Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • May 2020 (Revised January 2022)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (A)

By: Linda A. Hill, Allison J. Wigen and Emily Tedards
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:36
ShareBar

Abstract

Michael Ku joined Pfizer in 2011, after the company had undergone three large-scale mergers and acquisitions. His mission was to drive the digital transformation of the company’s clinical supply chain, but he knew he had to start with the culture. Over the next eight years, Ku and his leadership team put in place the culture, talent, structure, and processes necessary to prime the clinical supply chain for digital transformation. By 2019, the clinical supply chain had made significant progress toward becoming the agile, innovative organization necessary to support Pfizer’s new ambition to focus exclusively on developing innovative medicines and vaccines. Ku knew there was more to be done before they could maximize their digital and innovation efforts. He had asked his leadership team to come up with a proposal to improve decision-making in the organization.

Keywords

Innovation; Digital; Change; Culture; Management; Talent; Pharmaceutical Companies; Customer-centricity; Collaboration; Cross-functional Management; Purpose; Leadership; Innovation and Invention; Transformation; Organizational Culture; Change Management; Talent and Talent Management; Customer Focus and Relationships; Supply Chain; Decision Making; Mission and Purpose

Citation

Hill, Linda A., Allison J. Wigen, and Emily Tedards. "Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (A)." Harvard Business School Case 420-108, May 2020. (Revised January 2022.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Linda A. Hill

Organizational Behavior
→More Publications

Related Work

    • December 2020 (Revised January 2022)
    • Faculty Research

    Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (B)

    By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Tedards
    • October 2021 (Revised January 2022)
    • Faculty Research

    Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (C)

    By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Tedards
    • May 2020 (Revised January 2022)
    • Faculty Research

    Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (A)

    By: Linda A. Hill, Allison J. Wigen and Emily Tedards
Related Work
  • Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (B) By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Tedards
  • Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (C) By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Tedards
  • Michael Ku and Global Clinical Supply at Pfizer Inc.: Bringing Hope to Patients (A) By: Linda A. Hill, Allison J. Wigen and Emily Tedards
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College