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2011 Multinational Management Case Questions
2011 Multinational Management Case Questions
MULTINATIONAL MANAGEMENT
BMAN 70012
General Remarks
You should not spend equal number of words for each question. Some questions can be
answered shortly, others require more analysis. You can include an update on the case when
appropriate. You should always try to relate the case and its managerial implications to the
content of the class & topics covered in the lectures.
Assignment Questions
1. How was Jollibee to build its dominant position in fast food in the Philippines? What
sources of competitive advantage was it able to develop against McDonald’s in its home
market?
2. How would you evaluate Tony Kitchner’s effectiveness as the first head of Jollibee’s
international division? Does his broad strategic thrust make sense? How effectively did he
develop the organization to implement his priorities?
3. As Noli Tingzon, how would you deal with the three options described at the end of the
case? How would you implement your decisions?
Page 2/4
Assignment Questions
1. What accounts for Acer’s outstanding startup? What caused this company to outpace
scores of other Taiwanese PC companies?
2. After such a strong decade, why did Acer’s growth and profitability tumble in the late
1980s? How do you evaluate Leonard Liu´s performance?
3. How effective has Shih been in rebuilding Acer in the early/mid-90s? What do you think
of his new business concept (“fast food” model, Uniload, Smiling Curve, etc.) and his new
organization model (Client-Server, 21 in 21, etc.)? Is this a visionary framework for
Acer’s future competitiveness or a random series of ill-conceived top-down initiatives?
4. As Stan, what action would you take on Aspire? Should he approve its continued
development? Should he allow AAC to continue to lead the project? Should Aspire
become a global product? If so, who should manage the worldwide rollout?
ELI LILLY
Assignment Questions
1. Did Eli Lilly pursue the right strategy to enter the Indian market?
2. Carefully consider the evolution of the joint venture. Evaluate the three successive IJV
leaders. Identify the unique challenges faced by each.
3. How would you assess the overall performance of the JV? What did the partners learn
from the IJV?
4. What action would you recommend regarding the Ranbaxy partnership? What are the
implications of your recommendation? How would you implement this?
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P&G JAPAN
Assignment Questions
1. As Paolo DeCesare, what factors do you need to consider before deciding what to
recommend in your SK-II presentation to the GLT?
2. Explain why SK-II had the potential to become a global brand within P&G’s worldwide
operations, and include a critical discussion on negative aspects too.
3. Which of the three market options should Paolo DeCesare recommend to the GLT? What
benefits/risks do you expect to gain/face?
4. How should he implement your option? What are the implications for P&G’s new post-
O2005 organization? What support/resistance can you expect?
Assignment Questions
1. How did Philips become the leading consumer electronics company in the world in the
post-war era? What distinctive competencies did they build? What distinctive
incompetencies?
2. How did Matsushita succeed in displacing Philips as No. 1? What were its distinctive
competencies and incompetencies?
3. What do you think of the change each company has made to date – the objectives, the
implementation, the impact? Why is the change so hard for both of them?
4. What recommendation would you make to Gerald Kleisterlee? To Kunio Nakamura?
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SILVIO NAPOLI
Assignment Questions
1. Was Silvio the right choice for general manager of Schindler’s India operations?
2. As Luc Bonnard, how would you evaluate Silvio’s first seven months as a general
manager of the Indian company? What advice would you offer?
3. What advice would you give to Silvio regarding his decision on the nonstandard glass
wall elevator that has been ordered?
4. How should he deal with the challenges he is facing over transfer prices and limited
technical cooperation from the European plants?
Assignment Questions
1. How did the French become the dominant competitors? What sources of competitive
advantage were they able to develop to support their exports? Where were they
vulnerable?
2. What changes in the global industry structure and competitive dynamics led France and
other traditional producers to lose market share to new challengers?
3. What advice would you offer today to the French Minister of Agriculture/head of French
wine industry association/owner of a mid-size vineyard producing wines?
4. What advice would you offer today to the Australian counter-parts?