Mapping processes and value chains to understand strategy in care delivery


Value chain analysis is often applied to businesses. The approach takes the line of business or business unit as its focus–not the firm as a whole. And it looks at the overall industry, not just the slice of activities that a given organization undertakes. The idea is to understand how you go from, say, raw […] Continue Reading


Hello: can primary care deliver profits in Africa?


Hello, healthcare. We were lucky enough to talk to the inspiring York Zucchi, founder and CEO of Hello Healthcare, and his colleague Dr Fanie Hattingh, who called in to MIT today. Catch Zucchi on video here. Students had prepared a case study of the cooperative business that Zucchi and his colleagues operate in South Africa. […] Continue Reading


Further down the road with Riders for Health


We looked at Riders for Health for the third time this year, which we here at MIT always enjoy doing. And this time were lucky enough to get a call into class from Lakshmi Karan, the organization’s Global Strategy Director. What makes the Riders model work? Our past blog posts present some ideas (start with […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Village Health Works


Delivering care in one the world’s poorest countries  Student observations on Village Health Works’ participatory care model In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: LivingGoods


Health-business-in-a-bag  Student observations on LivingGoods’ model and future strategies by Vishal Gupta, Jenny Hu, Kevin Kung, and Awilda Mendez In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Sproxil


Can Sproxil scale its consumer-driven model of counterfeit drug surveillance?  Student observations on Sproxil’s success and challenges ahead In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their […] Continue Reading


Business models for global health: SmileTrain


SmileTrain: what’s next when mission is accomplished? Student observations on SmileTrain’s success and future possibilities In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview and assessment […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Mi Farmacita Nacional


Establishing pharmacies in low-income communities  Student observations on Mi Famacita Nacional’s dual-mission, franchising model In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview and assessment of […] Continue Reading



Business models in global health: Heart Institute of the Caribbean


Should the Heart Institute of the Caribbean expand to West Africa? Student observations on the organization’s success and future goals In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article […] Continue Reading


VisionSpring, vision entrepreneurs


Several years ago, thanks to an innovative class pioneered by my MIT Sloan colleague Simon Johnson, MIT students had a chance to partner with finalists in the World Bank Development Marketplace business plan competition. Student teams worked directly with promising entrepreneurs, mostly from the developing world, to address a development challenge posed by the World Bank […] Continue Reading


Riders, revisited


We looked at Riders for Health last year and were taken with their undeniable coolness as well as the focus and completeness of their operational model. Check out this discussion and related links. Since then, a new study and articles have come out: here’s Fueling Growth by Sonali Rammohan in Stanford Social Innovation Review, Summer 2010: Riders for […] Continue Reading