Publications

July 1997
Teaching Note

Coordination: An Overview TN

By: Ananth Raman

Teaching Note for (9-696-001). View Details

Keywords: Auto Industry; Auto Industry; United States

October 1995
Background Note

Coordination: An Overview

By: Ananth Raman

Designed to accompany Module II of the first-year required course on Technology and Operations Management. Particularly useful in conjunction with Corning Glass Works: Erwin Automotive Plant, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc., Johnson Controls, Automotive... View Details

Keywords: Management; Operations; Technology; Auto Industry; Auto Industry; United States

August 1993
Case

General Motors: Smith's Dilemma

By: Nitin Nohria and Sandy Green

Discusses Roger Smith's tenure as CEO of General Motors. Describes his vision for changing General Motors, and how he went about implementing that vision. View Details

Keywords: Change Management; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Management Teams; Leadership Style; Auto Industry; Auto Industry

Research Summary

Evolution of firm structure in vertical specialized technology supply chains

By: Willy C. Shih

The global market in many everyday products has been transformed by the internationalization of production. In many industries, semiconductors and electronic products in particular, a sequential mode of production has evolved in which goods are produced... View Details

Keywords: Globalization Of Supply Chain; Globalization; Technological Innovation; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; United States; Asia; China

01 Mar 2009
News

The Case for Studying Financial History

because these companies clearly are incapable of competing with Japanese-owned companies that are simply producing better cars at lower cost. Won’t we continue to have a U.S. auto industry? It’s just that the View Details

Keywords: Roger Thompson; federal bailouts; Finance; Administration of Economic Programs; Government

July 2013
Case

Jackson Automotive Systems

By: William E. Fruhan and Wei Wang

Jackson Automotive Systems produces automotive parts for advanced heating and air conditioning systems, engine cooling systems, fuel injection and transfer systems, and various other engine parts and it supplies them to the automotive industry primarily in Michigan.... View Details

Keywords: Production; Financial Crisis; Corporate Finance; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Michigan

March 2004 (Revised May 2005)
Case

Foreign Exchange Hedging Strategies at General Motors

By: Mihir A. Desai and Mark Veblen

How should a multinational firm manage foreign exchange exposures? Examines transactional, translational, and competitive exposures. Describes General Motors' corporate hedging policies, its risk management structure, and how accounting rules impact hedging decisions.... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Multinational Firms and Management; Currency Exchange Rate; Investment; Financial Markets; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Argentina; Japan; Canada; United States

October 1988 (Revised May 1990)
Case

Ford Motor Co.: The Product Warranty Program (A)

Raises powerful issues concerning product warranty policy as a strategic marketing variable. Also raises several exciting issues concerning the role of product policy in competitive battles, product line issues, interfunctional coordination issues, and some ethical... View Details

Keywords: Competition; Marketing Strategy; Insurance; Product; Policy; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; United States

02 Feb 2015
Research & Ideas

Disruptors Sell What Customers Want and Let Competitors Sell What They Don’t

develop their own infrastructure first. "We used to say that auto companies, telecoms, and big retailers weren't at risk of disruption within their industries, because there were such high barriers to entry; you could never compete with... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

Web

Related Resources - The High Art of Photographic Advertising - Baker Library | Bloomberg Center

intriguing examples of advertising photography with models demonstrating special features of the cars as well as publicity stunts and events including cross-country races, goodwill tours, and celebrity appearances. The collection also contains printed materials from... View Details

20 Apr 2010
First Look

First Look: April 20

supplement:http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/product/310077-PDF-ENG Local Motors: Designed by the Crowd, Built by the Customer Michael I. Norton and Jeremy B. DannHarvard Business School Case 510-062 In the wake of the meltdown among U.S. View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

01 Mar 2009
News

Damon Silvers

policymaker in Europe last week, and he confirmed the Japanese auto industry’s belief that its supply chain in the United States would be disrupted should the three automakers fail. That’s because key suppliers are dependent on having a... View Details

Keywords: Roger Thompson; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

January 2006 (Revised December 2006)
Case

Toyota Motor Corporation: Launching Prius

By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Dennis A. Yao and Masako Egawa

In 1995, Hiroshi Okuda, president of Toyota Motor Corp., considers whether to push for a more aggressive launch of the Toyota Prius--an automobile that incorporates Toyota's new and technically advanced hybrid power train. This launch decision allows discussion of the... View Details

Keywords: Environmental Sustainability; Product Launch; Transportation; Brands and Branding; Manufacturing Industry; Green Technology Industry; Auto Industry; Japan

01 Aug 2001
News

Cleveland Global Alumni Conference a Sold-Out Success

had to undertake a complete transformation of how Merck operates," he said, outlining strategies that included stepping up resources devoted to scientific research and marketing, integrating divisions of the company, and heading off problems in the clinical process by... View Details

Keywords: Hanna, Julia; Frank Batten (MBA '52); Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

01 Sep 2009
News

Read All About It!

increased workplace opportunities for blacks and women, and heightened job security and compensation for workers generally, things began to unravel in the 1970s. As the manufacturing sector declined and the country transitioned to a... View Details

Keywords: Garry Emmons; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information

December 2014 (Revised January 2015)
Supplement

Vehbi Koç and the Making of Turkey's Largest Business Group (B)

By: Asli M. Colpan and Geoffrey Jones

The case builds on the earlier (A) case, which described the origins of the Turkish business group established by Vehbi Koç before 1988. This case takes the story forward to 2012 as the Koç group was led by Vehbi's son Rahmi followed by his grandson Mustafa. It... View Details

Keywords: Business Groups; Turkey; Entrepreneurship; Management; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Central Asia; Middle East

August 1994
Case

Saturn Corp.'s Module II Decision

In the Spring of 1994, Saturn Corp. was setting sales records by attracting more than 25,000 buyers per month. Saturn officials believed there was a long-term opportunity to sell 400,000 to 500,000 cars per year in the United States and selected international markets.... View Details

Keywords: Cost vs Benefits; Production; Expansion; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Tennessee; United States