Case Teaching Package
A case teaching package is available for this case. It includes strategies for case presentation, key concepts, solutions to the assignment questions in the case, and suggestions for the most effective ways to work this case into your course.

Length
This case is 28 pages in length and its case teaching package is 16 pages.

Abstract

This case offers students the opportunity to assess a company's TQM progress and performance against the Baldrige categories. The student's scores may then be compared to the scores of several MBA classes, the case writers, a Samsonite TQM manager, and a Baldrige consultant/examiner hired by Samsonite Corporation USA. Then, based upon the findings, students are presented with the occasion to update the company's business plan which was the key purpose of Samsonite in preparing this Baldrige application for internal purposes. This Baldrige application was never intended to be submitted to the Baldrige competition.

Selected pages from the Baldrige application are reproduced in the case for both the student and the instructor. The Baldrige Award Criteria Framework: Dynamic Relationships (Figure 2 in the case) is a useful way to present an overview of the model.

Study Questions

1. Based upon your assessments of Samsonite USA's progress through the seven Baldrige categories in Table 1, estimate percentages of points for each category using the scoring guidelines in Table 2. Present your results in a chart similar to the bar charts by Garvin (1991) in Figure 1 in the case. Classify Samsonite as a low, medium, or high scoring company. (Specific point allocations to each subcategory are not necessary.)
         As a benchmark, Appendix I has Baldrige information for Zytec USA, which was one of the three 1991 Baldrige Award winners. For each of the seven Baldrige categories, compare Samsonite Corporation USA against Zytec USA.
         For each of the seven categories, your solution should include (1) your assessment of Samsonite Corporation USA's score, (2) your comparison of Samsonite Corporation USA with Zytec USA using the key Baldrige criteria cited in each category, and (3) your recommendations for improvement in each category.
2. Based upon your assessments in requirement 1, develop, prioritize, and present improvement goals and strategies for Samsonite Corporation USA's next business plan.

The downloadable file for this case is in Microsoft® Word 7.0 for Windows®.

If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download the free Microsoft® Word Viewer 97 right here:   For Windows 3.x   For Windows 95

©1996  South-Western College Publishing, All Rights Reserved  webmaster@swcollege.com