National competitiveness
Kennedy and the Balance of Payments
In 1960, the United States faced a balance of payments problem. Gold reserves were depleted, American products lost competitiveness, and the dollar was attacked. This case looks at the roots of this problem, provides an opportunity to discuss balance of payments accounting in depth, and allows students to explore different solutions to balance of payments …
Armscor: Life After Apartheid?
After taking office, South Africa’s new president, Nelson Mandela, will have to decide whether to abolish or support Armscor, South Africa’s state arms company, which was a mainstay of the apartheid regime. To make matters worse, the arms industry was South Africa’s leading exporter of manufactures and a major employer. If Mandela chooses to support …
Xiaomi: At a Crossroads
Investors had lost confidence in the Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. It was once one of the world’s most valuable private tech companies valued at $ 45 billion after four years of operation. With Xiaomi, founder Lei Jun had created an internet company with an online business model that made technology-driven products with minimal margins. He …
Asociacion Colombiana de Industrias Plasticas (Acoplasticos)
Acoplasticos was founded in 1961 as a pressure group for the largest Colombian plastics manufacturers. In the early 1980s, the company changed its focus to improve the productivity of Colombia’s plastics and rubber group, which also included certain petrochemical, synthetic fiber, paint and ink industries. Over time, the organization’s activities have expanded to include cluster …
Teaming at GE Aviation
It describes the challenges and successes GE’s aviation business has faced in implementing a teamwork structure and culture at all of its plants throughout its supply chain. GE Aviation leadership had experienced dramatic increases in productivity, quality and employee satisfaction at manufacturing facilities that implemented teamwork, the goal of which was to bring decision making …
K-Pop: A Global Music Factory Fizzling Out
As the success of Psy “Gangnam Style” shows, KPop (Korean pop) has been successful not only in Asia but also in many other countries. KPop’s current success relies heavily on its systematic production system, and this new business model has changed the management paradigm in the entertainment industry. However, recently there has been a growing …
Chinese Beer Industry, 2004
Describe the landscape of the Chinese beer industry and its competitive environment in 2004. Describe the characteristics of the industry, namely demand, products, distribution channels, segmented markets and imports. It also presents a profile of the most important local and foreign players in the market, as well as their expansion strategies and modes of entry, …
Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM)
Le Center Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A. (CSEM), the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, was a major non-profit research institution based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, with roots in the Swiss watch industry. CSEM maintained close connections with a number of Swiss universities and, over time, the center’s activities expanded to include basic and applied …
Institutions for Collaboration, Overview
Provides an overview of the wide variety of organizations, as well as corporations, government and regulatory departments, and universities that can have a significant impact on competitiveness. These intermediary organizations, known as Cooperation Institutions (CFI), include, for example, chambers of commerce, industrial associations, professional associations, trade unions, technology transfer organizations, quality centers, think tanks, associations …