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Software for product 9A97D002.

Software for product 9A97D002.

Good Hands Healthcare is a large nursing home provider with more than 400 facilities across the United States. This case series looks at the governance issues facing the board of a firm with declining performance set within the eldercare industry. The (A) case revolves around whether to replace the chief executive officer, who founded and built the firm, due to poor performance. The supplements, Governance Challenges at Good Hands Healthcare (B), (C) and (D), products 9B04M020, 9B04M021 and 9B04M022, discuss the replacement decision, the selection decision and the change in strategy brought on by the new CEO.

The part owner of Rynard Farms needed to determine what changes, if any, to make in the farm's overall strategy to ensure its profitability and keep up with the demands of the industry and his family. Rynard Farms had been passed down from generation to generation for more than 130 years and focused on producing beef cattle and some cash crops. However, this tradition of successful farming faced an aging ownership and a lack of strategic direction.

Three engineering students consider the direction they should take with their award-winning design project, the Golf Swing Analyzer. Media attention to their project indicated that the idea had the potential to become a successful business venture. The students were unsure whether to manufacture and market the device themselves or sell the design to an interested party.

Broad Air Conditioning is a Chinese company with a proactive environmental attitude, but suffering from deteriorating financial results. The company founder and chief executive officer must decide whether to start producing electricity powered air conditioners to improve its financial results easily or stick to its ideal and only manufacture machines powered by heat. The major theme of this case is to understand corporate social responsibility, by discussing how an enterprise can find a way to harmonize the relationship between benefitting the company and protecting the environment, especially in developing countries.

Gorenje D.D. is a kitchen appliance manufacturer located in the small town of Velenje, in Slovenia, a newly independent country that separated from Yugoslavia in 1991. Simultaneous with gaining independence, Slovenia also underwent a change from the unique market socialism that had characterized socialist Yugoslavia, to free enterprise capitalism. Furthermore, manufacturing firms in Slovenia had produced largely for the Yugoslav market, while after independence they were forced to compete in the wider European market. The company faces new challenges and key decisions in corporate culture, human resources and competitive strategy to face a turbulent environment.

ALI Technologies Inc. is a medical information technology company that develops filmless diagnostic equipment for hospitals and clinics and is world leader in this field. An offer to acquire the company has been presented and the chief executive officer and the board of directors must determine if the offer is fair to the company shareholders and in the best interests of the company.

The managing director of a fundraising organization has recently taken on the project of raising money for charity by managing the third edition of a calendar. He had guidance from the founder of the original calendar project that raised funds for the fire fighters in New York. He focused his energies on creating high quality calendars but they were still not printed as the due date drew near and he was encountering a number of obstacles. He was beginning to feel a bit let down, but he still had to decide how to market the calendars for maximum effect. This is a supplement to Wgirl, Wboy Calendars (A) and (B), products, 9B02A018 and 9B02A019.

A supervisor at a telesales office has received very low ratings on an employee survey and the marketing manager is concerned that this team leader is not performing well. The marketing manager must decide what actions are needed to improve the leadership skills of this supervisor.

A summer assignment is turning into a nightmare for an intern at a large consulting firm. He has just receive his third reprimand from his boss, and is concerned how this relationship is distracting him from the project he needs to complete and how it could hurt his chances of obtaining full-time employment. He must decide how he can salvage the relationship with his boss and whether this organization is the best fit for him.

The vice-president at a large investment firm has discovered that some clients have taken significant losses and determines that it was due to the actions of one of the firm's investment advisors. He has no choice but to terminate this advisor's employment with the firm and must determine how to communicate with and maintain the relationships with these clients. The supplement, Greentree Investment Corporation (B), product 9B04C016, continues with the situation and looks at dealing with angry customers.

A partner at a law firm has been given a choice by one of the firm's assistants, either increase her salary or she would give her two-week resignation notice. The firm was extremely busy with clients and could not afford a reduction in staff, however, this employee's performance had not been up to standard and the partner must decide whether or not he should agree to this pay increase or if there are other options.

InsureTech is an online insurance business focusing on the small business owner market. An analyst with the company was asked to investigate and determine a solution for the problem of tracking and reporting sales results, currently a manual process. The analyst assigned to the project would work independently and was aware that the success of this project would significantly benefit the company but would also boost his own career. After six months of working on the project, the analyst presented the new system to the management committee. The system was well received but there were some reservations; he felt these issues would be resolved within a year. The launch date was set for the following month and he prepared the plan to ensure a smooth implementation. Weeks after the launch, the analyst discovered that the sales staff was still using the manual process and feedback on the new system was not favourable. He must determine why the sales staff are reluctant to use the system and what steps to take to deal with this resistance to change.

Success in navigating through a crisis situation requires good planning, sound judgement and swift reaction. This note provides a set of detailed guidelines on business crisis management. Areas covered include crisis definition, key principles and a step-by-step assessment of what to do when one occurs.

Canadian Tire is a large automotive parts, sports and leisure, and home improvement retail store chain. With the rise in the number of large retail outlets, the company needed to look at ways to maintain and increase sales. Continuous improvements were made to store design and in-store operations. The vice-president of store planning and merchandising was evaluating checkout configurations. He needed to make his decision soon to avoid delaying the construction of four new test stores. He has three options; continue using the current tandem system, add self check-outs or switch to a single line configuration. He must analyze the three options to determine the benefits and trade-offs of each.

Excel spreadsheet with base case data for teaching note 8B04N03.

Excel spreadsheet with downside data for teaching note 8B04N03.

Three Excel files, two are simulations, one contains data.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's foremost orchestras with considerable international exposure. The orchestra has just celebrated its 80th birthday but was in a situation that could result in its downfall. The relationship with the landlord was less than ideal and the renegotiation of the musician's' contract could put a strain on the organization's finances. The orchestra's board of directors brought in a consultant to provide recommendations on how to address these issues. The board, pleased with the recommendations and the outcome, is offering the consultant the position of chair of the board. The consultant must decide whether to accept this role or to continue with his consultant's position.