In order toincreaseits profitability, NKT Photonics A/S (NKT), which was a small Danish business operating in the global photonics industry, was getting prepared to undertake the commercialization process of its highly sophisticated optical fibre technology. NKT's chief executive officer (CEO) was contemplating two alternatives for accomplishing this goal: (1) establishing strategic partnerships with system integrators in order to gain access to commercial customers, or (2) repositioning NKT as a system integrator by embarking on an acquisition strategy.
Turning the company into a commercial thing would mean an entire change of culture. It may also result in perhaps even the company's standing and the loss of some top engineering and scientific minds. The CEO wondered if there a way to effectively introduce a business mindset to the organization while still maintaining its innovation-based DNA. Torben Pedersen is affiliated at Copenhagen Bus School, formerly with Bocconi University, Milan, Italy. Githa Kurdahl is affiliated with Copenhagen Business School.
PUBLICATION DATE: May 11, 2016 PRODUCT #: W16272-PDF-ENG
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