Publications
Publications
- June 1993 (Revised April 1998)
- HBS Case Collection
COMCO Holding AG (B): COMCO Martech
Abstract
COMCO Martech was a new breed of joint venture for COMCO Holding, a mid-sized Swiss-German company that had grown over a five-year period through tie-ups with small, start-up companies. Whereas a typical COMCO venture provided services to a large German retailer, was based in a German-speaking country of Europe, and granted COMCO Holding clear management control, COMCO Martech was managed on a 50-50 basis with an American partner, was active in Eastern Europe, and supplied decontamination services to non-retail related clients. The venture got off to a rocky start. This case looks at the difficulties that arise in managing cross-boundary collaboration; the characteristics that promote compatibility between partners; and the factors that account for successful international partnerships.
Keywords
Joint Ventures; Business Startups; Trade; Operations; Environmental Sustainability; Business Or Company Management; Multinational Firms And Management; Partners And Partnerships; Switzerland; United States; Europe
Citation
Kanter, Rosabeth M. "COMCO Holding AG (B): COMCO Martech." Harvard Business School Case 393-143, June 1993. (Revised April 1998.)
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