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As COVID-19 swept across the globe in 2020, the education sector faced unprecedented disruption. Schools and colleges worldwide shut down, forcing over a billion students and teachers to move to online learning. Investor interest in the EdTech space exploded as technology-based education solutions shifted from a "nice-to-have" to a "must-have." As one of the leading EdTech venture capital firms, GSV Ventures, which had backed industry leaders such as Coursera, ClassDojo, Guild Education, Remind, and Course Hero, was positioned to be at the forefront of the changes happening to education across the world. In light of the pandemic, GSV had to postpone and reenvision its hallmark ASU+GSV Summit - a partnership with Arizona State University and GSV that showcased the latest innovations and innovators across the global "pre-K to gray" EdTech space - that had been scheduled for March 30 to April 1. However, on the positive side, GSV Ventures was facing a surge in investor interest in its Fund II which had begun fundraising in 2019. The original target had been to raise $100 million, but there was recent discussion of increasing Fund II to $200 to $250 million. Quazzo needed to decide whether it made sense to expand the fund, and if so, what changes would need to be made internally and strategically to support a larger fund. At a higher level, Quazzo wondered whether the momentum gained in EdTech during the first few months of COVID-19 was sustainable. Would the global focus on remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic trigger systemic changes? Could this be a unique opportunity to address the massive challenges associated with inequality of access, opportunity, and outcomes?

This case is about the transformation of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan (AAUM), one of the major organizations in its field. It begins with the CEO, Steve Grafton, pondering whether the all-inclusive project was totally successful. AAUM's transformation began in early 2015, when the organization was doing very well by then-current standards, yet the world was rapidly changing from a digital and social standpoint. The case summarily proceeds through specifics of the transformation on into 2021, including the period in which U.S. racial and social divides were sharpened by the death of George Floyd. The primary dilemma for students to address: Is the organization now fully relevant and is the transformation complete? The case-which is entirely factual, based on original research-applies to the needs and success opportunities of a great range of organizations, nonprofit and for-profit, because it presents dilemmas about relevant organizational transformation.

This case is part of the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) curriculum. To see other material in the GVV curriculum, please visit http://store.darden.virginia.edu/giving-voice-to-values. Anni Anderson is the founder and CEO of Selah, a software and application company that aims to support users with everyday communication. Selah is a relatively young start-up that saw explosive customer-acquisition growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much to Anderson's disappointment, Selah experiences a ransomware attack on the eve of closing its largest-ever round of funding from venture capitalists. As Anderson surveys her executive team in an emergency meeting, it becomes clear that the ransomware attack jeopardizes Selah's standing not only among users but also among investors. Additionally, Anderson must communicate with Selah's staff and board of directors, not to mention regulators, industry partners, and the media. In the A case, Anderson's challenge is to organize and communicate her company's response vis-à-vis the cyberattack. In the B case, we read a synopsis of effective responses that have actually been deployed in such situations. This case set addresses cybersecurity through the lens of one manager's experience, paying particular attention to how she communicates with a broad array of stakeholders about the incident and company response. The case serves the educational interests of those aiming to train managers in areas such as crisis communication, risk management, and voicing values in matters of organizational decision-making.

This case is part of the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) curriculum. To see other material in the GVV curriculum, please visit http://store.darden.virginia.edu/giving-voice-to-values. Anni Anderson is the founder and CEO of Selah, a software and application company that aims to support users with everyday communication. Selah is a relatively young start-up that saw explosive customer-acquisition growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much to Anderson's disappointment, Selah experiences a ransomware attack on the eve of closing its largest-ever round of funding from venture capitalists. As Anderson surveys her executive team in an emergency meeting, it becomes clear that the ransomware attack jeopardizes Selah's standing not only among users but also among investors. Additionally, Anderson must communicate with Selah's staff and board of directors, not to mention regulators, industry partners, and the media. In the A case, Anderson's challenge is to organize and communicate her company's response vis-à-vis the cyberattack. In the B case, we read a synopsis of effective responses that have actually been deployed in such situations. This case set addresses cybersecurity through the lens of one manager's experience, paying particular attention to how she communicates with a broad array of stakeholders about the incident and company response. The case serves the educational interests of those aiming to train managers in areas such as crisis communication, risk management, and voicing values in matters of organizational decision-making.

Digital platforms have disrupted many sectors but have not yet visibly transformed highly regulated industries. This study of Big Tech entry in healthcare and education explores how platforms have begun to enter highly regulated industries systematically and effectively. It presents a four-stage process model of platform entry, which we term as "digital colonization." This involves provision of data infrastructure services to regulated incumbents; data capture in the highly regulated industry; provision of data-driven insights; and design and commercialization of new products and services. The article clarifies platforms' sources of competitive advantage in highly regulated industries and concludes with managerial and policy recommendations.

Considerable resources are invested in producing sustainability reports, yet few organizations reap the transparency benefits they promise. This article explores the way ten leading global fashion companies use a combination of data visualization and placement, stakeholder-driven interactive content, and multi-media and immersive content to build the trust necessary to improve their reporting and transparency. While few organizations have the resources of the global fashion giants, this article proposes a four-stage framework that guides managers through a step-change of systematic and targeted improvement.

This is a game simulation case on Machine Learning (ML) and can be used in the classroom to introduce to students the foundational concepts of ML. The case begins with a brief background on ML, its origins, the objectives of its usage across various industries, and ends with a future outlook on the relevance of ML. At the end of the case, a link to the game simulation is provided, which can be played by students in the classroom. The main topics covered in the game simulation include: • An introduction to ML • Different categories of ML algorithms including unsupervised, supervised and re-enforcement learning (based on the differences in the way they process the data for decision-making). • Identifying applications and use cases of ML

In early May 2020, Daniel Loeb's team at Third Point was evaluating a potential growth opportunity in the Walt Disney Company and whether investor activism might play a role. Battered by the effects of COVID-19, the company's stock had initially tumbled to $86 and then somewhat recovered to $110. This case explores the headwinds and tailwinds of Disney's ability to flesh out value for investors, including the growth of its Disney+ platform and the recovery of its theme parks. A supplementary case detailing Third Point's ultimate decision and its aftermath is also available.

Alice Moore worked remotely as a full-time senior data associate for Bloom Inc., a global technology firm in the United States. The department in which Moore worked was restructured while she was on maternity leave; yet despite having a strong performance record, Moore received neither a promotion nor a pay increase, while some colleagues did. She returned from her maternity leave in June 2018, and regardless of more than a year of emails and meetings with managers, Moore's concerns about her role in the restructured department were not resolved. In August 2019, Moore was preparing for her final meeting with a manager and needed to decide how best to advocate for her career concerns within Bloom.

In 2021, the chief executive officer of Cocoa Luxury SA moved back to Switzerland and founded his premium chocolate brand, SwissOne, after spending two decades in Australia manufacturing confectionery products. Growing up in Bern, Switzerland-the location of the original Toblerone factory-had inspired his unique chocolate recipe and the first three chocolate bars he intended to sell. In January 2022, once he had finished his prototypes, to finalize his marketing plan, the CEO had to consider three questions: First, what was his overall marketing strategy? Second, what was the Swiss business environment like, and how competitive was the Swiss chocolate industry? And third, how could he best position his SwissOne brand, and what should the marketing mix look like?

In the summer of 2021, an Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil) executive was secretly recorded dismissing climate science that his company had publicly supported. ExxonMobil is a vertically integrated business with decades of financial performance to consider. Recent activity at the organization-including activist investor action to change the board of directors' composition-coupled with years of confusion over climate science creates a complex situation with multiple stakeholders. By comparing ExxonMobil's performance to Apple Inc. (Apple) and other technology companies, it provides context for the moment of the crisis and asks readers to consider how to manage the communication complication. Students are challenged to consider nuance in their arguments and balance short-term shareholder returns with longer-term organizational pursuits.

The case focuses on Faan van der Walt (as protagonist), his brother Dirk, and WeBuyCars, a large second-hand car dealership in South Africa, which has become a dominant player in the market through the exploitation of blue ocean principles. WBC is a secondhand car dealership in South Africa that was established by two brothers in 2001. The company managed to thrive in an otherwise unattractive industry by firstly focusing on the space between two markets (na- mely private sellers of vehicles and dealerships), and, later on, expanding into complimentary activities and markets. By introducing activities that added value for customers and by removing transaction costs for customers, WBC created a blue ocean market for three different customer segments: sellers of cars, private buyers of cars, and dealerships that buy cars. WBC has been tremendously successful in the South African used car market; it has an extremely powerful and trusted brand and commands an 8% share. Since its establishment in 2001, WBC has grown on average by 50 to 60% per annum for the last 19 years.

This case looks at the business and cultural transformation at Microsoft under CEO Satya Nadella, who took over in 2014 when the company had fallen prey to political infighting and the dominance of Windows over all else. The Microsoft veteran drove change from the top, inspiring others with the rallying cry "mobile-first and cloud-first", and inviting a mindfulness teacher to facilitate meetings of the senior leadership team. Open, honest and humble, he toured the company and its customers' offices worldwide, listening and gathering insights. Insisting that new products and services could only be developed if the offering was unique, he unleashed a culture change where staff began to embrace innovation. The case ends in October 2017, amidst glowing reports of progress under Nadella, who personally achieved 145% on the company's 'Culture and Organisational Leadership'goals. Yet there was still work to do - issues such as developing talent, reducing US-centricity, and shrinking the bureaucracy. Could the transformation be capsized by hidden icebergs? Would Microsoft stay on course with organisational learning and innovation once he was no longer at the helm?

In March 2013, Alberto Silva, president of the newly appointed Board of Directors of Fabricato, one of Colombia's oldest textile companies, met with representatives of the main shareholder groups in order to gauge their willingness to approve profound changes within the corporation and even inject new money, if necessary. The company was suffering from a major crisis caused by a stock market bubble generated around its share price, which resulted in the suspension of its stock market listing, the disqualification of a major group of shareholders, and the bankruptcy of Interbolsa, the brokerage company that financed the bubble. With great effort, Silva was successful in obtaining, from the representatives of the main groups of shareholders, the commitment that they would vote in the Board of Directors in favor of hiring a new Executive President for the company, only if he were able to identify the path to follow: liquidate the company, restructure it with or without an injection of new money, or split it in two, one to keep the manufacturing assets and the other to develop the real estate business. The student's role is to assume Silva's task and define the course of action to follow, making use of specific financial information about the company, an Excel simulation sheet of its share price and indicators, its history, the challenges of the industry, and the environment in Colombia for March 2013.

After conducting an impressive turnaround in Walmart's subsidiary in Brazil, Private Equity firm Advent International has to decide how to exit this investment: through an IPO or selling the business to Carrefour.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 222006.

Thomas de Dreux-Brézé, the Head of Strategy and Project Management at Rawbank Congo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was perplexed as he reviewed annual adoption rates for the bank's launch of Illico Cash 2.0. As the bank's mobile money app, Illico Cash literally promised "Fast Cash" for its users who also had a Rawbank account. Unlike most mobile money platforms on the African continent, Illico cash was backed by an established bank - not a technology or a telecommunications company. As he contemplated Rawbank's next strategic move, the future of Illico Cash, and the bank's future moves into digital payment systems in the DRC, he saw multiple challenges to Illico Cash's adoption in several regions across the DRC. Seeing lower-than-anticipated usage rates, he wondered if local preferences for cash seemed just too powerful to overcome. Can the bank's digital payments efforts overcome hurdles in local infrastructure, entrenched interests that favored cash, and currency instability? Would crafting a digital ecosystem be a worthwhile investment for Rawbank without a wholesale structural shift in beliefs?