Case: Four Seasons Goes to Paris

Readings:

National Culture and Management (HBS)

Cultural intelligence (HBS)

Tallman “Internationalization, Globalization, and Capability-Based Strategy

Optional Readings:

Zalan and Lewis “Administrative Heritage: An Exploratory Study of Large Australian Firms” (attached as a PDF)

Assignment:

Prepare a 5-7 minute presentation and send it via email on the Sunday before class: What is the key to the conversion of the George Five over to the Four Season’s philosophy? What AAA strategy does Four Seasons use and how well does it fit the industry?How “global” (simple global, complex global, multidomestic) is the industry and why do you think? What are the corporate architectural capabilities for the Four Seasons organization?

Use the questions below to assist you in your preparation for your presentation.

Questions:

1. What industry is Four Seasons in and how do you generate value (i.e., what is the value proposition for customers and where and how is it generated) in the industry? How global is the industry (i.e. where does the competition take place) and what forces are pushing it to be global or local?

2. How global is Four Seasons as a company? That is; What AAA strategy does it use? What have they globalized (i.e. standardized) in their value chain/capabilities? What have they localized (i.e. customized) in their value chain/capabilities?

3. In managing its values chain/capabilities, what corporate architectural organizational capabilities has Four Seasons developed in order to sustain its competitive advantage around the world?

4. How well is the Four Seasons George Five performing?