Professor Yoshino holds the Herman C. Krannert Chair in Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and is a Director of Research. He specializes in global strategy and management, competitive strategy, and general management. A founding member of the Executive Committee of the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute at Harvard, he has also served on the Board of Directors of the National Bureau of Economic Research, the leading economic research organization in the United States.
Professor Yoshino earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University and joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 1971. At Harvard, he has taught in the MBA program, the Advanced Management Program, the Program for Management Development and the International Senior Management Program in Switzerland.
Professor Yoshino has held a variety of administrative positions at the Harvard Business School, including serving as Director of Research and Chair of the General Management Area. He has also served on the Editorial Board of the Harvard Business Review.
Professor Yoshino has written widely. His latest books include Invisible Link: Organization of Trade (the MIT Press) and Strategic Alliances (the Harvard Business School Press).
Professor Yoshino has extensive consulting experience in the areas of global strategy, competitive strategy, and general management. He has extensive experience as well in designing and teaching executive development programs for major corporations and government agencies worldwide. His past and present clients include IBM, Eli Lilly, Dun and Bradstreet, British Petroleum, and Philips.
Professor and Mrs. Yoshino have two grown children and reside in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The case captures the challenges Komatsu, the second largest manufacturer of the earth moving equipment faced during the past five decades as it sought to globalize its operations. By 2007, it had become the second largest manufacturer of the earth moving equipment with more than 80% of its sales coming from outside of Japan. It has built a network of plants, distributors and service centers around the world. Senior management is convinced that a major reason for its success is its culture, recently articulated as the Komatsu Way. The central issue in the case is how to transmit and embed it to its far flung operations throughout the world.
Yoshino, Michael Y., and Endo Yukihiko. "Transformation of Matsushita Electric Industrial (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 910-416, March 2010.
View Details
A young Italian MBA working for a Swiss multinational is sent to India to establish a subsidiary and implement the strategy he prepared at headquarters as a strategic planner. This case focuses on three core strategic decisions he must make as his plan is challenged by his local Indian management team and Schindler's European plants supplying him. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Carlos Ghosn, a former executive vice-president of Renault, became the COO of Nissan Motor Co., a troubled auto company in Japan when Renault bought 38% of the company in 1999. This case deals with how Ghosn turned the company around. Examines in considerable detail how he went about successfully energizing and mobilizing the demoralized employees after a decade of failed efforts. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Vernon Ellis, managing partner of Andersen Consulting -- Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India (AC -- EMEAI), is considering how best to reorganize. AC -- EMEAI has grown rapidly over the past five years to become Europe's largest consulting operation. However, Ellis feels that the organization needs to be reconfigured if it has to continue on its trajectory of rapid growth. Each of the various alternatives that he is considering offers intriguing potential benefits but also carries considerable risks.
Carlos Ghosn, a former executive vice president of Renault, became the COO of Nissan Motor Co., a troubled auto company in Japan when Renault bought 38% of the company in 1999. This case deals with how Ghosn turned the company around. Examines in considerable detail how he went about successfully energizing and mobilizing the demoralized employees after a decade of failed efforts. Having successfully transformed itself, the company faces a series of major challenges in the global marketplace.
The company, once an outstanding Japan-based global leader in electronics and major appliances, suffered poor performance during the 1990s. Kunio Nakamura became CEO in 2001 and sought to transform the company in a fundamental way. Examines the company's history, distinct management system, and culture as well as the challenges facing Nakamura. Also examines his initial efforts.
A leading Japanese general trading company with an extensive global presence is in the process of transformation. For some time, in response to the rapidly changing business environment, the company has made serious efforts to transform itself from an organization specializing in trading to one with diverse activities, including trading. Examines the challenges facing the organization throughout that process. Includes color exhibits.
Eve Stacey, a recent Harvard MBA, has the challenging task of evaluating the market opportunity for NutraSweet in China. She must decide how best to develop the market for the product in China. May be used with NutraSweet in China (B).
Yoshino, Michael Y., and Carin-Isabel Knoop. "NutraSweet in China (A)." Harvard Business School Case 397-029, August 1996. (Revised October 2003.)
View Details
On Wednesday, May 29, 2002, the board of directors of Renault-Nissan BV (RNBV) met for the first time to discuss the state of the alliance between Renault SA and Nissan Motors-two of the world's largest automakers. RNBV was a 50/50 joint venture company established in March of that year to oversee the strategy of the alliance and all activities undertaken jointly by Renault and Nissan. The new company would "steer alliance strategy and supervise common activities on a global level, while respecting the identity and culture of each company and not interfering in operations." Executives at both companies believed much had been accomplished in the first three years of the alliance. Nissan, under Carlos Ghosn's leadership, had improved its finances dramatically and was rapidly reemerging as a major player in the global auto industry. Moreover, the alliance partners were in line with their initial forecast of $3.3 billion in cost savings and synergies promised by 2002, according to their internal reporting. As the board prepared to meet, Louis Schweitzer and Ghosn believed the alliance faced difficult challenges ahead. To what extent would the two companies be able to realize further savings and synergies, particularly in the areas of manufacturing and additional sales? How should the RNBV board address issues that had surfaced as employees of the two firms worked together across disparate corporate and national cultures, functions, and geographies? Ultimately, would the two firms be able to strike a balance between deepening their alliance while "respecting the identity and culture of each company and not interfering in operations?"
Yoshino, Michael Y., and Perry Fagan. "Silvio Napoli at Schindler India (C)." Harvard Business School Case 302-055, October 2001. (Revised August 2002.)
View Details
One year later, Yashiro and his management team can be proud of the young bank's first-year results, but face a set of difficult implementation issues.
In a deal marking the first acquisition of a domestic Japanese financial institution by foreigners, a consortium of Western investors purchased the assets of the Long Term Credit Bank (LTCB) of Japan in March 2000. The new management renames the bank Shinsei Bank, meaning new birth, and sets about implementing a bold new strategy calling for a hybrid bank that includes commercial, retail, and investment banking activities, managed according to Western banking principles. This case reviews the events that led up to LTCBs failure, nationalization, and subsequent purchase. The job of making the hybrid bank work falls to Shinsei president and CEO Masamoto Yashiro. Yashiro wonders how he can manage this hybrid bank.
Brazil's media conglomerate Editora Abril S.A. is Latin America's largest publishing and printing company; it publishes books, and comic books, videos, maps, travel guides, music, and textbooks. It also owns Brazil's largest database marketing company, its second-largest pay television service, and its first broadband Internet access service; an interactive music Website; and stakes in the coutry's largest Internet access provider and its MTV license. Roberto Civita, Abril's 64-year-old chairman, CEO, and sole owner needs to decide how to grow the enterprise that his father founded. He and his two sons have several options: continue to grow their core magazine business in Brazil, expand regionally, invest in new venues such as broadcasting, take the company public, and/or manage the succession. This case describes Abril's development to date and the challenges it faces in 2000.
Sime Darby is one of South Asia's largest regional conglomerates. In 1995, it is contemplating entry into the fast-growing financial services sector in Malaysia through the acquisition of a Malaysian bank. This is in keeping with its activities mirroring those of the Malaysian economy. The case discusses whether to proceed with the acquisition. Exposes the underlying sources of value creation of the conglomerate in the institutional context, which affect the costs and benefits of broad corporate scope, especially the evolving capital market and the tight interrelationship between business and politics.
Khanna, Tarun, Michael Y. Yoshino, and Danielle J. Melito. "Sime Darby Berhad (A): 1995." Harvard Business School Case 797-017, November 1996. (Revised March 2001.)
View Details
In 1995, Hewlett-Packard Home Products Division (HPD) has the assignment to make Hewlett-Packard the third major home PC player worldwide. With the U.S. launch imminent, the HPD team has to decide how to enter the European market.
In June 1999, Spain's former state-owned oil giant Repsol, acquired 97% of YPF, despite opposition from YPF management. The case describes the status of the two companies at the time of the acquisition and highlights concerns expressed by industry analysts on the deal.
Examines major issues faced by Eli Lilly as it evaluates the appropriateness of a focused matrix organization with extensive use of cross-functional teams.
Yoshino, Michael Y., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Cate Reavis. "Egon Zehnder International: Implementing Practice Groups TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 300-026, August 1999.
View Details
Dr. Hans Fritz is 37 years old when he arrives in Bangkok on March 1, 1998 to assume his position as general manager of Novartis Thailand. Novartis is the world's largest pharmaceutical company. He had lobbied to transition from a staff position to this line management assignment. He encounters an organization in chaos, a demoralized staff, and a market in crisis. The case describes his first month in this new position. His most important task at this stage is to set priorities when everything needs to be done at once. He has to decide whom to trust on his team and what to do in the short, medium, and long term.
In March 1995, YPF (the former Argentine state-owned oil and gas utility, privatized in late 1993) acquired the Dallas-based Maxus Energy Corp., one of the world's largest independent oil and gas exploration companies. YPF's first acquisition is nearly bankrupt, with close to $1 billion in long-term debt. Roberto Monti takes over as CEO in August 1995. The case describes the steps he took to stem losses at Maxus before being named CEO of YPF in April 1997.
Examines the evolution of Otis's joint venture in China, from inception to the political crisis in 1989. Raises the question of whether or not the company should make an additional investment in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square incident.
Follows the impact of a change in global strategy on a diversified company's global organization structure. Reviews the company's subsequent performance internationally. Also presents reflections by top management on future possible change in the organization structure.
Yoshino, Michael Y., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Anthony St. George. Li & Fung: Beyond "Filling in the Mosaic," 1995-1998 TN. Harvard Business School Teaching Note 399-001, October 1998.
View Details
Yoshino, Michael Y., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Anthony St. George. "NutraSweet in China TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 399-068, October 1998.
View Details
Follows the impact of a change in global strategy on a diversified company's global organization structure. Traces two failed attempts at bringing a business perspective to a geographic organization, and poses the problem of what the international division president can do.
In early 1998, William and Victor Fung had to review their business, the Li & Fung Group, to plan for the next three years. Examines strategic and organizational issues including company culture, international expansion, and venture capital projects. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Describes the privatization of YPF Sociedad Anonima and the company's dilemma of whether to acquire a troubled U.S. oil company as a way of becoming a global oil company.
Since its creation in 1964, executive search firm Egon Zehnder International (EZI) marketed its consultants as "generalists." As searches became more global and industry-specific in the 1990s, CEO Daniel Meiland decided the firm needed to offer specialized services. By 1995, industry-specific practice groups were incorporated into EZI's organizational structure. The case examines how practice groups might affect EZI's ability to maintain its "one firm" egalitarian philosophy. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Examines the process of privatization and transformation the company underwent and identifies challenges facing the company as it seeks to become a global oil company.
YPF, a recently privatized and restructured Argentine-based oil company now turns its attention to international expansion and faces an opportunity to acquire Maxus, a troubled U.S. oil company. The case discusses whether the company should go ahead with the proposed acquisition.
Yoshino, Michael Y., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Anthony St. George. "NutraSweet in China (B)." Harvard Business School Case 398-087, December 1997.
View Details
In 1994, Egon Zehnder faced stagnation in the U.S. market and needed to discuss plans for intiating growth. Due to market demand the firm was not forced to implement options contemplated in 1994 to initiate growth.
Yoshino, Michael Y., Carin-Isabel Knoop, and Cate Reavis. "Egon Zehnder International (B)." Harvard Business School Case 398-059, October 1997. (Revised October 1997.)
View Details
Meredith Hellicar's mission as general manager of corporate development is to make TNT Ltd. one of the biggest and most diverse transport and logistic companies in the world, with approximately $5 billion in turnover in 1993, a leading provider of logistics services in Asia. The case describes the approach she used to rank countries and select China and Thailand as priority markets. She has just presented her recommendation to the board when a major independent distributor in Indonesia contacts her for a potential partnership. She has to rapidly decide how to handle this unexpected opportunity and reconsider her priorities.
Remarks by William (Bill) Barnard, partner-in-charge for Strategic Services in the subregion of Western Europe, in a conversation he had with Professors Ashish Nanda and Michael Yoshino of the Harvard Business School on November 1, 1995.
Yoshino, Michael Y., Jean-Pierre Jeannet, and Carin-Isabel Knoop. "Ares-Serono (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 396-104, November 1995. (Revised March 1996.)
View Details
Williamson, J. Peter, Michael Y. Yoshino, and Henry Lawrence. "STAR TV (B and C Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 395-038, September 1994. (Revised December 1995.)
View Details
Describes Citibank's worldwide operations, which include activities in developing and developed markets. The bank's structure also varies across markets and regions, varying from autonomous national affiliates to an industry/product-based structure in its domestic U.S. market. While the bank has an existing organization for handling large multinational customers with significant operations (and thus business) in multiple regions, the bank is considering how also to serve local customers who are in the process of expanding to more than one region.
Ares Serono, a medium-size Swiss pharmaceutical company, is the global leader in the field of fertility drugs. The company has successfully transformed into one of the very few biotech firms in Europe. The case treats a set of major strategic and organizational challenges facing a new CEO.
Chandler, a large U.S. consumer products firm, is rationalizing its European operations. Tony Pesci, protagonist, is deciding which plants to close for maximum efficiency. The manufacturing/marketing relationship is strained as efficiency is being weighed against cross-cultural marketing.
Describes Otis's effort to build a regional organization linking its previously autonomous opportunities across the Pacific Asia region. Describes changes being made in several key functions, including manufacturing, marketing, engineering, and finance. Presents major challenges being faced as the company tries to move toward a coordinated regional organization. Designed to examine issues associated with building an integrated organization in a highly competitive environment.
Describes a parent-subsidiary relationship in the high technology industry. The subsidiary, located in Japan, has been expanding its activities throughout the 1980s in the face of stiff local competition. Examines the dilemma facing corporate and country management as to the proper role of each respective organization in building the company's business. Some critical issues include communications across functions in a high technology environment and deciding how to build a successful business in Japan.
Williamson, J. Peter, Michael Y. Yoshino, and Henry Laurence. "STAR TV (A, B, and C Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 395-089, October 1994. (Revised January 1995.)
View Details
Bain & Co., a leading strategy consulting firm, faces major strategic and organizational issues regarding global expansion. The Bain partners must choose a course among many exciting and attractive opportunities for growth. Also explores organizational and managerial implications for various growth scenarios.
Examines strategic and organizational issues facing Citibank as it pursues a highly focused strategy in Europe in the face of increasing competition. Central in this consideration is the role of the European regional organization.
Asks the students to evaluate the challenges a company faced in the summer of 1989 in the light of great political uncertainties. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Describes a set of challenges facing Otis Elevator's joint venture in China as it seeks to expand to other regions of the country. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Describes what happened and presents the perspectives of the three executives who played key roles in the process. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Concerns the decision whether or not to launch a satellite television service in Asia in the 1990-1991 period. STAR TV was a joint venture between Hutchison Whampoa and Li-Ka Shing and was established to launch such a service. Li-Ka Shing's son, Richard, was CEO. Considers the background to the satellite TV industry in Europe and the United States, the likely success of such a venture in Asia, and strategic and tactical issues.
Describes the elevator market and Otis's competitive position in four markets: Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, and Japan. The student is asked to evaluate the strategic and competitive challenges in each market, especially in light of strong Japanese competition across the region. Designed to give students appreciation of operating in the heterogeneous Asian environment in highly competitive markets.
Ten years after entering Japan, P&G had accumulated over $250 million in operating losses on declining annual sales of $120 million by 1983. The decision facing the president of P&G International: exit, retrench or rebuild the operation? Ironically, the initial entry was a success story with P&G Japan achieving an operating breakeven in their fifth year and market leadership in a number of categories. However, in the late 1970's market share and profit in all categories declined disastrously. Management changes failed to reverse the trends until an objective examination of the entry strategy, approach to the Japanese consumer, competition, technology and internal organization were made. By 1983, accelerating losses forced P&G to decide whether to exit or stay.
Examines the changes taking place in Eli Lilly in response to the globalization of the pharmaceuticals industry. Identifies the steps taken by management, problems currently faced, and challenges for the future. Allows examination of the process of implementing a global strategy from the headquarters perspective.
Examines the challenges facing the company in light of the changing economic, regulatory, and competitive environment in the European pharmaceutical industry. Examines the steps taken by the company adapting to this changing situation as part of a total globalization strategy and aggressive growth objectives in the region. Allows examination of the changing roles of country, regional, and headquarters management.
Updates the (A) case. The issues facing P&G were two-fold. 1) General manager, Japan--how to keep both the business and organization growing; 2) President, international--what role should the Japanese operation play in the P&G worldwide business?
Examines Otis's market entry strategy in China through a joint venture with Tianjin Elevator Works. The teaching objective is a basic evaluation of a joint venture in a developing country. May be used with Otis Elevator Co.: China Joint Venture (B1), (B2), and (D).
Describes the process of establishing an independent operation in Japan in the mid-1980s as a result of a decision to make a major investment in the market. Describes the challenges in setting up such an operation and focuses on the role of the country manager in managing for rapid growth in a complex but key market.
Examines the company's global strategy and potential acquisition of Philips' major domestic appliance operations in Europe in light of increasing trends toward globilization in the major appliance industry. Allows discussions weighing the advantages and risks of entering a major market through a joint venture with an established competitor.
Discusses how Philips, a major Dutch-based multinational company, attempts to bring about a fundamental change in its strategy, organization, and culture in response to a rapidly changing market and competitive environment.
Presents tapes of interviews with Forrest Behm (previously president of Corning International), Bill Hudson (ex-country manager, international business manager, world board chairman, and current product division manager), and Van Campbell (corporate treasurer). Reflections and lessons on the changes in Corning's international strategy and organization 1975-80.
