Be Sharp! Sharp's Innovation In The LCD Industry Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

IMD-3-1554 © 2005
Ichijo, Kazuo

Sharp; developed in 1912; has actually constantly aimed to determine distinct specific niches that its rivals do not go into; while at the exact same time continuing to pursue innovation and understanding development in those specific niches. The liquid crystal screen (LCD) company is a common example of Sharp's technique and innovation. Sharp established the very first effective LCD item - a pocket calculator with a little black and white LCD in 1973 - and ever since the business has actually launched a series of distinct items with LCDs; consisting of Camcorders and pdas.

In the year 1998; in the face of improving competitors in the standard cathode-ray tube (CRT) TELEVISION market; Katsuhiko Machida; the business's brand-new president; revealed his vision of updating all large CRT tvs offered in the domestic market to flat screen LCD sets by 2005. This vision was vibrant; given that Sharp was the very first manufacturer of color CRT TVs and its company was still successful at the time; Machida anticipated hard rate competitors in the CRT company in the future and started to mobilize Sharp's staff members to get and sustain competitive benefit in the brand-new market.

Subjects: Innovation; Competitive strategy; Knowledge management

Settings: Japan; Consumer electronics; Sales: US$ 21;497 m.; Operating income: US$ 1;158 m. in 2004; 1998 - 2004