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A survey of 345 Fortune "1000" industrial companies in 1979 shows that portfolio planning is becoming a popular method for managing the diversity of businesses within large organizations. Despite the described limitations of portfolio planning, most of the companies find portfolio planning worth pursuing because it helps them focus on the unique contribution each subsidiary makes to the business of the corporation.

Noranda is preparing to develop a $400 million copper mine in Chile. The Task Force of Canadian Churches opposes the investment because of the lack of human rights in Chile and has made its presence felt at Noranda's last five annual meetings. Enough data is in the case to analyze the investment on financial and moral grounds. Is Noranda morally right to go ahead? To what extent should the answer to this question govern their decision? What is the role of business ethics in this decision?

Describes the introduction and evolution of General Electric's strategic planning system from the 1960s to Jack Welch's tenure. Allows discussion of the interplay of problems and circumstances to the evolution of the strategic planning system, and how Welch might use or alter the system to meet the challenge of growth.

A private agribusiness development agency is reviewed on one of its major projects in Latin America.

Follows the impact of a change in global strategy on a diversified company's global organization structure. Traces two failed attempts at bringing a business perspective to a geographic organization, and poses the problem of what the international division president can do.

Supplements the (A) case.

Supplements the (A) case.

Supplements the (A) case.

Follows the impact of a change in global strategy on a diversified company's global organization structure. Reviews the company's subsequent performance internationally. Also presents reflections by top management on future possible change in the organization structure.

Supplements the (A) case.

Presents the problem of how an established regional brewer can survive the onslaught of national breweries, some of which are being cross-subsidized by diversified parent companies. Requires detailed analysis of what operations are profitable and unprofitable for Hudepohl, in addition to industry and competitive analysis. Hudepohl is a private company.

In April 1961, President Kennedy denied US military assistance to a force of CIA-trained Cuban exiles attacking Cuba, thus sealing the fate of the Bay of Pigs invasion. When the losses had been tallied, 114 exiles were dead, Castro was left with 1,200 prisoners, and the Kennedy administration was publicly embarrassed. The case recounts the formulation and failed execution of this CIA plan to invade Cuba. The authors trace the origins of the plan under the Eisenhower administration and follow Kennedy through his first three months in office, during which time he first heard of, then revised, and ultimately approved a trimmed-down version of the plan. This case was initially designed to illustrate the importance of decision-makers' identifying and testing their own and their advisers' presumptions. Extending this theme, the case may be used in conjunction with The CIA to 1961 (C14-80-280.0) as an exercise in "organizational placement." Had Kennedy used this method to better understand the institution of the CIA, he might have questioned them more closely and avoided some of the tragedy of the Bay of Pigs. For further discussion of the placement method, see The CIA to 1961 abstract. This case may also be used to demonstrate the hazards of transition in the American presidency. HKS Case Number 279.0.

Covers history of PC&D from 1960 to 1975 as it grows from a single business firm to a diversified firm. Emphasizes the use of subsidiaries for product development and fast growth. Other issues include problems of a new CEO in keeping control of fast growing divisions.

An immensely successful Western Canadian real estate agency is considering questions of continuity and sustaining its growth. The agency has prospered because it acted as an agent for its client, not as a broker trying to bring parties together in a sale. A key, the president feels, is getting and keeping good people and instilling in them the concept of acting as an agent.

Reaction of a recent MBA to the climate, motivational systems, and management practices of the Lincoln Electric Company.

An in-depth study of Japanese-managed companies in the United States and Japan reveals that when technology and governmental factors are equal, the Japanese companies' U.S. subsidiaries do not outperform their American counterparts. Also, contrary to conventional belief, American managers use a participative decision-making style as often as Japanese managers do. Japanese executives use ambiguity as a managerial tool. Ambiguity is a useful concept in thinking about how individuals relate to each other, orally and in writing. It provides a way of legitimizing the loose rein that a manager permits in certain organizational situations. McKinsey Award Winner.

General managers can assess the strategic merit of potentially radical technical innovation by evaluating the two key determinants of innovation success: technology potency and business advantage. This framework uses four considerations as its criteria: inventive merit, embodiment merit, operational merit, and market merit. Development of transistorized semiconductors, and turbine engines used in supersonic jets are examples that illustrate application of the strategic assessment framework.

This case chronicles the interdepartmental conflict and power struggle between New Haven mayor Frank Logue and Police Chief Biagio Dilieto and their subsequent battle as candidates in the Democratic primary for the mayor's office. Dilieto, a native New Havener, became the city's first Italian police chief in 1969 and had strong backing from New Haven's Italian community. When Logue took the mayoral office in 1976 and attempted to reform the police department, the two men clashed both privately and publicly through the press over issues of job appointment (which was historically a source of power for Dilieto), department restructuring, and police misconduct arbitration procedures. Amidst these disagreements, a wire-tapping operation by the police department against New Haven residents between 1966 and 1971 came to light and Dilieto was accused of and later admitted to his involvement. Under this backdrop, Dilieto decided to run for mayoral office against Logue with overwhelming support from the Italian community and the case concludes with the primary results. HKS Case Number 214.0

Describes an elaborate approach to strategic planning for diversified business operations. Includes the use of the BCG experience curve and growth share matrices and of PIMS profit-factor data. (Both sets of ideas are described in appendices to the case.) Also describes a specific strategic problem concerning the coated abrasives business requiring a management decision. Permits students to describe what action Norton should take with respect to its coated abrasives business and also to evaluate the Norton strategic planning system.

Centers on the question of whether Raytheon should enter the electronic component distribution industry in the context of its broad diversification approach and acquisition criteria. This industry represents a vertical integration area for Raytheon, so the analytical issues raised by vertical integration decisions can be explored as well. Used in a section of a business policy course on diversification strategy, or to motivate the comprehensive analysis of the electronic component distribution industry earlier in a policy course. Designed for use with Note on the Electronic Component Distribution Industry.