Case : “Fisk Alloy Wire, inc and Percon”

Please write a 2 to 3 page case study about “Fisk Alloy Wire, inc and Percon”- (Case study 5- Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization 12e: Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson)

Fisk Alloy Wire was a privately-owned specialty wire mill with facilities in Hawthorne, NJ and Oriskany, NY. The business focused on the development and manufacture of copper alloy wire for electronic components and conductors. By 2008, projected year-end sales were $28 million Fisk Alloy had developed a copper alloy wire that was cadmium free (cadmium was a known carcinogen affecting both processing and disposal), but also met the characteristics of strength, conductivity, and elongation that defined a high performance wire. The product family was called Percon and was introduced into the market about the time the European Union passed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances ('RoHS') and the related Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment ('WEEE') directives. The total market potential for Percon was not really known, since it could potentially be used in a broad variety of applications: computers, automotive, aerospace, transportation equipment, communications, industrial controls, appliances and many other electronic and electrical products. Fisk Alloy was determined to be the best in its niche of the industry, but not necessarily the biggest. Management recognized that determining how to grow, slowly and opportunistically or more aggressively, would require balancing the market opportunities with the realities of capacity and related production issues.

Please use these guidelines:

1. The identification of the company’s internal strengths and weaknesses.

2. The nature of the external environment surrounding the company (competitor analysis: competitor’scurrent strategies, strategic intent, capabilities, core-competicies, etc…)

3. A SWOT analysis.

4. Strategy formulation: Alternatives, evaluation of alternatives

5. Strategic Alternative Implementation- Recommendation, select the action plan or strategy with the highest probabilities of helping the firm in its efforts to earn profits.