個案總覽

Kiva is an online platform that sources crowdfunding for low-income borrowers. By 2018 it has facilitated $1.1 billion in loans to 2.5 million borrowers worldwide. However, as questions are raised about the adverse effects of microcredit worldwide, Kiva must adapt its strategy to demonstrate maximum impact on improving the lives of the poor, while continuing to grow the user base and ensure financial sustainability.

This case describes how an intrapreneur helped Credit Suisse launch a commercially viable impact investing business in Asia. It specifically details the investment strategy and process for a new impact fund aligning social impact objectives with commercial goals of the bank. It also presents two new investment opportunities needing evaluation.

Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) is a global initiative integrating Unilever's commercial and sustainability-related agenda. In this context, Unilever is reviewing the progress so far of its new "Perfect Village" initiative in Vietnam, which seeks to build a financially viable rural business that also makes a positive social impact. Please visit the dedicated case website http://cases.insead.edu/unilever-in-vietnam/ to access supplementary material.

LOLC Microcredit, a microfinance company within the LOLC group in Sri Lanka, has been serving the financial needs of the base of the pyramid through micro-leasing and group lending. The question now is whether to grow the exisiting business, use diversification to increase impact or prioritize its expansion into Myanmar.

Schneider Electric has focused primarily on urban customers in the energy management space. The question is the extent to which it should prioritise rural opportunities for meeting the energy needs of the bottom of the pyramid, and whether these initiatives can be transitioned from subsidised social responsibility projects to self-sustaining businesses.

The (A) case describes how GE Healthcare developed an ECG device optimized for low-income mass markets in India. It also discusses the organizational changes GE made to better serve the Bottom of Pyramid (BOP) markets.

The (A) case describes how GE Healthcare developed an ECG device optimized for low-income mass markets in India. It also discusses the organizational changes GE made to better serve the Bottom of Pyramid (BOP) markets.

Describes the emergence and growth of i2 Technologies and the supply chain planning software industry. In December 1998, i2's market capitalization was in excess of $2 billion; the supply chain planning software industry had annual sales of approximately $1 billion and was expected to grow at 57% annually. By describing i2's products and the process that the company followed to sell and implement its software at companies, the case provides students with the background needed to understand why i2 was successful. This understanding enables students to address issues like what i2 should do in the future, and whether new competition such as SAP poses a substantial threat to i2's future success.