The Economic Impact of the National Green Policy on SMEs

Top 5 Course Categories for the Case:

1. Economics & Public Policy: 9/10 - The case explicitly revolves around the effects of economics and public policy on a business in the electric vehicle industry. It demonstrates the role of subsidies, tax incentives, and lobbying in shaping business decisions.
2. Entrepreneurship: 8/10 - The case involves a start-up, EcoRide, navigating a complex and rapidly evolving industry. This would offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs in terms of market understanding, investment, and strategic partnerships.
3. Strategy: 7/10 - The company's decisions about product pricing, expansion, and addressing customer concerns (range anxiety) all fall within the realm of strategy. The case also touches on how EcoRide balances lobbying efforts with public image.
4. Sustainability: 6/10 - The case is situated within the context of the electric vehicle industry, which is inherently tied to sustainability and climate change mitigation. However, the case does not explicitly discuss the role of sustainability in the company's business model or decision-making.
5. General Management: 6/10 - While not a core focus, the case does indirectly touch upon issues relevant to general management, such as managing growth, scaling production, and dealing with market and policy dynamics.

Weaknesses of this Case Structure:

1. Lack of Detailed Data: The case provides a broad overview of the situation but lacks concrete data on financials, market share, customer demographics, or sales figures beyond the first year. These could have enriched the analysis and provided more concrete parameters for decision-making.
2. Absence of Personal Narratives: The case does not delve into the experiences or perspectives of key stakeholders - the founder, the team, the investors, or the customers. Personal narratives can help bring a case to life, make it more relatable, and facilitate a deeper understanding of the decision-making processes.
3. Limited Focus on Competition: While the case mentions traditional automakers lobbying against EV benefits, it does not adequately explore the competitive landscape of the EV market. Understanding the competitors, their strategies, and their performance could provide critical context.
4. Absence of Ethical Considerations: The case does not touch upon the ethical aspects of EcoRide's operations, such as fair trade, labor conditions, environmental impact beyond emissions, or corporate social responsibility.

Strengths of this Case:

1. Intersection of Multiple Disciplines: The case provides an excellent showcase of the intersections between economics, public policy, and business. It illustrates how these fields are interlinked and mutually influence each other, providing a rich ground for interdisciplinary learning.
2. Contemporary and Relevant: The case is situated in the electric vehicle industry, a domain that is currently undergoing rapid growth and innovation. This makes the case timely, relevant, and likely to engage student interest.
3. Clear Illustration of Challenges: The case effectively illustrates the range of challenges an EV start-up can face - from economic (costs of technology and infrastructure), policy (government incentives and lobbying), and business (customer behavior, competition) perspectives. This provides a realistic portrayal of operating in the EV industry.
4. Potential for Wide-ranging Discussions: Despite its weaknesses, the case leaves room for wide-ranging discussions. From debating the best strategies for EcoRide to analyzing policy impacts on EV adoption, the case can trigger engaging and thought-provoking discussions.