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Takahiko Naraki is a young entrepreneur in Japan who is trying to make his Internet-based business model work in the challenging Tokyo business world, and must make a key decision: whether and how to expand his business. In addition to discussing the work-life balance of entrepreneurs in general, and this one Japanese entrepreneur in particular, the case also introduces aspects of the Japanese entrepreneurial environment including the importance of networking, the business laws regulating entrepreneurial activity, social perceptions of entrepreneurship, and the capital market for small companies in Japan.

The Zambian government embarked on a divesture of its mining industry in 1992. However, by July of 2004, 67 per cent of the mining assets were still in government hands and the government is still looking for equity partners. This case can be used as a basis for discussing political and country risk analysis, international negotiations, feasibility study analysis, managing strategic failure, and ethical and social responsibility issues.

CQUAY Technologies Corp was a privately-held Canadian software company with offices in Toronto, Calgary and Washington, D.C. CQUAY marketed a patented location intelligence engine called Common Ground. The company's technology was designed for an emerging, multi-billion dollar segment of the spatial information management market. A year earlier, the board had asked the chief executive officer to shape the company into an acquisition target over the next 18 to 24 months. A year later there were no imminent acquisition discussions, and recent customer traction and the sales pipeline seemed to merit raising growth capital instead of following the acquisition-focused plan. The CEO wanted to keep his stockholders and board happy by executing the plan they had given him, but did not want to jeopardize possible customer growth. If he refocused the plan, he feared it might change acquisition opportunities. Without further contracts, the existing cash would sustain the company for only another six to eight months. The CEO thought the most likely outcome was to sell the company, but he needed to make the company more attractive. He planned to present options and a recommendation to the board of directors later that month.

Amway is a large manufacturer of household products that uses the direct selling approach. The company was established in the late 1940s and over the years, still using direct selling, branched into the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan. With this global success it expanded further, into the Chinese market. However, the company must look at its strategy after the Chinese government implements regulations on the direct marketing business model. The supplement Amway in China (B): Adopting to a Changing Environment, product 9B04M036, looks at how the company responds to the changing social and political environment.

The Chinese government has placed a ban on direct marketing. With direct marketing being the primary marketing method the company uses, it must respond to the changing social and political environment. This is a supplement to Amway in China (A): A New Business Model, product 9B04M035.

The president of Daikin Industries Residential Air Conditioning Shiga Factory was confronted by the prospects of an unseasonably cold summer, at a time when the Shiga Factory had large quantities of its products in inventory in anticipation of strong summer sales. The president was concerned not only about pending losses in the current year, but also about the factory's long-term survival. Unprofitability was unacceptable and Daikin was caught in a stagnant market in which it was increasingly difficult to build share by product differentiation. The Shiga Factory had been forced to use large inventories to cope with uncertain demand and a long and unwieldy supply chain. The president must decide whether to reduce the number of models, build a lower-cost factory outside Japan, or exit the business. He must also determine if there are any other options.

Originally a chemical company with its focus on agriculture, American Cyanamid has expanded into three other industry segments: medical, chemical and consumer products. The executive vice-president for agriculture must decide what to do with the floundering chemical division. The supplement Cytec Industries, Inc., product 9B04M007 looks at the progress of the chemical division.

An entrepreneur comes up with a great idea for a new business that would service what he calls the time-starved segment. Using Wal-Mart as the warehouse, eBay as his storefront and the U.S. Postal Service as the distributor, he would pick-up and deliver products to businesses, conserving staff resources. He must think of as many opportunities as possible and determine any barriers that may occur. The purpose of the case is to get students to generate ideas. Students will be quick to criticize and analyze the ideas presented, but few will focus on presenting new ideas.

GigaNet, Inc. describes the effort of a 20 year computer industry veteran to transform a small telecommunications engineering firm into a viable networking technology company. Faced with an uphill battle to convince venture capitalists to invest in the company after the founders decided to seek funding from third tier venture firms, he finally wins $30 million in new investment from a consortium of high quality investors. Before the deal is finalized however, he receives an offer to buy the company from a larger rival. He now must choose between accepting the $30 million and launching an IPO in 18 months and selling the company.

The hedge fund industry has been in existence for several decades. However, it is still considered as an alternative investment and it is not well understood by many investors. This note provides a background description of hedge funds as well as illustrations of some of the various strategies that are employed by hedge funds managers including relative value, event-driven, and directional strategies.

Elixir Technology is a small software development company based in Singapore that develops data analysis and report generation software and provides technical training and consulting services. By May 2003, it had successfully sold this software to corporate clients in Singapore, China and Japan, following a very adaptive marketing strategy in each market. Now the managing director is contemplating entering the Middle East but must choose an entry strategy quickly to capitalize on the current window of opportunity. Available entry choices include direct entry, or several partnership options.

In less than a decade, Korea's Samsung has transformed itself from a maker of low-end consumer electronics into a legitimate rival to Japanese industry giants such as Sony and Panasonic. Success has been due largely to efforts to reposition Samsung as a provider of stylish, leading-edge digital technology. But shadows of the old brand image remain, spurred on by the continued availability of several of the company's traditional products. The president of Samsung Electronics Canada has been directed to solve this problem, prompting difficult choices regarding product, pricing, distribution and promotion that threaten to hurt sales and short run profits.

Arvind Mills, a large Indian textile and garment manufacturer, has to assess the costs of a large order, as a basis for a price quotation. The company is in a significant loss position. The textile industry in India is constrained by government regulations and the industry is critical as both an export earner and a major employer in the economy. However, the industry is losing share to China and must change to meet that threat. The vice-president of operations must assess the costs associated with the order, including an assessment whether to use the traditional cost system or the customer and manufacturing based activity cost system. The decision is also strategic as this order is at the core of the company's new strategy to be both a designer and manufacturer.

A young manager at a consultancy firm is faced with the lack of business professionalism at a speaking event of a well-known guest speaker. The event is poorly attended by staff and a series of disrespectful actions on the part of the attendees - occurs. The manager must decide how to handle similar situations in the future.

The president of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Fund is faced with the decision of how to expand the Dabbawallahs of Mumbai service. The service could be expanded in terms of product offering or geographical setting. This is a supplement to Dabbawallahs of Mumbai (A), product 9B04D011, and asks students to examine the opportunities and challenges in growing the service, and decide upon the most appropriate course of action.

Candym Enterprises is a wholesaler specializing in producing, importing and exporting giftware, and selling these items through independent sales representatives. The president and founder has discovered that performance in one territory is falling. A major trade-show is approaching, and changes need to be made in the territory quickly. The president feels he has several options, including replacing an independent sales rep with a company sales rep, which would be a new strategy for the company. Learning objectives include understanding the pros and cons of salary-based relationship building, the importance of excellent customer relationship management, and recognizing that using distributors/independent sales reps has some risk.

The top sales person for Alchemy Training Firm has visited three potential clients, an existing customer, a warm call referral and a cold call, to sell a new offering from the company. While the company was well-known for providing top quality sales management training programs, the owners have decided to branch out with a new offer of supply chain management/purchasing training courses. The sales person must prepare a report of these sales calls for a planning session, and is concerned that the outcome may not be successful. He wonders what he could have done differently. The case highlights the difficulties in selling a new intangible service when firm reputation, trainer reputation, and course customization opportunities compete with cost as main buyer priorities. The differing opinions of the owners on the firm's growth strategy are an issue, as well.

The director of communications at a large university has reviewed results of a communication survey completed by employees. He is pleased that the overall results were favourable, but is concerned with comments in a recent employee newsletter that provided negative feedback of the survey. It is the director's responsibility to take the results of the research and develop a formal communications plan, but as he compares the study findings to the article is confused as to how he should tackle the problem.

A real estate analyst has been hired as a government employee to manage Canada's overseas property holdings, including its embassies and diplomatic residences. Despite strict government regulations regarding the procurement of overseas accommodations and policies relating to fiscal accountability, the analyst has witnessed the luxurious accommodations enjoyed by diplomatic staff posted abroad. She documents the abuses and reports the finding to her supervisor, who does nothing. The analyst must decide whether to take her finding further. The supplements Price of Speaking Out Against the Betrayal of Public Trust: Joanna Gualtieri (B), (C) and (D), products 9B04C030, 9B04C031 and 9B04C032 looks at her decision and the events that follow.

This is a supplement to Price of Speaking Out Against the Betrayal of Public Trust: Joanna Gualtieri (A), product 9B04C029, and relates the actions suggested by her immediate supervisor.