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The sudden resignation of the company's national sales manager has left the vice-president of sales and marketing stressed and concerned. He must decide on the successor from a pool of five candidates and is finding the decision difficult, not only because of the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate but this sudden resignation has him wondering about his authority and credibility within the organization.

Explores fiduciary duty issues that arose in litigation among partners in the partnership that owned and controlled the Mall of America. Describes the complex real estate transaction in which one partner attempted to purchase an additional interest in the mall from a nonpartner financing entity and the litigation that ensued.

Supplements the (A) case.

M&A experts view communications as the most important activity to manage during post-merger-integration (PMI efforts).

This note discusses excellence in postmerger integration (PMI) communication, which results from applying many of the same principles that generate success in other forms of corporate communication.

This note provides an overview of China's IT industry, using Michael's Porter's "Diamond of National Advantage" framework. Specifically, it assesses how China uses its factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and the context for firm strategy, structure, and rivalry to achieve a competitive position in IT. The note was developed as a companion to "The Competitive Advantage of China" (GSB No. IB-57), which provides a more detailed analysis of China's political, economic, and social history, as well as an evaluation of the country's national competitiveness using the Porter framework.

Supplements the (A) case. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

Supplements the (A) case. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

In September 2003, Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, must evaluate a final proposal for GE to acquire Amersham plc, the leading producer of contrast agents used in medical diagnostics. The case permits the valuation of Amersham based on peer firms, comparable transactions, and recent trading history. But the focus of analysis is on the robustness of Amersham's intellectual property (IP). On close examination, the company's IP position is weaker than it appears, given recent patents filed by competitors. The economic impact of these IP challenges may be tested in the case of the company's leading product, Visipaque, for which the case gives cash flows. Discounted cash flow analysis reveals great sensitivity to the remaining years of effective patent life. A key lesson underscores the importance of due-diligence research on a firm's IP position.

In September 2003, Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, must evaluate a final proposal for GE to acquire Amersham plc, the leading producer of contrast agents used in medical diagnostics. The case permits the valuation of Amersham based on peer firms, comparable transactions, and recent trading history. But the focus of analysis is on the robustness of Amersham's intellectual property (IP). On close examination, the company's IP position is weaker than it appears, given recent patents filed by competitors. The economic impact of these IP challenges may be tested in the case of the company's leading product, Visipaque, for which the case gives cash flows. Discounted cash flow analysis reveals great sensitivity to the remaining years of effective patent life. A key lesson underscores the importance of due-diligence research on a firm's IP position.

Supplements the (A) case. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

Describes Salomon Brothers' recovery from the August 1991 Treasury auction scandal. Details the impact of the firm's disclosure of bidding improprieties and describes how the new management team, led by Warren Buffett and Deryck Maughan, guided the company through the ensuing crisis. The impact of the crisis is followed through the end of 1992. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

In November 2004, Larry Fish, chairman of Citizens Bank, is wondering about the challenges posed by the latest and largest acquisition in the history of the bank. Fish has always believed that the success of Citizens thus far was facilitated by the credo he introduced in 2002. With an ever-growing organization, and more acquisitions in the future, he needs to know what changes need to be made to continue the effectiveness of the credo and his commitment to customers, employees, and communities.

The research and development improvement manager at Shanghai Bell has just gotten out of a meeting with top management on strategic initiatives suggested in the corporate information systems plan report. One project that was suggested in the report--implementing a collaborative product commerce system--was about to begin. The manager must review the project planning process and examine the extent to which the company was ready to undertake the project.

Money laundering is not an activity far removed from the corporate world; in fact, many organizations are unwittingly drawn into the web of money laundering with often damaging results. This note traces the history of money laundering, explores the different stages in the money laundering process, and investigates the growing phenomenon of cyber-laundering. Its intent is to raise awareness of the phenomenon as it relates to the corporate world and to help inform corporate personnel and business students how it might affect their workplace and their work lives.

After selling their high-tech company, three entrepreneurs decided to form an angel investor group. The process of generating and researching new business ideas narrows their search to two possibilities: a technology for Internet data centres and a new supercomputer. Both projects were discussed with venture capitalists that were willing to fund the project, only if the three partners managed the company. The partners must decide whether to leave their angel investment group to become full-time entrepreneurs and which of the two concepts they should pursue.

Takahiko Naraki is a young entrepreneur in Japan who is trying to make his Internet-based business model work in the challenging Tokyo business world, and must make a key decision: whether and how to expand his business. In addition to discussing the work-life balance of entrepreneurs in general, and this one Japanese entrepreneur in particular, the case also introduces aspects of the Japanese entrepreneurial environment including the importance of networking, the business laws regulating entrepreneurial activity, social perceptions of entrepreneurship, and the capital market for small companies in Japan.

The Zambian government embarked on a divesture of its mining industry in 1992. However, by July of 2004, 67 per cent of the mining assets were still in government hands and the government is still looking for equity partners. This case can be used as a basis for discussing political and country risk analysis, international negotiations, feasibility study analysis, managing strategic failure, and ethical and social responsibility issues.

CQUAY Technologies Corp was a privately-held Canadian software company with offices in Toronto, Calgary and Washington, D.C. CQUAY marketed a patented location intelligence engine called Common Ground. The company's technology was designed for an emerging, multi-billion dollar segment of the spatial information management market. A year earlier, the board had asked the chief executive officer to shape the company into an acquisition target over the next 18 to 24 months. A year later there were no imminent acquisition discussions, and recent customer traction and the sales pipeline seemed to merit raising growth capital instead of following the acquisition-focused plan. The CEO wanted to keep his stockholders and board happy by executing the plan they had given him, but did not want to jeopardize possible customer growth. If he refocused the plan, he feared it might change acquisition opportunities. Without further contracts, the existing cash would sustain the company for only another six to eight months. The CEO thought the most likely outcome was to sell the company, but he needed to make the company more attractive. He planned to present options and a recommendation to the board of directors later that month.

IIF (Institute of International Finance) was eight months into the customized development of a customer relationship management system (CRM) by a small software development firm, QuaTeams. IIF, a member organization, wants to replace its current CRM, an Access database, by integrating member information from different departments: economic research, membership, events, and finance. In addition, it wants to be able to handle the growing number of members and track the interactions between its staff and membership. With two months to go before the scheduled launch, both sides must make decisions to overcome the remaining technical hurdles with the database and security. The IIF must also consider implementation issues and think of creative ways to use the CRM system once it is operational.