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The sole proprietor of a small cake-baking and cake-decorating business needs to make some decisions regarding the company's future. The company's growth has brought new challenges including possible space constraints. The desire to improve profitability and to take the business to the next level leads the owner to consider increasing prices and the development of a new advertising strategy.

The case describes competition in the market for smartphones in the US, and the position of one player, Research in Motion (RIM) who manufacture the popular Blackberry line of products. Early in 2011, RIM is in trouble. Its stock price has plummeted, amidst poor business results, and its future as an independent company is in doubt. A new Chief Executive Officer, Thorsten Heins, must decide how to position the company for the future. The case allows students to understand the strategic dynamics in platform-based industries in general, and to explore more specifically how a firm that led the industry in 2007 could fall to earth so dramatically four years later. The case is based upon data and information from public sources.

Crystal Anderson was evaluating her investment portfolio. She was searching for new equities to purchase before the end of the current RRSP season and wanted to diversify her current holdings by investing in the home improvement retail industry, specifically in Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Lowe’s, headquartered in the United States, was a major home improvement retailer and was currently undergoing an expansion into the Canadian market. She had just received the company’s annual reports with its last three years’ financial results. She wanted to assess the retailer’s past financial performance, including the risks and opportunities associated with the industry and the retailer’s corporate strategy. She would decide whether to invest in Lowe’s, based on her analysis.

A woman is evaluating her investment portfolio. She is searching for new equities to purchase before the end of current RRSP season and wants to diversify her current holdings by investing in the home improvement retail industry, specifically in Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Lowe's). Lowe's, headquartered in the United States, was a major home improvement retailer and was currently undergoing an expansion into the Canadian market. She had just received the company's annual reports with its last three years' financial results. She wants to assess the retailer's past financial performance, including the risks and opportunities associated with the industry and the retailer's corporate strategy. She will decide whether to invest in Lowe's, based on her analysis.

In March 2010, a city in Southwestern Ontario received a costing proposal from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The mayor and the other city councillors needed to decide whether to disband the city’s current municipally based Sarnia Police Services (SPS) and replace it with contract policing from the OPP. The city’s request for the proposal had created much discomfort for the SPS employees, and had polarized the entire community. After analyzing the OPP contract proposal, the city planned to make several adjustments to the OPP financial estimate so that it would more closely reflect the current level of service provided by the SPS.

An entrepreneur and her father have purchased exclusive Canadian distribution rights to Nutrifusion, a new health supplement that provides servings of fruits and vegetables when added to a variety of foods. They are contemplating launching Healthy Life Group, a company to market and distribute Nutrifusion in Canada. They want to evaluate the product’s financial feasibility for the company’s first year of operations, ending December 31, 2011. If the financials look favourable and the business plan seems feasible, the father and daughter will proceed with the new venture.

A budding entrepreneur, with her father, has purchased exclusive Canadian distribution rights to Nutrifusion, a new health supplement that provided servings of fruits and vegetables when added to a variety of foods. They are contemplating launching Healthy Life Group (HLG), a company to market and distribute Nutrifusion in Canada. They want to evaluate the product's financial feasibility for the company's first year of operations, ending December 31, 2011. If the financials look favorable and the business plan seems feasible, the father and daughter will proceed with the new venture. This case serves as an introduction to financial analysis and the development of projected financial statements. Students are given the opportunity to assess the food and health industry qualitatively, analyze a proposed distribution strategy, prepare the first year's projected income statement and balance sheet and then make an overall decision based on their analysis.

The owner/operator of an ice cream store has an opportunity to expand his product line to include soft-serve ice cream. He needs to analyze the costs and benefits of purchasing either a new or used single-head or triple-head soft-serve ice cream machine. He also wants to continue growing the business and he wonders about the best way of going about it. Students are asked to (1) perform a business size-up; (2) analyze the addition of soft-serve ice cream from a qualitative standpoint; (3) determine which of the cash flows associated with the opportunity are relevant and which are recurring costs versus one-time costs; (4) perform a differential analysis to determine the ROI and payback period for the purchase of both new machines; (5) determine the ROI and payback period changes if a used machine is purchased; and (6) decide whether to purchase a soft-serve ice cream machine and, if so, which one.

The owner/operator of an ice cream store has an opportunity to expand his product line to include soft-serve ice cream. He needs to analyze the costs and benefits of purchasing either a new or used single-head or triple-head soft-serve ice cream machine. He also wants to continue growing the business and he wonders about the best way of going about it. Students are asked to (1) perform a business size-up; (2) analyze the addition of soft-serve ice cream from a qualitative standpoint; (3) determine which of the cash flows associated with the opportunity are relevant and which are recurring costs versus one-time costs; (4) perform a differential analysis to determine the ROI and payback period for the purchase of both new machines; (5) determine the ROI and payback period changes if a used machine is purchased; and (6) decide whether to purchase a soft-serve ice cream machine and, if so, which one.

Cabinet Creations is a woodwork company specializing in the manufacture and distribution to retailers of kitchen cabinet doors. The owner wants to assess the company's second fiscal year of operations. Students are asked to (1) identify and record the cost of raw materials used, cost of work-in-process, cost of finished goods manufactured and cost of goods sold; (2) determine the cost of work in process, calculate partial factory overhead; (3) record the issuance of conversion of preferred shares; (4) record the declaration and payment of dividends; record the purchase and sale of marketable securities - stocks and bonds, and its subsequent interest revenue.

Cabinet Creations is a woodwork company specializing in the manufacture and distribution to retailers of kitchen cabinet doors. The owner wants to assess the company's second fiscal year of operations. Students are asked to (1) identify and record the cost of raw materials used, cost of work-in-process, cost of finished goods manufactured and cost of goods sold; (2) determine the cost of work in process, calculate partial factory overhead; (3) record the issuance of conversion of preferred shares; (4) record the declaration and payment of dividends; record the purchase and sale of marketable securities - stocks and bonds, and its subsequent interest revenue.

A fourth year business student prepares for an interview as an assistant marketing manager with one of the world's largest electronic conglomerates. To help secure the position, he develops a marketing plan for the Canadian launch of a new product. This case serves as an introduction to marketing management at the undergraduate level. Students can properly analyze this case after having been introduced to the 4 Ps (product, placement, price, promotion) and or a marketing framework. Students are required to complete the following: 1) an industry analysis, 2) a corporate size-up, 3) a consumer analysis, 4) a competitive analysis, and 5) a marketing plan design.

A fourth year business student prepares for an interview as an assistant marketing manager with one of the world's largest electronic conglomerates. To help secure the position, he develops a marketing plan for the Canadian launch of a new product. This case serves as an introduction to marketing management at the undergraduate level. Students can properly analyze this case after having been introduced to the 4 Ps (product, placement, price, promotion) and or a marketing framework. Students are required to complete the following: 1) an industry analysis, 2) a corporate size-up, 3) a consumer analysis, 4) a competitive analysis, and 5) a marketing plan design.

The founder and sole shareholder of a financial planning company must decide whether to hire a new advisor or purchase a block of business from another financial planner. Students are asked to perform an industry analysis, a corporate size-up and consumer analysis. Students are also required to complete a statement of cash flows, a financial ratio analysis and a differential analysis. Students must design a marketing plan and prepare projected financial statements.

The founder and sole shareholder of a financial planning company must decide whether to hire a new adviser or purchase a block of business from another financial planner. Students are asked to perform an industry analysis, a corporate size-up and consumer analysis. Students are also required to complete a statement of cash flows, a financial ratio analysis and a differential analysis. Students must design a marketing plan and prepare projected financial statements.