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  • March 2016 (Revised February 2020)
  • Teaching Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Compass Group: The Ascension Health Decision

By: Ryan W. Buell
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:34
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Abstract

In 2012, Compass Group (Compass) was on the verge of closing a $2 billion deal with Ascension Health (Ascension), one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States. Under the deal, Compass would provide foodservice management and cleaning services for 86 of Ascension's hospitals. Compass employs a "sectorized" approach to deliver service through a portfolio of focused brands, each of which targets focused groups of customers with specific needs. After months of negotiating, the deal had come down to a single request: Could Compass provide these two services through a single operation? Compass must weigh the benefits of operational focus against the prospect of a very lucrative contract. The case details the strengths and limitations of a sectorized strategy. It also provides a window into the complicated and time-intensive supplier selection process inherent in many business-to-business service relationships.

Keywords

Operations Strategy; Sectorization; Operational Focus; Customer Compatibility; Service Operations; Service Delivery; Operations; Customer Focus and Relationships; Service Industry; Health Industry; United States

Citation

Buell, Ryan W. "Compass Group: The Ascension Health Decision." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 616-046, March 2016. (Revised February 2020.)
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About The Author

Ryan W. Buell

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • March 2016 (Revised February 2020)
    • Faculty Research

    Compass Group: The Ascension Health Decision

    By: Ryan W. Buell
Related Work
  • Compass Group: The Ascension Health Decision By: Ryan W. Buell
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