How GE Is Disrupting Itself†

For decades, GE has sold modified Western products to emerging markets. Now, to preempt the emerging giants, it’s trying the reverse.

Harvard Business Review, October 1, 2009 — In May 2009, General Electric announced that over the next six years it would spend $3 billion to create at least 100 health-care innovations that would substantially lower costs, increase access, and improve quality. Two products it highlighted at the time—a $1,000 handheld electrocardiogram device and a portable, PC-based ultrasound machine that sells for as little as $15,000—are revolutionary, and not just because of their small size and low price. They’re also extraordinary because they originally were developed for markets in emerging economies (the ECG device for rural India and the ultrasound machine for rural China) and are now being sold in the United States, where they’re pioneering new uses for such machines.

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Campbell's Chief Looks for Splash of Innovation†

Conant Plans New Line of Light Soups and a Move Into Markets in Russia and China

Wall Street Journal, May 30, 2008 — When Douglas Conant became CEO of Campbell Soup Co. seven years ago, naysayers bet against him being able to revive soup with today's busy and health-conscious consumers. Mr. Conant proved them wrong after remaking the company's condensed soups, introducing soup in microwavable containers, revamping marketing and redesigning shelving systems in supermarket soup aisles.

Campbell CEO Douglas Conant is launching new soup lines next year.

Now, Mr. Conant, 56 years old, has more proving to do. Campbell, which also makes Pepperidge Farm foods and V8 beverages, is struggling with high ingredient and energy costs as well as a competitor that beat it to market with a successful new product.

Fisher-Price Game Plan: Pursue Toy Sales in Developing Markets†

Wall Street Journal, May 29, 2008 — In developing a line of talking toys aimed at children in China, engineers at Fisher-Price had to struggle to perfect the Mandarin "Sh" sound, which involves a soft hiss that was difficult to encode on sound-data chips embedded in the toys.

Developers finally solved the problem of recording the phrase "It's learning time!" in Mandarin, but new challenges are ahead. (Listen to the phrase.) The company will soon be examining the LCD screens on learning toys to determine whether Chinese characters can be displayed clearly.

Getting such details right is increasingly important as Fisher-Price and its parent company, Mattel Inc., try to attract more customers overseas.

Heinz Is Expected to Increase Profit and Sales Forecasts†

EmergingMarkets,New Products Help; Real Pricing Power

Wall Street Journal, May 29, 2008 — H.J. Heinz Co is expected Thursday to raise its profit- and sales-growth forecasts as the company unveils its first two-year plan since a proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz in 2006.

The Pittsburgh-based ketchup giant will report results for the fiscal year ended April 30 at an investor meeting in New York City, where it is also expected to increase its sales-growth outlook for the next two years to 6% or more from 4%, and its earnings-per-share growth forecast for the same period to between 8% and 11% from the previous projection of 7% to 9%.

People close to the company say the growth is expected to come from new products, higher prices for existing products and an accelerating push into emerging markets.

New Push Into China by N.B.A.

New York Times, September 19, 2007 — In an age dominated by Chinese exports, one import from the United States has stood taller than most here: basketball.

Timothy Chen, chief executive of Microsoft’s China operations, was hired to promote the National Basketball Association.

Now, in a move certain to highlight the growing importance of China to both the National Basketball Association and the sport, the N.B.A. plans to announce Wednesday the formation of a Chinese subsidiary. To head it, the league has chosen Timothy Chen, chief executive of Microsoft’s China operations and one of the best-known business executives in China.