Case studies
Teaching cases offers students the opportunity to explore real world challenges in the classroom environment, allowing them to test their assumptions and decision-making skills before taking their knowledge into the workplace.
Květa Olšanová, Gina Cook and Petr Král
This case was developed from both secondary and primary sources. The secondary sources include the company’s website and social media, social media sites and PR news reports…
Abstract
Research Methodology
This case was developed from both secondary and primary sources. The secondary sources include the company’s website and social media, social media sites and PR news reports. Primary sources include in-depth interviews with Nafigate Cosmetics executives. This case was classroom-tested with graduate students in an International Marketing course in Autumn 2021 and Spring 2022.
Case overview/synopsis
Nafigate Corporation is a small Czech company with a global presence and a solid organizational philosophy to create a better world through scientific knowledge and active use of technology. With innovative new products, Nafigate is poised to revolutionize the cosmetics industry. The case explores elements of branding, strategic decision-making and how to balance competing priorities during a company’s growth phase.
Complexity academic level
This case was written for use in International Marketing classes at the graduate level. In addition, the case could be used in International Marketing Communication courses and in CSR subjects. Students are encouraged to discuss building a competitive advantage, portfolio decisions in terms of brand differentiation, branding strategies, and most importantly, understand the complexity of the business decision-making process.
Details
Keywords
Travis Lee Cyphers and Julianne Renee Apodaca
The theoretical basis for this case is a focus on ethical decision-making based upon a decision-making tree proposed by Bagley et al. (2003). Once multiple options are determined…
Abstract
Theoretical basis
The theoretical basis for this case is a focus on ethical decision-making based upon a decision-making tree proposed by Bagley et al. (2003). Once multiple options are determined as ethical, integrating authentic leadership into the decision-making process can help leaders made difficult decisions.
Research methodology
The authors conducted extensive research through IBISWorld, EBSCOhost, and academic journals to review ethical decision-making and authentic leadership. The authors successfully piloted the case with over 100 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in leadership courses.
Case overview/synopsis
The case describes an ethical decision a young commanding officer must make. A soldier under their leadership has been charged with an inappropriate relationship with a minor. The officer must decide between two actions that are legal within the military justice system. Each decision has ramifications that will significantly affect the organization.
Complexity academic level
The case is best taught in undergraduate and graduate leadership courses. Course participants do not need a detailed understanding of military leadership or military law to apply fundamental concepts.
Details
Keywords
Deepa Unnithan, Girish S. Pathy and Hareesh Ramanathan
The case will familiarize students to TEARS model and No TEARS approach for brand endorser selection. It will enable the students to understand the extent of influencer impact on…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
The case will familiarize students to TEARS model and No TEARS approach for brand endorser selection. It will enable the students to understand the extent of influencer impact on the brand. It will make students to realistically assess the pros and cons of ambassador marketing using celebrities. It will also enable the student to devise brand strategies to mitigate the risk associated with ambassador-based marketing.
Case overview/synopsis
The case explains the strategic challenge the brand faces in ambassador marketing due to the uncontrollable personal crisis of the celebrity. Brand ambassador is an integral element of the brand persona and is appointed to boost the brand’s unique proposition and sales. The selection of the brand ambassador is a strategic decision with direct implication on the brand equity. A strong celebrity–brand congruence is ideal to establish credibility, but it can backfire if anything negative occurs on either side. This case evaluates the crisis faced by Fortune oil which has been positioned as “the heart healthy oil” when its celebrity ambassador suffers heart attack. In the backdrop of the case, the students can analyse brand strategies with respect to ambassador marketing, TEARS model with No TEARS approach for endorser selection and endorser-related credibility risk management.
Complexity academic level
MBA BBA PG/Graduation in Marketing/Advertising.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
Details
Keywords
Undergraduate, postgraduate and corporate education.
Abstract
Complexity/Academic level
Undergraduate, postgraduate and corporate education.
Case overview
This case describes Ayanda Mbatha’s response, attitudes and beliefs after retrenched from his position as a technician and draughtsman at Rheinmetall Denel Munition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mbatha responded with resilience to losing his job. Mbatha’s attitudes and beliefs enabled him to creatively search for a new job amidst escalating retrenchments. The case examines the factors important for resilience and demonstrates why resilience is an essential skill for individuals dealing with adversity. The case dilemma involves the choices Mbatha had to make during and after the retrenchment process initiated by his employer.
Expected learning outcome
We designed this case to facilitate the understanding of what is resilience and why resilience is an essential skill for individuals facing adversity. Specifically, the case aims to help students to: 1. Describe the construct of resilience in the context of individuals. 2. Identify factors that promote resilience. 3. Explain what resilient individuals do in the face of adversity. 4. Evaluate the importance of resilience during adversity. 5. Evaluate the role of prior adversity in the development of resilience.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 6: Human Resource Management.
Details
Keywords
Consumption and consumer behaviour are driven by social and cultural factors. The global movement against racism and skin colour bias has created a situation where companies need…
Abstract
Theoretical basis
Consumption and consumer behaviour are driven by social and cultural factors. The global movement against racism and skin colour bias has created a situation where companies need to relook at the way they are marketing skin lightening and cosmetic products in an emerging economy like India.
Research methodology
The case study was developed by collecting data from news articles and published research.
Case overview/synopsis
Johnson and Johnson in June 2020 decided to stop selling products under the category of Skin lightening popularly known as fairness creams in Asian markets, especially India. This created a dilemma for popular brands like Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Loreal and Procter & Gamble which have brands under this category. Among all these brands the biggest challenge is for HUL which is a major player in this segment. The case discusses the cosmetic industry in India and how HUL responded to this situation.
Complexity academic level
The case is intended for use in graduate-level courses in consumer behaviour, new product development, integrated marketing communication and marketing. Market environment, cultural and social factors and the importance of considering these factors in developing the product and marketing strategy is the focus of this case.
Details
Keywords
Heatherjean MacNeil, Amanda Wiehe Lopes, Banu Ozkazanc-Pan and Anne Douglass
The information presented in this case was gathered through interviews and observations carried out during the time Ms Joy attended the Initiative for A Competitive Inner City…
Abstract
Research methodology
The information presented in this case was gathered through interviews and observations carried out during the time Ms Joy attended the Initiative for A Competitive Inner City business support program in 2017. In addition, focus groups that took place after the program provided important information and insights into her decision-making process and business goals. Additional interviews were conducted in 2018 and 2019 after the business program ended to gain in-depth knowledge of Ms Joy’s entrepreneurial journey.
Case overview/synopsis
This case details the experiences of Winsome Joy in recognizing market opportunities in the child care industry and then expanding into the educational materials industry. The case focuses on challenges related to founding and sustaining her business and the ways in which Ms Joy engaged in “opportunity recognition” and “effectuation” to become a successful entrepreneur. The case points out the challenges of the child care and early education field in terms of professional training, hiring practices and retaining qualified staff. It provides an aspirational role model who has overcome these challenges by finding and recognizing new market opportunities.
Complexity academic level
This case is relevant for undergraduate and graduate courses in entrepreneurship.
Details
Keywords
Rashmi Kumar Aggarwal and Bikramjit Rishi
The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to understand the meaning of celebrity endorser, to understand factors that play a significant role in selecting a celebrity…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to understand the meaning of celebrity endorser, to understand factors that play a significant role in selecting a celebrity endorser for product endorsement, to decide when a brand needs a celebrity endorser and to generate option analysis factoring in the pros and limitations of celebrity endorsement.
Case overview/synopsis
Dish TV pioneered digital entertainment in India. It was July 2016, the first quarter board meeting of Dish TV India Limited at the company corporate office in Noida, India. One of the agenda items was whether the company needed to rely on celebrity endorsement 12 years after its inception. In three months, time, at its next meeting, the board was expected to come up with a product campaign that would most effectively impact its target customers.
Complexity academic level
The case is targeted at business management students pursuing a postgraduate management program.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
Details
Keywords
Raj V. Amonkar, Tuhin Sengupta and Debasis Patnaik
This case introduces the context of seaport logistics supply chain management with a focus on the issues of risk management in handling and transportation of dangerous goods (DG)…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
This case introduces the context of seaport logistics supply chain management with a focus on the issues of risk management in handling and transportation of dangerous goods (DG). The authors present the following learning objectives under the overarching framework of Bloom’s Taxonomy as follows: To understand the severity of handling and transportation of DG in the export supply chain context. To understand the relevance of multi-criteria decision-making in risk assessment. To apply Delphi Technique to appropriately explain the process of risk assessment in a supply-chain context.
Case overview/synopsis
It was midnight on December 21, 2020, and Nishadh Amonkar, Chief Executive Officer, Yorokobi, was still awake recollecting his telecon with Tushar Rane, the Head-Materials, Western Maharashtra site of Crop Life Pvt Ltd. The organization was developing and manufacturing pesticides and other specialty chemicals for its clients worldwide. As new and diverse products were being manufactured in the organization, transportation of the products was becoming challenging. The case highlights the need for a data driven risk assessment approach to manage supply chains that were prone to product driven risks such as the handling and transportation of DG.
Complexity academic level
This course is suitable at the Master of Business Administration level for the following courses: Supply Chain Management (Focus/Session: Supply Chain Risk Management), Logistics Management (Focus/Session: Risks in Logistics and Supply Chain), Research Methodology (Focus/Session: Application of Delphi Technique).
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 9: Operations and logistics.
Details
Keywords
This case aims to assist students to learn about leadership theory and leadership effectiveness in terms of organizational change. It is best suited for undergraduate courses in…
Abstract
Study Level/Applicability
This case aims to assist students to learn about leadership theory and leadership effectiveness in terms of organizational change. It is best suited for undergraduate courses in leadership development, organizational behavior and specific teaching modules in Master in Business Administration courses.
Subject area
Leadership and leadership effectiveness; organizational change.
Case overview
This case is about a decade (2010–2020) of a transformation journey of the School of Business at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Dr Durnin has been the first female Dean of School of Business in Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) who made this transformation possible and continuing on. With listening ears and a supportive heart, Dr Durnin first moved faculty and staff members out of a “sick” office building and then created a supportive and collaborative culture to build the consensus among faculty and staff members to change for good. It has been her personalized influence, charisma and extraordinary upward negotiation that lead the School to shape its collective effort toward a multi-year Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business accreditation process since 2014. When dealing the uncertainty caused by the 2020 global pandemic, her autonomy-supportive approach once again connected people meaningfully together to excel the challenges brought by COVID-19 pandemic.
Expected learning outcomes
This case provides an example of female leader in higher education to illustrate a successful transformational leadership (TFL) example in the USA, as well as its implications on gender issues and leadership effectiveness. Upon completing the analysis of this case, students should be able to: – understand the TFL concepts, theory and its behavioral implications on gender and leadership effectiveness; and – assess and evaluate effectiveness of TFL styles in organizations.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or e-mail support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Subject code
CSS 6: Human resources.
Keywords
Transformational leadership, Organizational change, Gender and leadership effectiveness
Details
Keywords
Abdul Rehman Shaikh and Asad Ali Qazi
To understand the strategic importance of location selection within the organization. To analyze the constraints in decision-making for selection of location. To analyze the…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
To understand the strategic importance of location selection within the organization. To analyze the constraints in decision-making for selection of location. To analyze the alternate options for a location selection. To understand the usage of the factor rating method.
Case overview/synopsis
Due to a countrywide anti-encroachment drive, Mr Mughal loses his shop. He had just received a notice that his shop including those of others near him was established on one of the amenity plots. The structure was declared as illegal and was to be demolished in 24 h. He had to vacate the shop and his display center to avoid the loss of his items. He along with other shop owners approached to Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) to stop this demolishing act and to prove that these shops belonged to them for decades and that they had already paid the price of shops at that time. However, the SCP rejected their appeal straightforward and the anti-encroachment drive was carried out. Now, Mr Mughal had to find out an alternate location to establish his display center and to resume his business operations.
Complexity academic level
Undergraduate.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 9: Operations and logistics.
Details
Keywords
Subject
Country
Case length
Case provider
- The CASE Journal
- The Case for Women
- Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
- Darden Business Publishing Cases
- Emerging Markets Case Studies
- Management School, Fudan University
- Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
- Kellogg School of Management
- The Case Writing Centre, University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business