Nokia Corporation is a global telecommunications company that in eight years, has gone from the brink of bankruptcy conglomerate the world leader in mobile telephony, providing nearly 30% compound annual revenue growth in the period 1992-2000, while shedding businesses, which accounted for almost 90% for 1998 shares. By the spring of 2000 Nokia had the highest margins in the mobile phone industry, a negative debt-to-equity ratio, the most valuable brands in the non-American world, the maximum market capitalization of European presence in 140 countries, and a unique corporate structure, processes and culture, which gave him feeling "a little soul of a large corporate body." Along with the size and diversity, however, came the growth of complexity. Nokia had to develop several business and technology (working with great technological uncertainties inherent in the convergence of mobile telephony and the Internet.) He also had to manage a growing network of alliances and a number of acquisitions, primarily in the United States. This case provides the background for Nokia faced with questions as it considers how to solve these problems, while retaining its unique company values and practices, which will perform effectively, while continuing to innovate. "Hide
by John Roberts, Catherine Doornik Source: Stanford Graduate School of Business 38 pages. Publication Date: February 28, 2001. Prod. #: IB23-PDF-ENG