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INSEAD	
  –	
  GLOBAL	
  STRATEGY	
  ELECTIVE	
  –	
  PROFESSOR	
  S.	
  RANGAN	
  (MAY	
  2012,	
  12J	
  MBA)	
  




            Leveraging	
  Globality	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  
             Turning	
  local	
  innovation	
  into	
  global	
  technologies	
  
                                                                          	
  
	
  




                                                                                                                              	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

       Team:	
  Yumi	
  Aizawa,	
  Arnaud	
  Bonnet,	
  Martin	
  Garnes,	
  Prasanth	
  Karumanchi	
  
	
  

	
  

Logo	
  from	
  http://www.logostage.com/logo/ericsson/#.T9II0OIth-­‐M	
  (copyright	
  by	
  Ericsson)	
  	
                        	
  
Index	
  

	
  

Ericsson	
  ..................................................................................................................................................	
  2	
  

Facilitating	
  innovation	
  by	
  leveraging	
  globality	
  –	
  a	
  three-­‐tiered	
  approach	
  ............................................	
  5	
  

       Decentralized	
  decision-­‐making	
  to	
  empower	
  staff	
  to	
  take	
  ownership	
  of	
  ideas	
  .................................	
  5	
  

       Organizational	
  Culture	
  for	
  utilizing	
  global	
  capabilities	
  ......................................................................	
  8	
  

       Cross-­‐regional	
  Sub-­‐networks	
  facilitates	
  information	
  sharing	
  ..........................................................	
  10	
  

The	
  advantages	
  of	
  global	
  innovation	
  ...................................................................................................	
  12	
  

Learning	
  from	
  Ericsson:	
  Rolling	
  out	
  its	
  approach	
  to	
  innovation	
  to	
  other	
  industries	
  ...........................	
  13	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

	
  

We	
  are	
  grateful	
  to	
  INSEAD	
  alumna	
  Carla	
  Belitardo	
  (Ericsson,	
  Brazil)	
  for	
  discussing	
  the	
  
innovation	
  process	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  with	
  us.	
  	
  

	
                                                   	
  




	
                                                                                                                                                                  1	
  
“…To	
  build	
  our	
  networked	
  society,	
  our	
  innovations	
  need	
  to	
  be	
  offered	
  more	
  widely	
  than	
  to	
  

                    operators	
  alone.	
  	
  We	
  are	
  finding	
  new	
  ways	
  to	
  extend	
  our	
  reach.	
  	
  Today,	
  we	
  also	
  address	
  

                                                                                                              sectors	
  like	
  utilities,	
  TV	
  &	
  Media…”	
  (Ericsson	
  2011	
  Annual	
  Report)	
  



Ericsson	
  
Major	
   innovations	
   in	
   communication	
   methods	
   have	
   been	
   key	
   to	
   the	
   progress	
   of	
   society.	
  	
  

The	
   invention	
   of	
   the	
   telegraph	
   in	
   the	
   1790s	
   was	
   followed	
   by	
   the	
   invention	
   of	
   the	
   telephone	
  

in	
   the	
   1870s,	
   and	
   the	
   emergence	
   of	
   mobile	
   telecommunication	
   networks	
   in	
   the	
   1980s.	
  	
  

Almost	
  a	
  century	
  separated	
  each	
  major	
  technological	
  improvement.	
  	
  But	
  over	
  the	
  past	
  20	
  

years,	
   rapid	
   innovation	
   has	
   revolutionised	
   the	
   way	
   we	
   communicate,	
   and	
   the	
   emergence	
   of	
  

smart	
   phones	
   has	
   meant	
   that	
   network	
   operators	
   have	
   needed	
   to	
   find	
   ways	
   of	
   handling	
  

increasing	
  volumes	
  of	
  data	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  providing	
  new	
  customer-­‐focused	
  services	
  to	
  develop	
  

new	
  sources	
  of	
  revenue.	
  	
  	
  


Founded	
  in	
  1876,	
  Swedish	
  telecom	
  equipment	
  maker	
  Ericsson	
  has	
  been	
  at	
  the	
  forefront	
  of	
  

innovation	
   in	
   this	
   truly	
   global	
   industry:	
   from	
   inventing	
   Bluetooth	
   technology	
   to	
   bringing	
  

mobile	
   Internet	
   to	
   the	
   heart	
   of	
   the	
   Amazon.	
   	
   Ericsson	
   is	
   the	
   world's	
   largest	
   mobile	
  

telecommunications	
   equipment	
   vendor1	
   with	
   a	
   market	
   share	
   of	
   around	
   38%.2	
   	
   According	
   to	
  

the	
  company’s	
  2011	
  annual	
  report,	
  its	
  market	
  share	
  in	
  mobile	
  network	
  equipment	
  makes	
  it	
  

twice	
   that	
   of	
   the	
   number	
   two	
   player.3	
   	
   	
   Ericsson’s	
   technology	
   underpins	
   much	
   of	
   the	
  

hardware	
   that	
   makes	
   cell	
   phone	
   networks	
   actually	
   work4,	
   and	
   the	
   company’s	
   main	
  

customers	
   are	
   network	
   operators.	
   	
   Over	
   the	
   past	
   years,	
   Ericsson	
   has	
   realised	
   that	
   to	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
1
  	
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericsson	
  
2
  	
  February	
  2012	
  estimate:	
  http://www.ericsson.com/news/1589097	
  
3
  	
  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/investors/financial_reports/2011/annual11/results/board-­‐directors-­‐
report-­‐2011/competitive-­‐assets	
  
4
  	
  http://vivauniversity.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/key-­‐to-­‐ericssons-­‐success-­‐forget-­‐the-­‐market-­‐leader-­‐focus-­‐
on-­‐the-­‐neglectedunderserved-­‐market/	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2	
  
maintain	
   its	
   competitive	
   edge,	
   it	
   cannot	
   only	
   offer	
   services	
   to	
   its	
   direct	
   customers,	
   the	
  

network	
  operators.	
  	
  It	
  started	
  looking	
  at	
  how	
  the	
  end-­‐users	
  of	
  the	
  services	
  it	
  manages	
  (users	
  

of	
   mobile	
   phones)	
   use	
   their	
   phones	
   and	
   what	
   they	
   use	
   it	
   for.	
   	
   In	
   2008,	
   Ericsson	
   launched	
   its	
  

Collaborative	
   Idea	
   Management	
   programme	
   worldwide,	
   an	
   initiative	
   aimed	
   at	
   enabling	
   its	
  

employees	
  to	
  innovate	
  every	
  day	
  across	
  the	
  organisation.5	
  


The	
   company	
   created	
   the	
   concept	
   of	
   “The	
   Networked	
   Society”,	
   and	
   it	
   believes	
   that	
  

technology	
   has	
   allowed	
   us	
   to	
   interact,	
   innovate,	
   and	
   share	
   knowledge	
   in	
   news	
   ways6	
   that	
  

did	
   not	
   exist	
   only	
   a	
   few	
   years	
   ago.	
   	
   As	
   we	
   enter	
   this	
   new	
   era,	
   an	
   increasing	
   number	
   of	
  

devices	
   will	
   be	
   connected	
   through	
   typically	
   wireless	
   networks,	
   and	
   Ericsson	
   wants	
   to	
  

continue	
  to	
  play	
  a	
  leading	
  role	
  in	
  connecting	
  those	
  devices	
  and	
  ultimately	
  people.	
  	
  With	
  over	
  

108,000	
   employees	
   around	
   the	
   world	
   and	
   serving	
   customers	
   in	
   180	
   countries7,	
   Ericsson	
  

owns	
   the	
   largest	
   patent	
   portfolio	
   for	
   mobile	
   communications	
   for	
   2G,	
   3G	
   and	
   4G	
  

technologies,	
  representing	
  around	
  30,000	
  patents.8	
  	
  Moreover,	
  the	
  company	
  claims	
  to	
  own	
  

25%	
   of	
   standard-­‐essential	
   patents	
   for	
   the	
   next-­‐generation	
   4G	
   (Long	
   Term	
   Evolution)	
  

communication	
  which	
  allows	
  for	
  high-­‐speed	
  data	
  transfer	
  between	
  mobile	
  phones	
  and	
  data	
  

terminals9	
   .	
   This	
   makes	
   Ericsson	
   the	
   largest	
   single	
   holder	
   of	
   essential	
   patents	
   for	
   the	
  

technology10	
  which	
  is	
  seen	
  as	
  the	
  next	
  major	
  wireless	
  protocol	
  to	
  be	
  rolled	
  out	
  by	
  network	
  

operators	
  around	
  the	
  world.	
  	
  How	
  does	
  a	
  company	
  with	
  activities	
  in	
  180	
  countries,	
  	
  and	
  that	
  

operates	
   in	
   an	
   industry	
   dominated	
   by	
   rapid	
   technological	
   change	
   leverage	
   its	
   global	
  

presence	
  to	
  remain	
  at	
  the	
  forefront	
  of	
  innovation?	
  	
  What	
  drives	
  a	
  company	
  that	
  is	
  present	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
5
  	
  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐
management-­‐ericsson	
  
6
  	
  http://www.ericsson.com/networkedsociety	
  
7
  	
  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts	
  
8
  	
  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts/patents	
  
9
  	
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_(telecommunication)	
  
10
      	
  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts/patents	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3	
  
in	
   developed	
   markets	
   to	
   spend	
   time	
   bringing	
   internet	
   communication	
   to	
   difficult-­‐to-­‐reach	
  

areas	
  in	
  the	
  Amazon	
  region,	
  and	
  why?	
  	
  These	
  are	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  questions	
  that	
  fascinated	
  us	
  

about	
   Ericsson,	
   and	
   that	
   we	
   tried	
   to	
   understand	
   while	
   researching	
   this	
   report.	
   	
   More	
  

surprisingly,	
   at	
   a	
   time	
   of	
   increasing	
   competition	
   and	
   rapid	
   technological	
   change,	
   R&D	
  

expenses	
  as	
   a	
   percentage	
  of	
   sales	
  have	
  been	
  decreasing	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  over	
  the	
  past	
  3	
  years	
  as	
  

the	
   company	
   gained	
   market	
   share	
   and	
   increased	
   its	
   revenue	
   despite	
   the	
   financial	
   crisis	
  

affecting	
   the	
   industry	
   as	
   a	
   whole,	
   while	
   R&D	
   expenses	
   have	
   been	
   fairly	
   constant	
   and	
   at	
   a	
  

higher	
  level	
  (as	
  a	
  percentage	
  of	
  sales)	
  at	
  its	
  closest	
  independent	
  competitor	
  Alcatel-­‐Lucent	
  

(see	
  tables	
  1	
  and	
  2).	
  	
  	
  


Ericsson	
  –	
  Financial	
  Highlights	
  (Source:	
  Annual	
  Report	
  2011)	
  
SEK	
  in	
  millions	
          2011	
                             2010	
                                          2009	
  
Sales	
                          226,921	
                          203,348	
                                       206,477	
  
Net	
  income	
  (N.I)	
         12,569	
                           11,235	
                                        4,127	
  
R&D	
  expenses	
                32,638	
                           31,558	
                                        33,055	
  
N.I	
  /	
  Sales	
              5.53%	
                            5.52%	
                                         1.99%	
  
R&D	
  /	
  Sales	
              14.3%	
                            15.5%	
                                         16.0%	
  
                                Table	
  1:	
  Summary	
  of	
  financial	
  data	
  for	
  Ericsson	
  


	
  


Alcatel-­‐Lucent	
  –	
  Financial	
  Highlights	
  (Source:	
  Annual	
  Report	
  2011)	
  
EUR	
  in	
  millions	
        2011	
                              2010	
                             2009	
  
Sales	
                        15,327	
                            15,658	
                           14,881	
  
Net	
  income	
  (N.I)	
       1,144	
                             (292)	
                            (504)	
  
R&D	
  expenses	
              2,472	
                             2,593	
                            2,465	
  
N.I	
  /	
  Sales	
            7.46%	
                             -­‐1.86%	
                         -­‐3.38%	
  
R&D	
  /	
  Sales	
            16.1%	
                             16.6%	
                            16.5%	
  
                            Table	
  2:	
  Summary	
  of	
  financial	
  data	
  for	
  Alcatel-­‐Lucent	
  




	
                                                                                                                                                   4	
  
Why	
   is	
   Ericsson	
   able	
   to	
   reduce	
   its	
   R&D	
   expenditure	
   while	
   still	
   innovating,	
   and	
   what	
   can	
  

companies	
  in	
  different	
  industries	
  learn	
  from	
  Ericsson	
  and	
  the	
  way	
  it	
  uses	
  its	
  global	
  presence	
  

to	
  innovate	
  and	
  roll	
  out	
  new	
  technologies	
  quickly	
  and	
  cost-­‐effectively?	
  	
  	
  	
  



Facilitating	
  innovation	
  by	
  leveraging	
  globality	
  –	
  a	
  three-­‐tiered	
  approach	
  
Our	
  discussions	
  with	
  Ms.	
  Belitardo	
  and	
  our	
  analyses	
  of	
  multiple	
  case	
  studies	
  on	
  innovation	
  

at	
  Ericsson,	
  suggested	
  that	
  there	
  are	
  three	
  areas	
  that	
  facilitate	
  innovation	
  at	
  Ericsson:	
  


                             •                             Decentralised	
  decision	
  making	
  processes	
  

                             •                             Organizational	
  Cultures,	
  and	
  

                             •                             Cross-­‐regional	
  sub-­‐networks.	
  	
  


Decentralized	
  decision-­‐making	
  to	
  empower	
  staff	
  to	
  take	
  ownership	
  of	
  ideas	
  
Ericsson	
   recognised	
   that	
   in	
   a	
   large,	
   global	
   organisation,	
   innovation	
   takes	
   different	
   aspects	
  

(spanning	
   the	
   range	
   of	
   product	
   innovation	
   to	
   business	
   model	
   innovation),	
   and	
   that	
   if	
   the	
  

company	
   is	
   to	
   promote	
   an	
   innovation	
   culture,	
   managing	
   the	
   generation	
   of	
   ideas	
   becomes	
   a	
  

complex	
   task.	
   	
   Hence	
   in	
   2008,	
   they	
   launched	
   a	
   company-­‐wide	
   collaborative	
   idea	
  

management	
  programme	
  that	
  is	
  implemented	
  like	
  a	
  pull	
  based	
  internal	
  idea	
  marketplace	
  –	
  

an	
   open	
   network	
   for	
   the	
   exchange	
   of	
   ideas	
   built	
   around	
   a	
   host	
   of	
   defined	
   innovation	
   needs	
  

–	
  without	
  any	
  central	
  control	
  or	
  steering.11	
  


Ericsson	
   is	
   organised	
   by	
   regions	
   (for	
   example	
   Latin	
   America,	
   North	
   America,	
   Africa,	
   etc..),	
  

and	
   each	
   region	
   reports	
   to	
   the	
   HQ.	
   	
   Each	
   region	
   has	
   responsibility	
   for	
   its	
   P&L	
   accounts,	
   and	
  

the	
  company	
  has	
  deliberately	
  taken	
  steps	
  to	
  empower	
  its	
  regional	
  offices	
  by	
  decentralizing	
  

decision-­‐making	
   process.	
   	
   Rather	
   than	
   only	
   focusing	
   on	
   its	
   core	
   business	
   of	
   telecom	
  


	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
11
 	
  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐
management-­‐ericsson	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5	
  
infrastructure	
   and	
   having	
   its	
   HQ	
   organise	
   and	
   dictate	
   R&D	
   efforts,	
   each	
   regional	
   office	
  

targets	
  the	
  end-­‐users	
  in	
  the	
  local	
  market/community	
  by	
  understanding	
  their	
  market	
  needs	
  

(for	
   example,	
   people	
   in	
   the	
   Amazon	
   region	
   needed	
   internet	
   access	
   to	
   communicate	
   with	
  

remote	
   areas,	
   and	
   the	
   LatAm	
   regional	
   office	
   focused	
   on	
   understanding	
   which	
   services	
   were	
  

needed	
   by	
   the	
   users	
   before	
   bringing	
   in	
   the	
   telecom	
   infrastructure	
   that	
   is	
   then	
   made	
  

available	
  to	
  the	
  operators	
  that	
  are	
  Ericsson’s	
  direct	
  customers).	
  	
  The	
  decentralized	
  decision-­‐

making	
   gives	
   each	
   regional	
   office	
   a	
   high	
   level	
   of	
   discretion	
   on	
   how	
   to	
   focus	
   their	
   efforts,	
  

thus	
   allowing	
   them	
   to	
   identify	
   local	
   needs	
   and	
   create	
   solutions	
   beyond	
   headquarters’	
  

capabilities.	
   	
   	
   	
   Thus,	
   as	
   figure	
   1	
   shows,	
   a	
   decentralised	
   decision	
   making	
   at	
   the	
   local	
   level	
  

leads	
   to	
   new	
   innovations	
   within	
   a	
   region,	
   and	
   that	
   innovation	
   can	
   then	
   be	
   transferred	
   to	
  

other	
  regions	
  across	
  the	
  world	
  as	
  and	
  when	
  required.	
  	
  This	
  process	
  not	
  only	
  creates	
  value	
  

for	
  the	
  local	
  region	
  and	
  all	
  its	
  stakeholders	
  (the	
  regional	
  office,	
  the	
  operator	
  that	
  benefits	
  

from	
  a	
  new	
  source	
  of	
  income	
  and	
  the	
  end-­‐user	
  that	
  gains	
  access	
  to	
  new	
  services),	
  but	
  it	
  also	
  

allows	
  Ericsson	
  as	
  a	
  company	
  to	
  capture	
  value	
  from	
  generating	
  revenue	
  from	
  products	
  and	
  

services	
  that	
  are	
  relevant	
  to	
  a	
  specific	
  market.	
  


	
  
                                   Innovation	
  




	
  


	
  


	
  

                                                        Decentralized	
  decision-­‐making	
  
	
  


             Figure	
  1:	
  How	
  decentralised	
  decision-­‐making	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  promotes	
  innovation	
  




	
                                                                                                                                                           6	
  
Examples	
  of	
  this	
  decentralised	
  process	
  include:	
  


(1)	
  The	
  Mobile	
  Weather	
  Alert	
  developed	
  for	
  the	
  community	
  in	
  Lake	
  Victoria	
  in	
  Uganda12,	
  a	
  

mobile	
   application	
   that	
   improves	
   the	
   safety	
   of	
   fishermen	
   through	
   detailed,	
   customized	
  

weather	
   forecasts.	
   Ericsson,	
   in	
   partnership	
   with	
   the	
   World	
   Meteorological	
   Organization	
   and	
  

the	
  Uganda	
  Department	
  of	
  Meteorology,	
  have	
  developed	
  the	
  application	
  and	
  content,	
  while	
  

the	
   National	
   Lake	
   Rescue	
   Institute	
   is	
   supporting	
   the	
   end-­‐user	
   and	
   usability	
   studies.	
   The	
  

operational	
  model	
  (core)	
  has	
  been	
  designed	
  for	
  scale	
  and	
  replication.	
  	
  


(2)	
  The	
  Community	
  Power	
  project	
  from	
  Kenya13,	
  where	
  off-­‐grid	
  base	
  stations	
  are	
  placed	
  in	
  

areas	
   without	
   electricity	
   grid	
   coverage,	
   powered	
   by	
   renewable	
   energy	
   sources	
   such	
   as	
   wind	
  

and/or	
   solar	
   power,	
   with	
   the	
   ability	
   to	
   share	
   excess	
   power	
   to	
   the	
   nearby	
   communities,	
  

institutions	
   and	
   individuals.	
   Depending	
   on	
   the	
   excess	
   energy,	
   the	
   base	
   stations	
   has	
   been	
  

shown	
   to	
   be	
   able	
   to	
   power	
   mobile	
   phone	
   charging	
   (which	
   drives	
   network	
   usage),	
   and	
   in	
  

larger	
   scale	
   deployments	
   (with	
   creation	
   of	
   mini-­‐grids	
   between	
   multiple	
   base	
   stations)	
  

powering	
   street	
   lights,	
   clinics	
   and	
   schools	
   for	
   an	
   entire	
   community.	
   The	
   development	
  

process	
  has	
  been	
  run	
  with	
  replication	
  in	
  mind.	
  	
  


(3)	
   In	
   Curibita,	
   Brazil’s	
   sustainable	
   city,	
   Ericsson	
   has	
   partnered	
   in	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   a	
   fleet	
  

management	
  system	
  for	
  wireless	
  connected	
  buses,	
  resulting	
  in	
  increased	
  trust	
  in	
  public	
  for	
  

safe	
   transportation	
   and	
   a	
   reduction	
   in	
   fuel	
   cost	
   and	
   travel	
   time14.	
   The	
   system	
   was	
   jointly	
  

developed	
  with	
  DataProm,	
  Vivo	
  and	
  Telefonica,	
  and	
  has	
  recently	
  attracted	
  the	
  attention	
  of	
  


	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
12
     http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/mobile
_weather_alert	
  
13
     http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/commu
nity_power	
  	
  
14
     http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/connect
ed_busses_in_curitiba	
  
	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7	
  
various	
  cities	
  around	
  the	
  world	
  which	
  are	
  considering	
  launching	
  similar	
  services.	
  	
  In	
  each	
  of	
  

these	
   projects,	
   new	
   innovation	
   has	
   come	
   as	
   a	
   result	
   of	
   targeting	
   local	
   needs	
   and	
   creating	
  

solutions,	
  which	
  can	
  then	
  be	
  expanded	
  globally	
  to	
  other	
  regions.	
  	
  


Organizational	
  Culture	
  for	
  utilizing	
  global	
  capabilities	
  
A	
   decentralised	
   structure	
   needs	
   the	
   correct	
   communication	
   platform	
   for	
   the	
   exchange	
   of	
  

ideas	
   to	
   actually	
   happen.	
   	
   Ericsson	
   has	
   developed	
   an	
   organizational	
   culture	
   for	
   global	
  

collaboration	
  and	
  knowledge	
  transfer,	
  which	
  manifests	
  itself	
  in	
  two	
  ways:	
  


1. When	
  they	
  have	
  identified	
  a	
  market	
  need	
  that	
  needs	
  to	
  be	
  filled,	
  Ericsson	
  employees	
  are	
  

       encouraged	
  to	
  first	
  look	
  first	
  inside	
  the	
  company	
  (including	
  both	
  HQ	
  and	
  other	
  regions)	
  

       for	
   solutions	
   before	
   looking	
   outside	
   the	
   company	
   to	
   local	
   vendors.	
   The	
   HQ	
   can	
   help	
  

       facilitate	
  the	
  search	
  for	
  new	
  innovations	
  within	
  the	
  company,	
  but	
  employees	
  are	
  more	
  

       generally	
  encouraged	
  to	
  find	
  the	
  solution	
  by	
  themselves.	
  	
  This	
  approach	
  seems	
  to	
  lead	
  

       to	
   a	
   proactive	
   workforce	
   which	
   encourages	
   collaboration	
   within	
   the	
   company,	
   across	
  

       different	
   regions.	
   	
   Employees	
   see	
   it	
   naturally	
   to	
   look	
   across	
   the	
   globe	
   to	
   leverage	
   the	
  

       corporation’s	
   global	
   capabilities.	
   If	
   the	
   solution	
   exists	
   in	
   a	
   different	
   region/office,	
  a	
   price	
  

       will	
  be	
  negotiated	
  with	
  the	
  office	
  or	
  region	
  holding	
  the	
  patent/technology/product.	
  	
  

2. Ericsson	
   employees	
   therefore	
   continuously	
   have	
   to	
   look	
   outside	
   their	
   regions	
   when	
  

       developing	
   local	
   solutions.	
   	
   Since	
   employees	
   know	
   that	
   there	
   might	
   be	
   a	
   global	
   demand	
  

       (from	
   other	
   regions)	
   for	
   a	
   novel	
   solution	
   they	
   are	
   developing	
   for	
   their	
   local	
   markets,	
  

       every	
  solutions	
  is	
  as	
  far	
  as	
  possible	
  made	
  replicable	
  (the	
  core	
  of	
  the	
  concept),	
  with	
  an	
  

       add-­‐on	
  layer	
  for	
  localisation	
  (“the	
  wrapper”),	
  as	
  shown	
  in	
  figure	
  2.	
  




	
                                                                                                                                                     8	
  
Core:	
  StaYc	
  
                                                                                                 across	
  regions	
  

                                                                                                    Wrapper:	
  
                                                                                                   customized	
  
                                                                                                  across	
  regions	
  




                                                                                                                                        	
  

                           Figure	
  2:	
  Design	
  framework	
  for	
  innovative	
  products	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  


	
  


Many	
  innovations	
  in	
  global	
  firms	
  are	
  not	
  transferrable	
  (i.e.	
  they	
  cannot	
  easily	
  be	
  replicated	
  

in	
   a	
   different	
   region),	
   often	
   because	
   of	
   company	
   politics,	
   or	
   the	
   costs	
   required	
   to	
   re-­‐

engineer	
  a	
  product	
  or	
  solution	
  to	
  meet	
  local	
  tastes	
  and	
  demands.	
  At	
  Ericsson,	
  these	
  issues	
  

appear	
  to	
  be	
  addressed	
  by	
  having	
  an	
  open	
  structure	
  of	
  collaboration	
  that	
  is	
  entrepreneurial	
  

in	
   that	
   few	
   of	
   the	
   discussions	
   are	
   centralised	
   (although	
   employees	
   know	
   that	
   the	
   HQ	
   is	
  

available	
  to	
  help	
  if	
  help	
  is	
  required).	
  	
  Local	
  regions	
  can	
  champion	
  their	
  ideas	
  to	
  other	
  regions	
  

and	
   the	
   “buying-­‐in”	
   or	
   innovation	
   pull	
   mechanism	
   avoids	
   layers	
   of	
   bureaucracy	
   that	
   may	
   be	
  

observed	
  in	
  firms	
  where	
  decision	
  making	
  is	
  more	
  centralised	
  through	
  HQ.	
  	
  	
  


As	
  shown	
  in	
  figure	
  2,	
  the	
  innovating	
  group	
  can	
  sell	
  the	
  “core”	
  technology	
  of	
  the	
  product	
  to	
  

the	
  adopter	
  group,	
  and	
  the	
  latter	
  can	
  develop	
  a	
  localized	
  “wrapper”	
  according	
  to	
  its	
  needs	
  

and	
  specifications.	
  The	
  innovator	
  group	
  will	
  continue	
  to	
  innovate	
  within	
  this	
  framework	
  as	
  

long	
   as	
   it	
   is	
   allowed	
   to	
   “sell”	
   the	
   products	
   to	
   other	
   parts	
   of	
   the	
   firm	
   because	
   it	
   not	
   only	
  

generates	
  revenues	
  for	
  the	
  group;	
  it	
  also	
  streamlines	
  the	
  adoption	
  process,	
  decreasing	
  the	
  

costs.	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                 9	
  
With	
  a	
  new	
  tool	
  for	
  collaborative	
  idea	
  management	
  that	
  it	
  launched	
  globally	
  in	
  2008	
  under	
  

the	
  name	
  IdeaBoxes15,	
  Ericsson	
  moved	
  away	
  from	
  pushing	
  innovation	
  efforts	
  to	
  its	
  regional	
  

offices.	
   	
   The	
   system	
   was	
   designed	
   and	
   implemented	
   as	
   a	
   pull	
   based	
   internal	
   idea	
  

marketplace,	
  transparent	
  and	
  open	
  to	
  all	
  employees.	
  	
  Adoption	
  within	
  the	
  firm	
  is	
  voluntary,	
  

and	
  each	
  innovation	
  manager	
  has	
  the	
  choice	
  of	
  whether	
  to	
  utilize	
  the	
  tool	
  or	
  not.	
  	
  As	
  the	
  

system	
   is	
   open	
   to	
   all	
   employees,	
   ideation	
   goes	
   beyond	
   R&D	
   and	
   this	
   emphasises	
   how	
  

Ericsson	
   recognises	
   that	
   its	
   employees	
   are	
   the	
   most	
   important	
   source	
   of	
   new	
   ideas,	
  

regardless	
  of	
  their	
  job	
  description.	
  As	
  of	
  July	
  2011,	
  the	
  system	
  had	
  registered	
  over	
  15,000	
  

ideas	
   while	
   supporting	
   Ericsson	
   in	
   the	
   effort	
   of	
   building	
   a	
   culture	
   of	
   collaboration	
   across	
  

borders	
  and	
  units.	
  	
  


Cross-­‐regional	
  Sub-­‐networks	
  facilitates	
  information	
  sharing	
  
One	
   of	
   the	
   biggest	
   challenges	
   for	
   global	
   firms	
   is	
   information	
   sharing	
   and	
   knowledge	
  

management.	
  Innovation	
  often	
  comes	
  down	
  to	
  simply	
  connecting	
  already	
  existing	
  dots,	
  and	
  

a	
   solution	
   to	
   your	
   problem	
   may	
   well	
   already	
   exist	
   in	
   another	
   region.	
   Solutions	
   developed	
  

elsewhere	
   may	
   also	
   be	
   applied	
   differently	
   in	
   your	
   region,	
   and	
   hence	
   addressing	
   problems	
  

that	
   it	
   was	
   not	
   intentionally	
   developed	
   to	
   solve.	
   However,	
   all	
   of	
   this	
   will	
   never	
   happen	
  

unless	
   information	
   is	
   flowing	
   between	
   regions.	
   And	
   given	
   the	
   amount	
   of	
   information	
   and	
  

innovation	
   in	
   a	
   corporation	
   the	
   size	
   of	
   Ericsson,	
   it	
   is	
   simply	
   not	
   possible	
   for	
   everyone	
   to	
  

know	
  about	
  everything,	
  even	
  with	
  the	
  very	
  successful	
  implementation	
  of	
  IdeaBoxes.	
  So	
  how	
  

can	
   we	
   assure	
   that	
   the	
   relevant	
   information	
   is	
   shared?	
   Ericsson	
   has	
   a	
   global	
   innovation	
  

center	
  working	
  to	
  identify	
  and	
  globally	
  roll	
  out	
  selected	
  innovations.	
  However,	
  one	
  cannot	
  

assure	
   that	
   the	
   innovation	
   center	
   is	
   qualified	
   to	
   decide	
   which	
   innovations	
   have	
   global	
  

potential	
   and	
   which	
   do	
   not.	
   In	
   addition	
   to	
   this,	
   some	
   innovations	
   may	
   not	
   be	
   globally	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
15
 	
  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐
management-­‐ericsson	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10	
  
applicable,	
   but	
   could	
   be	
   useful	
   in	
   one	
   or	
   two	
   other	
   countries.	
   One	
   of	
   the	
   measures	
   Ericsson	
  

has	
   implemented	
   to	
   avoid	
   such	
   lost	
   opportunities	
   is	
   to	
   develop	
   sub-­‐networks	
   where	
   certain	
  

departments	
  connect	
  globally	
  across	
  regions.	
  We	
  have	
  illustrated	
  this	
  by	
  the	
  example	
  of	
  the	
  

sustainability	
   teams.	
   A	
   cross-­‐regional,	
   matrix-­‐like	
   network	
   exists	
   between	
   people	
   working	
  

on	
  sustainability	
  projects	
  (see	
  figure	
  3).	
  Through	
  such	
  sub-­‐networks,	
  Ericsson	
  increases	
  the	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Regional	
  knowledge	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Cross	
  regional	
  sub-­‐network	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Regional	
  knowledge	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Regional	
  knowledge	
  



                                                                                                                                  Figure	
  3:	
  Cross-­‐regional	
  sub-­‐networks	
  based	
  on	
  function	
  

likelihood	
  that	
  relevant	
  information	
  reaches	
  the	
  different	
  regions,	
  and	
  as	
  such	
  they	
  are	
  able	
  

to	
   connect	
   more	
   of	
   the	
   available	
   “dots”	
   that	
   exist	
   within	
   their	
   company.	
   Specifically,	
   the	
  

Community	
  Power	
  project	
  has	
  been	
  replicated	
  in	
  the	
  Amazon16,	
  and	
  is	
  currently	
  in	
  process	
  

to	
  be	
  replicated	
  in	
  Surinam.	
  The	
  Bus	
  Fleet	
  Management	
  system	
  has	
  drawn	
  attention	
  from	
  

several	
  other	
  regions,	
  and	
  is	
  likely	
  to	
  be	
  rolled	
  out	
  to	
  other	
  locations	
  in	
  the	
  near	
  future.	
  This	
  

has	
   come	
   directly	
   as	
   a	
   result	
   of	
   communication	
   within	
   the	
   cross	
   regional	
   network	
   for	
  

sustainability.	
   If	
   all	
   transfer	
   of	
   knowledge	
   and	
   innovation	
   was	
   to	
   be	
   channelled	
   through	
  

headquarters,	
  it	
  is	
  likely	
  that	
  some	
  of	
  these	
  opportunities	
  would	
  not	
  have	
  been	
  recognized.	
  	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
16
     http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/enabling_communication_for
_all/connecting_the_amazon	
  
	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       11	
  
The	
  advantages	
  of	
  global	
  innovation	
  
The	
   structure	
   at	
   Ericsson	
   not	
   only	
   encourages	
   innovation,	
   but	
   it	
   ensures	
   the	
   alignment	
   of	
  

innovations	
   with	
   the	
   firm’s	
   strategy.	
   This	
   is	
   achieved	
   by	
   encouraging	
   internal	
   “trading”	
   of	
  

innovative	
  products	
  and	
  solutions,	
  creating	
  a	
  fair	
  incentive	
  system	
  while	
  at	
  the	
  same	
  time	
  

enabling	
  development	
  of	
  projects	
  that	
  otherwise	
  would	
  not	
  have	
  been	
  financially	
  viable.	
  	
  


On	
   a	
   firm	
   level,	
   this	
   structure	
   also	
   helps	
   in	
   the	
   reduction	
   of	
   training	
   and	
   support	
   costs	
   as	
  

employees	
   don’t	
   have	
   to	
   be	
   educated	
   on	
   innovative	
   thought	
   process	
   and	
   sharing	
   new	
   ideas	
  

and	
   technology	
   because	
   they	
   are	
   incentivized	
   to	
   do	
   so17.	
   Furthermore,	
   it	
   also	
   helps	
   in	
  

optimizing	
   research	
   and	
   development	
   because	
   costs	
   are	
   shared	
   between	
   groups	
   that	
   adopt	
  

an	
  innovative	
  product,	
  which	
  again	
  leads	
  to	
  incentivizing	
  innovation.	
  


From	
  a	
  Global	
  Strategy	
  viewpoint,	
  we	
  believe	
  that,	
  Ericsson	
  leverages	
  its	
  global	
  position	
  to	
  

“distribute”	
   innovation.	
   Ericsson’s	
   structure	
   empowers	
   regional	
   offices	
   to	
   gain	
   advantage	
  

over	
  their	
  competitors,	
  by	
  adopting	
  and	
  localizing	
  innovation	
  from	
  other	
  regions	
  instead	
  of	
  

reinventing	
   them.	
   Thus	
   Ericsson	
   first	
   focuses	
   on	
   the	
   benefits	
   that	
   it	
   can	
   bring	
   to	
   its	
   direct	
  

customers	
   and	
   the	
   end-­‐users	
   of	
   its	
   services	
   (B↑).	
   	
   This	
   customer-­‐centric	
   innovation	
  

approach	
   increases	
   the	
   number	
   of	
   clients	
   (N↑)	
   who	
   can	
   see	
   how	
   Ericsson	
   wants	
   to	
   help	
  

them	
   meet	
   their	
   goals,	
   i.e.	
   innovation	
   and	
   adoption	
   act	
   as	
   client	
   acquisition	
   tools	
   for	
  

Ericsson.	
   The	
   costs	
   of	
   adoption	
   of	
   technologies	
   that	
   have	
   been	
   developed	
   within	
   the	
  

company	
   in	
   a	
   different	
   region	
   are	
   usually	
   significantly	
   less	
   than	
   that	
   developing	
   a	
   similar	
  

service	
   from	
   scratch,	
   and	
   this	
   causes	
   the	
   costs	
   to	
   go	
   down	
   (C↓).	
   	
   Moreover,	
   there	
   is	
   already	
  

expertise	
   in	
   the	
   new	
   product/service	
   within	
   the	
   company,	
   the	
   costs	
   of	
   training	
   staff	
   is	
  

reduced	
   since	
   employees	
   can	
   learn	
   from	
   each	
   other	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
17
 	
  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐
management-­‐ericsson	
  


	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         12	
  
informally	
  when	
  they	
  source	
  the	
  technology.	
  	
  	
  Further,	
  when	
  a	
  group	
  adopts	
  a	
  product	
  from	
  

a	
  different	
  region,	
  it	
  is	
  investing	
  in	
  a	
  product	
  that	
  has	
  already	
  been	
  tested	
  and	
  that	
  is	
  mostly	
  

free	
   of	
   bugs,	
   which	
   decreases	
   the	
   risk	
   associated	
   with	
   launch	
   of	
   a	
   new	
   product	
   or	
   service	
  

(σ↓).	
  	
  Hence,	
  from	
  a	
  strategic	
  perspective,	
  the	
  innovation	
  structure	
  at	
  Ericsson	
  is	
  crucial	
  to	
  

creating	
  and	
  capturing	
  value	
  for	
  the	
  firm.	
  	
  



Learning	
  from	
  Ericsson:	
  Rolling	
  out	
  its	
  approach	
  to	
  innovation	
  to	
  other	
  industries	
  
Ericsson	
  is	
  able	
  to	
  leverage	
  innovation	
  globally	
  through	
  their	
  unique	
  organisational	
  structure	
  

and	
   its	
   decentralised	
   approach	
   to	
   innovation.	
   The	
   combination	
   of	
   formal	
   and	
   informal	
  

organizational	
   structure,	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   a	
   culture	
   for	
   innovation	
   and	
   collaboration	
   enables	
   the	
  

firm	
  to	
  leverage	
  innovation	
  globally.	
  As	
  a	
  result,	
  Ericsson	
  increased	
  its	
  benefits	
  and	
  number	
  

of	
  customers	
  and	
  decreased	
  costs	
  and	
  risk	
  associated	
  with	
  the	
  innovation.	
  

Now,	
   having	
   seen	
   this	
   theory,	
   what	
   could	
   other	
   industries	
   learn	
   from	
   the	
   ‘Ericsson	
   style	
  

innovation’	
  and	
  benefit	
  from	
  replicating	
  this	
  theory	
  within	
  their	
  firm?	
  We	
  believe	
  that	
  a	
  firm	
  

in	
  a	
  fast	
  moving	
  industry	
  which	
  is	
  driven	
  by	
  customer	
  demand	
  could	
  benefit	
  from	
  replicating	
  

the	
  ‘Ericsson	
  style	
  innovation’.	
  	
  For	
  example,	
  in	
  the	
  innovation-­‐driven	
  high	
  technology	
  and	
  

the	
  consumer	
  products	
  sector,	
  R&D	
  costs	
  are	
  typically	
  high,	
  and	
  there	
  are	
  transaction	
  costs	
  

associated	
   with	
   rolling	
   out	
   technologies	
   fast	
   and	
   “localising”	
   them	
   to	
   specific	
   markets.	
  	
  

Ericsson’s	
  innovation	
  design	
  framework	
  that	
  consists	
  of	
  two	
  layers	
  (“core”	
  and	
  “wrapper”)	
  

can	
   enable	
   such	
   industries	
   to	
   reduce	
   their	
   time	
   to	
   market	
   while	
   enhancing	
   collaboration	
  

between	
  global	
  offices	
  which	
  need	
  to	
  buy	
  in	
  core	
  technologies,	
  by	
  copying	
  the	
  core	
  part	
  and	
  

only	
  changing	
  the	
  wrapper	
  to	
  meet	
  local	
  needs.	
  	
  Such	
  quick	
  roll-­‐out	
  of	
  new	
  products	
  may	
  be	
  

critical	
  in	
  maintaining	
  and	
  developing	
  a	
  competitive	
  edge.	
  




	
                                                                                                                                                  13	
  
Secondly,	
   this	
   approach	
   can	
   substantially	
   decrease	
   the	
   overall	
   R&D	
   cost	
   and	
   optimise	
   the	
  

Sales/R&D	
  ratio.	
  	
  


Sustainability,	
  profitability	
  and	
  growth	
  are	
  3	
  components	
  that	
  are	
  essential	
  to	
  firm’s	
  success	
  

and	
  innovation	
  is	
  an	
  important	
  element	
  for	
  firms	
  to	
  be	
  sustainable.	
  However	
  the	
  common	
  

question	
  that	
  firms	
  face	
  is	
  how	
  to	
  remain	
  innovative?	
  The	
  ‘Ericsson	
  style	
  innovation’	
  gives	
  

an	
  insight	
  to	
  this	
  question.	
  The	
  Ericsson	
  style	
  enables	
  the	
  firm	
  to	
  be	
  innovative	
  in	
  a	
  low	
  cost	
  

and	
  low	
  risk	
  way	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  capturing	
  growth	
  in	
  new	
  markets	
  efficiently,	
  and	
  spreading	
  novel	
  

solutions	
  through	
  a	
  culture	
  that	
  promotes	
  proactive	
  cross-­‐pollination	
  between	
  regions.	
  	
  


	
  




	
                                                                                                                                               14	
  

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Ericsson Global Strategy Project

  • 1. INSEAD  –  GLOBAL  STRATEGY  ELECTIVE  –  PROFESSOR  S.  RANGAN  (MAY  2012,  12J  MBA)   Leveraging  Globality  at  Ericsson   Turning  local  innovation  into  global  technologies                       Team:  Yumi  Aizawa,  Arnaud  Bonnet,  Martin  Garnes,  Prasanth  Karumanchi       Logo  from  http://www.logostage.com/logo/ericsson/#.T9II0OIth-­‐M  (copyright  by  Ericsson)      
  • 2. Index     Ericsson  ..................................................................................................................................................  2   Facilitating  innovation  by  leveraging  globality  –  a  three-­‐tiered  approach  ............................................  5   Decentralized  decision-­‐making  to  empower  staff  to  take  ownership  of  ideas  .................................  5   Organizational  Culture  for  utilizing  global  capabilities  ......................................................................  8   Cross-­‐regional  Sub-­‐networks  facilitates  information  sharing  ..........................................................  10   The  advantages  of  global  innovation  ...................................................................................................  12   Learning  from  Ericsson:  Rolling  out  its  approach  to  innovation  to  other  industries  ...........................  13                             We  are  grateful  to  INSEAD  alumna  Carla  Belitardo  (Ericsson,  Brazil)  for  discussing  the   innovation  process  at  Ericsson  with  us.           1  
  • 3. “…To  build  our  networked  society,  our  innovations  need  to  be  offered  more  widely  than  to   operators  alone.    We  are  finding  new  ways  to  extend  our  reach.    Today,  we  also  address   sectors  like  utilities,  TV  &  Media…”  (Ericsson  2011  Annual  Report)   Ericsson   Major   innovations   in   communication   methods   have   been   key   to   the   progress   of   society.     The   invention   of   the   telegraph   in   the   1790s   was   followed   by   the   invention   of   the   telephone   in   the   1870s,   and   the   emergence   of   mobile   telecommunication   networks   in   the   1980s.     Almost  a  century  separated  each  major  technological  improvement.    But  over  the  past  20   years,   rapid   innovation   has   revolutionised   the   way   we   communicate,   and   the   emergence   of   smart   phones   has   meant   that   network   operators   have   needed   to   find   ways   of   handling   increasing  volumes  of  data  as  well  as  providing  new  customer-­‐focused  services  to  develop   new  sources  of  revenue.       Founded  in  1876,  Swedish  telecom  equipment  maker  Ericsson  has  been  at  the  forefront  of   innovation   in   this   truly   global   industry:   from   inventing   Bluetooth   technology   to   bringing   mobile   Internet   to   the   heart   of   the   Amazon.     Ericsson   is   the   world's   largest   mobile   telecommunications   equipment   vendor1   with   a   market   share   of   around   38%.2     According   to   the  company’s  2011  annual  report,  its  market  share  in  mobile  network  equipment  makes  it   twice   that   of   the   number   two   player.3       Ericsson’s   technology   underpins   much   of   the   hardware   that   makes   cell   phone   networks   actually   work4,   and   the   company’s   main   customers   are   network   operators.     Over   the   past   years,   Ericsson   has   realised   that   to                                                                                                                           1  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericsson   2  February  2012  estimate:  http://www.ericsson.com/news/1589097   3  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/investors/financial_reports/2011/annual11/results/board-­‐directors-­‐ report-­‐2011/competitive-­‐assets   4  http://vivauniversity.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/key-­‐to-­‐ericssons-­‐success-­‐forget-­‐the-­‐market-­‐leader-­‐focus-­‐ on-­‐the-­‐neglectedunderserved-­‐market/     2  
  • 4. maintain   its   competitive   edge,   it   cannot   only   offer   services   to   its   direct   customers,   the   network  operators.    It  started  looking  at  how  the  end-­‐users  of  the  services  it  manages  (users   of   mobile   phones)   use   their   phones   and   what   they   use   it   for.     In   2008,   Ericsson   launched   its   Collaborative   Idea   Management   programme   worldwide,   an   initiative   aimed   at   enabling   its   employees  to  innovate  every  day  across  the  organisation.5   The   company   created   the   concept   of   “The   Networked   Society”,   and   it   believes   that   technology   has   allowed   us   to   interact,   innovate,   and   share   knowledge   in   news   ways6   that   did   not   exist   only   a   few   years   ago.     As   we   enter   this   new   era,   an   increasing   number   of   devices   will   be   connected   through   typically   wireless   networks,   and   Ericsson   wants   to   continue  to  play  a  leading  role  in  connecting  those  devices  and  ultimately  people.    With  over   108,000   employees   around   the   world   and   serving   customers   in   180   countries7,   Ericsson   owns   the   largest   patent   portfolio   for   mobile   communications   for   2G,   3G   and   4G   technologies,  representing  around  30,000  patents.8    Moreover,  the  company  claims  to  own   25%   of   standard-­‐essential   patents   for   the   next-­‐generation   4G   (Long   Term   Evolution)   communication  which  allows  for  high-­‐speed  data  transfer  between  mobile  phones  and  data   terminals9   .   This   makes   Ericsson   the   largest   single   holder   of   essential   patents   for   the   technology10  which  is  seen  as  the  next  major  wireless  protocol  to  be  rolled  out  by  network   operators  around  the  world.    How  does  a  company  with  activities  in  180  countries,    and  that   operates   in   an   industry   dominated   by   rapid   technological   change   leverage   its   global   presence  to  remain  at  the  forefront  of  innovation?    What  drives  a  company  that  is  present                                                                                                                           5  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐ management-­‐ericsson   6  http://www.ericsson.com/networkedsociety   7  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts   8  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts/patents   9  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_(telecommunication)   10  http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/company_facts/patents     3  
  • 5. in   developed   markets   to   spend   time   bringing   internet   communication   to   difficult-­‐to-­‐reach   areas  in  the  Amazon  region,  and  why?    These  are  some  of  the  questions  that  fascinated  us   about   Ericsson,   and   that   we   tried   to   understand   while   researching   this   report.     More   surprisingly,   at   a   time   of   increasing   competition   and   rapid   technological   change,   R&D   expenses  as   a   percentage  of   sales  have  been  decreasing  at  Ericsson  over  the  past  3  years  as   the   company   gained   market   share   and   increased   its   revenue   despite   the   financial   crisis   affecting   the   industry   as   a   whole,   while   R&D   expenses   have   been   fairly   constant   and   at   a   higher  level  (as  a  percentage  of  sales)  at  its  closest  independent  competitor  Alcatel-­‐Lucent   (see  tables  1  and  2).       Ericsson  –  Financial  Highlights  (Source:  Annual  Report  2011)   SEK  in  millions   2011   2010   2009   Sales   226,921   203,348   206,477   Net  income  (N.I)   12,569   11,235   4,127   R&D  expenses   32,638   31,558   33,055   N.I  /  Sales   5.53%   5.52%   1.99%   R&D  /  Sales   14.3%   15.5%   16.0%   Table  1:  Summary  of  financial  data  for  Ericsson     Alcatel-­‐Lucent  –  Financial  Highlights  (Source:  Annual  Report  2011)   EUR  in  millions   2011   2010   2009   Sales   15,327   15,658   14,881   Net  income  (N.I)   1,144   (292)   (504)   R&D  expenses   2,472   2,593   2,465   N.I  /  Sales   7.46%   -­‐1.86%   -­‐3.38%   R&D  /  Sales   16.1%   16.6%   16.5%   Table  2:  Summary  of  financial  data  for  Alcatel-­‐Lucent     4  
  • 6. Why   is   Ericsson   able   to   reduce   its   R&D   expenditure   while   still   innovating,   and   what   can   companies  in  different  industries  learn  from  Ericsson  and  the  way  it  uses  its  global  presence   to  innovate  and  roll  out  new  technologies  quickly  and  cost-­‐effectively?         Facilitating  innovation  by  leveraging  globality  –  a  three-­‐tiered  approach   Our  discussions  with  Ms.  Belitardo  and  our  analyses  of  multiple  case  studies  on  innovation   at  Ericsson,  suggested  that  there  are  three  areas  that  facilitate  innovation  at  Ericsson:   • Decentralised  decision  making  processes   • Organizational  Cultures,  and   • Cross-­‐regional  sub-­‐networks.     Decentralized  decision-­‐making  to  empower  staff  to  take  ownership  of  ideas   Ericsson   recognised   that   in   a   large,   global   organisation,   innovation   takes   different   aspects   (spanning   the   range   of   product   innovation   to   business   model   innovation),   and   that   if   the   company   is   to   promote   an   innovation   culture,   managing   the   generation   of   ideas   becomes   a   complex   task.     Hence   in   2008,   they   launched   a   company-­‐wide   collaborative   idea   management  programme  that  is  implemented  like  a  pull  based  internal  idea  marketplace  –   an   open   network   for   the   exchange   of   ideas   built   around   a   host   of   defined   innovation   needs   –  without  any  central  control  or  steering.11   Ericsson   is   organised   by   regions   (for   example   Latin   America,   North   America,   Africa,   etc..),   and   each   region   reports   to   the   HQ.     Each   region   has   responsibility   for   its   P&L   accounts,   and   the  company  has  deliberately  taken  steps  to  empower  its  regional  offices  by  decentralizing   decision-­‐making   process.     Rather   than   only   focusing   on   its   core   business   of   telecom                                                                                                                           11  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐ management-­‐ericsson     5  
  • 7. infrastructure   and   having   its   HQ   organise   and   dictate   R&D   efforts,   each   regional   office   targets  the  end-­‐users  in  the  local  market/community  by  understanding  their  market  needs   (for   example,   people   in   the   Amazon   region   needed   internet   access   to   communicate   with   remote   areas,   and   the   LatAm   regional   office   focused   on   understanding   which   services   were   needed   by   the   users   before   bringing   in   the   telecom   infrastructure   that   is   then   made   available  to  the  operators  that  are  Ericsson’s  direct  customers).    The  decentralized  decision-­‐ making   gives   each   regional   office   a   high   level   of   discretion   on   how   to   focus   their   efforts,   thus   allowing   them   to   identify   local   needs   and   create   solutions   beyond   headquarters’   capabilities.         Thus,   as   figure   1   shows,   a   decentralised   decision   making   at   the   local   level   leads   to   new   innovations   within   a   region,   and   that   innovation   can   then   be   transferred   to   other  regions  across  the  world  as  and  when  required.    This  process  not  only  creates  value   for  the  local  region  and  all  its  stakeholders  (the  regional  office,  the  operator  that  benefits   from  a  new  source  of  income  and  the  end-­‐user  that  gains  access  to  new  services),  but  it  also   allows  Ericsson  as  a  company  to  capture  value  from  generating  revenue  from  products  and   services  that  are  relevant  to  a  specific  market.     Innovation         Decentralized  decision-­‐making     Figure  1:  How  decentralised  decision-­‐making  at  Ericsson  promotes  innovation     6  
  • 8. Examples  of  this  decentralised  process  include:   (1)  The  Mobile  Weather  Alert  developed  for  the  community  in  Lake  Victoria  in  Uganda12,  a   mobile   application   that   improves   the   safety   of   fishermen   through   detailed,   customized   weather   forecasts.   Ericsson,   in   partnership   with   the   World   Meteorological   Organization   and   the  Uganda  Department  of  Meteorology,  have  developed  the  application  and  content,  while   the   National   Lake   Rescue   Institute   is   supporting   the   end-­‐user   and   usability   studies.   The   operational  model  (core)  has  been  designed  for  scale  and  replication.     (2)  The  Community  Power  project  from  Kenya13,  where  off-­‐grid  base  stations  are  placed  in   areas   without   electricity   grid   coverage,   powered   by   renewable   energy   sources   such   as   wind   and/or   solar   power,   with   the   ability   to   share   excess   power   to   the   nearby   communities,   institutions   and   individuals.   Depending   on   the   excess   energy,   the   base   stations   has   been   shown   to   be   able   to   power   mobile   phone   charging   (which   drives   network   usage),   and   in   larger   scale   deployments   (with   creation   of   mini-­‐grids   between   multiple   base   stations)   powering   street   lights,   clinics   and   schools   for   an   entire   community.   The   development   process  has  been  run  with  replication  in  mind.     (3)   In   Curibita,   Brazil’s   sustainable   city,   Ericsson   has   partnered   in   the   development   of   a   fleet   management  system  for  wireless  connected  buses,  resulting  in  increased  trust  in  public  for   safe   transportation   and   a   reduction   in   fuel   cost   and   travel   time14.   The   system   was   jointly   developed  with  DataProm,  Vivo  and  Telefonica,  and  has  recently  attracted  the  attention  of                                                                                                                           12 http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/mobile _weather_alert   13 http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/commu nity_power     14 http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/technology_for_good/connect ed_busses_in_curitiba       7  
  • 9. various  cities  around  the  world  which  are  considering  launching  similar  services.    In  each  of   these   projects,   new   innovation   has   come   as   a   result   of   targeting   local   needs   and   creating   solutions,  which  can  then  be  expanded  globally  to  other  regions.     Organizational  Culture  for  utilizing  global  capabilities   A   decentralised   structure   needs   the   correct   communication   platform   for   the   exchange   of   ideas   to   actually   happen.     Ericsson   has   developed   an   organizational   culture   for   global   collaboration  and  knowledge  transfer,  which  manifests  itself  in  two  ways:   1. When  they  have  identified  a  market  need  that  needs  to  be  filled,  Ericsson  employees  are   encouraged  to  first  look  first  inside  the  company  (including  both  HQ  and  other  regions)   for   solutions   before   looking   outside   the   company   to   local   vendors.   The   HQ   can   help   facilitate  the  search  for  new  innovations  within  the  company,  but  employees  are  more   generally  encouraged  to  find  the  solution  by  themselves.    This  approach  seems  to  lead   to   a   proactive   workforce   which   encourages   collaboration   within   the   company,   across   different   regions.     Employees   see   it   naturally   to   look   across   the   globe   to   leverage   the   corporation’s   global   capabilities.   If   the   solution   exists   in   a   different   region/office,  a   price   will  be  negotiated  with  the  office  or  region  holding  the  patent/technology/product.     2. Ericsson   employees   therefore   continuously   have   to   look   outside   their   regions   when   developing   local   solutions.     Since   employees   know   that   there   might   be   a   global   demand   (from   other   regions)   for   a   novel   solution   they   are   developing   for   their   local   markets,   every  solutions  is  as  far  as  possible  made  replicable  (the  core  of  the  concept),  with  an   add-­‐on  layer  for  localisation  (“the  wrapper”),  as  shown  in  figure  2.     8  
  • 10. Core:  StaYc   across  regions   Wrapper:   customized   across  regions     Figure  2:  Design  framework  for  innovative  products  at  Ericsson     Many  innovations  in  global  firms  are  not  transferrable  (i.e.  they  cannot  easily  be  replicated   in   a   different   region),   often   because   of   company   politics,   or   the   costs   required   to   re-­‐ engineer  a  product  or  solution  to  meet  local  tastes  and  demands.  At  Ericsson,  these  issues   appear  to  be  addressed  by  having  an  open  structure  of  collaboration  that  is  entrepreneurial   in   that   few   of   the   discussions   are   centralised   (although   employees   know   that   the   HQ   is   available  to  help  if  help  is  required).    Local  regions  can  champion  their  ideas  to  other  regions   and   the   “buying-­‐in”   or   innovation   pull   mechanism   avoids   layers   of   bureaucracy   that   may   be   observed  in  firms  where  decision  making  is  more  centralised  through  HQ.       As  shown  in  figure  2,  the  innovating  group  can  sell  the  “core”  technology  of  the  product  to   the  adopter  group,  and  the  latter  can  develop  a  localized  “wrapper”  according  to  its  needs   and  specifications.  The  innovator  group  will  continue  to  innovate  within  this  framework  as   long   as   it   is   allowed   to   “sell”   the   products   to   other   parts   of   the   firm   because   it   not   only   generates  revenues  for  the  group;  it  also  streamlines  the  adoption  process,  decreasing  the   costs.     9  
  • 11. With  a  new  tool  for  collaborative  idea  management  that  it  launched  globally  in  2008  under   the  name  IdeaBoxes15,  Ericsson  moved  away  from  pushing  innovation  efforts  to  its  regional   offices.     The   system   was   designed   and   implemented   as   a   pull   based   internal   idea   marketplace,  transparent  and  open  to  all  employees.    Adoption  within  the  firm  is  voluntary,   and  each  innovation  manager  has  the  choice  of  whether  to  utilize  the  tool  or  not.    As  the   system   is   open   to   all   employees,   ideation   goes   beyond   R&D   and   this   emphasises   how   Ericsson   recognises   that   its   employees   are   the   most   important   source   of   new   ideas,   regardless  of  their  job  description.  As  of  July  2011,  the  system  had  registered  over  15,000   ideas   while   supporting   Ericsson   in   the   effort   of   building   a   culture   of   collaboration   across   borders  and  units.     Cross-­‐regional  Sub-­‐networks  facilitates  information  sharing   One   of   the   biggest   challenges   for   global   firms   is   information   sharing   and   knowledge   management.  Innovation  often  comes  down  to  simply  connecting  already  existing  dots,  and   a   solution   to   your   problem   may   well   already   exist   in   another   region.   Solutions   developed   elsewhere   may   also   be   applied   differently   in   your   region,   and   hence   addressing   problems   that   it   was   not   intentionally   developed   to   solve.   However,   all   of   this   will   never   happen   unless   information   is   flowing   between   regions.   And   given   the   amount   of   information   and   innovation   in   a   corporation   the   size   of   Ericsson,   it   is   simply   not   possible   for   everyone   to   know  about  everything,  even  with  the  very  successful  implementation  of  IdeaBoxes.  So  how   can   we   assure   that   the   relevant   information   is   shared?   Ericsson   has   a   global   innovation   center  working  to  identify  and  globally  roll  out  selected  innovations.  However,  one  cannot   assure   that   the   innovation   center   is   qualified   to   decide   which   innovations   have   global   potential   and   which   do   not.   In   addition   to   this,   some   innovations   may   not   be   globally                                                                                                                           15  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐ management-­‐ericsson     10  
  • 12. applicable,   but   could   be   useful   in   one   or   two   other   countries.   One   of   the   measures   Ericsson   has   implemented   to   avoid   such   lost   opportunities   is   to   develop   sub-­‐networks   where   certain   departments  connect  globally  across  regions.  We  have  illustrated  this  by  the  example  of  the   sustainability   teams.   A   cross-­‐regional,   matrix-­‐like   network   exists   between   people   working   on  sustainability  projects  (see  figure  3).  Through  such  sub-­‐networks,  Ericsson  increases  the   Regional  knowledge   Cross  regional  sub-­‐network   Regional  knowledge   Regional  knowledge   Figure  3:  Cross-­‐regional  sub-­‐networks  based  on  function   likelihood  that  relevant  information  reaches  the  different  regions,  and  as  such  they  are  able   to   connect   more   of   the   available   “dots”   that   exist   within   their   company.   Specifically,   the   Community  Power  project  has  been  replicated  in  the  Amazon16,  and  is  currently  in  process   to  be  replicated  in  Surinam.  The  Bus  Fleet  Management  system  has  drawn  attention  from   several  other  regions,  and  is  likely  to  be  rolled  out  to  other  locations  in  the  near  future.  This   has   come   directly   as   a   result   of   communication   within   the   cross   regional   network   for   sustainability.   If   all   transfer   of   knowledge   and   innovation   was   to   be   channelled   through   headquarters,  it  is  likely  that  some  of  these  opportunities  would  not  have  been  recognized.                                                                                                                             16 http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/sustainability_corporateresponsibility/enabling_communication_for _all/connecting_the_amazon       11  
  • 13. The  advantages  of  global  innovation   The   structure   at   Ericsson   not   only   encourages   innovation,   but   it   ensures   the   alignment   of   innovations   with   the   firm’s   strategy.   This   is   achieved   by   encouraging   internal   “trading”   of   innovative  products  and  solutions,  creating  a  fair  incentive  system  while  at  the  same  time   enabling  development  of  projects  that  otherwise  would  not  have  been  financially  viable.     On   a   firm   level,   this   structure   also   helps   in   the   reduction   of   training   and   support   costs   as   employees   don’t   have   to   be   educated   on   innovative   thought   process   and   sharing   new   ideas   and   technology   because   they   are   incentivized   to   do   so17.   Furthermore,   it   also   helps   in   optimizing   research   and   development   because   costs   are   shared   between   groups   that   adopt   an  innovative  product,  which  again  leads  to  incentivizing  innovation.   From  a  Global  Strategy  viewpoint,  we  believe  that,  Ericsson  leverages  its  global  position  to   “distribute”   innovation.   Ericsson’s   structure   empowers   regional   offices   to   gain   advantage   over  their  competitors,  by  adopting  and  localizing  innovation  from  other  regions  instead  of   reinventing   them.   Thus   Ericsson   first   focuses   on   the   benefits   that   it   can   bring   to   its   direct   customers   and   the   end-­‐users   of   its   services   (B↑).     This   customer-­‐centric   innovation   approach   increases   the   number   of   clients   (N↑)   who   can   see   how   Ericsson   wants   to   help   them   meet   their   goals,   i.e.   innovation   and   adoption   act   as   client   acquisition   tools   for   Ericsson.   The   costs   of   adoption   of   technologies   that   have   been   developed   within   the   company   in   a   different   region   are   usually   significantly   less   than   that   developing   a   similar   service   from   scratch,   and   this   causes   the   costs   to   go   down   (C↓).     Moreover,   there   is   already   expertise   in   the   new   product/service   within   the   company,   the   costs   of   training   staff   is   reduced   since   employees   can   learn   from   each   other                                                                                                                             17  http://www.managementexchange.com/story/everyone-­‐innovates-­‐everyday-­‐collaborative-­‐idea-­‐ management-­‐ericsson     12  
  • 14. informally  when  they  source  the  technology.      Further,  when  a  group  adopts  a  product  from   a  different  region,  it  is  investing  in  a  product  that  has  already  been  tested  and  that  is  mostly   free   of   bugs,   which   decreases   the   risk   associated   with   launch   of   a   new   product   or   service   (σ↓).    Hence,  from  a  strategic  perspective,  the  innovation  structure  at  Ericsson  is  crucial  to   creating  and  capturing  value  for  the  firm.     Learning  from  Ericsson:  Rolling  out  its  approach  to  innovation  to  other  industries   Ericsson  is  able  to  leverage  innovation  globally  through  their  unique  organisational  structure   and   its   decentralised   approach   to   innovation.   The   combination   of   formal   and   informal   organizational   structure,   as   well   as   a   culture   for   innovation   and   collaboration   enables   the   firm  to  leverage  innovation  globally.  As  a  result,  Ericsson  increased  its  benefits  and  number   of  customers  and  decreased  costs  and  risk  associated  with  the  innovation.   Now,   having   seen   this   theory,   what   could   other   industries   learn   from   the   ‘Ericsson   style   innovation’  and  benefit  from  replicating  this  theory  within  their  firm?  We  believe  that  a  firm   in  a  fast  moving  industry  which  is  driven  by  customer  demand  could  benefit  from  replicating   the  ‘Ericsson  style  innovation’.    For  example,  in  the  innovation-­‐driven  high  technology  and   the  consumer  products  sector,  R&D  costs  are  typically  high,  and  there  are  transaction  costs   associated   with   rolling   out   technologies   fast   and   “localising”   them   to   specific   markets.     Ericsson’s  innovation  design  framework  that  consists  of  two  layers  (“core”  and  “wrapper”)   can   enable   such   industries   to   reduce   their   time   to   market   while   enhancing   collaboration   between  global  offices  which  need  to  buy  in  core  technologies,  by  copying  the  core  part  and   only  changing  the  wrapper  to  meet  local  needs.    Such  quick  roll-­‐out  of  new  products  may  be   critical  in  maintaining  and  developing  a  competitive  edge.     13  
  • 15. Secondly,   this   approach   can   substantially   decrease   the   overall   R&D   cost   and   optimise   the   Sales/R&D  ratio.     Sustainability,  profitability  and  growth  are  3  components  that  are  essential  to  firm’s  success   and  innovation  is  an  important  element  for  firms  to  be  sustainable.  However  the  common   question  that  firms  face  is  how  to  remain  innovative?  The  ‘Ericsson  style  innovation’  gives   an  insight  to  this  question.  The  Ericsson  style  enables  the  firm  to  be  innovative  in  a  low  cost   and  low  risk  way  as  well  as  capturing  growth  in  new  markets  efficiently,  and  spreading  novel   solutions  through  a  culture  that  promotes  proactive  cross-­‐pollination  between  regions.         14