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Describes Eric's purchase of the much larger Shaw Co. Describes the operating and financial problems that ensue, leaving Eric considering the option of bankruptcy. Issues include the overlap of business and personal finances, as well as the mechanics and implications of bankruptcy.

Boston Beer Co. revolutionized the beer industry by identifying and responding to a new consumer segment. Using the excess capacity in the brewing industry to establish contract brewing arrangements and an extremely capable sales force, the company opened the industry's eyes to the need for high quality product and freshness. The emphasis on unique product development and freshness was a first for the industry.

The board of directors of a rural health clinic fires its executive director. The case elaborates the evolution and progress of the clinic under this director during a period of growth and a changing health care environment. Factors contributing to and questioning the firing decision are described.

Supplements the (A) case.

Supplements the (A) case.

Presents an overview of U.S. laws/systems in place to safeguard intellectual property rights. Includes a brief history of the development of the laws. Attention is given to patents, licenses, copyrights, trade secrets, trade and service markets, and non-disclosure and non-compete agreements.

A view of career management for people interested in starting or playing a major role in an entrepreneurial venture is presented.

John Hansen, CEO of ThermoLase, must develop a plan of action to exploit the company's new development-stage revolutionary hair removal technology with negligible revenues and a $500 million market capitalization. This nascent public Thermo Electron spin out company has the opportunity to change the U.S. beauty industry if Hansen can develop and execute an effective rollout strategy. Teachng Purpose: To introduce students to the Thermo Electron development strategy in the context of a high-potential, development-stage, retail/consumer-oriented business.

The president of Kitchen Helper Inc. is seeking financing for his new invention. Commercial banks have refused to provide any further financing, and the president has rejected offers from venture capitalists. A private investor has expressed interest but wishes to see a cash budget and a pro forma income statement and balance sheet.

The owners of Xantrex Technology Inc. are negotiating an injection of equity capital of $3 million. Students are asked to design a deal which is acceptable to both the venture capitalists and the owners. They must also design an appropriate shareholders' agreement. This case should be used in conjunction with Xantrex Technology Inc., case 9A96B051.

Two former consultants have raised a search fund and are looking for a company to buy and run. After eight months of looking at deals, they have just signed a letter of intent to buy the second largest book retail chain in Canada in a turnaround situation. They must now decide whether to go through with the deal and, if so, how to raise the necessary financing.

An entrepreneur's application for a loan to open a small restaurant is rejected. As a consequence, the restaurant's cash position is a concern. The case requires the student to calculate three cash budgets based on expected, optimistic and pessimistic sales projections.

By 2005, franchise systems will account for an estimated one-half of U.S. retail sales. But prospective franchisors need to consider carefully whether to expand a business by franchising or by opening company-owned outlets. The advantages of franchising include allowing the firm to overcome resource constraints of limited capital and thin the ranks of experienced managers. Franchising also provides a means of trading off certain functions; franchisees are more efficient in performing functions whose average cost curve turns up relatively quickly. It obviates the need for monitoring (and its attendant costs) because franchisees have invested their own capital and are motivated to work hard for profitability. It offers substantial efficiencies in promotion and advertising by leveraging the value of a trademark and brand image. And, of course, it helps in managing one's risks, because franchisors can eventually convert profitable franchise locations into company-owned operations (although this strategy raises certain ethical concerns). A beginning firm, however, needs to outline its business goals over an extended period and analyze how it can use franchising to fulfill those goals. Factors that bear upon the relative desirability of the franchise option include labor- vs. capital-intensity, demand variability, the importance of repeat customers, and the role of changing technology. A firm might well find that a "mixed system" (a mix of franchised and company-owned stores) optimizes its cost-benefit balance.

When two or more parties establish a relationship or structure a deal, one of the key issues that arises is the nature of the agency relationship between them. This technical note explains the concept of agency, outlines some of the typical agency relationships that exist in businesses, the agency problems that can arise between people and organizations and the tools that are employed to address these agency problems.

Based on a 1992 mail survey of Harvard MBAs who started their own businesses. Questions focused on 4 areas: 1) development of the business concept, 2) sales and marketing, 3) finance, and 4) building a staff. The entrepreneurs surveyed include 24 in consulting, 17 in professional services (most financial), and 46 in "traditional" ventures ranging from farming to manufacturing to long-distance phone service. Throughout, the survey responses are directly compared with those from an earlier study of 100 entrepreneurs drawn from the "Inc. 500" list of fast-growing new businesses. Despite differences in the education and capital resources of the two groups, they are shown to be remarkably similar. Includes 82 exhibits and concludes with a summary of "travel tips" for aspiring entrepreneurs. Points to skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will help students considering entrepreneurial careers. Also contains a wealth of data that can provide useful background information on virtually all the topics that a typical entrepreneurship course covers.

Organizational stimulants and obstacles to creativity are summarized. The management tasks of supporting creativity and encouraging innovation are described as a delicate balance between over-control and chaos. A technology used to assess the climate for creativity is presented.

E. Rachel Hubka, general manager of a Chicago school bus company, has the opportunity to start her own bus business. The industry she will be entering is highly competitive, heavily regulated, and faces chronic labor shortages. Hubka hopes to tap a new labor pool and help her community by locating her business in an inner-city neighborhood that most business has abandoned. But this approach invites a new risk: relying on workers with marginal work experience.

Supplements E. Rachel Hubka (A).

Entrepreneur Judy Wicks has built The White Dog Cafe from a carry-out muffin shop into a full-service restaurant. She has ambitions to provide her diverse clientele with more than an acclaimed dining experience. She also wants to incorporate broader community concerns into her restaurant's operations. How can she meld her social values with her business objectives?

Entrepreneur Judy Wicks has built The White Dog Cafe from a carry-out muffin shop into a full-service restaurant. She has ambitions to provide her diverse clientele with more than an acclaimed dining experience. She also wants to incorporate broader community concerns into her restaurant's operations. How can she meld her social values with her business objectives?