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Strategy

Akamai's Localization Challenge

Abstract 

Founded in 1998, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Akamai provided its customers including Apple, Netflix, and Amazon services to accelerate and improve the delivery of content and applications over the Internet. By 2011, the company's globalization strategy and structure was harming its ability to compete in local markets. Charley Dublin was put in charge of helping solve the global content delivery network's (CDN) localization challenge.

 

Learning Objectives

To understand when localization of various aspects of the product/service/business model can add value and in response to what conditions; and, how various aspects of a firm’s organization (grouping, linking, alignment) can support this localization.

Appropriate for the Following Course(s)

global strategy; international management

Akamai's Localization Challenge 

 

Educator Copy*

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THIS CASE HAS A TEACHING NOTE.