The Vancouver plant manager of British Columbia Box Limited was about to make a half-million dollar decision. The plant required a new $500,000 machine, and the manager must decide which manufacturer will get the order. The case illustrates many concepts in industrial buying.

Logitech was one of three companies that dominated the global market for pointing devices for computers. While Logitech had captured a large share of the Original Equipment Manufacturer mouse market, Microsoft was the clear leader in terms of industry standards and dollar share of the retail market. KYE, with a strong presence in Europe, was poised to compete aggressively in North America. Faced with the intensifying competition and eroding margin, Logitech was considering the introduction of an innovative line of ergonomic mice, which promised to change the competitive dynamics of the industry.