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Whether we are willing to admit it or not, everyone has cognitive biases. The challenge is knowing how to work around them to achieve optimal thinking. In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. Jay Gordon Cone argues that one of the most pervasive biases is confirmation bias, which leads us to quickly notice and accept things that are consistent with our underlying beliefs-and to ignore or reject things that are not. This is of particular concern right now, because in an increasingly polarized world, we crave the comfort of having our worldview reinforced and embraced more than ever. The danger comes when we overlook evidence that we might not have all the facts-or we might just be plain wrong. Dr. Cone, who has advised The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, GE and PepsiCo, provides practical tools for fighting confirmation bias and eradicating closed-mindedness-and puts readers on the path to maintaining a balanced worldview.

In 2020, the chief executive officer of Abelana Game Reserve in South Africa was considering the arrangement between the game reserve and the Mashishimale community, who owned the land. He had promised to provide added value to the land by highlighting four pillars of focus: land, community, business, and investors. Two lodges were formally opened to guests in March 2020, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all business activities-until September 2020, when the government began easing lockdown restrictions and the shareholders met to discuss tourist bookings and expansion plans. The management team had an ambitious and exciting overall vision for the game reserve, but there were more pressing challenges to consider, including a collaborative cross-sector partnership, training and developing workers, creating jobs in the community, and supporting local businesses. Were there other shared value ideas to consider for more employment opportunities and growth within the community?

In 2020, the chief executive officer of Abelana Game Reserve in South Africa was considering the arrangement between the game reserve and the Mashishimale community, who owned the land. He had promised to provide added value to the land by highlighting four pillars of focus: land, community, business, and investors. Two lodges were formally opened to guests in March 2020, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all business activities—until September 2020, when the government began easing lockdown restrictions and the shareholders met to discuss tourist bookings and expansion plans. The management team had an ambitious and exciting overall vision for the game reserve, but there were more pressing challenges to consider, including a collaborative cross-sector partnership, training and developing workers, creating jobs in the community, and supporting local businesses. Were there other shared value ideas to consider for more employment opportunities and growth within the community?

This public-sourced case describes the lapses in board oversight that led to the dramatic rise and fall of collaborative office space company WeWork and its charismatic leader, Adam Neumann. The case is set in September 2019 and follows board member Mark Schwartz into a critical board meeting to discuss many of the issues facing the company as it tries to raise billions through an IPO: lapses in governance oversight and fiscal discipline, CEO Neumann's erratic behavior, and perhaps even fraud. The case offers an opportunity to evaluate WeWork's strategy and path to future profitability; the board and other stakeholders' role in WeWork's hypergrowth and rapid fall from grace; differences in corporate governance in private versus public companies; and the governance changes that occur in preparation for an IPO. With WeWork on the brink, students are put in Schwartz's shoes in the board meeting and challenged to answer the question: What would you do and why?

In 2016, Reliance Jio Infocomm (R-Jio) was a late entrant in India's overcrowded but growing telecommunications (telecom) market. By 2019-20, the wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was India's number-one telecom company in terms of both profits and market capitalization. The industry's incumbents were expected to retaliate against the new entrant; however, they could not compete against R-Jio's heavily discounted offerings. Within six months, R-Jio had achieved its goal of attracting a subscriber base of 100 million. Although R-Jio intended to remain a leading player in India's digital future, could it sustain its run of success? Would R-Jio be able to leverage its present and future investments and manage risk sufficiently to achieve its optimistic objectives? India's telecom industry faced a dynamically changing and technology-driven future. How could R-Jio ensure it continued to play a leading role in India's telecom industry?

Industrial agriculture feeds the modern world but its practices, such as monocropping and use of chemicals, have caused significant damage to the environment and food supply. Regenerative agriculture, in contrast, is a set of holistic farming practices that is gaining in popularity as a method for not only increasing crop yields but also renewing the land. Business inputs vary greatly between the two: industrial production requires more complex machinery and external inputs, while regenerative agriculture relies on the Earth's natural processes, but is dependent on additional labor costs. This case explores a U.S. farm founded in 1866, White Oak Pastures, and the business acumen of current proprietor Will Harris III. Students will analyze the organization's financial costs and risks, environmental impacts, change management, and potential for growth with innovative revenue streams.

Twenty five years after it was initially proposed, Clay Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation continues to be a major reference for entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, and investors. However, the term "disruptive innovation" is often used in ways and contexts that are not consistent with Christensen's original theory, which argues for initially accessing the market from the low end. For example, there has been controversy as to whether a firm like Tesla, which clearly accessed the market by targeting high-end consumers, should be thought of as having "disruptive" potential. Should all disruptions start at the low-end of the market or from unserved segments who can't afford the incumbents' current solutions (a "new market" foothold in Christensen's terminology)? Is it possible for an innovation that will ultimately disrupt and displace incumbents to start off by serving high-end segments that are currently participating in the market and are willing to pay top dollar? In this note, using several examples, including the emerging market of cultivated meat, a distinction between High-End Access Disruptions (HEAD) and Christensen's original Low-End Access Disruptions (LEAD) is proposed. Both strategies support innovations that have the potential, at scale, to dominate incumbents, but that are not able to do so initially due to a "handicap," i.e., a product shortcoming that mainstream consumers aren't willing to accept. The exposition analyzes similarities and differences in the disruptive processes implied by these two strategies, and provides practical guidelines to help entrepreneurs, innovators and investors choose the approach that best fits their situation.

Set in April 2020, the case talks about TAIGER, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company providing natural language processing (NLP) solutions in a rapidly growing market where demand and competition for such solutions are high. TAIGER solutions could process and digitise large amounts of physical data, perform search and extract functions on data, and make appropriate recommendations. The algorithms and tools were bundled under three packages, and were customised for every client. Client companies were mainly large organisations and government entities. Despite a growing customer base, Arroyo and his team found it increasingly difficult to service new clients, who demanded more customisation and services. TAIGER's solution packages were bundled together with customisation and post-implementation support services based on contract licenses. The downside of this model was that it used many resources and limited the delivery of the products to a per project basis. The monetisation of the model was also complicated and project costs were difficult to control. Administering customised solutions was time consuming and expensive for both TAIGER and its clients; it also lacked flexibility and quick scalability for large-scale implementation. Arroyo realised that he needed more than just efficient solutions, given the expanding opportunities for NLP in the market and the constraints of TAIGER's existing solution packaging. He wondered if designing a new business model was the right way forward. Would he also need to devise a new pricing strategy and rebundle solution offerings? How could he unbundle the business value of TAIGER's NLP solutions?

As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and schools in 2020, global health authorities and governments kick-started the quest for a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. This case study details Operation Warp Speed, the $18 billion public-private partnership initiated by the U.S. government to accelerate the research, development, manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine therapies. The case explores the history of public-private partnerships in the United States, and the ambitious U.S. government effort to deliver 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021.

The SuperApps series of cases presents student-entrepreneurs with some of the difficult non-operating problems they are sure to confront in their startups. This fictional case features Clara Ladoucette, a recently graduated startup CEO who is struggling to raise her next round of capital. The case is built around a relatively simple storyline and case facts but includes quandaries around ownership, control, and the fraught transition from bootstrap to business. It makes students think about just how hard this process is, and anticipate questions they must answer to attract big money into their small startup. It is a "Mini Case" in three parts, with all of the essential facts and financial information to judge the characters and company but without gratuitous detail. Though short, it captures many of the most difficult questions confronting early-stage entrepreneurs. SuperApps was written for graduate and undergraduate business school students who are exploring their own entrepreneural ideas or simulating the startup experience. It is an appropriate addition to courses in entrepreneurship, business law, startup legal documents, and early-stage corporate finance. With student assignments beforehand, the three segments of the case can be taught in two ninety-minute classes.

The SuperApps series of cases presents student-entrepreneurs with some of the difficult non-operating problems they are sure to confront in their startups. This fictional case features Clara Ladoucette, a recently graduated startup CEO who is struggling to raise her next round of capital. The case is built around a relatively simple storyline and case facts but includes quandaries around ownership, control, and the fraught transition from bootstrap to business. It makes students think about just how hard this process is, and anticipate questions they must answer to attract big money into their small startup. It is a "Mini Case" in three parts, with all of the essential facts and financial information to judge the characters and company but without gratuitous detail. Though short, it captures many of the most difficult questions confronting early-stage entrepreneurs. SuperApps was written for graduate and undergraduate business school students who are exploring their own entrepreneural ideas or simulating the startup experience. It is an appropriate addition to courses in entrepreneurship, business law, startup legal documents, and early-stage corporate finance. With student assignments beforehand, the three segments of the case can be taught in two ninety-minute classes.

The SuperApps series of cases presents student-entrepreneurs with some of the difficult non-operating problems they are sure to confront in their startups. This fictional case features Clara Ladoucette, a recently graduated startup CEO who is struggling to raise her next round of capital. The case is built around a relatively simple storyline and case facts but includes quandaries around ownership, control, and the fraught transition from bootstrap to business. It makes students think about just how hard this process is, and anticipate questions they must answer to attract big money into their small startup. It is a "Mini Case" in three parts, with all of the essential facts and financial information to judge the characters and company but without gratuitous detail. Though short, it captures many of the most difficult questions confronting early-stage entrepreneurs. SuperApps was written for graduate and undergraduate business school students who are exploring their own entrepreneural ideas or simulating the startup experience. It is an appropriate addition to courses in entrepreneurship, business law, startup legal documents, and early-stage corporate finance. With student assignments beforehand, the three segments of the case can be taught in two ninety-minute classes.

In late June 2019, the president of Wellington Brewery, a medium-size craft brewery located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, wanted to determine the best growth strategy for his company. He also hoped to recover recent expenses incurred for a major expansion of the company's operations. Although the business's growth across the province was the main objective, he also needed to consider various potential options and other factors. Wellington Brewery faced the challenges of an unpredictable and oversaturated market. Ontario's craft brewery industry was characterized by unexpected growth, shifting consumer preferences, and intense competition for shelf space at limited retail outlets. The president urgently needed a plan for continuing Wellington Brewery's expansion, and to ensure it remained relevant and financially strong during challenging times.

This short technical note offers a multi-step process for how to analyze a strategy case. The technical note makes reference to frameworks and tools found in the following strategy textbook: Mary M. Crossan, Cara C. Maurer, W. Glenn Rowe, and Michael J. Rouse, Strategic Analysis and Action, 10th ed. (Toronto, ON: Pearson Publishing, 2021) [forthcoming]. This note explains that cases have no single correct answer and that if the analysis has no tensions, chances are that something is missing! Linkages between different elements may need to be reassessed; also, teams are a great asset for generating different perspectives and opinions. Finally, analysts must ask themselves if they are able to actually deliver the value they are promising to their customers and if their strategic goals are realistic given external conditions.

This short technical note offers a multi-step process for how to analyze a strategy case. The technical note makes reference to frameworks and tools found in the following strategy textbook: Mary M. Crossan, Cara C. Maurer, W. Glenn Rowe, and Michael J. Rouse, Strategic Analysis and Action, 10th ed. (Toronto, ON: Pearson Publishing, 2021) [forthcoming]. This note explains that cases have no single correct answer and that if the analysis has no tensions, chances are that something is missing! Linkages between different elements may need to be reassessed; also, teams are a great asset for generating different perspectives and opinions. Finally, analysts must ask themselves if they are able to actually deliver the value they are promising to their customers and if their strategic goals are realistic given external conditions.

In May 2020, amid the lockdown in India brought about by COVID-19, P. C. Musthafa, chief executive officer of iD Fresh Food (iD), a food company located in Bengaluru, India, was preparing for a virtual meeting with his co-founders. The company offered customers the value proposition of “freshness” and operated in the ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat segments. iD’s flagship product was batter for preparing idlis and dosas, which were popular Indian breakfast dishes. The co-founders had to decide how to address the challenges arising on both the demand and the supply side of the business brought about by the pandemic, including production and logistics challenges on the supply side, a dip in demand, and the growth of competitors in the segments. How should iD plan its production amid the disruption to the supply chains and logistics sector brought on by the pandemic and ensure that its products maintain the promised value proposition of freshness? How could it ensure that customers continued to trust iD? Could iD script a fresh story and reach its vision of becoming a ₹10-billion company by 2023, despite an economy ravaged by the pandemic?

On November 1, 2018, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) informed the league that it had decided to opt out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that had been signed in 2014 and was scheduled to run through 2021. The opt-out, which was not unexpected, triggered a period of negotiation that was described by WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike as "incredibly complex." This case takes students inside this complicated negotiation process and reveals the dynamics of its successful outcome.

The Michelin case study is about business and cultural change through the implementation of a digital transformation. It describes how Michelin, a 130-years old leading global player in the tire industry, was facing intense competition from Asian low-cost players, who were commoditizing the core product. In addition, large digital platforms, such as Amazon or Alibaba, were disintermediating distribution and vehicle ownership patterns were also changing with the emergence of new rental and car-sharing models. These changes brought the message home to the management that Michelin needed to refocus on putting its customers at the heart of everything the company does, simplify operations, empower its people to make the change happen and innovate its business model to find new sources of value. Michelin embarked on a digital transformation that was the catalyst for all the transformation of the global business. The case details the steps taken by senior management to initiate and deploy its digital transformation and, in parallel, evolve what was a very strongly entrenched company culture. The success of Michelin's digital and culture change was in large part due to a strong commitment to digital transformation from senior management and a careful execution orchestration taking into account the highly decentralized and global nature of the organization.

As a new CEO, Thomas Schinicker, who took over Roche Diagnostics Centralized Point of Care Solutions (CPS) in early 2018, he faced a dilemma. HIs executive team had already engaged in a lengthy one-year strategy development process in 2017 mapping out the scenarios for the future and defining where Roche Diagnostics should play and how it should win. All they needed was his sign-off to go ahead and announce the new strategy. What should he do?

The CEO decided to hold off on announcing anything before including everyone, all 1600 employees in Roche Diagnostics, in engaging in the strategy development process, in getting their views on where the company should play and how it should win in the future. Frank Desiere, VP Strategy and Business Development, Roche Diagnostics CPS now faced a dilemma. After all of the discussions and decisions made in 2017 based on the approach he facilitated, how was he going to engage 1600 people in developing the strategy, when the strategy had already been developed?