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The primary decision maker operated an extensive shrimp farming business in Ecuador. The shrimp value chain consisted of many activities that culminated in the preparation of a wide variety of frozen appetizers and dinners. In order to increase profitability, the company faced the challenges of moving up the value chain. Meanwhile, global consumption of shrimp value-added products was increasing rapidly. Foreign food processors and retailers had an interest in guaranteeing supply by integrating backwards into the shrimp farming business. A joint venture might offer benefits to both the company and a foreign corporation. The case raises issues of concern from the perspective of both potential partners. Ecuador had just emerged from a political revolution; interest rates and foreign exchange rates were unstable; financial institutions in Ecuador were charging extremely high interest rates; labour unrest might result in various kinds of work stoppages. In such a rapidly changing environment of business, how should the company plan for its economic future?

Procter & Gamble has been in Eastern Europe for 2 1/2 years. The case outlines the problems, missed opportunities and difficulties Procter & Gamble has had in transplanting their corporate culture onto the newly liberalized economies of Eastern Europe. The case requires students to generate alternatives for Procter & Gamble's future strategy in Eastern Europe given the political, economic, societal, and technological (PEST) environment.

Procter & Gamble must determine an entry strategy for Eastern Europe. The case examines the former Soviet Bloc countries, the opportunity they provide for a business endeavor like Procter & Gamble, and the product choices Procter & Gamble has available to them. Students must examine the political, economic, societal, and technological (PEST) environment and determine if the newly liberalized economies of Eastern Europe provide appropriate investment opportunities for Procter & Gamble. Students must also determine the scope of the necessary investment, the time profile and the difficulties it may face. A follow-up case (9A97H002) is available.

The Bank of Nova Scotia faced the decision whether to expand its investments in the Mexican bank, Inverlat. In 1995, it had to write down the value of its investments from $154-million to $10-million as a result of the Mexican peso crisis and subsequent recession. This case examines the environment of business in Mexico during the time of the currency devaluation. In particular, it focuses on the factors underlying the peso crisis. Privatization of Mexico's banks and liberalization of regulations created new opportunities, but at the same time, resulted in extreme instability within the financial sector. While Mexico offered the opportunity to become a major player in the growing Latin American market, nevertheless there were risks of major losses. (A sequel to this case is available, titled Bank of Nova Scotia: The Mexico Decisions (B), case 9A97H004.)

Mekong, a joint venture among Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese auto assemblers, is facing significant changes in the business environment in Vietnam. As the government of Vietnam has implemented its economic and administrative reform program, foreign and domestic companies in Vietnam have had to deal with changes in regulations and competitive forces. In addition, Vietnam's membership in ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) has further complicated the business decisions that foreign companies have to make in this newly-opened economy. Students will be challenged to devise a strategy for Mekong as a multi-national company operating in the Far East.

Royal Trustco presents a chronology of some of the key decision points in the history of the firm (the parent firm of Royal Trust) from 1980 to 1992. To clarify the concept of corporate governance, a number of interesting discussion questions are presented: How did Royal Trustco get to the point where the directors had to sell the company to save it? Why did this happen? Was it appropriate for Royal Trustco directors to keep paying dividends given the problems the company faced? Were there any signs that the company's actions might lead to problems in the future? Could the problems have been prevented? Why might the board not have believed the CEO's assessment of the situation? What are a director's legal obligations in the operation of a firm? What can a director be held responsible for? If you had been a director of the company, would you have resigned at any point in time? Why or why not? The case is intended to serve as the starting point for a discussion of corporate governance in Canada.

A co-operative involves many unique business features, and these are illustrated by Mountain Equipment Co-op. Of particular interest is the way in which customers are shareholders, and so the firm faces customer empowerment that both strengthens its market presence and also influences its product mix and pricing structure. Management faces a unique set of success criteria. Apart from its co-op nature, Mountain Equipment demonstrates the creative ways that a service sector retailer participates today in the manufacturing sector. Its proactive role involves ongoing contributions to the design of products, and even participation in the ownership of manufacturing facilities.

Doug Mason wished to create a new product that would cater to the interests of a new age generation, and he chose the development of a beverage that would have a healthy lifestyle image. His entrepreneurial start-up led to very rapid expansion and ultimately to sales in other countries. Clearly Canadian relies upon other companies to provide equipment for transportation and distribution, enabling it to operate with relatively few employees and a small base of physical capital. The case poses an interesting question, Is the company a small service sector enterprise or a large manufacturing business?