You are on page 1of 3

Case Study Intro

Case studies are meant to get you thinking broadly about the issues that are
presented in the case and connect these issues with what you are studying in the
class. The goal of a case analysis is to derive a cohesive problem(s) out of the
numerous facts that are presented in the case and to come up with feasible
solutions. It is common for each student to have different ideas about a case. The
value of a case discussion comes from everyone discussing (in an informal manner)
their thoughts. This way we all learn from each other.
The questions listed below are meant to help you focus on important issues in the
cases. You are encouraged to think of your own issues too. As a starting point to
our case discussions I would like you to analyze two cases (IBM and Atlanta Home
Loan) using the Discussion Board feature in Blackboard. You enter the discussion by
logging into Blackboard and clicking on Discussions. Read the discussion thread
related to each question. Come up with a response (continuing the discussion and
sharing your own ideas). This will get you warmed up for your time in the
classroom. Keep in mind that the discussion board is meant to be informal (just like
it would be in the classroom). So it is totally appropriate for your responses to be in
a conversational tone.

Case Questions
Information Systems
IBM
1. What factors led to IBMs success during the 1960s and 1970s and
its problems during the late 1980s and early 1990s?
2. What did Gerstner do when he assumed the role of CEO in April
1993? Evaluate Gerstners approach to crisis management. How
well did he perform as a turnaround manager? What challenges
did he face as he attempted to position the company for growth?
3. Why do large established companies, like IBM, find it so difficult to
build successful and sustainable new businesses?
4. Evaluate IBMs approach to leading mature, high growth, and
emerging business opportunities. What are the organization
design and leadership models required to manage each type of
business? How should a company like IBM (or AT&T, for example)
manage the innovation process?
5. What challenges did Sam Palmisano face as he assumed control of
IBM in March 2002? Can a company like IBM (or an organization
like the Army) be organized for both innovation and efficient

operation can it be both big and small? What advice would


you give Palmisano at the end of the case?
Hilton
1. What is Hiltons core business?
2. Evaluate the performance of the Customers Really Matter initiative
to date.
3. What do you think Hilton leadership should do after the Blackstone
acquisition? Should they further invest in CRM or simply maintain
the status quo? What aspects of Hiltons CRM should be
strengthened, if any, and how?
Beth Israel Deaconess
1.

What principles have governed the design of the BIDMC's clinical


information system?
2.
How do the various components of the information system
influence clinical practice? Does each component influence
practice in the same way?
3.
How does the BIDMC ensure clinician adoption of the system?
4.
How can other institutions achieve similar results? Can they build
a similar approach using outside vendors?

Management Control Systems


Atlanta Home Loan
1. Identify the devices (controls) that Al Fiorini used to control his
business both before and after he went back to school. Classify
each control as a results, action, or personnel/cultural type of
control.
2. What went wrong? Did Al use the wrong types of controls? Did he
use the right types of controls but fail to design or implement them
properly? Or was he just unlucky?
3. What should Al do now? Why?
Alcon Labs
1.
2.
3.
4.

What
What
What
What

are the critical success factors for Alcon?


is unique about the control environment at Alcon?
control problems does Alcon face?
are the elements of Alcons control system?

5. Evaluate the control system. What, if anything would you suggest


Alcon managers do differently?
6. Even though GAAP requires expensing of R&D, what if, for internal
purposes, R&D was capitalized? Would that help or hurt the
companys ability to control R&D?
Airtex
1
2
3

Did AirTex need a new control system at the time of the takeover?
What is important in this company (what are the important key
recurring decisions)?
Evaluate the control system that Frank and Ted implemented.
Should anything have been done differently?
1 Control of cash
2 Cost allocations
3 Transfer pricing
4 Authority and responsibility
5 Information flow
Will the system evaluated above work? Will they be wildly
successful, a muddling along survivor, or a bankruptcy statistic?

Boston Lyric Opera


1. The Boston Lyric Opera working group has selected eight customer objectives
for its three strategic themes (see bulleted items on pages 57 of the case, also
summarized in the Customer row of Exhibit 5):
Develop loyal and generous supporters
Build reputation on national and international opera scene
Reach the Boston-area community
What measures should the project team select for these eight objectives?
2. What changes were required to adapt the Balanced Scorecard to a nonprofit
organization?
3. What are the benefits from developing the Balanced Scorecard at BLO? What
challenges and barriers must Del Sesto and Dahling-Sullivan overcome to
capture these benefits?
4. Are the departmental managers, artistic leaders, and employees at the BLO more
empowered or less empowered after the Balanced Scorecard has been created?
5. Is Janice Del Sesto using the Balanced Scorecard as a performance measurement
system or a management system?
6. Comment on the process that the BLO used to develop the BSC. What was
critical for the success of the project?

You might also like