Case Questions: Bang & Olufsen

1. What is your assessment of the competitive situation in which B&O finds itself in 2006? What are they really good at? What should they be worried about?

2. B%)’s radical design driven approach seems at odds with conventional business wisdom at many points – what are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach? How does it help the company compete? Is it sustainable?

3. What is your assessment of the Idealab initiative? Is it a good approach to changing the design process at B&O? Will the plan work?