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The owner of Jeffries Hardwood Flooring is examining whether his current production set-up can handle an increase in output. He will have to evaluate his operation: examine the production process and identify it appropriately; given data, calculate the capacities of each workstation; identify the capacity/production constraints and bottlenecks; and make recommendations. This exercise should be used after an introduction to process identification and process analysis.

Owners of the Inn at the Falls are deciding whether to expand their operation. After nine years of growth, 1996 sales had levelled off, and the owners were considering a building expansion to resume growth. Although the expansion would add significantly to the debt load, it would reposition the Inn's facilities for a more upscale clientele. In addition, the owners would like to retire in two to five years by selling the business and are wondering if they will be able to recoup their investment in this time period.

The area manager of the bank had just informed the manager of customer service at one of the branches that one of her subordinates had filed a formal complaint about her with the National Committee for Employee Concerns. The employee claimed that the manager was impeding her personal and professional development. This complaint followed a long period of open conflicts between the two, and the area manager felt that keeping the complaint confidential was less important than informing the manager about this serious and possibly unfounded allegation.

Omega Paw is a small, entrepreneurial and successful company ($1 million in sales in the first year) which needs to position itself as a major player in the pet industry. Omega has developed and has begun to market many pet products, among them the Self-Cleaning Litter Box, and is faced with the challenge of where, how and through whom the next stage of its growth strategy will take place. Students must examine the typical consumers, trade channels and the competition, and then consider which of the five marketing alternatives best meets the company's objectives.

In early January 1998, the co-owners/photographers of Off Broadway Photography, were reviewing the company's year-end financial statements. Although profit levels were up from last year, sales were down. To improve both their sales and profit levels, the partners were considering three options; purchasing bulk film, outsourcing black and white film development, and changing the proof format. Students need to assess the company's current customer requirements and what is important to them, the company's current activities as to both efficiency and effectiveness and how the company could become more efficient, and therefore more profitable. The tradeoffs presented require both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Omega Paw is a small, entrepreneurial and successful company ($1 million in sales in the first year) which needs to position itself as a major player in the pet industry. Omega has developed and has begun to market many pet products, among them the Self-Cleaning Litter Box, and is faced with the challenge of where, how and through whom the next stage of its growth strategy will take place. Students must examine the typical consumers, trade channels and the competition, and then consider which of the five marketing alternatives best meets the company's objectives.

The purchasing officer at the Hillview Hospital in London, Ontario, was reviewing four suppliers' quotes for antiseptic handsoap. He had asked for new quotes after receiving a large number of complaints from hospital staff about sudden problems with the current handsoap. Testing revealed that the current supplier had changed the soap's formulation without informing the hospital.

Sandra Hawken is faced with the challenge of developing a marketing plan for Romil Reyes, vice-president of operations of Purely Gr...8! Water Company Inc., a premium purified bottled water company in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Romil, a 20 per cent owner of the business, wants to expand the target market from its current client base of Filipino home users. Romil's father, the majority shareholder, enjoys servicing the small client base and does not want to take risks with his business. Sandra is left with the task of making product positioning, pricing, promotion and distribution decisions that will appease both owners.

The purchasing officer at the Hillview Hospital in London, Ontario, was reviewing four suppliers' quotes for antiseptic handsoap. He had asked for new quotes after receiving a large number of complaints from hospital staff about sudden problems with the current handsoap. Testing revealed that the current supplier had changed the soap's formulation without informing the hospital.

A senior product manager at Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott) must develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to launch Abbott's ground-breaking drug, Norvir, into the Canadian market. Norvir has recently been launched in the U.S. and was used to treat patients with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). With fewer than six months before the scheduled Canadian launch date, he must make a number of decisions concerning product positioning, sales representation and promotion.

After early sales gains with a five-minute oil change offering, Delta Oils witnesses a slump in business. The owner decides to research the oil change consumer. The case introduces students to the design of a consumer study; specifically, the design, sequencing, formulation, administration and interpretation of a survey on consumer behaviours surrounding oil changes in passenger vehicles. A follow-up case Delta Oil Outlets (B) is available.

As manager of Clinical Engineering at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada, Mark Greig was part of a team responsible for managing the hospital's medical technology. Greig knew something had to be done to improve the quality and cost of repairs being made to the hospital's flexible endoscopes by outside firms. It was now early April 1994 and Greig was eager to prepare for the monthly team meeting which was to take place on April 18.

The manager of Northern Rivers Community and Business Development, must decide whether he will grant a $100,000 loan to the owners of Three Star Food Service Ltd. The owners of Three Star are contemplating the purchase of Crystal Fruit Sales. Crystal's past financial performance, the business conditions, the character of the new owners, capacity to repay and collateral issues must be considered.

A residence manager at a College, is faced with deciding what disciplinary measures should be taken when a majority of male residence assistants storm out of a mandatory training session. In reviewing the series of events that transpired since the beginning of her employment at the College, other problems have become apparent, including leadership, communication, structure of the organization, management of change and employee training issues. The manager must resolve these problems and come up with a plan to restore harmony within the Residence Assistants committee at the College.

The residence manager is left wondering what to do next as a training session resumes following the storming out incident. This short continuation of Elmdale College (A) provides further information on the incident described in the (A) case.

A survey of the oil change consumer has been completed for Delta Oil. The student must analyze the results and report conclusions and recommendations to Delta Oil management. The case presents the actual results of an extensive consumer survey. Delta Oil (B) introduces basic analytical techniques for market research: stratified and segmented sampling, analysis of frequency distributions and cross-tabulations. The importance of sampling methods and sample size can also be addressed. A Note on Reading a Crosstab Table (9A97K002) is also available. Delta Oil Outlets (A), which challenges students to design a research study for the company, should be taught, or at least reviewed, before addressing Delta Oil (B).

This note discusses the ranking of creditors in a bankruptcy, why financial institutions secure collateral when extending a loan and how a lender accesses collateral.

The Executive Director of a non-profit organization must deal with the fact that over the past few years, the organization has experienced a decline in volunteers, men who offer consistent adult male companionship to boys from father absent homes. They must tackle the challenges of:<ul><li>Recruiting and retaining volunteers in the cash-strapped 1990's.</li><li>Motivating people within the organization without the usual motivational tools (raises and threats of dismissal).</li><li>Practicing persuasive leadership techniques where they must constantly communicate, reiterate and reflect the shared values of the agency's volunteers.</li></ul>

Two business partners of Hempline Inc. are trying to re-establish hemp as a feasible agricultural product in Canada. Their first request from a wood processing mill in Oregon, USA, has left them with a number of decisions to be made. Among the decisions, they must determine the number of labour hours, the number of machines to rent and the amount of land to rent for this specific order. Alternatives to renting machinery include purchasing new and used equipment. As well, they wanted to calculate the cost per ton of this experimental crop to meet effectively with the Oregon firm.

An entrepreneur's application for a loan to open a small restaurant is rejected. As a consequence, the restaurant's cash position is a concern. The case requires the student to calculate three cash budgets based on expected, optimistic and pessimistic sales projections.