Herman Case
Herman Miller Inc in 2012
Frank Shipper Salisbury University
Steven B. Adams Salisbury University
Karen Manz Author and Researcher
Charles C. Manz University of Massachusetts
Herman Miller was widely recognized as the leader in the office furniture industry and had built a reputation for innovation in products and processes since D. J. De Pree became president over 90 years ago.
Herman Miller was one of only four companies and the only non-high-technology enterprise named to
Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" and "The 100 Best Companies to Work For" lists and also to
FastCompany's "Most Innovative Companies" list in both 2008 and 2010. The three high-technology organizations selected for these lists were Microsoft, Cisco, and Google. Unlike most firms, especially those in mature industries and most of its office furniture rivals, Herman Miller had pursued a path distinctively marked by reinvention and renewal.
This path had served it well over the decades. It survived the Great Depression early in its history and multiple recessions in the 20th century In the early part of the 21st century, it recovered from the dot-com bust. In 2012, Herman Miller once again was facing turbulent and uncertain economic conditions. Would its propensity for using innovation to reinvent and renew its business once again allow the company to flourish and grow? How far and how fast might the company be able to push its annual revenues above the
2011 level of $1.6 billion?
COMPANY BACKGROUND
Herman Miller's roots went back to 1905 and the Star Furniture Company, a manufacturer of traditionalstyle bedroom suites in Zeeland, Michigan. In 1909, it was renamed Michigan Star Furniture Company and hired Dirk Jan De Pree as a clerk. De Pree, became president in 1919 and four years later convinced his father-in-law, Herman Miller, to purchase the majority of shares; De Pree renamed the company Herman
Miller Furniture Company in recognition of Millers support.
In 1927, De Pree committed
Frank Shipper Salisbury University
Steven B. Adams Salisbury University
Karen Manz Author and Researcher
Charles C. Manz University of Massachusetts
Herman Miller was widely recognized as the leader in the office furniture industry and had built a reputation for innovation in products and processes since D. J. De Pree became president over 90 years ago.
Herman Miller was one of only four companies and the only non-high-technology enterprise named to
Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" and "The 100 Best Companies to Work For" lists and also to
FastCompany's "Most Innovative Companies" list in both 2008 and 2010. The three high-technology organizations selected for these lists were Microsoft, Cisco, and Google. Unlike most firms, especially those in mature industries and most of its office furniture rivals, Herman Miller had pursued a path distinctively marked by reinvention and renewal.
This path had served it well over the decades. It survived the Great Depression early in its history and multiple recessions in the 20th century In the early part of the 21st century, it recovered from the dot-com bust. In 2012, Herman Miller once again was facing turbulent and uncertain economic conditions. Would its propensity for using innovation to reinvent and renew its business once again allow the company to flourish and grow? How far and how fast might the company be able to push its annual revenues above the
2011 level of $1.6 billion?
COMPANY BACKGROUND
Herman Miller's roots went back to 1905 and the Star Furniture Company, a manufacturer of traditionalstyle bedroom suites in Zeeland, Michigan. In 1909, it was renamed Michigan Star Furniture Company and hired Dirk Jan De Pree as a clerk. De Pree, became president in 1919 and four years later convinced his father-in-law, Herman Miller, to purchase the majority of shares; De Pree renamed the company Herman
Miller Furniture Company in recognition of Millers support.
In 1927, De Pree committed