Focuses on event management and sponsorship from the perspective of the event owner (rather than that of the sponsorship company). Describes in depth the search by one of the tennis tournaments on the professional circuit for a principal sponsor. Detailed economics of tournament management are included, as well as information on the linkage between tournament sponsorship and television. Students must decide among several specific interested companies as the best sponsor for the tournament. The event owner must also consider how, if at all, his tournament can be differentiated from the many others on the calendar.
Focuses on the decision of a young tennis player on what kind of agent to have as his representative. The choice is between someone in a large sports management/marketing firm and an independent agent representing a small number of individual athletes. Outlines the roles and duties of agents and sports management firms.
The assistant brand manager for Procter & Gamble's Scope brand in Canada has been working since May with the brand manager to refine the brand's market position. They are concerned about whether they have chosen the correct target for the brand, and what their fall advertising for Scope should communicate. A focus group session has been planned for the next two weeks. They are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to uncover key consumer insights but want to ensure that they are asking the right questions. They have to make specific decisions regarding the fall advertising campaign no later than the beginning of August and want to ensure that the new advertisements are as successful as possible. This case can be used in a second year advertising or research methods elective, or as part of the advertising module in a first year course.
A "slice of life" depiction of the range of issues and activities experienced by Frank Burke (HBS MBA 1987), the president of a minor league baseball team (the Chattanooga Lookouts). Raises questions of the applicability of MBA skills in this role and the "quotient of contentment" an HBS MBA can have in this situation. The similarities and differences of minor league versus major league operations are an important analytic component. Among the specific issues Burke confronts are finding additional revenue streams, considering ticket price increases, and the pros and cons of a new stadium.
In 1997, Lifeline Systems continues to grow its service business to $32 million, 56% of the company's total revenues. More local hospital Lifeline programs turn over their monitoring service to Lifeline Central, expanding the company's subscriber base by 30%. The company decides to invest over $11 million in a new subscriber monitoring system to maintain its market leadership. At the end of 1998, Lifeline moves its corporate headquarters from Cambridge, MA to suburban Boston to lower real estate costs. Changes in the eldercare industry also spell growth: employers become interested in providing eldercare referral as an employee benefit, cuts in Medicare result in less home health care by nurses, and Lifeline forms strategic partnerships with the American Red Cross and an assisted-living community developer.
JAFCO, a large Japanese venture capital firm, is making a second attempt to enter the U.S. venture capital market. The U.S. subsidiary, JAFCO America Ventures, is in the midst of a challenging turnaround. Going forward, the U.S. subsidiary's leadership needs to make a number of important decisions regarding investment focus, deal flow generation, compensation, and cooperation with the Japanese parent company.
Up-In-Smoke is an inventory valuation exercise using the periodic method. Completed in two steps, students are first required to value the total goods available for sale by considering items such as duty, taxes, returns, discount terms, FOB, and purchase prices. Once completed, various methods to value the inventory ending balance can be applied and compared, namely FIFO, LIFO and the weighted-average-cost method.
venture finance focus on the economics of financing; while these materials provide useful information about the mechanics of valuation and how to structure venture-capital agreements, they miss the social side of venture-capital investing. The case illustrates the theoretical concept that social capital (i.e., a person's relationship to other people in society) influences venture finance. The case can be used in a class on entrepreneurship or venture finance.
Although it continued to operate at about 7,000 surgeries per year, by late 1997 the portion of non-Canadian patients coming to Shouldice Hospital had declined to about five per cent with a corresponding change in the Hospital's economic fortunes. A marketing consultant has developed a marketing plan for the hospital. Students have to analyse the economic, political and technological changes that have occurred since 1983, evaluate the marketing plan and decide how the hospital should proceed. This case is intended to follow the 1983 Harvard case, Shouldice Hospital Limited (9-683-068).
This note provides an overview of business valuation techniques. The discounted cash flow method is described in a simple six-step process. A numerical example is also provided. Other valuation methods are briefly discussed, including the price-earnings approach, break-up value, and an acquisition premium approach. This note is ideally suited for an executive audience. (A more in-depth note in this area can be found in A Note on Mergers and Acquisitions and Valuation, case number 9A95B023.)
Up-In-Smoke is an inventory valuation exercise using the periodic method. Completed in two steps, students are first required to value the total goods available for sale by considering items such as duty, taxes, returns, discount terms, FOB, and purchase prices. Once completed, various methods to value the inventory ending balance can be applied and compared, namely FIFO, LIFO and the weighted-average-cost method.
Exotic Adventures Inc. operates expedition-style voyages in various locations around the globe, including the Amazon River basin. In early 1998, Exotic Adventures began marketing a low-water season voyage up the Amazon to take place in October. By August, 99 passengers had booked passage with Exotic Adventures. However, in early September the company began receiving messages from their agents in Brazil advising that water levels were unusually low. The company must decide whether to cancel the voyage now (and refund payments received) or to continue it with the risk of subsequent higher costs.
An English major at Baruch College, New York, is considering opening an English language center which would offer a variety of English as a Second Language and/or English courses targeted mainly at foreigners coming to New York. She has already done some research and identified a few potential market segments, some aspects of the strategies used by the competition, and elements in the U.S. immigration policy which might threaten her project. She needs to decide if her business idea is feasible. If she decides to go ahead with her project, she has to develop a strategy and a detailed implementation plan before she can open her school.
Introduces the concepts and issues related to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology. Begins with a stylized example of ERP in action. Aa brief history of the ERP industry is provided, with reference to major events and players. Additional case examples of successful and unsuccessful implementations are offered to enhance students' understanding of the impact ERP can have on the organization and to illuminate ERP issues.