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Matt Gruber is an effective and highly motivated executive, yet his inability to deal with superiors is shown by numerous instances of abrasive behaviour. Matt's rise and fall at Kapco is described in this case, which is one of a four-part series (see 9A93D016, 9A93D017, 9A93D018). The series' teaching objectives are to learn to manage and to maintain successful relationships with supervisors and to effectively manage an employee who has difficulty relating upward.

George Stanton helped build Sannas Pharmaceuticals in his six years there, and when he is promoted to vice president and director of risk management, he thinks he is set for life. But then a new president is appointed, and George can't tolerate his shady practices. Atwater-Jordan looks like a better company, and George is impressed with Joan, his potential new boss. So he takes the job, even though it means moving his family and asking his wife to change her job too. But within a few months, Joan's flaws start showing up: she does all the talking at meetings; she doesn't give George information he needs; and she wants to control everything he does. Other people at Atwater call her "Phony Joanie," but when George discusses the problem with the company president, Harold doesn't help. "I'm sure you can handle her and keep her off other people's backs," he tells George. Facing a new year's resolution to try to solve the Joan problem, George doesn't know where to start. He wonders if there's something wrong with him or if he's just having bad luck. HRM and relocation experts give their views.

Describes the rivalry between two competitors who have attempted to become the dominant force in the emerging British satellite television industry. Can be used to examine issues of competitive positioning, technology adoption, and scenario analysis. Helps students make decisions given competitive challenges and industry uncertainties.

A recently appointed store manager at a wholesale food company must make some decisions regarding management and leadership. The store is losing $10,000 per week, sales are spiraling downward, the key people in the company do not want him there and the employee morale is terrible. The supplemental (B) case outlines the change the store manager made.

Filene's Basement is in the process of deciding where, and if, to locate two new stores in its new Chicago area of operations. The existing Chicago area stores have been performing well, however, management is concerned with over saturation of the market. At the time of the case, Filene's Basement has 49 stores in operation.

Members of TD's Personal Financial Services Division's marketing research team, were preparing their presentation to a group of the bank's senior vice-presidents. They had worked for three years developing and testing the Customer Service Index, the bank's first tangible tool to measure service quality. They now had to get the senior vice-presidents to ensure the successful adoption and use of this instrument. How could they convince their audience to accept and promote this new method of service measurement? The case is followed by a supplement case bearing the same name, case 9A93D010, set one year later.

Members of TD's Personal Financial Services Division's marketing research team, were preparing their presentation to a group of the bank's senior vice-presidents. They had worked for three years developing and testing the Customer Service Index, the bank's first tangible tool to measure service quality. They now had to get the senior vice-presidents to ensure the successful adoption and use of this instrument. How could they convince their audience to accept and promote this new method of service measurement? The case is followed by a supplement case bearing the same name, case 9A93D010, set one year later.

Members of TD's Personal Financial Services Division's marketing research team, were reviewing the success of the Customer Service Index (CSI) which they had been instrumental in introducing to the bank a year earlier. They were now considering introducing other service-related products including a Good Service Guarantee and a productivity program. They were wondering how to keep the enthusiasm for the CSI alive. The case is preceded by a case bearing the same name, case 9A93D009, set one year earlier.

Prochnik was a large state-owned clothing manufacturer located in the textile-production-intensive region of Lodz, Poland. In the early months of economic reform, Prochnik was one of the first five state enterprises to be privatized through initial public offerings and traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The case describes the array of changes necessary to transform Prochnik into an internationally competitive private enterprise.

Cross River makes and sells an innovative, folding baby stroller to the U.S. market. The company has broken even in its first year, selling mainly to small retailers. CEO Deaver Brown urgently wants to expand distribution to national chains and has secured appointments with the buyers of Macy's and K-Mart. What pitch should he make?

In this two-part case series, Jackie Woods and her family are planning a trip to Europe when she is appointed to a key task force at Ameritech. Her colleagues are canceling their vacations to participate in the task force, but Jackie's family has been looking forward to this time together. At the same time, she and her husband have been wondering what future they have at Ameritech. See also the B case (UVA-BP-0331). A teaching note is available for registered faculty, along with video supplements to enhance student learning.

Applichem manufactures the same chemical product in four plants, each of which is located in a different country. The company has completed a major study comparing the productivity and performance of these plants. Using the data from the study, students must decide which, if any, plants to close. The case requires students to think about the relevant metrics for comparing the performance of plants that operate very differently and in different countries. An important issue is the distinction between physical measures of productivity and financial measures of performance. Finally, the case allows students to think about what management might do to ensure that productivity improvements are shared across the plant network.

A small California-based money manager is now offering specialty products for institutional investors based upon recent financial research findings.

In late June 1987, Ron MacKenzie, executive vice-president of Quadra Logic Technologies Inc. (QLT) located in Vancouver, was thinking over the firm's latest opportunity to commercialize a product. The small company's research group had come up with a drug which, when combined with laser technology, could be used in the treatment of cancer. Killing malignant tumours with beams of light ... it's right out of science fiction, he muttered to himself. We've got to market this product. But how? Can we do it ourselves or should we sell it to someone else? Maybe we should wait until we're in a better position to support it. A follow-up case, Quadra Logic Technologies Inc. (B) is also available.

In this hypothetical case, 21-Speed Gizmos, Inc., a manufacturer of electronic bicycle components for the serious cyclist, must decide what price to charge for a new product. Describes the product and includes cost and demand information available for making the pricing decision.

Discusses Roger Smith's tenure as CEO of General Motors. Describes his vision for changing General Motors, and how he went about implementing that vision.

In April 1992, American Airlines launched "Value Pricing" -- a radical simplification of the complex pricing structure that had evolved over more than a decade following deregulation of the U.S. domestic airline industry. American expected that the new pricing structure would benefit consumers and restore profitability to both American and the industry as a whole. The critical issue raised is: Would American's bold initiative work?

Flanders is a catalog merchandiser. Various decisions on catalog distribution policy, ordering and inventory policy, and catalog format design are considered. This was a final examination, and serves as a review for a number of topics in the course.

Southwest Airlines, the only major U.S. airline to be profitable in 1992, makes a decision as to which of two new cities to open, or to add a new long-haul route. Provides windows into Southwest's strategy, operations, marketing, and culture.

The founders of Bright Horizons have developed a distinctive strategy and raised venture capital money. Now they are ready to make their dream come true. How should they proceed in implementing their strategy?