15.769  Operations Strategy

Final Presentation Announcement

Announced on 05 December 2010  7:52  p.m. by Wendy Logan

Reminder: Li & Fung for Tomorrow

Announced on 21 November 2010  6:22  p.m. by Julia Reed

revised schedule

Given the consolidations, here is the class plan for the rest of the sessions. Note that Flextronics moves to dec 6 and has a visitor and the two topics of nov, 29 will be expanded to two days. A revised version of the syllabus will shortly be posted

Class 21 Monday, November 29:
Globalization, sourcing overseas, and macroeconomic effects of off shoring

Readings: The following articles are on the Stellar and focus:

“Time to Change the Act”, The Economist, February 21, 2009
“Yes, We’ll Still Make Stuff”, Business Week
“How to make an American job before it is too late, Grove”, BW
“Why Andy Grove is Wrong about Job Growth”, Business Week

Class Plan: In this class we will explore the implications of sourcing overseas, both for individual firms, and for the economies that host them. We will explore the global race for lower factor costs overseas, competing in high cost countries, and the strategic imperatives of large scale global supply networks.

Prepare to answer the following questions for class:

1. What strategies can a manufacturing or services company follow in the era of outsourcing? When and how can any company stay in a high-cost location.
2. What is the likely endgame in manufacturing for high cost countries, such as the U.S.?
3. What are the global macroeconomic effects of off shoring (e.g. Major parts of certain industries going offshore)?

Class 22 Wednesday, December 1. Using Joint ventures in globalization

Case: Chiang-Sho, Ltd.

1. What were the strategic motives of Global and Chengdu, respectively, for entering the joint venture? Was either of these strategies obviously faulty, ex ante?
2. How would you judge the launch of CSL? What did the partners do right? What did they do wrong?
3. What is your assessment of the negotiating positions of each company, once they got into unexpected territory? Should either party have anticipated these problems?
4. What are the lessons for global joint ventures and in working in China?

Class 23 Monday, December 6:
Supplier power and overseas sourcing, Moving up the value chain in outsourcing

Case: “Flextronics International”

Class Plan: We will explore outsourcing in the context of design and the strategic issues created when a vertical integration or outsourcing decision creates a competitive situation with your customers. We will have Dan Croteau, President of Flextronics Medical, will join the class

Prepare to answer the following (4) questions for class:

1. Should you accept the offer from the OEM for an exclusive contract for iPhone 4?
2. If you are an OEM, would you accept an offer from Flextronics for an ODM phone?
3. What are the opportunities and risks for Flextronics as it progresses from state to state as a CM, CDM, and ODM? What are the opportunities and risks for an OEM as it does business with Flextronics at each stage?
4. Would you aggressively pursue the strategy of being an ODM?

Class 24 Wednesday, December 8:
Presentations part 2 and wrap up

Readings: Finish Chapter 11 of Beckman and Rosenfield

Class Plan: Class presentations and wrap up the course

Announced on 19 November 2010  5:29  p.m. by Donald B Rosenfield

Update for Final Presentation

Announced on 17 November 2010  4:57  p.m. by Wendy Logan

All Case and Group Writeup Comments/Grades Available Online

Announced on 08 November 2010  3:11  p.m. by Wendy Logan