This case study asks the reader to step into the shoes of Susan Chen, a business studies student who has an intern placement with Happy Cow, a Niche ice cream maker in Hong Kong. The central theme of this case is how best to use time series data when running a small business operating in a competitive retail environment: how can insights from data analytics influence sales strategy? Although vision, industry knowledge, and people management are essential to entrepreneurs, making the best strategic marketing choices is equally vital. Extracting the maximum value from sales data can therefore be extremely helpful.

We are living in an aging society. In most countries in the developed world, birthrates have been falling since the 1960s, and the average working population age has increased. As the fraction of the population requiring support in old age has increased, and the proportion of workers who can save and pay taxes has shrunk, there have been huge changes in how society provides for its retirees. Among the most pressing issues is suitable accommodation. Ryman Healthcare, a listed New Zealand company, has monetized wealth in retirees' property to provide specialized housing. It has performed well financially and provided homes for thousands of seniors. What were the risks in its business model and its options for expansion, for instance into China?

Since April 2015, Dan Price has implemented a US$70K minimum salary at his company. As owner and CEO of Gravity Payments, a Seattle-based credit-card payment-processing firm, he wants to lead by example to reduce the growing income inequality between the highest and lowest paid. One of his secondary objectives, publicity for the stance he has taken, has certainly been achieved, but what are the longer-term implications for him, his firm and his employees? This is a risky move: would employees be happier and the firm more stable with a different compensation arrangement?

OOCL is one of the world's largest integrated international container transportation, logistics and terminal companies, with a network covering Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia. The company is well respected in the industry with a reputation for providing customer-focused solutions, a quality-through-excellence approach and continual innovation. It has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1973. In a volatile industry, it has to compete and form alliances. It has a history of investing widely with variable results.