Publications
Publications
- October 1976 (Revised February 1987)
- HBS Case Collection
Cramer Electronics, Inc.
Abstract
Designed to be the second day of a two-day series on the electronic component distribution industry, following a day spent discussing Note on the Electronic Component Distribution Industry and Raytheon Co.: Diversification. The important teaching themes which this case is designed to highlight are: 1) to practice the diagnosis of the strategic health of an industry leader, with emphasis on applying the tests of consistency for an effective strategy; 2) to provide practice in both qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of a company's resources, and the relating of these to strategic priorities; 3) to examine the strategic difficulties in attempting to be a large firm in a fragmented industry; and 4) to explore the difficulty of limiting growth and turning away opportunity as a strategic alternative. The series can be positioned either early in a course on strategy formulation, highlighting industry analysis and strategic testing, or later in such a course with the focus on strategic reaction to innovation, responding to a changing industry and assessing strategic alternatives.
Keywords
Change Management; Innovation Strategy; Management Style; Resource Allocation; Opportunities; Corporate Strategy; Diversification; Distribution Industry; Electronics Industry
Citation
Porter, Michael E. "Cramer Electronics, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 377-063, October 1976. (Revised February 1987.)