Publications

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; Auto Industry; Michigan

2 Jun 2011
Other Presentation

Michigan Competitiveness: Creating an Economic Strategy in a Time of Austerity

By: Michael E. Porter

Keywords: Economics; Growth and Development

March 2011 (Revised April 2021)
Case

The Whiz Kids

By: Tom Nicholas and David Chen

In October 1945, Henry Ford II received a telegram in his office at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan written by Charles "Tex" Thornton, a U.S. Air Force colonel. The telegram presented an opportunity for Ford to deploy a system of statistical control which... View Details

Keywords: Ford Motor Company; Statistical Control; Management Systems; Accounting; Operations; Strategy; Mathematical Methods; Auto Industry; United States

December 2005 (Revised April 2011)
Case

C.W. Post

By: Nitin Nohria, Anthony Mayo and Mark Benson

In 1906, C.W. Post had to move his latest breakfast product--corn flakes--from store shelves into cereal bowls nationwide. Post genuinely believed his corn flakes and other breakfast foods would make people well. Through sampling and other innovative sales and... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Innovation and Invention; Brands and Branding; Product Marketing; Sales; Food and Beverage Industry; Battle Creek

November 1989
Teaching Note

The Poletown Dilemma and Poletown Dilemma: The Outcome, Teaching Note

By: Thomas R. Piper

Teaching Note for (9-389-017) and (9-390-068). View Details

Keywords: Auto Industry; Michigan

November 1989
Supplement

The Poletown Dilemma: The Outcome

By: Thomas R. Piper

Summarizes the outcome. View Details

Keywords: Auto Industry; Michigan

December 1988
Case

Great Lakes Diversified Corp.: The Detroit Plant--1980

By: Roy D. Shapiro

Keywords: Buildings and Facilities; Planning; Production; Strategy; Michigan

Find at Harvard

August 1988 (Revised August 1989)
Case

Poletown Dilemma, The

By: Thomas R. Piper

Senior management of General Motors must select a site for a new assembly plant to replace two plants located in Detroit. The economics strongly favor a site in an adjacent state. However, a relocation would have substantial, negative impact on the existing work force,... View Details

Keywords: Factories, Labs, and Plants; Business and Government Relations; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Business Offices; Management Teams; Restructuring; Economics; Auto Industry; Michigan