harvard course pack when tragedy strikes the supply chain

by Prof. Floyd Turcotte IV 7 min read

Pros and Cons

She and Jim spent the rest of the day touring other facilities, and the next morning they returned to Shahjalal, en route to Shenzen, where they would visit one of their Chinese contractors. Now Jim joined Laura in the lounge carrying two bottled waters and an extra-tall coffee. He looked as haggard as she felt.

The Experts Respond

John Manners-Bell is the CEO of Transport Intelligence, a global market research organization; an adviser to the World Economic Forum; and a visiting professor at London Metropolitan University.

Pros and Cons

Image
She and Jim spent the rest of the day touring other facilities, and the next morning they returned to Shahjalal, en route to Shenzen, where they would visit one of their Chinese contractors. Now Jim joined Laura in the lounge carrying two bottled waters and an extra-tall coffee. He looked as haggard as she felt. “That was roug…
See more on hbr.org

Costs and Risks

  • “We can expand operations, no problem,” Kevin Chen, the owner of the Shenzen factory, told them. A graduate of Wharton who spoke fluent English, he was a gracious and gregarious host. And he’d been a great partner. Tots & Teens was currently producing 36% of its merchandise in China and had never had any problems there. The hangarlike factory—full of humming sewing machines an…
See more on hbr.org

A Son’S Question

  • Laura had never been so happy to see the Newark airport. A 15-minute taxi ride later, she was at home in Summit and surprised to see her son, Devon, a sophomore at Columbia, sitting at the kitchen table eating chips and guacamole. “I took the train down,” he said. “Dad told me you could use some cheering up. And I was sick of dining hall and takeout food.” He grinned. Laura asked …
See more on hbr.org

The Experts Respond

  • Laura should keep Tots & Teens in Bangladesh. The company has a moral responsibility to support factory workers, give them safer workplaces, and contribute to the community. It would be unethical to pull out in the wake of the building collapse. The question is where to start. Forming an alliance with other companies is a good first step. That’s exactly what U.S. and Euro…
See more on hbr.org