19 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This is the Russian translation for the Sept. 16, 2011 version of UVA-OM-1387. Microsoft employs 90,000 people and its products affect millions of users around the world every day. Developing the next... Read More
Defining Problems and Opportunities in New Product Development (Part 1)
Hutchison-Krupat, Jeremy Chao, Raul O. Stevenson, Donald
OM-1579 | Published August 11, 2017 | 2 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
Developing new products and services is an iterative process that involves (1) identifying a problem or opportunity that needs to be addressed, (2) generating concepts or solutions that address the pr... Read More
The Ins and Outs of Open Innovation
OM-1495 | Published May 16, 2013 | 5 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note explores open innovation--initiatives that are executed with organizations or individuals outside the typical boundaries of the R&D organization. Through a broadening of the interp... Read More
Prototyping Exercise
Chao, Raul O. Hutchison-Krupat, Jeremy
OM-1470 | Published April 27, 2012 | 2 pages Exercise
Collection: Darden School of Business
This team-based class exercise provides hands-on prototyping experience. Teams are to run prototype vehicles made of interlocking blocks through a series of rounds. Emphasis is placed on the iterative... Read More
Arcadia Medical Center: Emergency Department Crowding (A)
OM-1468 | Published April 25, 2012 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Arcadia Medical Center’s newly appointed medical director of operations for the department of emergency medicine has noticed a gradual increase in the length of time it takes for patients to be seen a... Read More
Arcadia Medical Center: Emergency Department Crowding (B)
OM-1469 | Published April 25, 2012 | 4 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In this B case, the emergency department crowding team analyzes and summarizes the data presented in the A case, and then proceeds to collect qualitative data on 15 different issues known to cause del... Read More
Husk Power Systems: Scaling Up a Start-Up
Chao, Raul O. Sinha, Manoj Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1415 | Published October 11, 2011 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Husk Power Systems (HPS) provides technologies that generate and distribute electrical power to rural villages in India. Since 2007, HPS has installed 60 mini power plants that power 25,000 households... Read More
Innovation Strategy at Microsoft: Clouds on the Horizon
Chao, Raul O. Kavadias, Stylianos (Stelios)
OM-1387 | Published June 16, 2011 | 17 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Microsoft employs 90,000 people and its products affect millions of users around the world every day. Developing the next version of Windows or Office is easy for Microsoft, but the company has strugg... Read More
United States Patent and Trademark Office: Closing the Gap on Pendency in Class 705 Business Methods
OM-1358 | Published November 25, 2008 | 26 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) experiences overwhelming demand for patents in Class 705: Business Methods. The current resources and process design are not sufficient to handle ... Read More
United Beverages: Product Development Genius or One-Hit-Wonder?
Chao, Raul O. Kavadias, Stylianos (Stelios)
OM-1335 | Published November 15, 2007 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
United Beverages' first product, GangBusters Interactive Beverages, has reached the stage of wide brand recognition. However, over the past 12 months, growth has stalled and the product development te... Read More
Product Development at StubHub: Don't Stop Believin'
Markou, Panos Chao, Raul O. Goldberg, Rebecca
OM-1705 | Published | 12 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Arnie Katz, chief product and technology officer at StubHub (SH), was helping to lead a contest intended to result in innovative and valuable new ideas. Product managers presented more than 100 new bu... Read More