This case describes the evolution of IT management at Alcan during the period from 2006-2007. At that time, IT governance and the IT function itself were undergoing a complete transformation. The case follows the Vice-President of Corporate Information Technology from the time of his arrival at Alcan: his observations on the current state of IT management, his appointment to the position of Chief Information Officer and the development of his new strategic plan for IT management. Part A presents the main features and challenges of IT management at Alcan up until the middle of 2006. Part B continues with the main concepts and elements of the CIO's new strategic plan for IT management. Students are encouraged to reflect on the characteristics, implications and challenges represented by IT management in a large global organization.
This case asks participants to put themselves in the position of a government official in charge of selecting an evaluation design to assess the impact of a social program. The goal is to illustrate the tradeoffs that are made in the real world when trying to balance the desire for a rigorous and credible evaluation design with the logistic, political, financial and ethical constraints that so frequently arise in evaluating social programs. Participants are asked to assess the strengths and weaknesses of three possible evaluation designs using as criteria the scientific rigor, political feasibility, logistical implications, and financial feasibility of each design. The case includes a 5:30-minute video interview with Jason Wilks, a Senior Policy Analyst with the team in charge of monitoring the PATH Program for the Jamaican government. Wilks describes the political context in Jamaica at the time and the internal and external pressures the government was under as it considered the three evaluation designs. The video contains three short segments that can be played throughout the class and a 3-minute "reveal" where Wilks explains the government's ultimate decision. The four segments can also be played sequentially at the end of the case discussion.
Venture Valuation conducts an independent valuation of Genedata, a Swiss start-up company in order to help Novartis Venture Fund analyze and structure the next financing round. Venture Valuation has to, given a very tight deadline, customize the evaluation process to using quantitative and qualitative data to best meet its customers needs. The case outlines the task ahead of Venture Valuation and requires students to make assessments and calculations and finally come up with a valuation for the startup, Genedata.
Part 1 of the case provides a detailed description of the situation before the start of the project at PT. It enables students to diagnose problems, identify opportunities, propose solutions, and support those proposals by referring to the relevant theory from economics, strategy and negotiation analysis. Part 2 describes the actions taken by PT, their impact on a number of operational measures (cost, time to market, etc.) as well as the rationale that supports those steps. The teaching note provides a teaching plan and draws the links with the relevant theoretical material from the fields of Economics, Strategy and Negotiation Analysis.
Part 1 of the case provides a detailed description of the situation before the start of the project at PT. It enables students to diagnose problems, identify opportunities, propose solutions, and support those proposals by referring to the relevant theory from economics, strategy and negotiation analysis. Part 2 describes the actions taken by PT, their impact on a number of operational measures (cost, time to market, etc.) as well as the rationale that supports those steps. The teaching note provides a teaching plan and draws the links with the relevant theoretical material from the fields of Economics, Strategy and Negotiation Analysis.
The case describes the issues arising in Private Equity Partnerships once multiple funds have been raised and are being managed by the same set of partners. In addition, one LP is in financial distress and has asked to be given preferential treatment.
In 2008, the acquisition of the General Healthcare Group (GHG) in the United Kingdom had propelled Netcare Limited (Netcare) from a predominantly South African operation into one of the largest private hospital groups in the world. One of Netcare's key long-term goals was to deliver innovative, quality health-care solutions to patients in every continent. Recent South African parliamentary legislation had introduced the potential for regulated pricing and collective bargaining in medical centers, which could change the industry structure and possibly affect Netcare's strategy. As acquisition at home would be increasingly subject to stringent scrutiny from competition regulators, Netcare wondered what the impact of global acquisition would have on executing its strategy. What lessons could be learned from the GHG acquisition, how could those lessons be leveraged for further international growth, and what continent would be best suited to expansion? The case illustrates the international expansion strategies of Netcare, and illustrates the challenges of operating in an emerging market. The ability to overcome these challenges is the basis of a competitive advantage when entering developed markets.
Scott Weiss, CEO of IronPort, a leading internet security company, is contemplating an acquisition offer from Cisco Systems in November of 2006. Although Weiss had originally intended for IronPort to IPO, a series of events have occurred that have made an acquisition a potentially more attractive option. Weiss is worried about what will happen to the IronPort culture once it is absorbed under the Cisco umbrella. Weiss must decide which route is the best way to go for his company and, if he decides to sell, he must determine the best way to share the news with his employees.
Students identify promotion, price, place, segment, targeting, and positioning for marketing "the world's cheapest car." This case is effective for MBA, undergraduate, and executive learners studying market segmentation, pricing, cannibalization risk, pricing, and break-even sales in the face of different price and cost scenarios. Has Tata chosen the right marketing strategy? Does the Nano represent an evolution or a revolution in automobile marketing?
We evaluate the impact of a supply chain pilot implemented at Hugo Boss. This pilot entailed altering the way in which Hugo Boss orders from its suppliers. We explore the challenge of assessing the impact of supply chain change, the link between operational performance and firm performance, and the relationship between sales, inventory, and product availability.
We evaluate the impact of a supply chain pilot implemented at Hugo Boss. This pilot entailed altering the way in which Hugo Boss orders from its suppliers. We explore the challenge of assessing the impact of supply chain change, the link between operational performance and firm performance, and the relationship between sales, inventory, and product availability.
EveryDay Medical, a provider of home and durable medical equipment and supplies, uses Internet advertising to attract potential customer flow to their website. With many thousands of potential keywords to bid on and a tight budget for online advertising, EDM turned to Jeremy Gerstle to help them develop a quantitative tool to optimally manage their internet advertising campaign.
This case traces the 30-year development of the rock band U2 and the development of its four members as artists, business leaders, and humanitarians (with particular attention paid to lead singer Bono's global humanitarian work). The case examines the beginnings of the band among four school friends and follows the development of the enterprise as a business and as a powerful social and cultural force in its own right. It also investigates the individual journeys of the band members during moments of great success and significant challenges. The case pays particular attention to the four men's evolving identities as musical artists and to the tradeoffs that have accompanied their fame and larger social commitments. The case takes up the evolution of the global music industry in the face of rapid technological and organizational change, examining how U2 and colleagues navigated such change, built a very powerful brand, and created a successful business model. The final part of the case traces lead singer Bono's involvement in political and humanitarian causes and the potential power of such a model as a framework for artistry, entrepreneurship, and effective leadership in the 21st century.
In February 2008, as S. Mahalingam (Maha), the CFO of Tata Consultancy Services considered the strategic challenges facing TCS, challenges faced only by the elite segment of IT services companies: IBM Global Services, Computer Sciences Corporation, Accenture, KPMG, and others. The key issue was how to maintain a breathtaking annual growth rate of 35 to 40 percent without sacrificing 25 to 30 percent margins. Maha: "By 2010 we want to become a $10 billion-a-year company producing 25 percent margins". The company's strategy and positioning, combined with excellent execution and a fair number of macro factors breaking its way, had placed it front and center in the leadership competition for global IT services. Since the early 1990s, TCS had grown faster, made more money, created a better brand and reputation, and invested more heavily (as a percentage of revenues) in its future than its Indian or international competitors. The question on Maha's mind was whether TCS had the right strategy to continue to outmaneuver its competitors as it aimed to become the first Indian technology company to join the $10B revenue club.
Ho Tak Kee was originally a professional publisher and printer that started in the 1950s in Hong Kong. Having faced static performance for decades, the founder and grandfather of the family decided to close the printing department. This pushed his youngest son, On-ping, to a critical decision: whether and how to continue the family business. Under pressure, On-ping turned to his son John for support but the request put John in a difficult position of choosing between a professional career and the family business. As a young man without much life and work experience, John had to go through a personal development process to shape up as a leader in order to make the family business thrive again and keep the family together. Case (A) is from John's point of view as he is making his decision and is intended to stimulate students to look at a family business from a third generation's perspective. Case (B) starts with John's decision to join Ho Tak Kee.
Ho Tak Kee, originally a professional publisher and printer that started back in the 1950s in Hong Kong, faced static performance for decades. This forced the founder and grandfather of the family to decide to close down the printing department. This decision pushed his youngest son, On-ping, to a critical point resolving whether and how to continue the family business. Under pressure, On-ping turned to his son John for support but the request put John in a difficult position of choosing between a professional career and the family business. As a young man without much life and work experience, John had to go through a personal development process to shape up as a leader to be able to make the family business thrive again and keep the family together, while formulating his entrepreneurial vision for the future of the business and family. Case (A) runs from John's point of view as his is making his decision and is intended to stimulate students to look at a family business from a third generation's perspective. Case (B) starts with John's decision to join Ho Tak Kee.
Effective, persuasive analytical writing is a critical management skill. This note trains students to write to the needs and expectations of their readers with objectivity and efficiency, whether they are writing memos, e-mails, research reports, technical briefings, position papers, or recommendations for action.