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Student Template for case 120072.

The "1mg" case focuses on a key strategic dilemma of an entrepreneur in times of digitalization. Should 1mg be just an e-pharmacy and designed as pure pipeline business, a marketplace or be a hybrid between these two? Should it adhere to the current stakeholder constellation, or should the needs of patients, and no longer those of doctors and hospitals, be at the centre of the healthcare ecosystem? India's healthcare market in 2014 was expected to grow with 14% CAGR reaching by 158B$. E-pharmacies not only enjoyed the support of the national government to reduce costs and improve quality of medication, but also to increase access to people in rural areas, comply with India regulation and increase sales tax collection. Traditional pharmacies were regulated under the Drug & Cosmetics Act whereas e-pharmacies were regulated under the IT Act. These different regulatory bases created distortion. It was expected that regulation would be clarified and give digitalization a strong boost. That said, the traditional brick and mortar pharmacies were still playing a critical role in the overall supply chain. At the same time a plethora of competitors were attracting funds by international venture capitalists and gain market traction, either based purely on new digital technologies or on their existing healthcare footprint. The case describes the different market segments based on demographics, health habits, age, and combines it with the penetration data of the mobile industry in the life of urban & rural Indians. The case also tackles the question of profitability versus growth and provides all the elements needed for a debate over the business model choice to be implemented.

Why are so few organizations selling beneficial products at the base of the pyramid (BoP) successful? This is not simply a story of companies failing, and it is one with a dramatic consequence as low-income people do not benefit from products that can improve their way of life. Instead, they continue to drink unsafe water, cook on stoves that emit fumes that kill over 1 million people per year, light their homes with dangerous kerosene lamps, and fall ill from a mosquito bite. Based on a multiyear field research program conducted in 25 countries, we argue that having a specific mindset about BoP customers is consequential to an organization's success. Many organizations start with the assumption that BoP customers lack money, knowledge, and jobs. By contrast, successful organizations start from the assumption that customers can and will pay if they are provided with a satisfactory solution to their needs and are reassured about the level of risk involved. We detail the different practices that follow from this mindset change in the areas of value proposition, communication, and distribution and show how these practices can make or break the organization's financial sustainability.

Firms face various critical challenges when pursuing a coherent course of action that seeks to create value for the long term. They are required to balance myopic and hyperopic behavior. They must ensure coordination, adopt a holistic view of various functional perspectives, and foster commitment among key decision makers. They need to develop a credible and compelling line of reasoning that employees understand and can act on. Adopting the perspective of roadmapping as a strategy tool, this article advances the argument that roadmapping is especially suitable in helping firms to surmount these three critical strategic challenges. This article distills three core features of the roadmap: graphical representation, multidisciplinary integration, and scaling. It then reviews the three critical strategic challenges and shows how roadmapping can help to overcome each of these. Following this explanation, the article describes ten key principles for effective strategic roadmapping that support firms in obtaining the strategic benefits promised. The article concludes with additional insights for practice with the intent of encouraging further exploitation of roadmapping's potential.

As Joseph Biden began his presidency in early 2021, he was faced with the enormous task of balancing his more centrist tendencies with the increasingly activist part of his coalition. More generally, he would need to understand the forces that contributed to subpar economic performance and to redirect government efforts to supporting a market economy that benefitted all Americans. To do so, he would need to understand the arguments for and against government intervention in a variety of contexts.

This case examines a small, high-growth women's athletic apparel company's activities to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and impact the apparel industry, while ensuring its internal organization and operations are aligned with its political and social stances. Founded as a "for women by women'' company, Oiselle (pronounced wa-zell) has a brand mission focused on women's empowerment. Its leaders support sociopolitical causes such as Planned Parenthood and Black Voters Matter. In the athletic retail industry, critics have found misalignment between companies' external branding and internal leadership. For example, Nike and Adidas marketing campaigns have championed female athletes and called for increased representation of women in sports, yet their own executive teams and board members are primarily men. Oiselle is led by women, who are increasingly elevating diversity in their branding, including highlighting gender, race, and LGBTQ+ disparities in the industry. The case presents background information on Oiselle and an overview of the business case for DEI. The case then asks students to wrestle with fundamental questions like the role of business in advancing DEI and how companies can incorporate DEI in a manner consistent with their business model.

The case explores the origins of the Hong Kong-based remote working start-up FLYDESK. Part A centers on its founding and first fundraising round in 2019, when the tech accessories company Native Union seeks to invest in FLYDESK. First, it must obtain approval from Leitmotiv, the private equity firm that invested in Native Union. What are the benefits and risks for both FLYDESK and Native Union if they go ahead with Native Union's investment in FLYDESK? And are the potential synergies feasible enough for Leitmotiv to "green light" Native Union's investment in FLYDESK? Part B fast-forwards to 2020, when COVID-19 has hindered business operations and forced a large part of the workforce to work from home. After a successful first round of funding, FLYDESK faces a series of new challenges as many co-working spaces have had to limit capacity or shut down. The main one is to adapt its product strategy and incorporate new demands. Given its limited resources, what product offerings should it focus on? How to ensure that the product strategy is aligned with the business strategy? And can FLYDESK stay relevant and attractive to win another round of funding? The case captures various perspectives and factors that are key to the success of an early-stage start-up.

The case explores the origins of the Hong Kong-based remote working start-up FLYDESK. Part A centers on its founding and first fundraising round in 2019, when the tech accessories company Native Union seeks to invest in FLYDESK. First, it must obtain approval from Leitmotiv, the private equity firm that invested in Native Union. What are the benefits and risks for both FLYDESK and Native Union if they go ahead with Native Union's investment in FLYDESK? And are the potential synergies feasible enough for Leitmotiv to "green light" Native Union's investment in FLYDESK? Part B fast-forwards to 2020, when COVID-19 has hindered business operations and forced a large part of the workforce to work from home. After a successful first round of funding, FLYDESK faces a series of new challenges as many co-working spaces have had to limit capacity or shut down. The main one is to adapt its product strategy and incorporate new demands. Given its limited resources, what product offerings should it focus on? How to ensure that the product strategy is aligned with the business strategy? And can FLYDESK stay relevant and attractive to win another round of funding? The case captures various perspectives and factors that are key to the success of an early-stage start-up.

Ashish Interbuild Private Limited (AIPL) was a mid-sized founder-driven turnkey fit-out firm based in India. The firm executed prestigious fit-out projects across the country, and it had been making steady progress every year since its founding. Faced with an increasing workload, Ashish Thakkar, the founder and managing director, had decided to change the firm’s operating model from an owner-led model to one that was people- and process-driven. To manage the transition smoothly, he had to decide on the most appropriate management control model for the firm. The two management control models proposed to Thakkar stood in stark contrast to each other, each with its own strengths. It was crucial for Thakkar to select the appropriate control fit for AIPL neither too tight nor too loose. An inappropriate model could lead to chaos, employee dissatisfaction, financial loss, a damaged firm reputation, and even potential bankruptcy. Although there were good reasons to pursue either of the two proposed alternatives, it was vital to determine which control system was best suited to the firm.

In November 2016, the chief executive officer of CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. was considering the company’s options for raising capital through an initial public offering. The decision was critical for the Saskatchewan-based medical cannabis company, which had been an early leader in this fast-growing sector and was seeking to take advantage of growth opportunities. The company’s history in the space dated back to 2000, when it was awarded a sole source five-year contract from Health Canada to supply Canadians with medical marijuana. Since then, the demand for medical cannabis had grown exponentially, and policy liberalization had opened up prospects for the recreational market. CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. had positioned itself as a leader with extensive experience in research, development, and commercialization. The decision for it to go public was clouded by many burning issues and risks, which led to intense speculation among investors as to whether the firm should be going public at this time and, if so, at what price.

Spreadsheet to accompany product W26388.

This case describes the growth of the Asian ports industry between 2015 and 2020 and the impact of escalating US-China trade tensions and rising Chinese direct investments on regional port competition. Throughout the 2000s, the volume of Asian shipping steadily increased on the back of an expanding Chinese economy. The case focuses on how the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and new Chinese-funded mega-ports like the Malacca Gateway Port would affect the competitive dynamic between the Port of Singapore (PSA) and regional competitors such as Malaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP). The PSA has been the dominant transshipment hub in the region but has been ceding market share and has lost its position as the busiest port in the world to the Port of Shanghai. In planning for the future, the PSA has to work within Singapore's diplomatic framework of balancing Eastern and Western interests on the geopolitical chessboard of the South China Sea region. The case provides an example of how national interests and international relations have to be considered when making business decisions.

In February 2020, companies around the world contemplated their next moves as the pandemic news grew more grim each day. For Savannah Informatics, one of the first information services firms in Africa's health care sector, the uncertainties and immediate supply chain challenges prompted nimble moves to make sure the technology continued to perform, but also served as a call to innovate further, and add new digital offerings. This case study addresses the challenges of new product development in the health care sector, and the complexities of meeting the needs of medical providers, insurance companies, and individual customers. How would the company prioritize its next moves, and expand its technology platform? How could Savannah use its existing data on health care spending in Kenya to map out new products, including health information, telehealth and prescription services, and disease care management? And how could it distinguish its services from new competitors who also saw new demands for innovative health care solutions arising as the COVID-19 pandemic continued.

Cataracts robbed an estimated 65 million people around the world of their vision. In the Himalayas, where hundreds of thousands of people went needlessly blind from cataracts, doctors Sanduk Ruit and Fred Hollows began to tackle this health crisis in 1995 with the Himalayan Cataract Project, believing they could adopt new techniques and lens technology to scale high-quality, high-volume, and low-cost cataract operations in remote communities. This case study details the development of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) in Kathmandu, Nepal, including efforts to establish cost-effective cataract treatment centers and ophthalmic education programs to train current eye care technicians and specialists, as well as the next generation of eye care leaders. Students will also understand the time-driven activity-based costing analysis process, as TIO needed to calculate resource needs as the institute expanded services into rural areas, where eyecare needs were high but patient resources were limited. What would this analysis reveal about ways to ensure safe, effective cataract surgery in other low-income countries-and were there also takeaways that might inform cataract surgery practices in the United States and other high-income countries?

The Hospital de la Misericordia (HM), today HOMI Foundation, is a children's hospital located in Bogotá (Colombia). It was founded by José Ignacio Barberi, Great Grandfather Barberi, in fulfillment of his wife's last wish: to build a hospital for children. It officially opened its doors in 1906. Great Grandfather Barberi conceived HM as a non-profit organization to be led by the members of the Barberi family. After the founder, three generations of Barberi family members have assumed the direction of HM: Rafael Barberi Cualla (Grandfather Barberi), Rafael Barberi Zamorano (Father Barberi), and Mauricio Barberi Abadía. Mauricio Barberi (appointed Director of HM in 1992) had to face a demand-based health system, under which HM was paid according to the amount of patients treated and there were not more subsidies from the State. Therefore, Mauricio had to begin a process of reengineering in HM, in order to become a competitive organization within the health market. HOMI was later impacted by the health system crisis, which delayed the payments it had to receive for its services. The case is established in April of 2014, in the midst of the health sector crisis. Despite the situation, Mauricio Barberi decided to analyze two options to expand the services: to build a Pedatric Center to expand the facilities outward in the north of Bogotá, or to build a Childhood cancer center in the current location. The risky context that surrounds this decision begs for multiple questions about his persistence on this idea and the suitability of said decision for HOMI Foundation. Even more, although Mauricio does not consider to do nothing, as a third option, the case invites to consider it in the last step in the discussion of the case, because this option is also viable from a perspective that does not consider family issues. The answers to these questions lie in the power of the family firm's legacy and entrepreneurial legacy, which is the focus of the case.

Short videos are the new trend in entertainment and social networking. TikTok/Douyin is the undisputed leader of short video-sharing apps. Less than four years after it launched in China, TikTok shot to global prominence thanks to an addictive user experience. In 2020-21, despite a challenging geopolitical context, it maintained strong growth momentum to become the world's most-downloaded, best-rated, highest-earning app. Kuaishou, TikTok's strongest domestic competitor, dominated the Chinese market until 2018. Like TikTok, it began to expand overseas in mid-2017, but stumbled. With backing from Tencent (one of China's pioneering internet giants), Kuaishou gained fresh momentum in China and global markets and took steps to going public in February 2021. As the two companies go head-to-head in China and globally, their products and strategies are converging. The case compares their respective strategic positions, operations and development. It reveals the success story behind TikTok's exponential growth and expansion, the emergence of the short-video industry, the parent company ByteDance, and its current and future challenges.

This case details the challenges Kiana Nelson faced at Central Valley Towing, a fictional towing company Nelson acquired. In the case, Nelson must decide whether to overrule a direct report's decision regarding firing an employee, determine what to do about a talented but abrasive employee, and respond to a top performer who wants a promotion and another top performer who has decided to leave the company.

Popular Japanese fast-food chain Saizeriya operates affordable family-style Italian restaurants in Japan with subsidiaries in a number of Asian locations. Since the company's Australian suppliers require payments to be made in Australian dollars (AUD) instead of Japanese yen (JPY), volatile currency exchange rates continue to be a serious risk to Saizeriya's operations. The company's president, Issei Horino, believes foreign currency hedging could reduce the costs associated with exchange rates. But an earlier attempt to use foreign currency coupon swap contracts from BNP Paribas went horribly wrong- it cost the company JPY15bn to break those contracts. As the JPY continued to depreciate, together with declining restaurant sales and a falling share price, Horino decided to revisit the company's previous use of foreign currency hedging to investigate whether Saizeriya could adopt an appropriate foreign currency hedge.

The case provides an opportunity to formulate a late entrant's response to the competitive dynamics set in motion by its repositioning as a low-cost airline. It presents the dilemma before Tony Fernandes-the chief executive officer of AirAsia Sdn Bhd (AAB)-about how he should respond to the competitive retaliation from Malaysia Airlines (MA), the incumbent national carrier of Malaysia. Fernandes entered the Malaysian aviation industry in December 2001 by acquiring an ailing AAB. After acquiring the airline, he repositioned it as a "low-fare, no-frills" airline with the tagline "Now everyone can fly". He focused on all possible avenues to reduce the operations and maintenance costs and maximise the capacity utilisation of the planes. The initiatives yielded results, and AAB became debt-free within eight months of its renewed operations and reported a monthly cash flow of RM 18 million. With the utilisation of 4,000 seats daily and a passenger load factor of 70%, the airline repaid the loan of RM 100 million and earned a monthly profit of RM 2 million. In August 2002, MA retaliated by announcing its super saver offer that provided a full-service flight experience at 50% of the original fare. The tariff reduction resulted in a drop of 40% in AAB's bookings and threatened its survival. Fernandes had to respond to the new development.

In mid-2020, Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) acquired Latin American-based mobile application Cornershop, which delivered online grocery purchases to the consumer’s home. The operation involved technology firms based on multisided platforms. Uber, which focused on the intermediation of passenger transport, had expanded to businesses such Uber Eats for the delivery of restaurant meals, while Cornershop’s focus was the purchase and delivery of supermarket products. Recently, Walmart had attempted to acquire Cornershop, but Mexico’s antitrust authorities would not authorize the acquisition. Uber’s acquisition of Cornershop involved important managerial challenges. What were the main sources of value? Should the two companies be managed separately or as joint units? Would Walmart have been a better fit for Cornershop? What was the best strategy to grow in this multisided business space?