個案總覽

The case describes the ability of Hocol to understand and transform multiple contextual forces, adverse and convergent, to develop internal capacities and to apply its business competencies to achieve positive results in the economic, social and environmental realms. Hocol designed a business model under the following principle: "the success of the company is founded on the success of the people and groups that surround it." While the company claimed "not to have a model," it was clear that it was one of learning, experimentation and incremental and permanent adaptation to the demands of its external context. The conception of a business model with these characteristics redirected the development of Hocol´s activities, in particular the work of the Government and Community Affairs and Industrial Protection team, and shaped the activities of the Foundation wherever it operated. Hocol maintained that to achieve better economic and social results it needed to understand and manage a variety of pressures that stemmed from the environment in which it worked. At the same time, it needed to build internal resources and abilities that would allow it to convert threats into opportunities and to respond to the expectations of shareholders, sub-contractors, surrounding communities and other stakeholders. In sum, Hocol sought to understand the evolution of needs in the society of which it was a part and to help satisfy these needs through strengthening community-based organizations and governmental institutions.

Mitalio is a software developer with a solid presence in the enterprise business software. Its installed base includes European and American global corporations and its products are also gaining traction with Asian customers. Mitalio, a specialized vendor, competes in a crowded field with many highly regarded technology brands (e.g., IBM, SAP), that cover a much broader spectrum of business applications. While IBM, SAP, BEA, Tibco and other major competitors have embraced social media tools almost from the beginning, and showed willingness to learn through trial and error, Mitalio has lacked the internal leadership and vision to build its internal capabilities in Social Media. They need now to play catch up in Social Media, and try to gain parity in a short period of time.

To decide whether to initiate a position in gold, the protagonist must assess its features as a strategic component in any portfolio as well as whether the time is right for an opportunistic tactical allocation. Factors that must be considered include how supply and demand for gold will be affected by the paths of real interest rates, inflation expectations, the euro zone debt crisis (and other financial stresses), and the international value of the U.S. dollar, among other factors.

The protagonist's task today, as oil prices approached $125/barrel, was to decide whether her pension fund should allocate some funds to oil, and if so, how much? At this point-February 2012-there were many reasons to think about adding oil to her fund. To decide whether to initiate a position in oil, the protagonist must assess its features as a strategic component in any portfolio as well as whether the time is right for an opportunistic tactical allocation. Factors that must be considered include how supply and demand for oil will be affected by global economic policy, geopolitical concerns, and rising demand from emerging markets, among other factors.

AWARD WINNING CASE: Adjudged third best case at the ISB Case Competition 2010 held in partnership with the Richard Ivey School of Business and the Association of Indian Management Schools and sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.<br><br>ABC Energy Limited (ABCEL) was created in March 2007 by ABC Infra Private Limited and XYG Private Limited. In September 2007, MNP Finance Limited joined ABCEL as an equity partner. In 2010, ABCEL operated in power generation and had plans to diversify into transmission and distribution. It aspired to be a world-class energy company with operations in India and neighbouring countries. Over the last few years, ABCEL had grown by investing in greenfield projects and by acquiring existing operations. The promoters of ABCEL had set a target of achieving a project portfolio of 30,000 MW by 2015, with the current portfolio being 8,655 MW. The chief executive officer of ABCEL wanted to discuss the following issues at the board meeting on July 31, 2010, with regard to the opportunities and challenges in the growing market: 1) the key organizational needs ABCEL might face in achieving its target by 2015 2) the present culture of ABCEL 3) the relationship between the culture and extent of formalization and hence the ramp-up of formalization ABCEL might require, and 4) the method of introducing this formalization.

Jules Munyampeta, founder and CEO of RD Tech Rwanda, was questioning his company's current strategy. The ICT market in Rwanda had transformed significantly since the company was founded in 2005. RD Tech began as a computer importer that sourced new laptop computers from Dubai. Munyampeta soon realized that the market for new computers in Rwanda was very small, and subsequently had great success with a new approach-importing and selling refurbished used computers from the United States. The lower price point for refurbished computers allowed RD Tech to expand its market and have a greater impact on Rwandan society. Originally, the company sold personal computers to individuals, but quickly shifted focus to schools and government institutions as a result of changes in government policy. This shift resulted in rapid growth, and RD Tech Rwanda expanded distribution of refurbished computers throughout Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. RD Tech survived the impact of the global financial crisis, competition from Chinese entrants into the Rwandan market, and NGOs, such as One Laptop per Child, providing free computers to schoolchildren when, suddenly, sales came to a crashing halt. The Rwandan government made rapid technological advancement a priority for public schools and local governmental agencies, but refurbished computers and monitors were no longer acceptable for these institutions. Munyampeta considered his options. Was integrating the refurbishment operations into the East African supply chain the answer? Would this strategy deliver sufficient cost savings to justify the initial capital outlay and continuing operational costs? If so, could Winter and Brice raise the capital required to make the change? Or might a return to the original unsuccessful model of selling new computers now be feasible? Munyampeta wondered if, instead of focusing on a growth strategy, he should be considering a liquidation strategy.

A worldwide travel company is intrinsically exposed to risks of natural and man-made disasters. How do you organize a business for success when it must on a nearly daily basis cope with hazards ranging from minor mishaps to large-scale catastrophes? Alan and Harriet Lewis have built a successful travel company based on their idea of "extreme competitive advantage" -- and one of their core skills has to be quick and effective response when the travelers on one of their trips are exposed to flood, famine, pestilence, disease, earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorism, and other hazards yet to be discovered. What is the best way to organize so as to be able to respond quickly, reliably, flexibly, and adaptively when troubles arise?

What are the major challenges to the continued growth of IFRS worldwide? Should countries be encouraged to pursue "full adoption" of IFRS or should each country determine its own IFRS "convergence" strategy? Given the limitations of governance and information-intermediation institutions worldwide, should IFRS limit the use of fair-value accounting? How should the IASB respond to the growing power of emerging markets such as China in international standard setting? What lessons can be learned from the growth and development of IFRS for international harmonization of corporate governance standards more broadly? This case first describes the IASB's major accomplishments over the 2001-2010 period and then outlines the major challenges to the continued growth of IFRS as it enters its second decade.

CFO of German heavy equipment manufacturer examines through company examples potential impact of proposed changes to revenue recognition rules.

Rehan Jaffer, the founder of hedge fund H Partners, is considering what to do with his investment in Six Flags. H Partners had invested a significant amount of the firm's capital in the senior bonds of U.S.-based Six Flags, following that company's bankruptcy filing.

This case captures the predictable tension between the generations of a family in business. The incumbent generation knows the secrets to the business's current success; the next generation joins the business with its own vision of what the future holds and the opportunities that changes in the marketplace, technology, supply chains, and degree of globalization represent. Both legacy and opportunity (or tradition and innovation) are fundamental elements of the successful strategy for continuity of the family-owned business. Amit is returning to his family business in India after successfully completing the requirements of a master's in business administration in the United States. How can he most productively rejoin the family business and make the knowledge he has acquired abroad available and useful to its owner-managers and the enterprise they lead?

Faced with major losses from operations, Sharp Corporation's young and unconventional president questioned the company's long-standing operating model. Sharp was a leader in the area of liquid crystal display (LCD) technology and manufacturing. It also held strong positions in several categories of consumer electronics in the Japanese market. Although Sharp had been increasing its involvement in overseas markets, it had yet to replicate its successes overseas. Sharp's operating model placed sensitive, high-value-added operations, such as research, development and component manufacturing near its headquarters in Japan. The company jealously guarded its LCD knowhow and had implemented strict security measures at its LCD panel plants. As Sharp's international sales grew, limitations with its business model became apparent. Operating primarily in Japan had drawbacks, such as exposure to currency risk, high infrastructure cost and high taxes. Additionally, the logistics of shipping large items, such as LCDs and solar panels, overseas presented other dilemmas. Sharp needed to reconsider this model and develop an approach that was more suitable to the environment it now competed in.

Risking becoming the target of a hostile takeover or alternatively, being cornered as a small regional player in the global beer industry, the Danish brewery Carlsberg decided in the early 2000s to expand into the rapidly growing emerging market to pursue new arenas of growth. By 2008, this strategy had paid off, and Carlsberg was positioned amongst the five largest breweries in the world. In the Russian market - one of the fastest growing markets in the world - Carlsberg had become the market leader. In China - the world's largest beer market in terms of size and population - the company had achieved a 55 per cent market share in Western China, and operated 20 brewery plants with approximately 5,000 employees. The ambitious acquisition strategy applied in emerging markets had become essential to Carlsberg's business in relation to future growth and profit. Accordingly, the case focuses on Carlsberg's entry into China, which started as a commercial failure in the eastern part of the country, but subsequently developed successfully in the west.

In February 2009, Andrew Witty reflected on his vision for big pharma as a catalyst for change which focused on two key issues: 1) promoting innovation for the products that treat or prevent neglected tropical diseases and 2) improving access to medicines in the world's poorest countries. He had announced the creation of the "Pharmaceutical Patent Pool" and wondered if it was the right strategy to deliver on the two key issues.

The Chief Information and Security Officer (CISO) of HDFC Bank Ltd, a leading private sector bank in India, is examining the options before him in strengthening the bank's online security subsequent to a phishing attack on the bank's customers. Introducing an additional level of security involving new gateways for each online transaction seems a foregone conclusion. But the CISO must contend with customer convenience which is becoming a source of differentiation in a competitive banking scenario. The case provides an opportunity for students to develop a road map for the CISO in reinforcing the online security of a new generation bank.

The case, 'Santander Acquires Abbey: The Jack Project', applies a general strategic management focus to an analysis of the 'Jack Project', the Spanish banking group's IT centric project to acquire Abbey. The case focuses on José María Fuster, chief information officer (CIO) and his perspective in leveraging IT to integrate Abbey. The following issues are explored: (1) the value of IT; (2) the generation of synergies in M&A; and (3) the prioritisation of IT-related options comparing two different realities. At the end of the case, students will examine how Partenón, Grupo Santander's core IT system, leveraged this acquisition and made an impact on the bank's long-term market position.

The case describes the development of Caesar's sustainability initiative program, the effect of the initiative on employee engagement and motivation, and on customer satisfaction.

In October 1945, Henry Ford II received a telegram in his office at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan written by Charles "Tex" Thornton, a U.S. Air Force colonel. The telegram presented an opportunity for Ford to deploy a system of statistical control which had been developed and applied successfully in the management of the Army Air Forces. Henry Ford II had recently assumed control of his grandfather's troubled automotive empire, and was looking for experienced auto industry men to help him make Ford a dominant name once again. Thornton had no industry experience whatsoever, but seemed convinced that his ideas could be applicable to Ford's company. Perhaps the Ford Motor Company could use an injection of new ideas. Hiring Thornton and his men could end up being Ford's most inspired move. Or his most disastrous.

Bakari Burns, CEO of the Health Care Center for the Homeless (HCCH), located in Orlando, Florida was faced with the daunting task of rebranding the organization he lead. Burns knew the organization experienced difficulty with recognition and marketplace distinction, primarily due to the public's misperceptions about the relationship between HCCH and the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. An external consulting team offered several recommendations for change, including an amended name and redesign of all marketing materials. This advice and changes in the external environment provided an excellent opportunity to reposition and refocus the organization. Recognizing the need for a new strategy and implementing that strategy were not the same; Burns was not sure how to lead the organization through the change process.

The Liang family, experienced family hoteliers in China, had to leave the mainland under the pressure of the forces of Chairman Mao and the CCP in 1949. They resettled in Taiwan, resumed their hospitality business and now, two generations later, have returned to Nanjing to find their family's old guest house has been allowed to run down and deteriorate as a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SoE). They repurchase the old guest house with the intention to redevelop. How will they deal with this privatization and the inevitable bureaucracy of purchasing, demolition and rebuilding the old guest house? How will they convert the existing SoE human resources (trained under planned economy conditions) into dynamic employees operating in the market economy while being sensitive to the cultural characteristics and challenges of this mainland Chinese workplace? With more than 6,000 Chinese SoEs still being targeted for privatization, this case is very relevant and provides a real world opportunity for students to exercise their research, analytical, international management, entrepreneurial and cross-cultural management skills.<br><br> This case is best used in a unit after the topics of international human resource management, culture and international management have been covered. Such positions may include 1) as a closing case in an international management unit of study 2) as a human resource management case in an international human resource management or international management unit of study 3) as a challenge in an entrepreneurial unit of study or 4) as a mid-unit or closing case in a strategic management unit of study.