Strategic management in cartelized environment: case of Hisham Packaging, Dubai

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Mohammed Laeequddin ◽  
K. Abdul Waheed

Subject area Business-to-business (B2B) marketing, microeconomics and strategic management. Study level/applicability Target audience can be MBA students who are taking B2B marketing, microeconomics and strategic management courses. Case overview On 1 January 2015, Hamza joined Hisham Packaging, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the CEO. Hisham Packaging specialises in production of corrugated boxes of various sizes, both in plain and printed forms. Most of Hamza’s experiences have been in the automobile industry, where his focus was on Lean operations rather than marketing. After joining Hisham Packaging, he learnt that in service industry like printing and packaging, the business focus is more customer-oriented than process-orientated. In the packaging industry, each customer’s requirement is unique and customised with variety and small volumes. What was shocking to him was that there is an informal cartel arrangement among major corrugated box suppliers in the country and without the consent of the cartel members, he cannot take any major decision like expanding the business or accepting or dropping a customer. Hamza discussed the scenario with his sales manager Ahmad to see what strategy to adopt for the growth of the company. He was trying to figure out what next? Like any other newly joined CEO, Hamza also had plans to increase the market share and make the operations Lean. He quickly found that it would be difficult for him to make any major impact on the existing business due to the constraints and he needed a different strategic move to grow the company. Expected learning outcomes The outcomes include understanding of market dynamics, cartelization of companies based on market structure and strategy building. Students learn that an organization’s performance is just not dependent on how the managers plan, organize and control but it also depends on the competitors and customer’s strategies. Students learn how to apply strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, Porter’s Five Forces analysis and PESTEL analysis in developing business strategy. Supplementary materials Teaching note is attached. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Fauzia Jabeen ◽  
Marios Katsioloudes ◽  
Syed Zamberi Bin Ahmad ◽  
Mohamed Behery

Subject area Entrepreneurship and/or Strategic management/International Business Management. Study level/applicability This case is intended for teaching entrepreneurship/Strategic management/International Business Courses at the undergraduate level. Case overview This is a field-researched case about a budding Emirati female entrepreneur “Azza Al Qubaisi” who established the ARJMST Jewelry brand in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ARJMST brand, a UAE-based jewelry design and art pioneer company in the local art and craft is one of the most popular jewelry brands in the United Arab Emirates. Azza, the entrepreneur faces many challenges and hurdles if she is to successfully sustain her business in the long term. She is considering what her next step ought to be in light of the competition. Should she expand? If yes, where and how? This case will enable students to critically think about the various issues and reach a decision based on the facts provided. The case is based on primary and secondary data collection and has been tested in an International Business Management class at BBA level, with great success. Expected learning outcomes This case study illustrates the journey of an Emirati female entrepreneur who uses simple things in a creative way to build a business. The case will help the students to identify the start up motivation and evaluate the business strategy for further growth. This will also enable the students to critically think about the various factors and reach a decision based on the facts provided. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamad A. Al Ali ◽  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad

Subject area International business and/or strategic management. Study level/applicability This case is useful for undergraduate and postgraduate level students majoring in international business management and/or strategic management. Case overview Etihad Airways was established in 2003, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the UAE government as sole owner. It is the national carrier of UAE with Abu Dhabi as its centre of operations. Etihad is recognized as a fast-growing player in the aviation industry, and has become one of the dominant international players in the industry in a relatively short time. Etihad's fleet now contains more than 67 planes, with more than 1,300 flights per week to diverse destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. The company describes its business strategy as “sustainable growth”. Looking through a practitioner's lens, strategic partnerships have been the critical activities through which Etihad has delivered its strategy. The purpose of this case study is therefore to elaborate on its major and successful partnerships and the critical benefits of these. Secondary data were collected from credible sources including academic studies, relevant Etihad publications and industry reports published by official aviation associations. Expected learning outcomes Students will be able to understand the theory of strategic partnerships, their roles and benefits and critically evaluate the pre-staging “requirements” of such partnerships. In this case, the specific learning outcome of it is to help students to understand the importance of successful strategic partnerships for Etihad Airlines and how partnership strategies can improve the performance of Etihad Airlines. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Conchita Mary Fonseca

Subject area Business strategy and human resource management. Study level/applicability Undergraduate Business and Management. Case overview This case spotlights Oilfield Services branch in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It focuses on various problems encountered whilst operating in Abu Dhabi. Oilfield Services was first established in Dubai in 1995, primarily to meet the growing demand of quality human resources in the oilfield, shipping, and fabrication sectors in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. The case highlights the challenges of motivation and compensating staff and the importance of strategic decision making. Expected learning outcomes This case can be used to teach decision making, cost/benefit analysis, employee motivation, and compensation and elements relating to international business strategy. Supplementary materials A teaching note is available on request.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad ◽  
Frederick Robert Buchanan ◽  
Norita Ahmad

Subject area Entrepreneurship, venture creation and business management. Study level/applicability The case is suitable for analysis in an undergraduates program specializing in entrepreneurship, business and management. The case could also be discussed in an executive development program on business ventures/business strategy/business management. Case overview Since its inception in 1981, Abdul Rahim Al Fahim, CEO Paris Gallery decided that Paris Gallery would foray into French perfumes. At that time, he would have never thought that such a move would ever make him more than a shopkeeper. Now in 2016, Mr Abdul Rahim Al-Fahim has much to be pleased about the success that his organization Paris Gallery (Luxury stores in Dubai) has been able to achieve. He has been twice named as the Arab World’s most powerful retail sector entrepreneur. Certainly, it was his good fortune to be based in the great city, and his business venture has paralleled the exponential success of Dubai. As the concept of grand malls developed and flourished in UAE, Paris Gallery stores emerged and also prospered. Currently, Paris Gallery has 80 stores in the finest locations of the Middle East. This encourages family business owners in UAE to have ambitions for success and growth of their enterprises. This is especially true in a developing region that has rarely hosted such a high-end homegrown success story as Paris Gallery. The study of strategic positioning of Paris Gallery with a workforce of 4,000 employees and representing more than 550 international brands today shall help us in weighing the options of how businesses should proceed strategically. Expected learning outcomes The following insights could be elucidated by the case: familiarizing students with the business challenges in the retail industry in emerging markets such as the United Arab Emirates, and exploring future strategy options from the business growth perspective. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
A. Isakovic Adrienne ◽  
Al Mansoori Fatima

Subject area Human resources (compensation, total rewards, employee engagement, training and development), strategy. Study level/applicability Undergraduate HRM majors and postgraduate business and management. Case overview This case highlights the strong growth and expansion of a former small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the United Arab Emirates, Tips & Toes. The company is a leader in the beauty and fitness service industry, and much of its growth and success is attributable to the leadership of its general manager and her implementation of a differentiation strategy, a market innovator in concepts, products and services, and a total rewards system for engaging and retaining employees. Tips & Toes is planning for continued, aggressive growth and expansion over the next five years. This case also highlights an underrepresented area of focus for case studies: women-led businesses, SMEs, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Expected learning outcomes The main focus of this case is for students to examine the beneftts of using a total rewards strategy to engage and retain employees, and more importantly to see the links between such a strategy and business and revenue growth. This is particularly a salient learning point for students in emerging markets, where more traditional types of compensation and views of the employment contract tend to prevail. In addition, this case could be used as a supplementary learning experience regarding strategy and strategic focus of an organization (i.e. the Treacy and Wiersema model of product leadership, customer intimacy, or operational excellence as a strategic discipline for a firm). And finally, this case provides an example of a woman-led organization which grew out of SME status into a market leader; this example provides students with insight into workable entrepreneur opportunities to which they might not see a direct linkage when reading case studies of large multinational organizations or conglomerates. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad ◽  
Abdul Rahim Abu Bakar

Subject area Strategic marketing, Business strategy, Product diversification strategy and/or Market entry strategy. Study level/applicability This case is useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are pursuing majors in marketing, business management and/or strategic management. Case overview The Emirates Dates Factory commenced operations in 1989 in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as a 100 per cent equity held by Mr Abdullah Al Shamsi. Over time, it has become one of the best and renowned factory for date production and processing. Emirates Dates derives its strength from its own plantations in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain, as well as from a wide variety of date products that it develops, including date syrup, dates in different packing and stuffed dates. The company seeks to be the leader of dates production and processing in terms of sales. However, the management is facing issues pertaining to determining the area of growth that it should pursue. This case study illustrates the growth options that Emirates Dates could pursue along with its opportunities and challenges that the firm faces. Expected learning outcomes This case study expose student to Ansoff growth matrix in general and the application of the market penetration strategy in specific. Accordingly, the case illustrates how one could develop other growth strategies to improve its revenues through product diversification and/or market development. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Githa Heggde ◽  
Deepak Shyam

Subject area Subject areas are strategic management and marketing management. Study level/applicability This case can be used in strategic management and marketing management courses for MBA students. Case overview This case discusses the future of petroleum business at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) – whether to stay or exit. This scenario took place between 2001 and 2008. The volatility in the external environment was beyond their control. Or was it so? This case encapsulates the characteristics of innovative strategy formulation, leading to successful differentiation in a regulated and commoditized industry. This case portrays two significant aspects of business strategy by RIL. First is to comprehend the pioneering strategies formulation and implementation by RIL in the petroleum retailing business. Second is the severe impact of external forces on the company’s current and future prospects and what contingency plans could have been made. Expected learning outcomes This study enables to understand how innovative and differentiation strategies can be successfully applied in a commoditized business; to comprehend the effective application of forward integration and brand extension in a complex, scale-driven industry; and to understand the implication of external threats severely disrupting a growing business. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad ◽  
Norita Binti Ahmad

Subject area Strategic management, Strategic marketing, Entrepreneurship and Small business ventures. Study level/applicability This case study will be useful for undergraduate level students majoring in strategic management, entrepreneurship, small business ventures and marketing. Case overview Just Fresh Juice is a small entrepreneurial venture in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), specialising in preparing all-fresh juices, special mixes and fruit salads. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how Just Fresh can maintain its competitive advantage, and how it could sustain its rapid growth in the market and gain more market share in the long run. Just Fresh focuses on satisfying its customers more effectively than its competitors through a competitive strategy of cost leadership (Papulova and Papulova, 2006), direct interaction with the customers through social media (Srinivasan, 2014) and creating a customer experience (Porter, 2008), as delivering a good customer experience is often more effective in building a competitive advantage than optimising internal processes. Expected learning outcomes The purpose of this case is to enable management students to evaluate and analyse a small business established in the United Arab Emirates. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of new business set-up and build proper business strategy. They will be able to perform the company’s competitive standing using Porter’s Five competitive forces and analyse its business strategies as well. They will be able to analyse the current status of the company using SWOT analysis and to design alternative strategies for the company using TOWS analysis. Furthermore, students will be able to build a cost analysis model for the company. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Olena Burunova ◽  
Sergii Gushko ◽  
Volodymyr Kulishov

The paper investigates the process of strategic management and missions of a multinational corporation on the basis of the model of the balanced scorecard (BSC) formation. Due to the trends in modern management, the development of a company’s strategy, and the estimation of its efficiency are carried out with increasing frequency by means of scorecards. Thus, the aim of the research is to explore the paradigm of strategic management of multinational corporations within the framework of implementation of the model of an enterprise scorecard in an ERP system. The topicality of the research is determined by the necessity to implement the worked out in detail monitoring of company’s activity in a strategic focus, which will allow increasing the operationability and efficiency of administrative decisions and controlling the most essential financial and non-financial performance indices. In the course of work, the authors were guided by the principles of systemic and dialectical approaches to explore the problem. Thereat methods of logic and factor analysis, swot analysis, scenario planning, approaches to grouping, comparison, generalization, interconnection of the theoretical and practical aspects of the work of multinational corporations were used. They serve to deepen the theoretical and methodological aspects referred to the formation of the accounting and analytical information and implementation of the balanced scorecard model in the process of institutionalization of informative economy. It is well-proven that optimization of a business strategy of companies contributes to realization of the information support mechanism of the accounting and analytical systems under the condition of ERP introduction- systems for the improvement of methods of accounting, control and analysis. It gives an opportunity to efficiently manage the resources of corporations, to regulate their production load, to control quality and push their products forward to foreign markets. It has been found out that, taking into account these tendencies, it is possible to construct a pay card of the system of indices according to the levels of acceptance of administrative decisions on the basis of all main business processes of a corporation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Somnath Chakrabarti ◽  
Nripendra Kumar ◽  
Anupam Upadhyay

Subject area Strategy. Study level/applicability The case can primarily be used for a Strategic Management course for teaching the revival strategies for financially weak plants. The case highlights the need to shift from a product manufacturing perspective to a market orientation perspective and, hence, may add value as an add-on case in a Strategic Marketing course. The case also covers the topic of benchmarking which may be of use in an Operations Management course. Case overview DJSL Ltd. is the largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in India in the energy-related/infrastructure space in the public sector. Its Lucknow unit, manufacturing porcelain insulators and wear resistant ceramic lining (CERA LINING), has started reporting losses. A change of management took place in October 2015, whereby Mr. S P Singh was appointed as the Head of the Lucknow Unit. Mr. Singh had rich functional experience of 30 years, mainly in the domains of strategy, project execution and commercial aspects. He was asked to come up with a revival plan for the Unit by the top management of DJSL. The case highlights the importance of operational issues in turnaround management. Expected learning outcomes Students may be encouraged to debate the benchmarking practices that are best suited for the Lucknow unit. They can also discuss the impact of benchmarking efforts upon turnaround strategy. Students are also encouraged to understand the constraints which may limit the success of initiatives impacting operational improvements. Students need to develop the understanding of marketing strategy to perform a SWOT analysis of each product of the Lucknow unit and to sense the business opportunities in and around the environment. Students need to discuss how productivity may be improved with the adoption of appropriate people development strategies. Students are encouraged to discuss the revival/turnaround strategies and to identify the influence of improvement in operational efficiency/productivity upon revival plan. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS: 11: Strategy.


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