Johnson & Johnson McGraw-Hill/Irwin Strategic Management, 3/e Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Johnson & Johnson What kind of diversification does Johnson & Johnson pursue?
Johnson & Johnson What challenges does William C. Weldon face as CEO of J&J?
Johnson & Johnson Why is synergy important for J&J? What has Weldon done to foster synergy?
Johnson & Johnson Evaluate Weldon’s leadership of J&J. What steps has he taken to spur innovation?
Q1. Diversification Models Related diversification Businesses in the health care area Even many of the consumer businesses are in the health care area But, businesses are run autonomously Hard to figure out what specific resources are shared between businesses Businesses have own manufacturing and marketing functions However, several businesses grouped together under a powerful well-known brand.
Q2. Weldon’s Challenges Acquisition slowdown In the past growth through acquisitions Difficulty in spotting acquisition targets Competition for acquisitions drives up prices Drug Business’s difficulties A number of blockbuster drugs coming off patent; threatened by lower priced generics Competition from Abbott and Amgen for J&J’s Remicade Competition for stents from Boston Scientific
Q3. Synergy Synergy key motivation for related diversification Independence of business units makes synergy difficult at J&J According to Weldon, best growth opportunities would come from increased collaboration between units Weldon has to balance the need for autonomy with the need for synergy Creation of groups that draw people from different units Payoff Drug-coated stent called Cypher Liquid Band-Aid Dandruff shampoo from Nizoral, anti-fungal treatment
Q4. Weldon’s Performance Established clear direction Saw need for coordination among units and synergy (see previous question) Moved J&J away from entrepreneurial model of innovation to a corporate innovation model.