HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeOrganizational Behaviorback to Research & KnowledgeLeadership at TDC Sunrise: ”Always a smile” or ”communication is life”?back to Organizational Behavior

Case Study

Leadership at TDC Sunrise: ''Always a smile'' or ''communication is life''?

By Preston C. Bottger and George Rädler

35 pages

December 2004

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-4-0278

This is a leadership case based on the real-life example of a turnaround in the Swiss telecom industry. Within three years, TDC sunrise (sunrise) went from massive losses (equivalent to around 27% of sales) to respectable profit levels, a year earlier than initially anticipated. TDC, the Danish telephone incumbent, was pursuing a growth strategy. This was the largest foreign investment by any Danish company. The case describes the developments after Kim Frimer, sunrise’s CEO & president, was asked to “fix” sunrise. Frimer was a rising star within TDC “who was thrown into this job and then had to deliver.” Although Frimer had an entrepreneurial background, as well as a good understanding of the industry, his capacity to move people to action is impressive. He and his team brought accountability, discipline and focus to the organization, greatly enhanced processes and thereby improved productivity. They also seem to have been successful in pleasing customers and employees, as well as superiors in Copenhagen.

Keywords

Managerial Effectiveness, Impact, Motivation, Deregulation, Transparency, Turnaround

Settings

Europe, Switzerland
1998 - 2003

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

Related material

Teaching note, Video

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Keep reading

Article

How to get your kids engaged in the entrepreneurial family galaxy

Family businesses hold a unique place in the economic and social landscape. They represent not just entrepreneurship but also heritage, values and a legacy passed down through generations.

Family Business Organizational Behavior Entrepreneurship

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi

in Belfast Telegraph

8 January 2025

Article

Holiday season burnout: How can family businesses manage workload and rest

The holiday season is a particularly demanding time for many businesses, especially for family-owned enterprises. The combination of increased business demands, tight deadlines, and family expectations can create a perfect storm of stress and exha...

Family Business Workplace Well-being Organizational Behavior

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi

in The European Business Review

21 December 2024

Article

How to get more power at work

You won't be able to understand how power operates in your unique context on your first day in the company, but it's highly achievable after about six months of closely observing the environment.

Organizational Behavior

By Jennifer Jordan

in I by IMD Brain Circuits

20 December 2024

Book Chapter

Why now?

In the past, many business leaders could operate much like the generic merchants in Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. They could pursue their own personal and corporate ends, while resting assured that an “invisible hand” would promote the pub...

Organizational Change Sustainability Organizational Behavior

By Julia Katharina Binder and Knut Bjarne Haanaes

in Binder, Julia Katharina (Ed.); Haanaes, Knut Bjarne (Ed.) / Leading the sustainable business transformation: A playbook from IMD, pp. 19-32 / Hoboken: Wiley, 2025

Article

Is your board a team? Three keys to effective governance

Today’s chaotic and turbulent competitive context means the board’s role is more important than ever. Beyond their traditional oversight role, boards today are critical in shaping strategy, managing risks, maintaining accountability, and driving i...

Board Team Dynamics Corporate Governance Organizational Behavior

By Didier Cossin and Yukie Saito

in Irish Tech News

17 December 2024

Book

Hostage at the table: How leaders can overcome conflict, influence others, and raise performance (2nd edition)

In the newly revised second edition of Hostage at the Table: How Leaders Can Overcome Conflict, Influence Others and Raise Performance, clinical psychologist, distinguished leadership professor, and veteran hostage negotiator George Kohlrieser com...

General Management Negotiation Leadership Organizational Behavior

By George Kohlrieser and Andrew Kohlrieser

Article

Do you know the two types of power?

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of power, but it’s important to realize that it can be a force for good. This begins by understanding the different kinds of power.

Organizational Behavior

By Jennifer Jordan

in I by IMD Brain Circuits

13 December 2024

Article

Lessons from leadership by an Olympic Finalist

When I was eight years old, I watched the Mexico Olympics on television and thought ‘I want to do that.’ It took eight years and an incredible amount of work, including extraordinary highs and lows, to achieve that goal.

Leadership Disruption Organizational Behavior

By Susan Goldsworthy

in Startups Magazine

11 December 2024

Case Study

Employees in Foxconn’s business empire

Foxconn, a Fortune Global 500 giant and the world's largest electronics manufacturer, made headlines in 2023 by announcing a shift to a five-day, eight-hour workweek in its Chinese factories - a significant departure from its long history of exten...

Leadership Organizational Behavior Talent Management

By Zhike Lei and Yunfei Feng

Article

Se il manager sceglie di centralizzare la catena decisionale

September 2024 marks a turning point in corporate management and a drama in the management world, which began with an essay by Paul Graham, patron of Silicon Valley's leading startup incubator, Y Combinator.Graham coins a new paradigm, the founder...

Family Business Team Dynamics Organizational Behavior Leadership

By Alfredo De Massis and Paolo Lacchè

in Il Sole 24 ore

21 November 2024

How to get your kids engaged in the entrepreneurial family galaxy

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi
in Belfast Telegraph 8 January 2025

Summary

Family businesses hold a unique place in the economic and social landscape. They represent not just entrepreneurship but also heritage, values and a legacy passed down through generations.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Family Business

Organizational Behavior

Entrepreneurship

Browse all topics

Holiday season burnout: How can family businesses manage workload and rest

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi
in The European Business Review 21 December 2024

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Family Business

Workplace Well-being

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

Why now?

By Julia Katharina Binder and Knut Bjarne Haanaes
in Binder, Julia Katharina (Ed.); Haanaes, Knut Bjarne (Ed.) / Leading the sustainable business transformation: A playbook from IMD, pp. 19-32 / Hoboken: Wiley, 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Organizational Change

Sustainability

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

Is your board a team? Three keys to effective governance

By Didier Cossin and Yukie Saito
in Irish Tech News 17 December 2024

Summary

Contact