A new president has been hired to double or triple the size of Charles Chocolates, a high end chocolate producer and retailer in Portland, Maine. The case allows a comprehensive analysis of marketing, manufacturing, human resource, financial and strategic positioning issues in a small company with manufacturing, retailing, wholesaling and Internet operations.
A new president has been hired to double or triple the size of Charles Chocolates, a high end chocolate producer and retailer in Portland, Maine. The case allows a comprehensive analysis of marketing, manufacturing, human resource, financial and strategic positioning issues in a small company with manufacturing, retailing, wholesaling and Internet operations.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of West Lake Furnishings Ltd. (West Lake) has been given a proposal from one of his top three wholesale customers: lower the price of a line of signature lamps from $69.99 to $29.99 in exchange for five times the unit sales. The decision point of the case focuses on whether the CEO should or should not take the offer, and answering the question requires a close examination of West Lake's business strategy and its industry. The West Lake case is a short, comprehensive case that is useful for time-pressured situations like case competitions or exams. It can also be used to introduce the Five Forces, or give an overview/review of the entire strategic analysis process.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of West Lake Furnishings Ltd. (West Lake) has been given a proposal from one of his top three wholesale customers: lower the price of a line of signature lamps from $69.99 to $29.99 in exchange for five times the unit sales. The decision point of the case focuses on whether the CEO should or should not take the offer, and answering the question requires a close examination of West Lake's business strategy and its industry. The West Lake case is a short, comprehensive case that is useful for time-pressured situations like case competitions or exams. It can also be used to introduce the Five Forces, or give an overview/review of the entire strategic analysis process.
A student project team must recommend to a firm whether or not it should acquire its largest competitor in the salmon farming industry, and if so, at what maximum price. The case does not provide enough information for students to solve the case, instead, students must think about the data and analysis they would need in order to answer their client's question. This case highlights framing a strategic problem for analysis and decision making as well as the preliminary analysis and planning required for efficient and effective data gathering. The case provides an opportunity to focus on secondary sources of data and introduces students to the resources available through the university library.
This supplement to Sensible Life Products (A), product #907M57, introduces a fifth opportunity in the form of a joint venture with a major product development firm. The deal involves Sensible Life Products cooperating in further developing the Benefect product into a consumer focused hand sanitizer product.
An entrepreneur and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sensible Life Products has developed a revolutionary botanical disinfectant called Benefect, the flagship product of his company. This new product is unique among disinfectant products in that it is non-toxic, unlike the majority of conventional disinfectants containing harmful chemicals, such as ammonia, alcohol and chlorine. As a result of the unique properties of the product, the CEO has received numerous offers to purchase or license the technology and is faced with the decision regarding which offer, if any, he should accept. The purpose of this case is to expose students to entrepreneurial exit situations as well as social entrepreneurship issues associated with disruptive technologies. A follow-up supplemental case, Sensible Life Products (B), product #907M58, introduces a fifth opportunity to the students in the form of a joint venture with a major product development firm. The deal involves Sensible Life Products cooperating in further developing the Benefect product into a consumer focused hand sanitizer product.
KTM is a small motorcycle manufacturing company located in Austria. As a result of difficult economic conditions in 1999, KTM went private with the help of the venture capital firm BC European Capital (BC). Following a couple of years of strong growth, BC is looking to liquidate its position and move on. KTM is faced with the decision of determining the best means to repurchase BC's equity position in the firm and leave the firm with enough financial flexibility to continue to pursue its rapid expansion plans.
This supplement to Sensible Life Products (A), product #9B07M057, introduces a fifth opportunity in the form of a joint venture with a major product development firm. The deal involves Sensible Life Products cooperating in further developing the Benefect product into a consumer focused hand sanitizer product.
An entrepreneur and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sensible Life Products has developed a revolutionary botanical disinfectant called Benefect, the flagship product of his company. This new product is unique among disinfectant products in that it is non-toxic, unlike the majority of conventional disinfectants containing harmful chemicals, such as ammonia, alcohol and chlorine. As a result of the unique properties of the product, the CEO has received numerous offers to purchase or license the technology and is faced with the decision regarding which offer, if any, he should accept. The purpose of this case is to expose students to entrepreneurial exit situations as well as social entrepreneurship issues associated with disruptive technologies. A follow-up supplemental case, Sensible Life Products (B), product #9B07M058, introduces a fifth opportunity to the students in the form of a joint venture with a major product development firm. The deal involves Sensible Life Products cooperating in further developing the Benefect product into a consumer focused hand sanitizer product.
KTM is a small motorcycle manufacturing company located in Austria. As a result of difficult economic conditions in 1999, KTM went private with the help of the venture capital firm BC European Capital (BC). Following a couple of years of strong growth, BC is looking to liquidate its position and move on. KTM is faced with the decision of determining the best means to repurchase BC's equity position in the firm and leave the firm with enough financial flexibility to continue to pursue its rapid expansion plans.
KTM was a leading sport motorcycle company based in Austria with sales internationally. In 2005, the company was considering expanding into all terrain vehicles (ATVs), a market which was experiencing mid to high double-digit sales growth with healthy operating margins. There were several options open to KTM to expand into the ATV market, including internal development, acquisition of another firm with capabilities in the area of allying with an ATV manufacturer. The chief executive officer had to consider the fit of the ATV business with KTM's core business as well as the implications of the various options for ATV market entry on maintaining control of KTM, achieving KTM's growth objectives, and effectively exploiting the ATV opportunity in an international context. This case allow students to determine how best to pursue a related market to maximize revenue and cost synergies, learning, and control of the firm. This case can be used with KTM: Ready to Race, product 9B05M036.
The vice-president of human resources of the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) had just concluded negotiating the first collective agreements for two separate bargaining units with the association's union, who represented about 25 per cent of BCAA's workforce. BCAA's senior management wanted to find a way to reconcile with its unionized employees while still carrying on with the biggest cultural change in the company's century-long history. They wondered how best to proceed. The case serves as a discussion vehicle for how companies can manage labor relations post-strike, while attempting to implement strategic change.
KTM was a leading sport motorcycle company based in Austria, with sales internationally. In 2005, the company was considering expanding into all terrain vehicles (ATVs), a market which was experiencing mid- to high double-digit sales growth and healthy operating margins. There were several options open to KTM to expand into the ATV market, including internal development or acquisition of another firm with capabilities in the area of allying with an ATV manufacturer. The chief executive officer had to consider the fit of the ATV business with KTM's core business, as well as the implications of the various options for ATV market entry on maintaining control of KTM, achieving KTM's growth objectives, and effectively exploiting the ATV opportunity in an international context.
The Aurora Cultural Centre's mission is to foster a more just community, globally and locally, by providing community education on diversity and cross-cultural awareness, global development issues, and immigration/refugee issues. The centre also provide housing and settlement services to new immigrants and refugees. The organization has been facing budget deficits, administrative overload, board member turnover and staff problems. A recently appointed member of the board is preparing to lead a board strategy retreat and must make recommendations on improvements to the agency's financial performance and must determine how she can convince the board members that the situation is serious and requires immediate action.
The Aurora Cultural Centre's mission is to foster a more just community, globally and locally, by providing community education on diversity and cross-cultural awareness, global development issues, and immigration/refugee issues. The centre also provide housing and settlement services to new immigrants and refugees. The organization has been facing budget deficits, administrative overload, board member turnover and staff problems. A recently appointed member of the board is preparing to lead a board strategy retreat and must make recommendations on improvements to the agency's financial performance and must determine how she can convince the board members that the situation is serious and requires immediate action.