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Luke Thomas, owner and operator of Healthy Eats (HE), was considering the future direction of the business following an inflow of cash from a silent investor. HE was a meal prep delivery service located in London, Ontario that focused on fueling healthy lifestyles with locally sourced ingredients. Having proven the business model in London, Thomas was considering two distinct growth alternatives: opening a second kitchen in Hamilton, Ontario, or doubling down on securing new corporate clients. Regardless of his decision, Thomas also wanted to revisit HE's fiscal 2023 marketing strategy to ensure sales projections were met despite a limited budget.

Natalie Jung, amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, transformed her newfound passion for handcrafted jewelry into Radiant Sun Shop (RSS), a thriving Etsy business with 3,100 transactions as of February 2023. Initially launched during her virtual undergraduate studies, RSS flourished with her dedicated time. As Jung approached the end of her master's degree and subsequent graduation in April 2023, uncertainty loomed regarding the future trajectory of her business. Contemplating the role of RSS in her post-graduation life, Jung grappled with pivotal entrepreneurial questions, unsure of where to commence her introspection. Balancing academic milestones and entrepreneurial aspirations, Jung embarked on a critical self-examination to navigate the evolving dynamics of Radiant Sun Shop in her life ahead.

Julia Sohajda was the young, female founding partner of the Hungarian VC firm Vespucci Partners, which focused on investing at seed stage into Hungarian deep tech startups and prepare them for a launch in the U.S market. Vespucci's first fund had largely been comprised of money from the Hungarian Development Bank, which had limited the fund's investment possibilities. Sohajda was now in the process of raising capital for her firm's second fund, targeting exclusively institutional investors and high net-worth individuals. In a country without much generational wealth and a difficult macroeconomic environment, would she be able to reach her goal of collecting €60 million?

BC Cancer was a provincial government-funded treatment and research organization that provided cancer care in British Columbia (BC), Canada. During 2021-2022, BC Cancer developed a connected chatbot to improve patient access to information and reduce demands on the telephone nursing lines. A project manager oversaw the chatbot's development and ran a proof of concept in Victoria, BC, from March to June 2022. While this allowed her working group to obtain feedback from nurses, other user data regarding the value of the connected chatbot was limited and inconclusive. Following the completion of the proof of concept, the project manager had to decide whether BC Cancer should continue to roll out the connected chatbot, and if so, how.

The case presents information about Morocco as a rapidly developing emerging economy which is achieving notable success in a range of global business sectors. First, a profile of Morocco highlights country characteristics and a wide range of opportunities for building the country's image. Then, nation branding and perception management concepts are discussed, along with country stereotyping and country brand personality, with particular references to Morocco. Next, the political history notion of a cultural turn is introduced to explain how Morocco chose to adopt a new image and role on the world stage, expressed through its New Development Model of 2021. Then, leading growth industries and business sectors are detailed, followed by a final discussion of potential nation branding and image-building opportunities.The central case question is: What do the government of Morocco and its agencies want the world to know about the country and how can this be conveyed as part of the country's image?The Moroccan government's challenge is multidimensional: to determine priorities for nation branding, select specific target audiences, design persuasive messages, manage communications media efficiently and effectively, and then measure results relative to objectives. Questions arise about what messages should be communicated about Morocco to propel its economic development, attract visitors and foreign investment, reinforce its reputation for cutting-edge industrial capabilities, enhance its reputation for high fashion and Hollywood-quality film production and, not least, fully utilize its human potential across a wide range of activities.

In mid-2023 Akash Gupta, CEO of GreyOrange Ltd (GO), an Atlanta-based robotics firm, had to decide whether GO still needed its exclusive technology partnership with LOGI, a leading US-based contract logistics firm. Since 2018 the partnership had been instrumental in establishing GO as a major provider of robotic solutions in the warehouse automation space. With new management at LOGI, a renegotiation had become inevitable. Numerous options were possible. These ranged from complete discontinuation of exclusivity, to continuation of exclusivity with revised pricing terms, to continuation with an expanded scope of products provided by GO.

The president of the West Coast Cycling Association (WCCA) believed that a lot was riding on finding the best way to secure the future of the Newfoundland and Labrador non-profit organization. He had to consider how to effectively fulfill what he saw as the WCCA's mission, better promote mountain biking throughout the region, and build a sustainable financial future for the association. While there were several viable options that could meet those challenges, the president knew that he needed to carefully consider the pros and cons of each alternative. This was especially important given the absence of any permanent paid staff in the WCCA, the voluntary nature of his own position as its president, and the other entities interested in the WCCA's work.

In May 2022, India's retail inflation rate rose above the upper limit of the target range set by the Reserve Bank of India in 2015, to reach 7.79 per cent. In recent years, India's retail inflation rate had been successfully kept within the target range of 2-6 per cent as the economy grew steadily. Everything changed in March 2020, however, when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy of all countries around the world. In February 2022, two years after the outbreak of the pandemic, Russia invaded Ukraine, which further disrupted the global supply chains. As a result, all major economies had to closely manage their monetary policies with contractionary measures and use policy rates to contain inflation. Eventually, by March 2023, the inflation rate in India dropped to 5.66 per cent, within the target range. The Reserve Bank of India's governor had paused the rate hike in April after noticing that high interest rates were adversely affecting investments and growth prospects in the Indian economy. He knew that he had to continue using contractionary monetary policies but could not lower the policy repo rate, when inflation across major economies such as the United States and the United Kingdom were showing no signs of calming. He could choose to increase or keep the repo rate unchanged. Alternatively, he could choose a contractionary measure such as quantitative tightening.

In December 2021, Murat Ozyegin, Chairman of Fiba Holding, along with Omer Mert and Ä°hsan Elgin, engaged in discussions about the future of United Payment, a fintech company in which Finberg, a subsidiary of Fibabanka, held a 20% stake. Finberg, established in 2018 as Turkey's first fintech-focused corporate venture capital firm, had invested significantly in United Payment, contributing to its substantial growth in transaction volume from $352 million in 2019 to almost $865 million in 2020. With an offer from OYAK, Turkey's largest pension fund, to invest in United Payment, the leadership team deliberated on whether to accept the proposal or wait for further growth opportunities, considering the company's plans for international expansion and the competitive landscape in the fintech sector. The decision involved weighing the potential benefits of OYAK's investment against the risks of stiff competition and its implications on United Payment's competitive advantage and profitability.

Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup, the largest private conglomerate in Vietnam, and Global CEO of VinFast, Vingroup's automotive subsidiary established in 2017, was contemplating VinFast's future strategy. Domestically, the EV market in Vietnam was in its infancy with many hurdles including a shortage of charging stations, potential electric overload, a lack of consumer incentives, poor road conditions, and traffic congestion. Internationally, VinFast faced fierce competition from more established EV makers. Should VinFast put more emphasis on the domestic market or the international ones? How could VinFast adjust its strategy and resource allocation for better growth?

Taffi was a tech-enabled fashion styling startup founded by Shahad Geoffrey in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Within three years of operating, Geoffrey had pivoted the business multiple times. In 2023, Geoffrey was attempting the business's most ambitious pivot yet, shifting away from a consumer facing online fashion stylist marketplace to a B2B model offering an AI-powered fashion styling advisor. The timing seemed right as the AI market in the region was booming, backed by the Saudi government. There was also virtually no competition. Moreover, large businesses had expressed an interest in signing up. The trouble was the AI was not ready yet, it could not generate styling advice on its own and still partially relied on input from the freelance stylists that Taffi attracted through the marketplace. Was this the right time for Taffi to pivot? The case chronicles the founding of Taffi, the pivots it made and why, and describes the challenges Geoffrey faced during her journey of entrepreneurship and how she addressed them. The case serves to provide a founder's account of setting up and operating a startup in Saudi Arabia. The case also explores how Saudi Arabia stimulated the development of a startup ecosystem through a multi-pronged approach, and provides a background venture funding in the region.

This field-based case puts students in the role of Nikki Brown, a Black female police officer at the St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD). After repeatedly witnessing and experiencing acts of discrimination, favoritism, harassment, and racism within the SLCPD, Brown must decide whether to file a formal complaint or remain silent. Reporting illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior within a long-entrenched US police culture could cost Brown her job. Conversely, opting for silence could mean Brown is implicitly perpetuating unethical practices that often harm other officers and citizens like herself. With the pressure mounting, which should Brown choose her career or her conscience? This case has been taught at the Darden School of Business in the first- and second-year MBA elective Talent Management. It is ideal for graduate and executive MBA courses, especially those centered around organizational behavior; talent management or human resources; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Midvale Healthcare System case explores the impact of complexity, uncertainty, volatility and ambiguity (CUVA) on leadership decision making and prioritization. Midvale, a traditionally stable healthcare provider, is experiencing an escalating cascade of internal and external challenges. These include shifting patient demographics, reimbursement uncertainties, workforce shortages and evolving competitive pressures. Amid this whirlwind, CEO Sarah Martinez must grapple with the uncertain future of healthcare policy and rapid technological advancements while striving to maintain Midvale's core focus on quality patient care. The case highlights the complexity of interconnected problems facing many business leaders today and the importance of recognizing, prioritizing and mobilizing to deal with emerging challenges and opportunities. It is a vehicle for exploring the key elements of strategic thinking, including pattern recognition, systems analysis, mental agility, structured problem solving, visioning and political savvy as presented in the book The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking.

In 2022, Michael Steiner, Porsche's Executive Board Member for Research and Development, confronted a pivotal decision as the company aimed to shift over 80 per cent of new vehicle sales to full-electric models by 2030. In response to the global drive for sustainability, Porsche contemplated an innovative strategy: the eFuels concept, involving the production of synthetic fuels with near-carbon-neutral potential. This presented a solution to challenges such as market competition, technological changes, and varied global governmental impacts. However, Porsche grappled with the dilemma of embracing eFuels or focusing solely on electric vehicles, recognizing the decision's profound impact on its industry position. The company was faced with the choice of becoming a fuel provider, controlling the entire value chain, or collaborating with existing producers to leverage expertise and mitigate risks. The decision required careful consideration of long-term implications, with high stakes shaping Porsche's trajectory for years to come. Balancing electric engine development and the pursuit of eFuels, the company sought to strike a delicate equilibrium in navigating the complex landscape of sustainable mobility and emerging technologies.

Financial service sector Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC) is the venture capital arm of the Korean government with a founding mission to build a domestic startup ecosystem that would be as competitive as Silicon Valley. KVIC manages a basket of funds-of-funds and has become an irreplaceable force in the venture capital market after nearly two decades of operations. As Korea's startup ecosystem matures and private venture capital increases, KVIC's management confronts the question of how to create new values using government resources.

In 2023 and 2024, the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice sued Google, Amazon, and Apple claiming antitrust violations. These lawsuits marked a shift in U.S. antitrust enforcement away from the Chicago School and towards the New Brandeis school of antitrust enforcement. The shift aligned U.S. antitrust enforcement policies closer to those being employed in the European Union, China, and India. These lawsuits built upon FTC Chair Lina Khan's belief that big technology firms had amassed excessive market strength and that U.S. anti-monopoly agencies needed to adjust their enforcement approaches to address industry.

Oak Street Health opened its first primary care center for seniors in underserved communities in 2013. By 2022 the company had 169 centers and a market valuation exceeding $10 billion. Oak Street created value by accepting risk-adjusted, capitated payments for Medicare enrollees and reducing the expected spending for these enrollees through high-quality, high-touch primary care. In 2023 CVS Health acquired Oak Street on the thesis of substantial synergies across its various businesses. Which among these synergies was most important to prioritize, and what tradeoffs might be created by pursuing these opportunities?

Zhongshan Hospital was one of the best medical institutions in China, maintaining a leading position in domestic rankings thanks to its extensive capabilities. From 1992, the hospital leveraged information systems to efficiently manage daily operations. In recent years, amid sweeping digital transformation across Chinese hospitals, Zhongshan Hospital pioneered the development of a smart hospital. Achieving this vision required investment and a robust organizational framework. Three pillars thus underpinned this initiative: patient-friendly healthcare, functional resource management, and smart business management. In February 2022, Shanghai entrusted Zhongshan Hospital with the critical task of shaping the future of hospitals. This served as the primary focus of this case study. Building on its previous accomplishments, the hospital faced three significant challenges: 1. How would Zhongshan Hospital define its own "hospital of the future?" The definition should be applicable to all hospitals for future implementation. 2. How should it realize this goal using its experience to build a smart hospital? 3. How would the smart hospital initiative help digital transformation become part of industry culture, especially in changing how people think and behave?

Shein, a rapidly growing international e-commerce giant based in China, strategically positioned itself as a dominant player in the fast fashion industry by catering to Gen Z customers with stylish and affordable offerings. The brand benefitted from a forward-thinking digital business model that harnessed big data analysis and social media marketing, ensuring deep consumer insights and accurate market demand predictions. Moreover, its seamless integration with supplier networks bolstered its supply chain agility and enabled it to enhance customer experiences through tailored product recommendations. Despite its success, Shein faced scrutiny for labour exploitation, design infringement, and broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges inherent to the fast-fashion industry. Under pressure from investors and targeting a potential public listing, Shein embarked on an ethical transformation, aligning with international labour conventions and local regulations to improve its ESG standing. This case underscored Shein's complex challenge as it strived to harmonize sustainability with commercial profitability. It also introduced the ESG strategies Shein had adopted until then. The crucial question remained: How could Shein leverage its digital innovations to transform into a sustainable and ethical global operator? Particularly within the context of Sino-US tensions, what strategies should the company employ to secure a higher valuation and establish itself as a responsible industry player while pursuing a successful initial public offering?

Tesla, an extraordinary innovator in the automotive industry and pace-setter for manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), was founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning with the vision of creating a car manufacturer that was also a technology company. Tesla set out to integrate innovative battery technologies, computer software, and a proprietary electric motor system to produce highly attractive, zero-emission vehicles. The case introduces the history and challenges faced by the early EV industry and how Tesla reshaped it, revolutionary innovations initiated by Tesla, and its sustaining strong performance. The challenges of traditional automotive companies' transitions to EVs is discussed, especially with regard to driving range and charging, and how Tesla changed the game by introducing its Roadster in 2008. During the next 14+ years Tesla achieved the distinction of producing the first best-selling global vehicle powered by batteries. Included in the case is how Tesla questioned traditional assumptions in the automotive business model - and how it leveraged digital technology capabilities to introduce the next practices in vehicle design, manufacturing, sales and service, pricing, and customer engagement. The case explores the transformation in customer experience and vehicle management as Tesla made its automobiles "connected" with software and sensors, and introduced new capabilities in remote tracking, vehicle intelligence, remote servicing, and the potential for autonomous driving. The case concludes by highlighting some of the challenges Tesla faced with wide adoption of EV technology including the market valuation of its stock, and the emergence of several competitors such as new EV manufacturers and traditional automakers switching to EV.