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1 – 10 of 122Minnette A. Bumpus and Nikita Floyd
The case should be introduced after students have been exposed to the following topics: the practice of entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition, market segmentation and minority…
Abstract
Theoretical basis
The case should be introduced after students have been exposed to the following topics: the practice of entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition, market segmentation and minority business enterprise.
Research methodology
The names of the companies and individuals in this descriptive case have not been disguised, with the exception of the solar company representative and his company affiliation. Information was obtained from interviews (i.e. first-hand accounts) with Nikita Floyd, President and Owner of Green Forever Landscaping and Design, Inc., and secondary sources cited.
Case overview/synopsis
Nikita, a 50-year old, African American male, had grown his business from a one-person seasonal landscaping business to a year-round landscaping and design business with full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees and an array of services and customer segments. To his delight, he was able to unite his avocation with his vocation. With over 30 years of experience in landscaping and landscape design Nikita was always scanning the landscape for new business opportunities that would align with his company’s mission statement and help sustain Green Forever’s core business.
Complexity academic level
This case is most appropriate for introductory undergraduate and graduate level courses in entrepreneurship.
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Keywords
Business management, entrepreneurship, strategic management and business environment.
Abstract
Subject area
Business management, entrepreneurship, strategic management and business environment.
Study level/applicability
Undergraduate and Masters level business and management programmes.
Case overview
This case features a small labour intensive Chinese company, Bags of Luck (BoL), located in the south-eastern Fujian province. BoL makes ladies fashion handbags, unisex fashion backpacks and trendy lightweight cases for laptop and netbook computers for export to the US market. BoL have done very well over the years as a small private enterprise focusing on low-tech manufacturing and have managed to stay afloat through the most difficult period of the recent world recession. Currently troubled by fast changing market trends, rising material and employment costs, continuing appreciation of the Chinese currency, severe labour shortage, declining production volume and profitability, dated machinery, passive and reactive nature of business model, ineffective management structure and a complete lack of strategic vision, BoL is in deep crisis with its fate now hanging on the balance.
Expected learning outcomes
The case provides encourages students to: research into a range of current business management issues; analyse the impact of environmental changes on the survival and growth of a business organisation; develop their strategic thinking informed by real life and real-time research and assess the impact of exchange rate changes on the Chinese economy and the sustainability of Chinese model of economic growth.
Supplementary materials
Teaching note.
Details
Keywords
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.
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Keywords
Eckard Smuts, Sophia Campello Beckwith, Ncedisa Nkonyeni, Ella Scheepers and François Bonnici
This paper aims to present an opportunity to explore the opportunities and challenges involved in running a business with a strongly ingrained social vision in the complex…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
This paper aims to present an opportunity to explore the opportunities and challenges involved in running a business with a strongly ingrained social vision in the complex, multi-dimensional environment of an emerging economy. Key learning areas are as follows: How the concept of inclusive innovation applies to the real-world difficulties faced by businesses operating in informal economies. By exploring the tensions between growth and inclusivity in Silulo’s development, students will grasp the challenges entrepreneurs face as a business starts to gain momentum and change, and gain appreciation for the trade-offs that occur when choosing between franchising and organic growth. The challenges of a rapidly evolving technological environment, the need to adapt service offerings at pace, and the importance of balancing financial considerations with deeper social values will find application far beyond the informal economy context of the Silulo story.
Case overview/synopsis
This teaching case looks at Silulo Ulutho Technologies via CEO Luvuyo Rani and the challenges he faces in balancing expansion and profitability with its mission of empowering disenfranchised communities – challenges exacerbated by a changing telecommunications environment, with more widespread internet availability, mobile phones and online training courses encroaching on Silulo’s traditional service offering.
Complexity academic level
This case focusses primarily on the processes of inclusive innovation and is suitable for graduate courses in social entrepreneurship, business model innovation, sustainability, business and society, strategic management, emerging markets, business in Africa and organisational studies in general. The case is suitable for Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive MBA academic programmes and delegates on Executive Education programmes.
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 3: Entrepreneurship
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Keywords
Lubna Nafees, Mokhalles Mehdi, Rakesh Gupta, Shalini Kalia, Sayan Banerjee and Shivani Kapoor
After completing the case, students should be able to understand: the importance and uniqueness of the individual market and developing a suitable marketing strategy. The concept…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
After completing the case, students should be able to understand: the importance and uniqueness of the individual market and developing a suitable marketing strategy. The concept of value creation and learn the importance of developing the right value proposition to compete and succeed in a market. The target audience and how to create the right marketing mix. Competition in a digital landscape and the importance of developing an appropriate strategy to counter its rivals and position the brand effectively.
Case overview/synopsis
During his visit to India in December 2019, Netflix’s founder and chief executive officer Reed Hastings talked about a series of steps the company had taken in the recent past to successfully face stiff competition and move towards achieving its stated target of 100 million viewers. These steps involved significant changes in their marketing mix such as reworking their pricing, developing a rich portfolio of Indian content and building various partnerships. Since Netflix’s launch in India (December 2016), it faced fierce competition from players such as Hotstar and Amazon Prime, both of whom had developed a rich portfolio of Indian content and adopted a very aggressive pricing strategy thus, making these changes essential. At the time of their launch, Netflix had set a very ambitious target of gaining 100 million viewers within five years (by 2021) while adopting a premium pricing strategy and positioning themselves uniquely based on their international content. They quickly learned that they would have to reevaluate their approach if they wanted to achieve their target on time. The changes announced by Hastings were an effort in that direction. The moot question was whether these steps would help Netflix India reach its goal. This challenge was further compounded by an almost 40% hike in data tariffs by three major wireless carriers considering most Indians watched over-the-top media content on their mobile phones.
Complexity academic level
The case is designed for undergraduates, as well as for fundamental marketing courses in the Master of Business Administration and other graduate level programmes. It can be taught in the Principles of Marketing, Marketing Strategy and International Marketing courses. It is ideal for topics such as understanding the operation of a digital business in a new market, customer value creation and value drivers, brand and brand positioning, product promotion, strategies for business growth and expansion, fighting competition in a digital landscape.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
Details
Keywords
Samenthea Pheko, Geoff Bick and Claire Barnardo
The Toyota Hilux case has been designed to show the complexities associated with managerial decision-making in a highly competitive vehicle market in South Africa. The case…
Abstract
Subject area
The Toyota Hilux case has been designed to show the complexities associated with managerial decision-making in a highly competitive vehicle market in South Africa. The case centres on the challenges the Toyota Hilux faced in sustaining its market leadership position amid intense competition from its rivals and changing customer preferences.
Study level/applicability
The case is suited to marketing and strategy students who are eager to demonstrate their critical thinking and managerial decision-making skills as part of their Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive MBA academic programmes, and delegates on Executive Education programmes.
Case overview
The teaching case focuses on the Toyota Hilux brand and the various business dilemmas that Calvyn Williams, sales and marketing manager, and his team experience prior to the launch of the next Hilux: the fierce competition from other brands and the various marketing strategies used.
Expected learning outcomes
The objective of this teaching case is to afford students a “hands-on” understanding and appreciation of the challenges faced by market leaders in sustaining their dominance and selecting the most appropriate strategies for market leaders to adopt in extremely competitive environments such as the South African vehicle market.
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
Keywords
MS / MBA / Executive Education
Abstract
Study level/applicability
MS / MBA / Executive Education
Subject area
Leadership
Case overview
In 2019, French multinational electric utility company, ENGIE SA (ENGIE) was on the verge of zero carbon transition. Under the leadership of Isabelle Kocher (Kocher) who became the CEO in 2016, ENGIE embarked on an arduous journey toward re-profiling ENGIE toward renewable, low-carbon energies, such as solar, green gases and digital. Kocher inherited a loss-making company and took in on a path of transformation toward a company with business lines for future. This meant ENGIE would slowly move out of energy generation through non-renewable sources, toward renewables along with storage and digital technologies. This case chronicles Kocher’s turnaround plans and investments, and explains how she went about making ENGIE a forerunner in energy revolution. While the turnaround was on track, ENGIE was unable to give returns as expected. With mounting pressure Kocher announced a strategic plan in 2019, which reemphasized ENGIE’s focus on renewables and technology. But several major shareholders including the Government of France were not impressed with the plan. It is time Kocher proves that transformation of ENGIE into a clean power company also means returns for the shareholders.
Expected learning outcomes
The outcomes are as follows: First, to illustrate how leaders bring in change and innovation in large well-established companies. It shows the role of leaders in leading the innovation process and in molding the companies according to the opportunities and threats presented by the macro environment. Second, to analyze the role of a leader in bringing changes in the organization. Third, to understand the strategies used by energy companies as they position their businesses in the context of a changing energy landscape.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Note
Social implications
Renewable Energy – Growing cocnern about the impact of climate change on the world at large, has brought to the fore the importance of renewable energy.
Subject code
CSS 4: Environmental management
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Keywords
This case captures the cash-flow and working-capital management problems typical of small, growing businesses. At the end of 2005, Bob and Maggie Brown have completed their third…
Abstract
This case captures the cash-flow and working-capital management problems typical of small, growing businesses. At the end of 2005, Bob and Maggie Brown have completed their third year of operating Horniman Horticulture, a $1-million-revenue woody-shrub grower in central Virginia. While experiencing booming demand and improving margins, the couple is puzzled by their plummeting cash balance. The case highlights the difference between cash flow and accounting profits, as well as the common negative effects of growth on cash flow. The case provides a forum for establishing appreciation for the relevance of free cash flow to business owners and managers, introducing financial ratio analysis, developing the concept of the cash cycle and working-capital management, and motivating the use of financial models.
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AngloGold Ashanti: the dawning of a new age.
Abstract
Title
AngloGold Ashanti: the dawning of a new age.
Subject area
Change management, leadership, human resources management and organisational behaviour.
Study level/applicability
Business and organisational behaviour students at a Master's level of study.
Case overview
This case study explores the challenges facing one of the jewels of corporate South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, as it seeks to introduce and implement vast changes across its global operations within a pre-established time frame. It explores those factors that impact the introduction and implementation of a successful and sustainable change initiative at AngloGold Ashanti.
Expected learning outcomes
By understanding the manner in which the company's new business improvement initiative is sought to be introduced at the organisation, students are better able to understand the role of leadership and the impact of change on a global workforce. Students will gain an appreciation of how to manage the change process, key actions that ought to be taken by all levels of management and staff, pitfalls that should be avoided and challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that the organisation can emerge stronger and take its rightful place in the competitive global arena.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.
Details
Keywords
Kenneth M. Eades and Daniel Hake
It is recommended that this case be taught either just before or just after another Chapter 11 case. Students must to decide whether Horizon Lines should seek Chapter 11…
Abstract
It is recommended that this case be taught either just before or just after another Chapter 11 case. Students must to decide whether Horizon Lines should seek Chapter 11 protection or attempt a voluntary financial restructuring. Students have a wide range of financial restructuring alternatives to consider that should give them an appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages faced by a firm choosing to use the bankruptcy court. The case also is best taught to experienced students who understand corporate finance fundamentals and, in particular, grasp the principes of valuation and capital structure.
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