The 3M Company (B): Defining Strategy (1950-1990)

The first of the three cases in the 3M Company Series describes the building of the Company from 1914 through to the 1950s. The second, B, case deals with the growth years with particular emphasis on the development of the organisation and strategy needed to keep the company entrepreneurial as it grew in size and in technologies.

This two part case series presents the reorganisation of 3M's European operations in 1992 from a strong, autonomous country structure to a pan-European product line structure matrixed with a regional structure.