Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?

David J. Collis; Michael G. Rukstad

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Article | Harvard Business Review | April 2008

Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?

by David J. Collis and Michael G. Rukstad

Keywords: Strategy;

Format: Print

Find at Harvard

Citation:

Collis, David J., and Michael G. Rukstad. "Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?" Harvard Business Review 86, no. 4 (April 2008). (50th Anniversary McKinsey Award Winner for Best Article in Harvard Business Review, 2009.)

About the Author

David J. Collis

Adjunct Professor

Strategy

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Case | HBS Case Collection | September 2020

Hitachi Rail Limited (A)

David J. Collis, Akiko Kanno and Nobuo Sato

Hitachi must decide whether to make a British executive, who has successfully built its European rail business from scratch, head of its global rail division even though the bulk of revenues for the unit still come from Japan. The case describes, the history of Hitachi Rail as the provider of trains for the Japanese Shinkansen, its struggles to build a European business with expatriates before the success of an outside hire, Alistair Dormer, in winning major contracts in the UK. By 2014, Hitachi is wondering whether to make Dormer CEO of the global rail business in order to further globalise the unit. Will an outsider and a foreigner be the correct choice for a Japanese company? How can the values of the Japanese company be preserved as it globalises? what changes are necessary to further globalise the business?

Keywords: Global Strategy; Leadership; Values and Beliefs; Rail Industry; Japan;

Citation:
Collis, David J., Akiko Kanno, and Nobuo Sato. "Hitachi Rail Limited (A)." Harvard Business School Case 721-364, September 2020. View Details

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Supplement | HBS Case Collection | September 2020

Hitachi Rail Limited (B)

David J. Collis, Akiko Kanno and Nobuo Sato

Describes the strategy and organisation changes made by British executive, Alistair Domer, after he is made head of Hitachi Rail's global business. The company acquires an Italian company, continues to win contracts in the UK, but struggles to bring its greenfield manufacturing facility up to speed as knowledge transfer from Japan proves difficult. Dormer creates a new global organisation structure with executives based in different geographies and tries to maintain the traditional Hitachi values in the new organisation.

Keywords: strategy; global strategy; organization structure; leader selection; Mergers ＆ Acquisitions; Global Strategy; Organizational Structure; Leadership; Mergers and Acquisitions; Rail Industry; Japan;

Citation:
Collis, David J., Akiko Kanno, and Nobuo Sato. "Hitachi Rail Limited (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 721-365, September 2020. View Details

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Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | May 2020

Digitalization at Siemens

David J. Collis

Teaching Note for HBS No. 717-428.

Keywords: Innovation and Invention; Technology; Computer Industry; Health Industry; Industrial Products Industry; Information Technology Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Rail Industry; Technology Industry;

Citation:
Collis, David J. "Digitalization at Siemens." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 720-462, May 2020. View Details

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Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?

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