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In the summer of 2016, PepsiCo Beverages Canada faced a choice: whether to launch its new product, organic Gatorade, in Canada. Only a few months previously, PepsiCo North America Beverages’ chief executive officer had announced a company-wide initiative that was designed to offer consumers a greater variety of healthier products. Would such a product ultimately make PepsiCo more competitive in the Canadian market in light of recent trends that emphasized healthy options? Did Canadian consumers want organic Gatorade? PepsiCo also had to keep in mind its long-standing competition with The Coca-Cola Company, and decide how that would affect its strategic choices.

Reckitt Benckiser was the world’s largest manufacturer of household products and a major marketer of health-care and personal-care products. The company was at a threshold of opportunities provided by a growing market of Indian consumers who were becoming health conscious and buying antibacterial products to make their homes germ-free. At a time when more and more Indians were looking for antibacterial products to protect their health, the company wondered if it should launch an antibacterial laundry detergent powder as part of its brand expansion strategy. Would the company benefit from a first-mover advantage by launching the first antibacterial laundry detergent in India? If the company were to consider entering this market, what strategic and branding objectives should it adopt? Should this new detergent be an extension of the company’s famous Dettol brand or a new brand name?

In late 2015, developments in the Canadian television industry led the incumbent players to reconsider their traditional distribution strategies. The conflux of changes to technology, regulatory reforms, and consumption patterns was complicated by the entry of new players, forcing established firms to consider revising their business models. The regulated oligopolistic industry structure that once protected the players and ensured superior performance was under attack from many directions. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which regulated the incumbent players, was pushing for reforms, yet the ramifications of such changes remained unclear. The incumbents responded to the advent of subscription video on demand services that were enabled by widespread high-speed Internet access, the entry of new non-traditional competitors, and changing regulations. How would the industry evolve? What was the role of the regulator? How would customers respond to the new delivery options? How would the incumbent firms, the regulator, technology providers, and content developers and providers reconcile their ambiguous relationships?

Alaska’s economy had struggled for many years; however, in spring 2014, the Pebble Mine presented an opportunity to revitalize it. There was just one catch; the Pebble deposit was located in the headwaters of one of the richest salmon hatcheries in the world. Corporations, government agencies, and public interest groups clashed during the first few months of 2014 concerning not only whether the Pebble Mine should be developed but also who had the authority to make that decision.<br><br>See supplements: 9B16M049B, 9B16M049C, 9B16M049D, 9B16M049E, 9B16M049F, 9B16M049G

In 2014, FotoNation, an international venture previously located in Ireland, produced innovative solutions for digital photography from its headquarters in California. At the core of FotoNation’s technology were its proprietary algorithms, which were embedded in software and used in over 2 billion digital devices such as the cameras in smartphones. The company placed an emphasis on research, and it had its research and development units in Romania, Ireland, and the Western United States. However, after being acquired by Tessera Technologies in 2008, FotoNation had to relocate its top management team from Ireland to the headquarters of Tessera Technologies in the United States. FotoNation’s management had some difficult decisions to make in light of the acquisition. How would a research-based product fit into the grand scheme of Tessera Technologies? How would FotoNation compete with larger industrial players, while coping with the relocation of its top-tier staff?

YG Entertainment (YG) is the second largest entertainment company in the South Korean pop music (K-pop) industry, and has experienced rapid growth while maintaining a profit margin of over two times the average profitability of top U.S. record labels. The case examines how YG and other K-pop entertainment companies have developed a unique system to produce a competitive advantage in an industry that typically experiences high failure rates and substantial uncertainty regarding the success of artists. The, founder and chairman of YG, must decide the company's next steps for growth, and whether Japan, China, or the United States will be the most promising for YG's future success. The song Gangnam Style was created by YG artist PSY. Also see case supplement 9B16M010.

Coal India Limited, the world’s largest coal mining company and India’s largest corporate employer, regularly produced less coal than was both achievable (i.e., it had excess capacity) and needed. As a result, it failed to meet the demand for coal from power utilities and other industries in the country. The Government of India, which had a persistent and large fiscal deficit, held the majority interest in the company. In January 2015, the government wanted to reduce its deficit and improve both the productivity of Coal India Limited and India’s coal supply. Should the government opt to disinvest from Coal India Limited or privatize the company?

On June 13, 2013, an online news portal reported on a press conference at which India’s finance minister urged Indians to refrain from buying gold. India was facing a huge economic challenge. Its account deficit had hit a record high of 6.7 per cent of its gross domestic product. This increase was attributed to rising gold imports and was a major cause of concern for the Indian finance minister and the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, India’s central bank. This crisis raised some questions that had come up before: Why was gold such an obsession in India? Why was it seen as a good investment? How could the country’s financial leaders address this situation?

In 2012, the executive producer of the hit radio show Q and the director of Network Radio at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) faced employees’ complaints against the show’s star host, Jian Ghomeshi. The employees alleged that Ghomeshi’s treatment of employees was problematic and contrary to the corporation’s values and policies. A few years earlier, a female employee had also alleged mistreatment by Ghomeshi but no disciplinary action had been taken. The two managers faced a difficult decision. Ghomeshi had strong support among CBC executives, including from their boss, and his popular radio program had achieved high ratings among the younger audience that the organization needed to appeal to.

After suffering severe complications from a relatively minor surgery at a California children’s hospital in early December 2013, a young teenage girl was declared brain dead. However, to her family, the girl seemed responsive and they refused to accept the hospital’s statement that their daughter was deceased. The hospital arranged visits with social workers and other staff in an attempt to help the family understand that their daughter was dead and, after three days, informed the family of its plan to move the teen’s body to the morgue. The case quickly became a nationwide media event. The family acquired a noted lawyer to ensure the teen received the care the family thought was needed, while the hospital hired a public relations firm to become the hospital’s voice in the issue, a move that might have exacerbated the problem. With such a complex and tragic crisis that rapidly unfolded, should the hospital have a policy in the event that family members disagree with an official medical diagnosis? How could the hospital have managed the aftermath of the teen’s death and prevented a media embarrassment?

In 2015, Puma became the market leader in sportswear sales in India, leaving Adidas, Reebok, and Nike behind for the first time since Puma entered the market. Puma’s success in India was primarily attributed to its marketing techniques, judicious expansion, and customer acquisition strategy. Indian consumers had been embracing lifestyle changes associated with increased health concerns and the popularity of fitness programs. As a result, the sportswear segment grew, presenting an opportunity for companies to maximize their return on investments. While Puma moved ahead of Adidas to become the leading sportswear brand in India, the market evolved and became competitive. Puma needed to continue innovating its marketing strategies to hold onto its leadership position. Meanwhile, domestic footwear brands were expanding their retail footprints and distribution networks beyond their regional presence in order to gain a substantial market share. Could Puma strengthen its branding and hold its market position despite continuing competition from established brands and new competition from domestic companies?

In a 2014 documentary, the multinational technology company Apple Inc. was implicated in alleged human rights violations at Pegatron, a large Chinese supplier that assembled Apple's iPhones. The allegations followed similar, well-publicized violations in 2009 at another China-based Apple supplier. Although Apple had promised to improve its practices, doing so had clearly proven to be a difficult task. How should Apple respond to these new allegations? Should it evade the accusations and instead point to its existing efforts? Could it do more to protect workers? Should it rethink its offshoring and outsourcing strategy? Is it fair to blame Apple for the activities of its suppliers? Where does the blame fall?

WaterCo's new customer information and billing system (CIBS), its largest information technology (IT) project ever, was over-budget and very late, with no end in sight. In the (A) case, the board of directors must decide what action to take with regards to management's actions, and regarding the project contractor. The (B) case, 9B16E004, outlines what happened afterwards. The cases span a 10-year period from inception to litigation. The case is useful as a tool to explore governance issues at the board and senior management levels as they pertain to enterprise risk management and IT risk.

On May 21, 2015, food inspectors in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh tested Maggi instant noodles that had been manufactured by Nestlé India Limited. Their results led them to declare that the samples contained higher-than-permissible levels of monosodium glutamate and lead — substances that could, at those levels, potentially cause harm to consumers. The well-known brand accounted for 26 per cent of Nestlé India Limited’s annual revenue, and the subsequent recall was a source of controversy. The recall was one of the biggest business stories of the year in India and was estimated to have cost Nestlé India Limited US$50 million. The company’s response to the problem ranged from inaction and denial to attempts at rectification and redemption. The overall actions of the company were characterized by confusion regarding product safety and contradictory statements about the accusations that had been made against it. Given the material losses and the damage to both the Maggi and Nestlé India brands, the company wanted to know how the situation could be corrected — and avoided — in the future. Was the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India correct to recall Maggi noodles? Once the crisis was in motion, how could Nestlé India Limited have handled the situation to appease customers, regulators, and stakeholders?

From 1980 to 2010, frequent flyer programs (FFPs) had evolved from simple customer reward programs to independent profit-generation business models. The airline industry had seen enormous success with FFPs, which had become businesses of their own. In June 2014, however, United Airlines announced that as of March 1, 2015, it would move from awarding miles based on distance flown to awarding miles for dollars spent per ticket, following in the footsteps of Delta Air Lines. According to the new mileage accrual plan, most United Airlines passengers would earn fewer reward miles. Many customers saw this change as a significant devaluation of award miles and complained about United Airlines’ new policy. Who benefited from the revenue-based FFPs and how would the new program affect the behaviour of United Airlines’ customers? Should American Airlines also adopt the revenue-based FFP?

Amul Dairy, the market leader in the Indian milk industry, held its market position by pioneering several progressive initiatives and responding to consumer trends with continuous product development. Camel milk, a relatively new health-oriented dairy product, was being hailed as “white gold” and touted as a superfood in Australia and in some Western countries. Amul Dairy had an opportunity in 2015 to take advantage of changing consumer preferences and move ahead in the growing dairy market by launching the sale of camel milk in India. Should Amul Dairy enter the promising camel milk market? Given that Indian consumers were unaware of camel milk as a market product, how should Amul Dairy promote this unique product? How should the company leverage its substantial brand presence to overcome the challenges faced in the launch and distribution of camel milk?

Paytm enjoyed a position as the leader in India’s market for mobile wallets, a digital service that enabled payments to be made through mobile devices. Paytm’s major client, Uber, which developed and operated a smartphone-based, ride-hailing app as a way to compete with traditional taxi companies, had initially used Paytm’s mobile wallet as the sole payment mode for Uber rides in India. However, in 2015 Uber revised its payment policy by adding a variety of payment options, such as debit cards, credit cards, and the addition of several other mobile wallet providers. Did Uber’s strategies and plans represent a major concern for Paytm? Amid such changes in the highly competitive digital payment industry, what strategies should Paytm adopt to expand its own offerings and maintain its position as the market leader? What other options could the company pursue to ensure its sustainability and continuous growth?

Chinese automobile manufacturer Geely Automotive (Geely) bought the manufacturer of the iconic London taxi cab from its bankrupt British parent company. The manufacturer’s sole product, the TX4, was a highly specialized taxi vehicle ideally suited for taxi work. It included many features for disabled passengers such as a power-operated wheelchair ramp and a wide rear passenger door. However, the vehicle cost more than twice as much as its competitors and demand was not enough for successful mass production. On the one hand, increasing awareness of disability rights in most developed nations suggested that Geely would have an opportunity to take the TX4 worldwide with an aggressive promotional campaign, and would benefit from cheap production costs in China. On the other hand, transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft seemed to be pushing the entire taxi industry towards extinction.

In 2015, almost 60 years after being introduced to the market, the Barbie doll was one of the world’s most iconic toys. However, both the industry landscape and consumer preferences were changing, and Barbie was yet again in the spotlight as consumers criticized the toy for providing a narrow and unrealistic vision of how women should look, how they should dress, and the careers they should pursue. Sales and public perception of the doll were both on the downswing. Was there a place for the Barbie doll in 2015, or was this the end of the line for the iconic doll? What could Mattel, the company behind Barbie, do to turn things around?

Uber was a technology company that relied on its mobile app and word-of-mouth advertising to reach customers interested in its transportation services. It prided itself on being an on-time, stylish, unique, and modern transportation option. However, in 2014, Uber faced many challenges and questions as an industry incumbent. Could its business model succeed despite being heavily reliant on buyers’ willingness to pay a substantial premium in some situations? Could the model be sustained and expanded into cities worldwide? How could the regulations protecting the taxi industry be overcome in so many diverse markets? Finally, how could Uber position its business model in a way that would create entry barriers to keep rivals out of the market?