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This case may be taught singly or used as a merger-negotiation exercise with "Daimler-Benz A. G.: Negotiations between Daimler and Chrysler" (UV0110).Set in February 1998, the case places students in the position of negotiators for the company; their task is to value both firms, assess the potential earnings dilution of a combination, and negotiate a detailed agreement with their counterpart. The case can be used to explore such interesting negotiation issues as determination of a share-exchange ratio, treatment of major stockholders, and structuring a deal. Also, the case and exercise can be used to spark a discussion of acquisition in comparison with strategic alliance, or other less formal models of combination.

The general manager for U.S.-based Sealed Air Corp.'s Taiwan subsidiary must decide whether he's hired the right person to bridge the gap between Sealed Air's corporate culture and Taiwan's business culture. This case details Bob Kayser's experiences in trying to infuse the Sealed Air culture into the Taiwan operation, including approaches to training, compensation, and motivation.

Supplements the (A) case.

A major threat to the existence of the CAW is the trend towards outsourcing the production of components to non-unionized, hence lower-cost manufacturers, by the Big Three Automakers (GM, Ford and Chrysler). This trend is costing Canadian Automobile Workers Union (CAW) members their jobs. The typical retaliation is CAW strikes, and negotiating job security agreements. This short-term strategy in fact encourages the move to offshore production in order to remain competitive. The purpose of the case is to discuss issues concerning the evolution of the Canadian economy from one which is manufacturing-based to one based on services, and to try to find answers to questions like: Can the CAW survive? Will the Big Three be producing cars in Canada in the 21st Century? Where else would they go? What are the concerns in moving production off-shore? What kind of strategy should the CAW follow to ensure its survival? How does Canadian automobile production relate to the global industry? How will governments impact the industry?

For many decades, a high degree of political risk discouraged foreign investment in Latin America. Recent years have witnessed major changes in the nature and extent of Latin American country risks, with a dramatic reduction of political risks, and a new focus on economic risks. At the same time, there has been a vast opening up of investment opportunities where Canadian corporations can transfer modern technology and business practices that exceed the capabilities of domestic corporations, creating country- and industry-specific competitive advantages. However, Latin American countries still rank very poorly in the factors underlying international competitiveness, with the result that labor-intensive export facilities are more likely to be located elsewhere, in spite of Latin America's low wage levels.

Based on 22 years of breakthrough research, this article by Teresa Amabile, MBA Class of 1954 Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, provides insightful guidelines for any executive who wants to nurture and stimulate one of the most powerful competitive weapons in the realm of business today: creativity. In today's knowledge economy, creativity is more important than ever. But many companies unwittingly employ managerial practices that kill it. How? By crushing their employees' intrinsic motivation--the strong internal desire to do something based on interests and passions. Managers don't kill creativity on purpose. Yet in the pursuit of productivity, efficiency, and control--all worthy business imperatives--they undermine creativity. It doesn't have to be that way. Business imperatives can comfortably coexist with creativity. But managers will have to change their thinking first. Specifically, managers will need to understand that creativity has three parts: expertise, the ability to think flexibly and imaginatively, and motivation. Managers can influence the first two, but doing so is costly and slow. It would be far more effective to increase employees' intrinsic motivation. Take challenge as an example: Intrinsic motivation is high when employees feel challenged but not overwhelmed by their work. The task for managers, therefore, becomes matching people to the right assignments. Managers can make a difference when it comes to employee creativity. The result can be truly innovative companies in which creativity doesn't just survive but actually thrives.

In 1994, Continental Airlines was headed for a crash landing--it was quickly running out of customers and cash. Today, the airline is one of the great turnaround stories of the decade. What explains its reversal of fortune? A simple strategy, executed fast, right away, and all at once, says Greg Brenneman, president and COO of the company. There's no time to think too much during a turnaround, he notes in this outspoken first-person account, and that happens to be a very good thing. More specifically, he describes the five lessons he learned during this dramatic turnaround. At the beginning, there was so much wrong with Continental that he felt as if any one misstep could bring the whole effort down. But in a time of crisis, when time is tight and money is tighter, you can't afford to mull over complex strategy. With Gordon Bethune, Continental's chairman and CEO, Brenneman devised the Go Forward Plan, a straightforward strategy focused on four key elements: understanding the market, increasing revenues, improving the product, and transforming the corporate culture. He admits that the plan wasn't complicated--it was pure common sense. The tough part was getting it done. "Do it now!" became the rallying cry of the movement, and the power of momentum has carried Continental to success.

Managers can separate the real opportunities for synergy from the mirages, say Michael Goold and Andrew Campbell of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre, by taking a more disciplined approach to synergy. Corporate executives have strong biases in favor of synergy, and those biases can lead them into ill-advised attempts to force business units to cooperate--even when the ultimate benefits are unclear. These biases take four forms: 1) the synergy bias, which leads executives to overestimate the benefits and underestimate the costs of synergy; 2) the parenting bias, a belief that synergy will be captured only by cajoling or compelling business units to cooperate; 3) the skills bias--the assumption that whatever know-how is required to achieve synergy will be available within the organization; and 4) the upside bias, which causes executives to concentrate so hard on the potential benefits of synergy that they overlook the possible downside risks. In combination, these four biases make synergy seem more attractive and more easily achievable than it truly is. As a result, corporate executives often launch initiatives that ultimately waste time and money and sometimes even severely damage their businesses. To avoid such failures, executives need to subject all synergy opportunities to a clear-eyed analysis that clarifies the benefits to be gained, examines the potential for corporate involvement, and takes into account the possible downsides. Such a disciplined approach will inevitably mean that fewer initiatives will be launched. But those that are pursued will be far more likely to deliver.

The executive assistant to the Army Chief of Staff prepares the nomination forms for all Army officers eligible for promotion, which are then submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) for approval and later confirmation by the Senate. During the officer's tenure, a SASC investigation reveals that serious racial incidents have occurred at four military bases. In response, the SASC establishes new guidelines for the promotion process, requiring a disclosure statement outlining any involvement or allegations of involvement in racial incidents, whether substantiated or not. The statement must also include any incidents involving the nominee's subordinates. Although the officer and the Chief of Staff have developed a relationship of mutual respect and admiration, on this issue they disagree. The officer believes that all information should be supplied to the SASC as required. The Chief has utter disdain for the guidelines, since even unproven allegations must be reported, and thinks it is unreasonable to hold superiors accountable for subordinates. The officer wants to preserve his relationship with his superior, yet does not want to engage in any wrongdoing. Under pressure, he chooses a strategy of outward compliance to the guidelines while knowing that his reports will be altered by the Chief before their submission to the SASC. HKS Case Number 1458.0

Owners of the Inn at the Falls are deciding whether to expand their operation. After nine years of growth, 1996 sales had levelled off, and the owners were considering a building expansion to resume growth. Although the expansion would add significantly to the debt load, it would reposition the Inn's facilities for a more upscale clientele. In addition, the owners would like to retire in two to five years by selling the business and are wondering if they will be able to recoup their investment in this time period.

In 1998, Chile remained a country divided. Despite the revelations made by human rights investigations, 20 per cent of Chileans were still staunch supporters of Pinochet, and ideological extremes continued to dominate the political landscape, even among the young. Although many Chileans lived under a reign of terror, many more welcomed the social and economic changes implemented under military rule. Chilean society became polarized because of differences in opinion regarding the dictatorship.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank case series (see also 9A98M015, 9A98M019, 9A98M020) is designed to be run over a period of three classes (80 minutes per class period). The series is intended for use in a course in project management. It highlights the impact of the owner's management of a project through the phases of feasibility, design, contracting and construction. Case A introduces alternative organizational structures for managing the design and construction for a high rise banking tower and the owner's mandate for the project, the development of the best bank in the world. The action decision in the A case requires a good understanding of the tasks that need to be performed, the process in which their execution will be organized and the objectives, roles and capabilities brought by the key actors. All of the above need to be tied to the unique characteristics of the project: ambiguous deliverables, a specific deadline, and absence of cost constraints.

Service Corporation International, the world's largest funeral consolidator, has just made a formal takeover bid for the Loewen Group, its key competitor. The offer is approximately 50 per cent above the price at which Loewen Group stock traded 30 days ago. Should Loewen Group fight the takeover, or should it accept it? This case helps students understand how to evaluate a company's strategy relative to its external environment and internal capabilities.

Supplements the (A) case.

Jan Eriksson is the country manager of the Indonesian joint venture of Basel-based Novartis (Novartis Indonesia), the world's largest pharmaceutical company, formed by the 1996 merger between Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy. The case describes the actions he has taken since assuming his post in May 1996. He was in the middle of merging the Indonesian operations of Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy when the financial crisis struck Indonesia. He has prepared two plans to deal with the crisis. In January 1996, headquarters had still not approved Erickssons' plans and he needs to decide how to proceed.

Supplements Andersen Consulting - EMEAI: Reorganization for Revitalization. An alternative to video Organizational Change at Anderson Consulting - EMEAI, Video.

Noli Tingzon, newly-appointed international division VP at Jollibee, the Philippines-based hamburger chain, is faced with the challenge of expanding fast food operations in Asia in the face of stiff competition. The case describes Jollibee's six-year international expansion history and the lessons the company has learned. Against this background, Noli must decide among expansion opportunities in New Guinea, Hong Kong, and California.

Spreadsheet supplement for case 399-007.

Offered at the beginning of a twenty-five session course on general management, this note presents a structure and an outline intended to serve as a reference and provide orientation to the students as the course progresses.