RiQian Motor was a Chinese company focusing on the development of wheel motors for mining machinery. Its long-term track record with providing high-quality products and service had won the trust and favour of its many clients. In 2016, the mining machinery industry began to focus on the production of electric vehicles. RiQian Motor invested in this new direction, but as of 2018, it was suffering losses in this new area. RiQian Motor was faced with a difficult choice: Should it discontinue its efforts at diversification and go back to the specialized strategy it excelled at? Or should it take a risk and continue the diversification strategy?

RiQian Motor was a Chinese company focusing on the development of wheel motors for mining machinery. Its long-term track record with providing high-quality products and service had won the trust and favour of its many clients. In 2016, the mining machinery industry began to focus on the production of electric vehicles. RiQian Motor invested in this new direction, but as of 2018, it was suffering losses in this new area. RiQian Motor was faced with a difficult choice: Should it discontinue its efforts at diversification and go back to the specialized strategy it excelled at? Or should it take a risk and continue the diversification strategy?

BGI Genomics (BGI), founded in China in 1999, covered the entire field of genomic sequencing applications. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, BGI’s strategic corporate social responsibility initiative, developing coronavirus nucleic acid test kits, created shared value for BGI and society; brought revenue growth to the company; and won BGI acclamation from the government, media, and public. However, as the market competition in the COVID-19 testing business intensified, Zhao Lijian, chief executive officer of BGI, had to consider the company’s next direction: Should BGI significantly increase investment in the COVID-19 testing business and shoulder greater social responsibility for fighting the pandemic? Or should it shift the focus back to its main business?

BGI Genomics (BGI), founded in China in 1999, covered the entire field of genomic sequencing applications. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, BGI's strategic corporate social responsibility initiative, developing coronavirus nucleic acid test kits, created shared value for BGI and society; brought revenue growth to the company; and won BGI acclamation from the government, media, and public. However, as the market competition in the COVID-19 testing business intensified, Zhao Lijian, chief executive officer of BGI, had to consider the company's next direction: Should BGI significantly increase investment in the COVID-19 testing business and shoulder greater social responsibility for fighting the pandemic? Or should it shift the focus back to its main business?