New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Does New Balance, one of the top five manufacturers in the world of sports shoes, must respond to the planned acquisition of Adidas "from Reebok - a deal that will join the second-and third-largest companies in the industry. Main unique aspects of New Balance's strategy - focusing on fit and performance, offering a long-lived shoes in different widths and eschewing celebrity endorsement of their products - and discusses operations New Balance in decisions to support this strategy. They include significant use of domestic production at a time when almost all other competitors sources Footwear from Asian suppliers and focus on improving inventory management for its network of small and large retailers. Set immediately after the announcement of Adidas-Reebok deal in 2005, New Balance, which recently initiated efforts to improve corporate performance through the application of lean manufacturing concepts and production system Toyota. asks students to consider the New Balance has to change aspects of its business strategy in light of the consolidation among its competitors, or Adidas-Reebok deal is an opportunity for New Balance, to emphasize the importance of moving forward with its current approach. "Hide < br /> by H. Kent Bowen, Robert S. Huckman, Carin-Isabel Knoop Source: Harvard Business School 18 pages. Publication Date: April 20, 2006. Prod. #: 606094-PDF-ENG