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Coopers & Lybrand open an office in Hungary.

Coopers & Lybrand open an office in Hungary.

Multinational professional services firm Coopers & Lybrand has decided to enter the Hungarian market and weighs its strategic options in light of the environment in which it will operate and its resources.

American Airlines' strategy calls for continued growth, improvements in customer service, and cost reduction. This case examines the Human Resource Management system at American Airlines and its role in the airline's past and continued success. May be used with American Airlines (A): Strategy in the 1990s, (B): Compensation and Cost Reduction, and (C): Committing to Leadership.

American Airlines' strategy in the 1990s calls for continued growth, improvements in customer service, and cost reduction. Central to cost reduction efforts is the need to contain labor costs. After having signed a very expensive new contract with its pilots' union in early 1991, American is now faced with the challenge of increasing productivity and controlling costs for its other employee groups.

In an effort to grow and contain costs, the airline initiates a series of cultural change programs designed to increase employee participation and decision-making, and accordingly decrease the proportion of supervisors. CTL is the most recent, and by far the most expensive and pervasive of these programs. The case poses the questions of how to evaluate, or quantify the gains from CTL, and how to further the cultural change effort.

American Airlines is pursuing a growth strategy through international and domestic route expansion. At the same time, the airline is working hard to cut costs while trying to provide the best customer service possible. Is this strategy achievable given the recent surge in jet fuel prices and the competitive framework of the industry?

The promotions committee at Meeker, Needham & Ames, a long-established law firm, met to discuss the candidacy of three associates up for partner. The vote was split on the candidacy of Julie Ross, who, although she had exceptional skills and an ability to bring in new business, worked only part-time as an associate. The meeting minutes and the expert commentaries that follow discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a part-time partner.