Publications
Publications
- April 1993 (Revised October 1996)
- HBS Case Collection
ABB Deutschland (C)
By: Hugo Uyterhoeven
Abstract
Addresses the results and the lessons from the German restructuring effort by focusing in detail on the relationship with the works council and the actions taken for power plants and power transformers, and the sales organization. Closes with a "second wave" of cost cutting and some reflections by the head of ABB Germany, as well as some excerpts from an interview with Percy Barnevik. How did international knowledge transfer help? How much of a constraint were German national and BBC corporate cultures? Can the organization digest a "second wave" of cost cutting? How does the ABB international matrix work, especially for the power transformers business area and for the German power plant operations? How does the domestic matrix work for the sales organization? What leadership and managerial skills are required to succeed in the international matrix? Is ABB the prototype of the global organization of the future?
Keywords
Restructuring; Trade; Cost Management; Leadership Style; Management Skills; Time Management; Relationships; Salesforce Management
Citation
Uyterhoeven, Hugo. "ABB Deutschland (C)." Harvard Business School Case 393-132, April 1993. (Revised October 1996.)