Case studies

The learning outcomes are as follows: extending the basics of electronic monitoring in context of employees in the banking sector; exploring the role of monitoring in banking sector; and assessing the impact of electronic monitoring on employees’ mental well-being.

Psychological wellness was considered as a condition of mental well-being that enabled people to deal with the physical demands of life, realize their skills, be taught, exert appropriate effort and contribute to their community. Employers routinely questioned their employees and monitored those using computerized monitoring mechanisms. Organizations watched their staff to prevent non-work-related use of business resources. The information obtained through surveillance resulted in employee firing and a lawsuit filed by an employee who claimed stress and invasion of privacy. The most damaging effect of employee surveillance was the fear of losing one’s job. For many of us, a job was our sole source of income, and the prospect of losing it creates panic. The lack of trust among employees, supervisors and managers were witnessed in the workplace. Employee monitoring increased stress and anxiety in the workplace due to frequent monitoring behavior. The current case discussed the above settings in greater detail, the authors attempted to comprehend the well-being of banking sector personnel in terms of electronic monitoring. The absence of trust among employees, supervisors and managers is witnessed in the workplace. Employee monitoring was widely considered technique that employers use to guarantee that their employees would not abuse the resources granted to them to establish a healthy working environment. The case revolves around the branch head of HDFC Bahraich, Anurag Mishra who is facing conundrum within a juncture of employee monitoring impacting the well-being of employee.

The case is intended to students pursuing their graduation and post-graduation in human resource management. The case also provides suitable insights for the banking employees.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

This case study was developed using qualitative data from primary sources (interviews and observations) and secondary sources (newspaper articles, photographs, social media sites and official documents).

Manisha’s Kitchen (MK) in Dubai was a popular destination for authentic Maharashtrian vegetarian cuisine. Since its inception in 2012, the restaurant has demonstrated impressive growth, achieving a remarkable turnover of AED 3.4m in 2018. Its distinct advantage was its healthy, authentic Maharashtrian cuisine and fusion dishes, favored by the expatriate community in the UAE. It proudly holds the title of the first exclusive Maharashtrian restaurant outside India. Founded by Manisha Chitale, a passionate and self-taught cook, the restaurant emerged from her vision to turn her culinary passion into a thriving business. The case study further explores how Manisha navigated the challenges of the dynamic hospitality sector while maintaining the authenticity and quality that have defined her culinary venture.

This case is designed for undergraduate students in various courses, including Advanced Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship Essentials, Creating Brand Value, Strategic Management, Leadership Development and Career Planning and Management. It is especially relevant for sections of the course that discuss entrepreneurial endeavors leveraging disruptive opportunities to build successful businesses and product lines.

The case can be used to illustrate concepts such as willingness to pay, reservation price, demand and supply curves (including their various shapes) and the advantages of location.

Safdar, a roadside fruit seller, faced the decision of whether to offer mangoes early in the season (June 2023). He had a good understanding of the ability-to-pay of many of his customers, but he could not know their willingness to pay for a particular fruit on a specific day. The popularity of mangoes meant that being the first to offer them could give him an advantage, attracting mango lovers who might be willing to pay a premium for the scarce fruit at the start of the season. However, Safdar had to weigh the costs and benefits of his decision, using his knowledge of his clients’ preferences and considering the other risks involved. As the case shows, Safdar was also grappling with the typical challenges and opportunities faced by street vendors in emerging economies.

The case demand, supply and location is primarily written for the participants of professional programs without any economics background. For instance, the case can be used in the Foundations of Economics course designed for master’s students planning to pursue specialization in Public Policy or Economics. The case can also be taught in the Principles of Microeconomics course at undergraduate level.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS3: Entrepreneurship.

To adapt to China's evolving market, McDonald's, an established giant in the Western fast-food industry, has advanced its digital transformation since 2016. McDonald's China collaborated with the company Target Social to develop algorithms that extract key information from big data, assisting marketers with social media insights, content creation, and influencer selection, achieving “circle-breaking” success in social media marketing. In today's rapidly developing technological landscape, digital marketing methods have become diverse and abundant. Why does McDonald's focus its social media marketing strategy on content “circle-breaking”? Can this strategy balance the goals of short-term sales and long-term brand mind-set?

BYD, a prominent automotive manufacturer, initially prioritized supplier certification compliance, and gradually evolveding to establish an integrated quality system. In pursuit of higher customer satisfaction and product quality, BYD underwent a progressive transformation in quality management encompassing four distinct phases by leveraging methodologies and tools such as Six Sigma, statistical quality control and Deming's Cycle. This case holds significant relevance within the realm of operational strategies in manufacturing, specifically pertaining to quality management.

In 2012, Vivian assumed the role of General Manager at the eBay China Development Center of Excellence (CCOE) with the objective of steering the growth of CCOE by initiating a cultural transformation plan. Vivian encountered numerous challenges in reshaping the organization as a new and female leader, especially facing her diminished authority when headquarters decided to realign reporting lines. This case, which illustrates real-world business scenarios, is designed to empower students to understand practices of organization transformation and leadership.

Be-Tiger Technology, a media technology supplier and advertising agency for car mobile intelligence established in 2015, is a hit in the taxi advertising industry. In response to intensifying competition, the founder Wang Jianfeng expands business from Shanghai to a nationwide scale, as well as reaching from business clients to individual customers. This case fits MBA and EMBA courses of marketing and business model innovation.

The Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Control Center, a public eye specialist hospital, is to introduce AI-based disease screening technology to facilitate examinations at community hospitals. By illustrating the difficulties encountered throughout pilot phase, implementation and promotion along with solutions, this case provides students with the dynamics of technology management and the impacts of technology adoption.

In 2007, Dr. Biwang Jiang, a scientist, returned to China to establish NanoMicro. For the first decade, he exemplified the spirit of a scientist by focusing intensively on the field of nanospheres. His perseverance in research and his breakthroughs in leading international technologies allowed him to identify two major application areas: flat panel displays and biopharmaceuticals. The flat panel display business helped his startup survive the initial years, while the rise of the biopharmaceutical sector provided the growth needed for the company's eventual listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Sci-Tech Innovation Board (SSE STAR Market). What distinguishes entrepreneurship by scientists? Should technology-driven companies find markets for their technologies, or should they develop technologies to meet market demands?

Nike rolled out the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) marketing strategy to China market in 2021 in line with global strategy. Yang Ming, the VP of Direct Retail E-commerce in Nike Greater China, had to answer several questions: Would Nike China follow the headquarters' strategy or develop a localized plan? If localization was pursued, how did DTC strategies differ between China and the US, and which online sales channel to be selected as partner? This case highlights the trends in marketing channel in China to impress students with the concepts of digital transformation, supply chain and channel.