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Case study
Publication date: 5 May 2016

Anthony Roger Bowrin, Lawrence Kickham and Stacie L. Krupp

Naparima Company Limited (NCL) was an importer and wholesaler of grocery and household products in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Following increasing competition and the…

Abstract

Synopsis

Naparima Company Limited (NCL) was an importer and wholesaler of grocery and household products in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Following increasing competition and the adoption of more lavish lifestyles by its owners, the company had fallen on hard times. Its banker, First Republic Bank, had called its outstanding loans of $1.412 million and given the company 90 days to repay all sums outstanding. Also, several major creditors had threatened legal action to recover amounts payable. This had forced NCL to explore alternative financing arrangements and to devise strategies that would improve its financial situation.

Research methodology

The authors used both field interviews and secondary data when preparing this case. One of the authors was a consultant to the company as it worked to develop a restructuring plan. The primary data gleaned from that process, which included interviews with all three leaders of NCL and a review of the company's financial statements, was supplemented by the collection of secondary data about the industry and its competitors from interviews with the executive director of industry association, and information about the national economic environment from newspaper articles and library resources.

Relevant courses and levels

This case is suitable for senior-level undergraduate students in a capstone business course, and graduate students in small business management and family business management courses.

Details

The CASE Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 1544-9106

Keywords

Abstract

Subject area

Strategic Management and Marketing.

Study level/applicability

Management students (MBA).

Case overview

In the present times of global competition and busy schedules of individuals, it is expected that companies provide service with security, sincerity and flexibility keeping pace with changing global scenario of marketing. Service receiver expects competitive and optimum facilities with ease while sitting in any corner of the world at any time of the day. It implies that the service provider should be available at all times/all places for satisfying the needs of the customers. A daunting task ahead of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was to change its conventional approach and work toward a newer, user-friendly one. The top management, i.e. the Board of Directors, took up the task of identifying a quicker but securer approach to provide optimum facilities to the policyholders.

Expected learning outcomes

Achieving customer satisfaction through alternate collection channels and retaining market share, role of customer servicing in creating competitive advantage, challenges for a large public sector enterprise – traditional approach or modern approach, role of private companies in development of insurance industry, creating awareness about the product/service through different distribution channels and use of information and telecommunication technologies to reach remote places, are the expected learning outcomes.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 15 November 2016

Aasha Jayant Sharma

General management/Strategy: Problems with debt recovery industry in India Strategic positioning and core competencies: expansion plans.

Abstract

Subject area

General management/Strategy: Problems with debt recovery industry in India Strategic positioning and core competencies: expansion plans.

Study level/applicability

The case can be used on an MBA program for a course in strategic management. It can be used to understand the concept of strategic positioning. It will give the students an opportunity to critically evaluate a firm’s strategic positioning in the competitive environment, enable them to understand how to create and capture superior value by differentiating as compared with other players in an industry and address expansion and growth strategies.

Case overview

The case represents the success story of “Adhikrut Jabti evam vasuli”, a debt recovery agency that dared to use the unconventional strategy of employing women as recovery agents, against the stereotyped muscle-flexing male agents. Continuous focus on improving the processes and systems backed by an authoritative yet tactful approach of persuasion and patience has brought this recovery agency accolades and growth. But now Parag Shah the Managing Director is planning to expand its horizons and wonders whether he should go ahead opening up more branch offices across the country or whether he should convert his recovery firm into an Asset reconstruction company.

Expected learning outcomes

The case reinforces the importance of “Strategic positioning” of a firm due to well-planned differentiation in services. The case also addresses concepts of leadership, standardization, people skills and relationship management.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 6 no. 4
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 13 June 2016

Peter Moricz and Gyorgy Drotos

Emerging markets, business models, information technology.

Abstract

Subject area

Emerging markets, business models, information technology.

Study level/applicability

This case is designed for MBA groups or students from MSc in Management, International Business, Logistics, Information Systems or Environmental Management programs. It can be covered in courses on Strategy, Process Management, International Business, Process Management, Supply Chain Management and Managing Information Systems.

Case overview

Returpack is a Hungarian company dealing with reverse vending machines (RVMs) that collect aluminum beverage cans, even in crushed form, based on a worldwide technology innovation. All RVMs are online and monitored and managed remotely. RVMs are mainly “fed” by the poorest, often homeless people, who are still motivated by the extremely low (less than 1 euro cent for a can) incentive that comes from the selling of the aluminum waste to recycling smelters. Based on the success of the business model in Hungary, projects were planned in the USA, Austria, Romania, and Turkey in 2013. However, beyond economic, legal and cultural challenges, a dramatic decline in the global aluminum waste prices early in 2014 questioned the return on investment at these projects. Advancements in the material-recognition technologies at waste sorting plants raise further questions.

Expected learning outcomes

Evaluating the business model innovation in the case by combining the different approaches of the business model concept with the knowledge on the recycling industry, the crowdsourcing method and the Internet of Things. Based upon this, students may identify and evaluate options for implementing the business model in and adapting to new markets, also by simulating these changes in a formal (numerical) business model.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject codes

Strategy.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 14 May 2019

Russell Walker

Launched in 2014, Amazon's Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers led the category's rapid adoption by households and enabled the penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) voice…

Abstract

Launched in 2014, Amazon's Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers led the category's rapid adoption by households and enabled the penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistants into the everyday lives of millions of people. By 2019, Alexa the virtual brains behind Amazon's smart speakers was able to play music, create reminders, get weather reports, control lights and other home appliances, shop, and do much more in response to voice commands. Amazon had developed significant new capabilities for Alexa, developed an entire ecosysgtem around it, expanded Alexa's user base to more than 100 million users, and made significant progress in monetizing its digital voice assistant. However, Alexa's progress also created new challenges for Amazon, its Alexa-enabled customers, and society at large. Amazon needed to identify and address these challenges in order to encourage continued consumer acceptance and preclude detrimental government or regulatory action.

Case study
Publication date: 20 January 2017

Michael J. Schill

This case has been significantly revised to update its currency and to be more concise. In early 2015, two partners in an Oklahoma medical practice must reconcile their booming…

Abstract

This case has been significantly revised to update its currency and to be more concise. In early 2015, two partners in an Oklahoma medical practice must reconcile their booming urology business with declines in practice cash flow. The case highlights the difference between cash flow and accounting profits, as well as the common negative effects of growth on cash flow. It provides a straightforward introduction to simple financial-statement modeling and an opportunity to develop intuition on the importance of cash flow to business owners. The case is tailored to an audience with a professional business-practice perspective.

Details

Darden Business Publishing Cases, vol. no.
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2474-7890
Published by: University of Virginia Darden School Foundation

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 1 October 2011

Krishnadas Nanath

Strategic management and social innovation

Abstract

Subject area

Strategic management and social innovation

Study level/applicability

Undergraduate and graduate level management/business school students. It can be taught in strategic management and social innovation courses.

Case overview

GOONJ is a non–profit organization which has life and dignity for lakhs of people in India over the last decade. It aimed at bringing up clothing as one of the important aspects of human life and make it available for the needy keeping their dignity intact. The case begins with Anshu Gupta, founder of GOONJ thinking deeply about the high–priority meeting to take GOONJ to the next level and scale up the operations of his social innovation. It then tries to bring up the potential problem of clothing and menstrual hygiene in India followed by explanation of the present working model of GOONJ which allows them to manage the operations with 97 paisa per cloth. With the dream of taking GOONJ to the next level and converting it into a nation–wide phenomenon, will the present model work?

Expected learning outcomes

This case will cover two important aspects: social innovation process (themes, challenges and implications for practice); and strategic management concepts (stakeholder theory, internal–external factor evaluation).

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 1 no. 4
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 26 November 2014

Rua-Huan Tsaih, James Quo-Ping Lin and Yu-Chien Chang

Service innovation, ICT-enabled services, museum, cultural and creative industries.

Abstract

Subject area

Service innovation, ICT-enabled services, museum, cultural and creative industries.

Study level/applicability

Graduate-level courses of “Innovation Management,” “Service Innovation,” or “Cultural and Creative Industries”.

Case overview

In 2006, the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taipei, Taiwan, announced its new vision “Reviving the Charm of an Ancient Collection and Creating New values for Generations to Come”. In recent years, the NPM has been shifting its operational focus from being object-oriented to being public-centered, and the museum has held not only the physical forms of artifacts and documents but also their digital images and metadata. These changes would inject new life into historical artifacts. In addition, archives as its collections would be given a refreshingly new image to the public and become connected with people's daily lives. Among these endeavors for displaying historical artifacts online and prevailing Chinese culture in the modern age, the key issues are related to digital technology applications and service innovations. The service innovations would be further divided into information and communication technologies (ICT)-enabled ones and non-ICT-enabled ones. These shifts clearly claim that adopting digital technologies and innovative services can bring positive impacts to the museum. The NPM administrative team wants to keep infusing life into ancient artifacts and texts, sustaining curiosities of the public for Chinese culture and history, and invoking their interests to visit the NPM in person. However, to develop for the future while reviewing the past, the NPM administrative team has to meditate on the next steps in terms of implementation of service innovations.

Expected learning outcomes

Students will learn motivations of digital establishment and service innovations from the organization perspective and the necessities of technological implementation. Students will understand the difference in innovations between ICT-enabled services and non-ICT-enabled services. Students would be able to understand the process of developing a new service. Students will be aware of challenges the organization would face in developing a new service.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 4 no. 7
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 10 October 2023

Saral Mukherjee, Abhishek and Soundarya Balasubramani

Neons Fashion LLP was an entrepreneurial venture of Arthi Ramalingam after completion of her MBA. Arthi had an interest in jewellery since childhood and she decided to focus on…

Abstract

Neons Fashion LLP was an entrepreneurial venture of Arthi Ramalingam after completion of her MBA. Arthi had an interest in jewellery since childhood and she decided to focus on design, manufacturing and retailing of fashion and costume jewellery items under the brand name of Eternz through different sales channels like exhibitions, retail stores, own website and as an independent seller on e-commerce marketplaces. She initially started selling on Amazon marketplace through a third party, Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd., and later sold through other e-commerce marketplace operators like Flipkart, Jabong and FirstCry. As her business grew, Arthi planned to add the kids' shoes category and also decided to participate in Bangalore Fashion Week to build the Eternz brand. However, in November 2016, Cloudtail terminated her contract which played havoc with the sales and profitability of her start-up. Neons Fashion LLP (A) provides details of how independent sellers are at the mercy of marketplace operators and ends with the need to review the choices of sales channels for different categories like fashion garments and fashion accessories, and for the upcoming launch of kids' shoes. Neons Fashion LLP (B) describes the events after the Bangalore Fashion Week that ultimately led to closure of business.

Details

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, vol. no.
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2633-3260
Published by: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 5 May 2016

Kathryn S. Savage

This case focusses on internal controls necessary to prevent theft of cash collections. Troy Wheeler, assistant dean of the School of Business and Public Policy was asked to write…

Abstract

Synopsis

This case focusses on internal controls necessary to prevent theft of cash collections. Troy Wheeler, assistant dean of the School of Business and Public Policy was asked to write a memorandum to the university’s internal auditor verifying that controls on the cash register in the school were adequate to prevent major theft. Troy wrote the memo, but the request awakened nagging concerns regarding the cash register. The more Troy thought about it, the more concerned he became about the potential for loss. Troy needed to identify the major weaknesses in the existing system and make feasible recommendations to improve control.

Research methodology

This case is based on the author’s personal association with the organization, observation, interviews of key figures in the case, and examination of relevant documents.

Relevant courses and levels

This case is appropriate for any graduate or undergraduate accounting class where internal controls are analyzed and documented. The case could be used in courses on internal or external auditing or accounting information systems.

Details

The CASE Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 1544-9106

Keywords

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