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  • March 1990 (Revised June 1993)
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Analog Devices, Inc.: The Half-Life System

By: Robert S. Kaplan
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:26
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Abstract

The company has committed to major improvements in quality, cost, and on-time delivery performance. Despite strong senior management support, however, the actual rate of improvement was disappointing until a new measurement philosophy was introduced. The new approach specified expected rates of improvement and compared actual improvements to the expected rate. Operational people preferred the new measures to the monthly financial reports they continued to receive. The case explores the conflicts between financial measurements and operating improvements.

Keywords

Quality; Performance Improvement; Earnings Management; Financial Reporting; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Performance Productivity; Business or Company Management; Cost Management; Measurement and Metrics; Management Teams; Semiconductor Industry

Citation

Kaplan, Robert S. "Analog Devices, Inc.: The Half-Life System." Harvard Business School Case 190-061, March 1990. (Revised June 1993.)
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About The Author

Robert S. Kaplan

Accounting and Management
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Related Work

    • November 1990 (Revised May 1999)
    • Faculty Research

    Analog Devices, Inc.: The Half-Life System, Teaching Note

    By: Robert S. Kaplan
Related Work
  • Analog Devices, Inc.: The Half-Life System, Teaching Note By: Robert S. Kaplan
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