Describes the concept of postponement of product variety and how it may be used to match supply and demand better while lowering inventories. Discusses situations where postponement is more or less valuable. Also looks at several industry examples of postponement.
Venture capital is a segment of the private equity category that encompasses investments in young, rapidly growing companies with the potential to develop into significant economic contributors. Provides a comprehensive yet straightforward description of the entire private equity industry, including its definition, expected returns, the investing process, and the structure of private equity firms. Concludes with an overview of the industry in 2004 and highlights trends in the field.
A large medical electronics firm is refining its outsourcing policies and the new ways in which it needs to work with its suppliers. The firm begins with an objective to purchase assemblies instead of components. This objective evolves until the supplier takes over a large part of the engineering design as well as the product database creation and maintenance. Many problems are encountered, but the product comes to market and is successful. A 1999 EFMD award winner.
A large medical electronics firm develops correct policies for outsourcing. The company develops noncore technology clusters, cluster teams to manage each cluster, and an evolutionary plan for how to interact with supplier partners. A 1999 EFMD award winner.
A large medical electronics firm's policy could not be applied as easily as the company expected. Some adjustments were necessary--depending on the items purchased, existing relationships with suppliers, and the availability of alternative suppliers. A 1999 EFMD award winner.
Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications products and systems company, is embarking on a first-ever global advertising campaign for its brand of mobile phones. The idea for consumer brand building, new to an otherwise technology-oriented, industrial company, has come about as a result of developments in the worldwide market for cellular phones: fast growth, entry of new consumer segments, declining product differentiation, and the growing pressure on prices and margins. The expensive campaign, aiming to cement a relationship with consumers, is notable for a total absence of product-related communication. Under the slogan "Make yourself heard," the ads feature a gallery of faces and a range of situations demonstrating the spirit of communication between people around the world. Some of the issues the case raises are: How do you build a strong brand for a product that is increasingly difficult to differentiate? Can pure brand values stand on their own merits without any references to products? What criteria should you use to evaluate advertising execution? A 2001 ECCH award winner.
A new product combining windsurfing and skiing runs into trouble during its first year of worldwide sales. A group of MBA students studies the problem and collects market data. The product's inventor is left with the task of taking action to save the invention from imminent disaster. What should he do?
Describes the selling activities of a sales engineer with respect to a key account. The loss of the order for a CT scanner provides the background for analyzing the dynamics of the buying situation and the salesman's handling of it. The issues raised are: Who are the cast of characters influencing the buying decision? What seems to motivate them? What sales strategy would be appropriate? This is a revised version of an earlier case.
In 1994, Sony's European operation moved to centralize its organization to improve operating efficiencies, implement pan-European marketing, and develop a unified position vis-a-vis Sony headquarters in Japan. In this transition, the powerful local country organizations lost much of their autonomy in key decision areas. Informally referred to as Big Bang, the radical organizational change ran into trouble almost from the beginning. This case provides the background to the organizational change, including important market forces that are reshaping the consumer electronics market in Europe. A 1999 EFMD award winner.
Discusses the successful turnaround of Adidas. Describes the financial and competitive situation of Adidas and the sporting goods industry in 1993 when Robert Louis-Dreyfus, CEO, takes over the management of the company. Adidas is in economic and organizational disarray and Louis-Dreyfus' challenge is to turn the company around from its current deficit of close to $100 million. Can he do it? What changes should he make?
A collection of problems that introduces students to the use of discounted cash flow analysis in the valuation of fixed income securities. Students are required to estimate bond prices and yields to maturity, among other items.