Echelon in Europe Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Focused on non-market strategy of a high technology company to influence European standard setting for control networks. Echelon Corporation is a small, privately-held company based in Palo Alto, CA, which produces an open architecture control networks - communication systems that integrate disparate pieces of electronic hardware over some distance. These systems have applications ranging from automated assembly lines, to patient monitoring in hospitals, to fly-by-wire systems. This case addresses the standard setting in Europe. Echelon's European rivals, led by Siemens, has sought to establish an application-specific standards that would limit the demand for an open technology architecture Echelon's. Echelon NPA in line with the strategy of blocking attempts to Siemens's in the European Union by standard-setting bodies, attracting the support of its clients in countries such as the United Kingdom. The lack of standards caused by this blocking strategy was harmful, however, to the development of the market for applications management network. Echelon had to determine whether it should continue with its current strategy, or work directly in order to have open architecture standards are set, or initiate discussions with Siemens and other companies to develop open standards architecture together. Posture strategy question and asks how the strategy should be implemented. "Hide
by David P. Baron, Michael Ting Source: Stanford Graduate School of Business 6 pages. Publication Date: Aug 01, 1997. Prod. #: P22-PDF-ENG