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Product Overview

Suitable for MBA, EMBA, and GEMBA courses, this case describes the organization and structure of a small European firm providing technical solutions to the defense industry. It combines crucial issues from strategic management and organization and management. The firm was founded by Magnus Sj?land and Rune Thyselius in Stockholm, Sweden, mainly working in the Swedish defense industry but also serving civilian customers. Having received the first large international order, the firm now stood to market itself on a broader international market. An open question is what resources the firm requires to compete in a global arena that differs in many ways from its well-known Swedish defense industry. At the same time, the firm structure demands too much of the owner managers leaving them unable to offer sufficient support for each division to prosper. The case offers unique possibilities to discuss the complex interaction of market forces, the control and management of valuable resources, and organization, in particular its structure and culture.

Learning Objectives

• Explore the dynamics of typical growth-success related problems on an international market. • Understand the importance of correctly defining the industry as foundation of competitor analyses. • Recognize the importance of corporate strategy and its impact on structure and growth in an organization • Become familiar with the connection between strategy (market position) and management (governance structure). • Understand the role of organizational structure to concentrate firm resources towards a strategic goal. •Examine the relevance of rapidly changing environments on formulating and executing strategies. •Illustrate the positive role of entrepreneurial spirit driving growth in organizations and the challenges that creates when attempting to grow.