個案總覽

Paul Hardy parlayed a degree in fashion and an early-career job as a personal shopper at high-end retailer Holt, Renfrew & Co., Limited (Holt Renfrew) into a successful career as a Canadian luxury-goods fashion designer. He was a survivor in the industry, adapting to various exogenous shocks, most recently COVID-19. The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of events and social gatherings at places where women typically wore his designs. In addition, Hardy’s online purchasing presence was minimal. His immediate response to the pandemic-related lockdowns was to enable online purchasing and highlight clothing that could be worn at home or on more informal and local excursions. His business success had been largely based on his talent and the relationships he had fostered and nurtured over the years. Hardy personally reached out to his clients and held a COVID-compliant fashion show. Once again, he was demonstrating his resilience in the face of significant challenges, but what should come next?<br><br>After the economic crisis of 2008, Hardy had expanded his business to interior design. Should he forego high-end fashion to focus on interiors? Was there a way to further pivot his fashion design given the changes in consumer demand? How would the world come out of the pandemic, and how could Hardy position himself to thrive? Would any change threaten relations with his loyal clientele? Given that his business was almost 20 years old, what should his short- and longer-term strategic plan entail?

Paul Hardy parlayed a degree in fashion and an early-career job as a personal shopper at high-end retailer Holt, Renfrew & Co., Limited (Holt Renfrew) into a successful career as a Canadian luxury-goods fashion designer. He was a survivor in the industry, adapting to various exogenous shocks, most recently COVID-19. The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of events and social gatherings at places where women typically wore his designs. In addition, Hardy's online purchasing presence was minimal. His immediate response to the pandemic-related lockdowns was to enable online purchasing and highlight clothing that could be worn at home or on more informal and local excursions. His business success had been largely based on his talent and the relationships he had fostered and nurtured over the years. Hardy personally reached out to his clients and held a COVID-compliant fashion show. Once again, he was demonstrating his resilience in the face of significant challenges, but what should come next?<br><br>After the economic crisis of 2008, Hardy had expanded his business to interior design. Should he forego high-end fashion to focus on interiors? Was there a way to further pivot his fashion design given the changes in consumer demand? How would the world come out of the pandemic, and how could Hardy position himself to thrive? Would any change threaten relations with his loyal clientele? Given that his business was almost 20 years old, what should his short- and longer-term strategic plan entail?

Lost Creek Angling Co. (LCA), a fly-fishing operation accessible by helicopter, operated off the grid in a remote location on the Wigwam River, in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. LCA’s clients were mainly middle-aged to retired businessmen from the United States. The company’s season consisted mainly of weekends in the summer months, from mid-July to mid-September. The owner, an eco-centred leader who allowed the river to rest between visits and provided nature education to his clients, had a strong reputation within the local community and was closely tied to the business’s brand. At age 70, however, he was considering a slow exit from his business. In the middle of 2015, he was approached by an angel investor but was concerned about losing control and abandoning the environmental mission of the business. In the meantime, LCA had the option of buying more permits to increase the number of guided fishing days (known as rod days) and grow the business in the near term. What was the best path forward for this unique organization and its laudable leader?

Lost Creek Angling Co. (LCA), a fly-fishing operation accessible by helicopter, operated off the grid in a remote location on the Wigwam River, in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. LCA's clients were mainly middle-aged to retired businessmen from the United States. The company's season consisted mainly of weekends in the summer months, from mid-July to mid-September. The owner, an eco-centred leader who allowed the river to rest between visits and provided nature education to his clients, had a strong reputation within the local community and was closely tied to the business's brand. At age 70, however, he was considering a slow exit from his business. In the middle of 2015, he was approached by an angel investor but was concerned about losing control and abandoning the environmental mission of the business. In the meantime, LCA had the option of buying more permits to increase the number of guided fishing days (known as rod days) and grow the business in the near term. What was the best path forward for this unique organization and its laudable leader?

In 2008, the incoming vice-president in situ of Suncor Energy is faced with problems of underperformance at a new facility that uses the innovative in situ technology. This technology accesses bitumen in reservoirs too deep for traditional mining practices to recover. Although it is deemed less harmful to the environment than surface mining, in situ technology does create more greenhouse gas and sulphur dioxide emissions, but these can be controlled with new equipment. Recently, the site has come under investigation for two environmental compliance charges related to a missing piece of pollution control equipment. The new vice-president needs to analyze the root causes of the facility’s operational challenges and develop a plan to deliver on the parent company’s operational excellence strategy.

The incoming vice-president in situ of Suncor Energy is faced with problems of underperformance at a new facility that uses the innovative in situ technology. This technology accesses bitumen in reservoirs too deep for traditional mining practices to recover. Although it is deemed less harmful to the environment than surface mining, in situ technology does create more greenhouse gas and sulphur dioxide emissions, but these can be controlled with new equipment. Recently, the site has come under investigation for two environmental compliance charges related to a missing piece of pollution control equipment. The new vice-president needs to analyze the root causes of the facility's operational challenges and develop a plan to deliver on the parent company's operational excellence strategy.