On Weldon's Watch : Recalls at Johnson & Johnson from 2009 to 2010

In October of 2010, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was unable to extricate itself from a year long recall crisis that had subjected the firm to criticism from Congress and regulators, resulted in the resignation of one of the firm's most senior officers, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars from lost sales of J&J brands. This case examines the series of recalls, and the strategic and cultural changes at the company that may have led to the recalls. It allows for an exploration of the reality of the iconic J&J "Credo" - its long standing set of corporate values. Learning Objective: Allow for discussion of the handling of an internally created crisis, and the linkage among strategic decisions, culture and corporate values. Can be paired with "James Burke: A Career in American Business" (A) and (B), HBS Nos. 389-177 and 390-030