GRENOBLE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT

Historical Case : Blitzkrieg Technology and Strategy

Author : Gérard Guerrier

Date : 26/10/2007

Everyone knows the outcome of this authentic case… the disastrous Fall of France in May-June 1940! And, it may seem decidedly odd to make reference to an event that took place 65 years ago when considering how to improve the development process of high-end technology in 2010. But this case really deals with choosing the right strategy to match the technology available.

Or should that be choosing the right technology to match the strategy adopted?...

Please perform the tasks and answer the questions below:

1. Make a brief SWOT of France and/or Germany, in May 1940.

2. Draw a table of technology competitive advantages and disadvantages for France and/or Germany.

3. Recommend a strategy for France and/or Germany, taking the given technologies into account.

4. What kind of changes would you bring to these technologies in order to implement the strategy that you recommend?

5. What kind of changes would you bring to the strategies, taking into account the given technologies

5. What happened in real life? Why? What role did Technology play?

6. Can we learn something from this case for Nokia? What?

Professor Guerrier prepared this case as the basis for class discussion. It is by no means intended to illustrate the effective or ineffective management of an administrative situation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise- without the permission of Grenoble Ecole de Management.

The general situation in May 1940

It is, of course, impossible to detail the implacable process which led to WWII and the situation of each country in this document alone. Please refer to your history books, or search on Google: WWII,