Set in 2021, the case presents the challenges faced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (henceforth BIS) in its journey of hallmarking gold in India - from voluntary hallmarking in 2000 to mandatory hallmarking in 2021. As a government organisation, BIS was tasked with the responsibility of protecting consumer interest and increasing export competitiveness of gold. BIS took multiple initiatives to ensure purity of gold for Indian consumers. However, at every stage there was a pushback from all stakeholders jewellers, manufacturers, consumers, Assaying and Hallmarking centres (AHCs), industry experts, all of whom had their own apprehensions. The case unpacks various execution challenges that a government institution faces for an initiative designed for the good of all the stakeholders. The main tension in the case is if BIS will be able to execute their plan completely and achieve 100% hallmarking by 2025.
The case focuses on a family feud that started with a property dispute and became public news in 2017. Gautam Singhania (chairman and managing director, MD, of Raymond Limited, India) and his father, Vijaypat Singhania, are involved in the dispute. The case narrates both sides of the story. It provides an opportunity to discuss succession management, as well as "family feuds", their reasons and their repercussions on a family business. The case offers interesting insights into the overlap of family, business and ownership dimensions in a family business. The case ends with the speculation of whether such disputes could ever be settled.
The case describes a situation facing Mikul Patel and Rahul Mirdha, the co-founders of Moodcafe, an online mental healthcare service provider. They had to choose between the two angel investors and negotiate the terms and conditions for funding their start-up. In September 2018, they started Moodcafe to provide services to people struggling with mental health issues. The case mentions several crucial decisions in a start-up's journey that are related to "minimum viable product", "adding more features to the platform", "proof-of-concept testing of the product in the market", "building a core team" and "deciding on equity division between the co-founders". The co-founders need to raise funds from angel investors to test the product at the country level. They need to choose between the two angel investors and decide the terms and conditions of seeking investment.
Madan Mohanka (MM) set up Tega Industries Ltd. in 1976 to manufacture abrasion-resistant rubber mill-lining products used in the mining and mineral-processing industries. This was a completely new technology for India; in fact, he had set up a plant for mill liners even before any takers for his products in the market existed. Tega first set foot in overseas markets in 1998 after it became free of the export restraint imposed on it by its mentor and stakeholder, Skega AB, a Swedish company. It received its first international order from Ghana and subsequently set up a sales subsidiary in the country. It then gradually opened sales and distribution offices in Australia, the USA, Mexico and Canada. The business was slow to develop in each of these countries, and sales picked up after a tenuous ride. In 2006, as part of its inorganic expansion strategy, Tega bought a small rubber-manufacturing company that sold mill liners in South Africa. Between 2006 and 2011, Tega's business grew at 40% compound annual growth rate. Buoyed by this growth, Tega made two back to back acquisitions in Australia and Chile in 2011. However, several managerial, legal and commercial problems crept up in its Chilean manufacturing facilities after the acquisition. These problems led to a severe financial downturn in Tega's fortunes in 2016, compelling it to either plan a revival or divest its interest in its Chilean plant.
In August 2018, the managing director of Grace Castings Ltd. (GCL) was preparing for an upcoming board meeting. At the meeting, which was expected to take place at the company’s head office in Ahmedabad, India, he planned to present the strategic plan for GCL’s future expansion as well as chart the company’s direction. GLC was a small mill that manufactured steel products, including structural bars, thermomechanically treated bars, angles, and channels. In fiscal year 2017–18, the fully family-owned business had a financial turnover of US$33.85 million. With the recent growth in India’s steel industry, the managing director was considering various options for expansion. The first option was backward integration, which meant increasing the capacity of billet manufacturing by adding a 30-metric-ton induction furnace. The second option was to expand the business by adding a new power plant. The managing director had to decide whether to recommend one or both of these options or simply maintain the status quo and grow the company at a slow pace.
In August 2018, the managing director of Grace Castings Ltd. (GCL) was preparing for an upcoming board meeting. At the meeting, which was expected to take place at the company's head office in Ahmedabad, India, he planned to present the strategic plan for GCL's future expansion as well as chart the company's direction. GLC was a small mill that manufactured steel products, including structural bars, thermomechanically treated bars, angles, and channels. In fiscal year 2017-18, the fully family-owned business had a financial turnover of US$33.85 million. With the recent growth in India's steel industry, the managing director was considering various options for expansion. The first option was backward integration, which meant increasing the capacity of billet manufacturing by adding a 30-metric-ton induction furnace. The second option was to expand the business by adding a new power plant. The managing director had to decide whether to recommend one or both of these options or simply maintain the status quo and grow the company at a slow pace.
Rajan Overseas was founded by Rajan Makhija in the year 2014. It was into export of handloom products like rugs, throws, etc. Makhija wanted the company to grow from INR 7.6 crores to 100 crores in the next five years. However, the plan hit a roadblock as one of the largest customer of Makhija wanted him to sign an exclusive contract. Makhija was evaluating various growth options in the light of this new hurdle. The case can be taught in courses on entrepreneurship, internationalization and strategy for SMEs to teach topics related to effectuation and challenges of international business.
The case talks about Hind Tea Pvt. Ltd (HTPL)-a small and medium enterprise (SME) in India that is 100% owned by Wadhwa family. HTPL procures processed tea from auctions and sells it to distributors under its own brand names. The case describes the journey of two brothers and how the next generation of the family takes over and aspires to make the company a national level player. These aspirations pose new demands on the owners and the business; the case talks about decision making in the family under such a scenario. The case poses interesting questions related to governance, professionalization, succession, and decision making in the family.