All Case Studies

"Health and Safety Management at Stellar Manufacturing Co." is a detailed case study examining the critical role of Human Resource (HR) Management in addressing workplace safety issues. This case illustrates the challenges faced by Stellar, an automotive manufacturing firm, when dealing with an unexpected surge in workplace injuries and safety violations. It focuses on the strategies devised by the HR Director, Catherine Grant, to curb these incidents, while showcasing the intricate balance between maintaining employee safety and managing costs. This real-world scenario aims to offer students valuable insights into the complexities of health and safety management within HR, equipping them with practical skills for future business challenges.

This case study examines the challenges faced by FlexTech, a San Francisco-based tech start-up, in maintaining labor law compliance across its multi-state operations. With a small HRM team, FlexTech grapples with the complexities of varying state regulations, enforcement, knowledge deficits, and time constraints. The case delves into potential solutions, including hiring a compliance officer, outsourcing HR functions, implementing HR software, and professional training, along with their financial implications. It serves as a rich educational tool for business students and professionals, fostering critical thinking, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

This case study delves into the strategic journey undertaken by PayPal to cater to the high-end consumer segment through the launch of its premium service, the PayPal Platinum. It explores the process of identifying a market niche, crafting a service to address their unique needs, and the strategies employed for positioning, marketing, and managing the product. Despite facing stiff competition and initial rollout challenges, the PayPal Platinum service successfully resonated with its target audience, setting a benchmark for premium digital financial services. The case presents valuable insights into the intricacies of product innovation, strategic marketing, and brand management in the digital finance industry.

This case study delves into GlobalTech Solutions' strategic venture into AI-powered sales management software with the launch of SalesMaster. The journey illuminates how GlobalTech capitalized on market trends, adapted to technological advancements, and navigated the competition. Despite initial challenges, SalesMaster quickly gained traction due to its superior functionality, innovative features, and the company's customer-centric approach. The case offers valuable insights into strategic decision-making, market analysis, and the role of innovation in a highly competitive digital landscape.

The Volkswagen Emissions Scandal case study delves into the unethical practices of a global auto giant that led to one of the largest corporate crises in history. The case explores various aspects of this scandal, highlighting the role of leadership, business strategy, corporate ethics, organizational behavior, and sustainability in the transgressions. The case serves as a potent reminder of the significance of ethical practices and responsible decision-making in the corporate world, providing valuable lessons for businesses and leaders.

This case study explores a pivotal ethical dilemma faced by EcoTech Inc., a multinational eco-friendly tech firm. A discrepancy is discovered in the advertised and actual performance of their flagship product, the EcoTech Solar Charger. Jane Doe, the head of the accounting department, must decide whether to reveal this inconsistency, potentially impacting sales and employee morale, or to stay silent, preserving immediate profits but risking long-term customer trust and legal repercussions. The case underscores the complex interplay of ethics, marketing, and accounting in modern business, demonstrating the challenges of balancing short-term financial gains with long-term reputation and integrity.

This case study explores GigaNet Global's innovative venture into high-speed public internet services with the launch of GigaNet PublicNet. It investigates the company's strategic decision-making, extensive market research, and how GigaNet identified a gap in the market for superior public internet services. The case further discusses the success of PublicNet, its significant impact on the telecommunications industry, and how competitors responded to this innovative disruption. This in-depth analysis provides a rich understanding of the dynamics of competition, strategy, and innovation in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.

TechHaven, a growing tech firm, confronted high employee turnover rates that threatened its financial stability. Dissatisfaction with management styles and limited career advancement opportunities were driving employees away. In response, the company's HR department initiated a significant transformation, leveraging HR analytics and focusing on talent management. By investing in these areas, TechHaven significantly reduced its turnover rate from 20% to 16%, resulting in substantial cost savings. The case underscores the crucial role of strategic HR practices in maintaining a company's financial health and enhancing workforce engagement.

SkywardTech, a successful SaaS company specializing in cloud-based project management, is experiencing slowing growth amid escalating competition. The rise of AI-integrated solutions and large tech firms' entry into the market present formidable challenges. This case study focuses on SkywardTech's strategic decisions as they navigate this changing landscape. The company's future growth and market position hinge upon their ability to adapt and innovate. As readers, we delve into the crucial considerations of their executive team, which include the potential for advancing AI capabilities, rebranding efforts, or exploring new niches. This case offers a deep-dive into strategic decision-making within a rapidly evolving industry.

This case study revolves around Trendsetters Inc., a fashion company grappling with a dilemma between aggressive marketing and maintaining profit margins. Despite achieving robust revenue growth and increased brand visibility through its marketing efforts, the company's net profit margins have been shrinking. The case presents the real-world conflict between marketing and accounting priorities and the complex decision-making required by CEO Marianne Sullivan. By investigating this predicament, students can explore concepts across accounting, marketing, general management, finance, and strategy, offering a multi-disciplinary learning experience.

The case of 'Bullseye Investments' addresses a key issue in the financial services sector: aligning employee compensation with company performance. The firm, currently using a fixed salary compensation model, is considering a shift to performance-based pay to retain its competitive edge. However, this shift poses challenges, including potential impact on employee morale, risk of promoting excessive risk-taking, and the difficulty of balancing rewards for individual and team performances. The case underscores the complexities of implementing such changes and their potential ramifications on company culture and ethical behavior, calling for a careful and strategic approach.

This case delves into Starbucks' operational challenge that arose from the increasing popularity of its Mobile Order & Pay feature. While the feature was introduced to enhance customer experience and reduce in-store wait times, it inadvertently led to a service bottleneck, complicating operations both for in-store customers and employees. The case presents a scenario where Starbucks needs to balance operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, employee wellbeing, and cost-effectiveness. With multiple potential solutions offered, each with its own implications and trade-offs, this case offers students valuable insights into service design complexities, operational management, and the strategic alignment of solutions with brand values.

In this case study, we delve into the challenges faced by SunRise, a California-based renewable energy startup spearheaded by Samuel Gibson, a dedicated energy engineer. SunRise is on the cusp of a significant breakthrough, with prototypes of advanced solar panels and wind turbines promising superior efficiency and longevity. However, the company finds itself at a crossroads, needing substantial capital to transition from prototypes to market-ready products. The case centers around the crucial decisions Samuel needs to make regarding securing this funding, exploring themes of entrepreneurship, finance, strategy, sustainability, and leadership.

This case study revolves around the strategic decision-making process at XYZ Corp, a multinational retailer, considering integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its operations. The newly appointed CIO, Sarah Turner, is tasked with evaluating the potential benefits, such as improved supply chain management and enhanced customer experience, against the significant challenges, including substantial implementation costs and potential job reductions. This case presents a realistic dilemma requiring critical analysis and decision-making across various facets such as Information Systems, Strategy, General Management, Ethics, and Organizational Behavior. The decision to implement AI could potentially impact a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, and shareholders, making it a complex, multi-layered issue to navigate.