A real estate operations and investment trust is considering whether it should pursue branding as a strategic investment. Through interpretation of case data and video from focus groups, students deduce the consumer (cognitive, psychological, and economic), environmental, and company factors that are conducive to branding, thereby illuminating their understanding of when it makes sense to brand. Analysis of extensive survey data allows students to consider the secondary question about how to brand as they formulate brand-positioning recommendations. Includes color exhibits.
A methodology for selecting a new corporate brand name is explored, highlighting different types of names, criteria and hurdles in securing new names, and legal implications. Brand identity consultancy Lippincott & Margulies guided a real estate investment trust company through the process of selecting a new corporate brand name.
This case illustrates the challenges facing Intel as it attempts to manage the post-acquisition integration of DECs semiconductors businesses. Additional emphasis is placed on how Intel developed a post-acquisition integration capability and on the way it is currently structured to manage the acquisition process.
This note consists of vignettes illustrating the breadth and depth of the issue of questionable payments. Petty bribes, graft, blackmail, and corrupt officials are all included in these real-life examples of managers caught in the middle of difficult situations. See also "A Note on Questionable Payments in Business" (UV0387).
Written to accompany "Questionable Payments" (UV0386), this note provides insights into the issue of questionable payments (e.g., bribery and extortion).
The case provides information on the development of the office superstore concept, building partnerships, creating the business plan, and recruiting a management team. Focuses on the detailed level of decision making required to transform an idea into a viable business. Heavy emphasis is placed on operating plans and integration. A rewritten version of earlier cases.
This case deals with the integration of a recently acquired state-owned enterprise by Haier, a rapidly expanding, collectively owned company in China. It highlights the challenges of managing post acquisition integration in China, especially that of state owned enterprises and also provides useful information to understand the characteristics of emerging Chinese companies.
Case A: This case exposes the growing pains of an older, brick-and-mortar, company as it attempts to join the New Economy. The focus is on synergy; pushed by converging technologies and managed by a young and energetic leader, Bertelsmann attempts to overcome a history of decentralization to create a more integrated and Internet savvy corporation.
IACo. is an aerospace company developing UAVs (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles). The case describes the project of developing a bid for a large contract under severe time pressure. The case discusses project planning for rapid time-to-market.
A profitable dot com company? Alloy.com retails clothing to teens by catalog. Alloy uses a Web site to convert prospects and build community. The result is a business with the economics of a direct marketer and the market capitalization of an Internet start-up. The case presents the decision of whether to partner with AOL or to persevere with the current mix of customer acquisition methods.
The new CEO of Compaq Computer, the world's second largest computer company, is facing some difficult decisions about how to combat the increasing threat posed by Dell Computer Corporation. The case describes the strategic moves made by Compaq in the late 1990s under the leadership of a previous CEO who was dismissed by Compaq's board earlier in the year. It also describes in some detail the history of Dell Computer and the evolution of the Dell Direct model. Compaq's new CEO faces some major issues, one of which is the resolution of the channel issues, particularly in the commercial personal computing segment. It is clear he faces some very tough strategic and marketing choices. The power of information technology and standards that have allowed Dell to build a powerful ecosystem with its customers, suppliers and complementers are illustrated in this powerful teaching case. With the support of these other players, Dell has been able to topple one of the great companies of the late 20th century from its leadership position. It also illustrates how difficult it is for a market leader to effectively respond to such a challenge.
The operations manager at Diverse Industries International's plant needs to make a decision regarding a restructuring of the plant's Automatic Dishwasher Gel production line. The restructuring suggestion which included replacing a loading table with a lift conveyor and hopper system, came from the company's industrial equipment contractor who hoped to sell them some used production equipment. The operations manager, while he was fairly sure the investment was a good idea, was concerned about how he could best justify the cost to the finance department and, if approved, how he could reallocate direct labor on the line to maximize efficiency.
The president and CEO of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) is faced with the task of reconstructing the TSE to succeed in the face of significant industry and technological change. The exchange industry is undergoing a transformation brought about by globalization of financial markets, consolidation of exchanges, and the introduction of new competitive players due to technological advancements. The TSE is Canada's largest equity market and has created and started to implement a plan to deal with these threats. Concurrently, the TSE has been recreating its technological platform, moving from its computer assisted trading system to the Torex system purchased from the Paris Bourse. Implementation problems have delayed the project from its original release date to three years later. During the time frame of this implementation, the TSE suffered several computer glitches causing closure of the exchange for temporary periods of time. The president and CEO needs to review the priorities of the TSE and consider what actions she should take to ensure the successful implementation of this new technology, and the long term alignment of information technology with TSE business strategies.
Clearnet is a rapidly growing wireless communications company in the midst of a major capital investment and marketing program. The vice-president/chief financial officer must make an immediate decision involving how much Clearnet should try to raise from the public, when, what sort of instrument, and where? Among the alternatives are equity and high yield debt issues in Canada versus U.S., and cash-pay versus discount notes. Two years after its start-up, Clearnet successfully launched its Mike network, an enhanced specialized mobile radio digital network. In addition, Clearnet was awarded a national personal communications service license and was in the midst of a major network build-out program and organizational expansion in preparation for launching personal communications services the following year to be directed at the mass consumer market.
Lucent Technologies' successful New Ventures Group must present company executives with a strong case for continuing corporate venturing activities despite a troubled financial performance in difficult market conditions.
A two-person negotiation exercise involving the potential sale of a small e-commerce company to a large company. The parties need to negotiate four issues: the number of shares in the deal, the vesting period for the shares, whether the seller will get a seat on the buyer's board, and the ownership of a potential liability against the seller.
A two-person negotiation exercise involving the potential sale of a small e-commerce company to a large company. The parties need to negotiate four issues: the number of shares in the deal, the vesting period for the shares, whether the seller will get a seat on the buyer's board, and the ownership of a potential liability against the seller.