個案總覽

Spreadsheet for product 9B19M026.

After more than a decade of development, US-based Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Synergy) received marketing approval from the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for its first drug, Trulance, which targeted a large market that had only two other approved competitors. Synergy now needed to scale up from a research-and-development shop to a sales-and-marketing powerhouse. The company had not partnered with a larger pharmaceutical company during the regulatory review process, which was typical for smaller drug development companies, and as a result, it retained 100 per cent of the sales revenue but had virtually no in-house sales or marketing capability. In September 2018, the company was heavily indebted and the stock was priced below US$2; many wondered if Synergy had been right to go it alone or if it should continue that strategy for developing the lucrative North American market. With a new chief executive officer, Trulance sales beginning to accelerate, and other products moving through the FDA approval process, Synergy needed to decide whether to stay the course and become a full-fledged pharmaceutical company or seek a partner and stick to its research and development competency.

After more than a decade of development, US-based Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Synergy) received marketing approval from the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for its first drug, Trulance, which targeted a large market that had only two other approved competitors. Synergy now needed to scale up from a research-and-development shop to a sales-and-marketing powerhouse. The company had not partnered with a larger pharmaceutical company during the regulatory review process, which was typical for smaller drug development companies, and as a result, it retained 100 per cent of the sales revenue but had virtually no in-house sales or marketing capability. In September 2018, the company was heavily indebted and the stock was priced below US$2; many wondered if Synergy had been right to go it alone or if it should continue that strategy for developing the lucrative North American market. With a new chief executive officer, Trulance sales beginning to accelerate, and other products moving through the FDA approval process, Synergy needed to decide whether to stay the course and become a full-fledged pharmaceutical company or seek a partner and stick to its research and development competency.

Student spreadsheet for case W19154

In 2013, the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Christian Children’s Home of Florida (CCHF), a well-established, faith-based residential care facility for neglected and abused children, was in the process of seeking a deep understanding of the issues affecting company morale. The CEO had just received the field notes of an extensive qualitative research study of CCHF completed by a Master of Business Administration consulting team from a local university. She wanted to make her own assessment of the themes that were emerging from their data and identify any policies, procedures, or other recommendations that the data would suggest. With morale rumoured to have slipped prior to her appointment, and with employee turnover above industry norms, the new CEO felt that identifying and addressing needed changes was a priority.

Supplement for product 9B18C026.

In 2013, the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Christian Children's Home of Florida (CCHF), a well-established, faith-based residential care facility for neglected and abused children, was in the process of seeking a deep understanding of the issues affecting company morale. The CEO had just received the field notes of an extensive qualitative research study of CCHF completed by a Master of Business Administration consulting team from a local university. She wanted to make her own assessment of the themes that were emerging from their data and identify any policies, procedures, or other recommendations that the data would suggest. With morale rumoured to have slipped prior to her appointment, and with employee turnover above industry norms, the new CEO felt that identifying and addressing needed changes was a priority.

Supplement to case W18504

A college student, Sarah James, attends a Mexican university (INI) for the summer to develop her language and cross-cultural capabilities. At the end of a successful semester, she e-mails the director of international recruitment for the Mexican University - with a copy to her major professor back in the United States - complaining about the treatment she received from her host family. She appears to have alienated all parties involved as she makes her exodus. The reader must decide how Professor McGill should respond. McGill had been attempting to build a relationship with the administration at INI in hopes of sending more students there for cross-cultural and language training. The reader must also evaluate Sarah's complaints to determine if they are a result of her own inflexibility or whether the host family was inappropriately screened or prepared. Will the remedy be found in having better policies governing host families or in having more culturally-attuned students?

The case describes a real instance where a college student, Sarah James, attends a Mexican university (INI) for the summer to develop her language and cross-cultural capabilities. At the end of a successful semester, she e-mails the director of international recruitment for the Mexican University - with a copy to her major professor back in the United States - complaining about the treatment she received from her host family. She appears to have alienated all parties involved as she makes her exodus. The reader must decide how Professor McGill should respond. McGill had been attempting to build a relationship with the administration at INI in hopes of sending more students there for cross-cultural and language training. The reader must also evaluate Sarah's complaints to determine if they are a result of her own inflexibility or whether the host family was inappropriately screened or prepared. Will the remedy be found in having better policies governing host families or in having more culturally-attuned students?