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Mercedes-Benz and 'Swatch': Inventing the Smart and the Networked Organization

By Ben M. Bensaou,  Eric Pfaffmann
Published 01 Jan 1998
Reference 4765
Topic Strategy
Industry Automotive,  Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing,  Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
Region Europe
Length 23 page(s)
Language English
Inspection copy
Teaching note
6.00
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Prizes & Awards

2014 The Case Centre Best Selling Case in Production and Operations Management

Summary

Mercedes-Benz and Swatch create a new company, MCC, to build a revolutionary car for cities: the Smart. They also have to invent a new form of organization in the process.

Teaching objectives

Discussion of new forms of organization Internal modular structure and external network of supplier partnerships

Keywords
  • AUTO INDUSTRY
  • NEW FORMS OF ORGANIZATIONS
  • NETWORKED ORGANIZATION
  • MODULAR ORGANIZATION
  • SUPPLIER RELATION
  • SUPPLIER PARTNERSHIP
  • NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
  • PRODUCT ARCHITECTURE
  • RD0798
  • MERGER
  • AUTOMOBILE
  • GERMANY
  • EUROPE
  • SWITZERLAND
  • AR1998
About the authors
Bensaou

Ben M. Bensaou

Professor of Technology Management and Asian Business and Comparative Management

Eric Pfaffmann


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