Organizational Change

Company Overview

Global Gillette (Gillette) is a subsidiary of Proctor and Gamble and is in the business of manufacturing toiletries and shaving equipment. Its business is divided into five segments which are blades, razors, batteries, electric razors, oral care products and personal care products that include shaving and skin care products and deodorants. The some of the well known brands that come under Gillette are Braun, Duracell, Mach3, and Oral-B. As a subsidiary of Proctor & Gamble, no individual financial information is released.

History and Growth

The company was founded by King C Gillette and William Nickerson in 1901. It was first named American Safety Razor Company which was later changed to Gillette Safety Razor Company in 1902 and then The Gillette Company in 1952. The company’s first product a disposal razor was introduced to the market in 1903 for which he also acquired a patent. It started its first overseas operation in London in 1905 and then established operations in Canada, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Italy (Datamoniter, 2005).

After its first invention the company decided to maintain its innovative pace. It introduced the idea of self-shaving by selling shaving kits during the First World War. It introduced an electric shaver in 1938 and Foamy shaving cream in 1953. It introduced Right Guard deodorants, Cricket disposable lighters and Eraser Mate pens in the 1960s. In two most significant products launched in the 90s were Mach3 razors with three blades in one razor and Ultra alkaline batteries. (Datamoniter, 2005).

As the company grew and innovated, it acquired other companies, to gain expertise and resources. It acquired Paper Mate, a ball point pen company in 1955. Braun, an electrical appliances manufacturer in 1967 and Liquid Paper in 1979 Oral-B Laboratories in 1984, Parker pen in 1993 and Duracell in 1996. (Datamoniter, 2005).

Its sales figure had grown to $9.7 billion in 1996 from $1.2 billion five years ago. In 1998...