The case describes how Canon has sustained a very high growth rate by continuously building new capabilities and exploiting these capabilities. In particular, the case focuses on the company's organizational structures and management processes that support its ability to build and leverage competencies.
The case provides a vehicle for teaching the resource or core competency based view of strategy. It allows students to understand how such an approach differs from and complements the more traditional conceptualization of strategy, focused on industry structure. Further, it also provides an opportunity to discuss the organizational attributes necessary to manage a company as a portfolio of capabilities.
- Organisational structure
- Strategy
- Background information
- Employee participation
