Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Williams Controls (A)

Chen, Ming-Jer, Re...

Case

Williams Controls (A)

Chen, Ming-Jer; Rettig, Tony

S-0190 | Published July 11, 2011 | 10 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

Product Details

Williams Controls CEO, John Easton, has outlined the new strategic plan he wants to put in place to improve the company's market opportunities and accelerate its growth. The plan involves embarking on an expansive acquisition spree designed to vertically integrate the company's supply chain and simultaneously expand its product offering beyond the core electronic throttle control (ETC) business. Easton's plan sounded compelling but complicated and introduced new risks to a small company that was beginning to find its operating groove. If successful, Easton's plan could revolutionize Williams Controls and take it to heights once thought unreachable, but if unsuccessful, it could derail the company.