Amazon and Whole Foods: adventures in grocery shopping

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-153
Author(s):  
Susan White
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Stock Price ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Discounted Cash Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Press ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Whole Foods

Theoretical basis This case focuses on valuation using various methods to price a firm. Students attempting this case should know the basics of how to value a company using discounted cash flow, comparable multiples and comparable transactions. Students will need to calculate the weighted average cost of capital using comparable companies and the capital asset pricing model and determine differences in value created by an acquisition vs a leveraged buyout (LBO). The case also discusses qualitative issues in mergers, such as fit between target and acquirer, integration issues, potential high debt from LBO. Research methodology This case was library-researched, using Amazon and Whole Foods public filings and business press papers. Case overview/synopsis Whole Foods Markets received a buyout offer from Amazon. Whole Foods could solicit offers from other firms, including firms more directly in the grocery business. Whole Foods also considered a management buyout or purchase by a private equity firm. Whole Foods had underperformed, with a falling stock price and reduced profitability. Amazon’s bid was attractive, a premium of about 40 per cent over Whole Foods’ pre-merger stock price. Whole Foods also wanted to consider issues such as culture. Whole Foods’ strategy was to sell organic foods at premium prices, while Amazon was a retail discounter with a largely online business. Complexity academic level This case is appropriate for graduate students at the end of their introductory course or for graduate or undergraduate students in a corporate finance elective, particularly a merger/restructuring elective. The case has been used in an advanced undergraduate finance elective, with a team presenting the case to the class, with remaining students in the class required to write case summaries and questions for the presenting group.

The chicken and egg story of a call centre in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Alan Fun-Foo Chan ◽  
Keng-Kok Tee ◽  
Thanuja Rathakrishnan ◽  
Jo Ann Ho ◽  
Siew-Imm Ng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Technologies ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Key Account ◽  
Substandard Performance ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Learning outcomes After attempting the case, users are able to: analyse issues and problems faced by a call centre in Malaysia. Determine the root causes of the problems faced by call centre employees and generate alternative solutions to solve the problems faced by the company and to ensure the sustainability of the business. Case overview/synopsis This case was about the challenges faced by Daniel, the General Manager of an integrated security protection system company, Secure First (SF). Despite investing in the latest security technologies, conducting a major overhaul of the procedures, introducing an enhanced digital system at the call centre and providing training to the call agents, it was on the verge of losing its important long-term client due to its substandard performance. The client experienced major losses due to break-ins. After a thorough investigation, the problem surfaced in their call centre. Most of the staff were not familiar with the newly adopted system. The circumstances worsened when many of the call centre’s senior employees were tendering their resignations. The case discusses the aspect of employee satisfaction, staff performance that led to the turnover issue amongst employees in a call centre. The case explores what short-term and long-term strategies could Daniel suggest to change the call centre’s course to retain SF’s key account in times of desperation. Complexity academic level This case has a moderate level of difficulty and may be used in undergraduate students. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human resource management.

INFINITI HR – professional employer organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan White ◽  
Karen Hallows
Keyword(s):  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Discounted Cash Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Basic Capital ◽  
Current Events

Theoretical basis Students need to know basic capital budgeting techniques to value INFINITI and its competitors. Issues include how to: handle taxes in a discounted cash flow analysis when valuing an S Corp. where incentives depend on current (known) and future (unknown) tax provisions; value a firm using comparable multiples analysis and transactions data; assess the costs and benefits of acquiring a firm versus being acquired; and analyze an industry and perform a ratio and financial statement analysis. Research methodology The case information was obtained through interviews with co-founder Mark Schwaiger. In addition, the authors researched industry and comparable company data, along with current events relating to the professional employer organization (PEO). Financial data was obtained from the owners and competitor data was obtained from Thomson One and Bloomberg. Case overview/synopsis INFINITI HR was a PEO providing comprehensive human resources to their clients. Co-founders Scott Smrkovski and Mark Schwaiger were at a crossroads at the end of 2015 trying to determine the best course of action to take with their company to grow and prosper. One option was for INFINITI to be acquired by a larger company and the second option was for INFINITI acquire a smaller company. In this case, students have the opportunity to do a financial analysis and evaluation of INFINITI and its competitors to determine which option is the best. Complexity academic level This case is intended for an advanced undergraduate or an MBA corporate finance class.

South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown dilemma

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Michael Ward
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Medical Emergencies ◽  
Daily Wage ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Wage Earners

Learning outcomes The case presents a significant amount of information on the outbreak of COVID-19 and the expected impact on the economy. Although the case is necessarily concise, several links are given to the online articles and video material on which the case is based. This allows participants to deepen their knowledge of the virus and their understanding of its likely economic impact. To frame the discussion, several philosophies, ranging from Libertarianism to Marxism, are lightly expounded. Readers will need to consider divergent ideas; the sanctity of human life versus the monetary value of a life; the hysteria evoked by COVID-19 deaths versus the placid acceptance of an annual 66,000 deaths by another disease – TB; and the differential economic impact of the virus across extremes of inequality. Perhaps, the key issue relates to the skewness in the death rate: Should young people’s livelihood be sacrificed for a few old people about to die anyway? The case also illustrates the essence of a dilemma – a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable. Case overview/synopsis In March 2020, South African President Cyril Ramaposa ordered a 21-day national “lockdown” to enable and enforce social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19. Many other countries had already taken similar steps, but in a country with 43,000 murders annually, South Africa’s response to only 11 COVID-19 deaths and 1,071 cases was both rapid and harsh. Schools, businesses, social areas and parks were closed. Medical emergencies, essential services and weekly grocery shopping were the only permissible activities. Two weeks after lockdown, there were 1,845 cases and 18 deaths, a far cry from the predicted 30,000 cases and 300 deaths, estimated on the basis of the three-day doubling rate at the start of lockdown. Many businesses, pulverised by closure, daily wage earners and those fearful of losing jobs were hopeful that the lockdown would not be extended. In a country with immense inequality, how would the masses under the age of 65 years, already in poverty and now with their lives pulled apart by an imported disease of the wealthy, respond to extended social and economic deprivation followed by bailouts for business? Complexity academic level MBA and Executive Education Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS: 11 Strategy.

The trials and tribulations of JTH Inc.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-108
Author(s):  
Mayank Jaiswal ◽  
Robert Maxwell
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
International Competition ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
The Usa

Theoretical basis The theoretical linkages are with dynamic nature of PESTEL analysis, Porter’s five forces, resource-based view of the firm and characteristics of an entrepreneur. Research methodology The names of the institutions and individuals involved have been disguised. However, the material facts of the case are authentic. Case overview/synopsis This case discusses strategy in the context of a crisis situation in a small business. JTH Inc. was a computer subcontract manufacturing (SCM) firm serving the New England region of the USA. The influx of international competition (mainly from China) due to recession led to significant challenges for JTH and the SCM industry. JTH was struggling and the situation was further complicated by the founder’s (Robert Maxwell) personal and emotional situation. Robert had to decide whether to keep the business running, close it down, merge with/be acquired by a competitor, innovate the business model or do something else. Complexity academic level This case is designed to target undergraduate students of Strategic Management; it may also include Entrepreneurship students. It should most probably be taught in the first half of the course after concepts such as PESTEL, Porter and resource-based view of the firm have been taught.

Strategic merge: a gain or a gamble – the case of Telco China

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Wing Sun Li
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Academic Level

Learning outcomes By reviewing the case study, readers are expected to understand the constraints of competitive strategies in a shifting environmental landscape; the difficulties of foreign companies to sustain in an emerging market with government interventions; the subtlety of joint venture (JV) formation by partners with very divergent background, priority and agenda; evaluation of behavioural orientations of partnership and JV operational arrangements as determinants of a successful JV strategy. Case overview/synopsis High-tech companies can enjoy super profits from their products when only a few competitors can compete with them technologically. However, these companies also nurture a high-cost operational culture that sets a constraint for their further growth when superiority of the technology can no longer be maintained. High-tech companies may reposition their businesses with a strategic shift from differentiation strategy to cost focus strategy. The attendant shift as well as synchronization problem in an organization may require a larger effort to revamp. This case describes a global telecom infrastructure company with successful business performance in China in her early establishment with a pre-emptive technological edge. Mitigation of technological superiority and the rise of local competitors have forced the Company to opt for a cooperative strategy with a local player in the establishment of a low-cost joint venture. Does the new joint venture facilitate the strategic shift or just create an illusion of cooperation? Complexity academic level Undergraduate students and post graduate students taking strategic management course. 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.

Usec Inc.

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Eades ◽  
Ben Mackovjak ◽  
Lucas Doe
Keyword(s):  
Stock Price ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Discounted Cash Flow ◽  
Important Input

This case is designed to present students with the challenges of formulating a discounted-cash-flow (DCF) analysis for a strategically important capital-investment decision. Analytically, the problem is representative of most corporate investment decisions, but it is particularly interesting because of the massive size of the American Centrifuge Project and the potential of the project to significantly affect the stock price. Students must determine the relevant cash flows, paying close attention to the treatment of input costs, selling prices, timing of investment outlays, depreciation, and inflation. An important input is the appropriate cost of uranium, which some students argue should be included at book value, while others argue that market value should be used. Although the primary objective of the case is to focus on the estimation of cash flows, students are provided with a straightforward set of inputs to estimate USEC's weighted average cost of capital. The case is designed for students who are learning, or need a refresher on, DCF analysis. Because of the basic issues covered, the case works well with undergraduate, MBA, and executive-education audiences. The case also affords the opportunity to explore a variety of issues related to capital-investment analysis, including relevant costs, incremental analysis, cost of capital, and sensitivity analysis. The case is an excellent example of the value of a firm as the value of assets in place plus the net present value of future growth opportunities.

LearnOBots: navigating through uncharted waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Sadaf Taimoor
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Business Goals ◽  
Innovation In Education ◽  
Rich Description ◽  
And Mathematics

Learning outcomes In the light of the case and the accompanying case questions, the students should understand the theoretical underpinnings of the Blue ocean strategy. Application and critical evaluation of analytical frameworks associated with the blue ocean strategy. Role of political, socio-cultural and technological factors undermining the success of any endeavor aimed at bringing about innovation in education in Pakistan. The critical balance that social enterprises need to develop between their commercial and social impact goals. Case overview/synopsis Founded in early 2014, LearnOBots was a young social enterprise spearheaded by Shamyl Bin Mansoor and Faisal Laghari. The venture aimed to provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-based, tech supported experiential learning to young kids, which would eventually help improve the educational standards in the country. This case presents the complex dilemma of an enterprise, which achieved market traction to its novel business idea but soon faced changing competitive dynamics that posed a challenge to the uncontested blue ocean strategy that the venture attempted to create. The case is a rich description of the idiosyncrasies that an innovative startup faces in emerging markets context. It gives an insight on the balancing act that social enterprises need to achieve between their business goals and social impact aspirations. Complexity academic level This case is geared toward undergraduate students enrolled in courses of strategy and entrepreneurship. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

The amazonisation of second hand technical equipment: Topotrade case

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Aliaa Khoury ◽  
Nayla Menhem ◽  
Liliane Elias Youakim ◽  
Yara Salame
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Market Place ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Biomedical Equipment

Learning outcomes This case reflects a classic approach to entrepreneurship based on entrepreneurial resources and opportunities. It also provides a vehicle for discussing the key features of a business model. It also addresses key strategic choices such as whether to replicate a business model or not. Case overview/synopsis This case study sets out the story of an entrepreneur: Zein Rachidi. It describes his history and the key milestones in his professional development until the creation and development of his own startup “Topotrade” the first online market place for used topography equipment. It also exposes his development plan, his will to scale up his business by replicating the same business model of Topotrade in a new market, that of used biomedical equipment. Complexity academic level This case is written mainly with a view to its use in the context of entrepreneurship courses for undergraduate students in management, as well as for entrepreneurs who can compare Zein’s trajectory to their own. This case is designed for students also suitable for courses in basic strategy, strategy and change and disruptive business models. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

“F*ck off Google”: protest against Google Campus Berlin

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 669-688
Author(s):  
Martin Paul Fritze ◽  
Gertraud Maria Gänser-Stickler ◽  
Sarah Türk ◽  
Yingshuai Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Consumer Research ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Psychological Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Trade Offs

Theoretical basis This case applies a stakeholder analysis to examine the trade-offs between the firm’s strategy and the interests of different stakeholder groups. A PESTEL analysis supports an evaluation of the firm’s situation. Consumer behavior theories on psychological ownership and territoriality offer a framework for analyzing the conflicts that arise from the inhabitants’ protests. Research methodology This case relies on secondary sources, including news reports, social media sites and company websites. This case has been classroom tested with undergraduate students in a strategic management course in January 2019 at the University of Cologne, Germany. Case overview/synopsis In November 2016, Google announced its intentions to rent a building in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin to open a Google Campus, a business incubator for tech start-ups that would offer entrepreneurs support, workshops and access to networks. Following the announcement, dissatisfied local communities organized protests, in which leaders complained that “It is extremely violent and arrogant of this mega-corporation, whose business model is based on mass surveillance and which speculates like crazy, to set up shop here” (Business Times, 2018). Berlin’s Government supported the Google Campus plan; inhabitants rejected it with fierce and persistent protests. In face of this challenge, was it still possible for Google to continue its plans in Berlin? Complexity academic level This case qualifies for use in strategic management classes at undergraduate and MBA levels. Its focus aligns well with stakeholder analyses, PESTEL analyses and business strategy. In addition, for courses on organizational communications or public relations, this case provides a way to explore the relationship between Google and its stakeholders, especially protesters, in detail. Moreover, this case is well suited for consumer research and public policy courses (e.g., transformative consumer research) centered on discussions of territoriality.

Hotel Business Inn

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Eduardo Luis Montiel ◽  
Octavio Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Discount Rate ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Country Risk ◽  
Cost Of Equity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
The Cost

Learning outcomes These are the three most important learning outcomes: discuss the relevance of capital asset pricing model (CAPM) as the methodology to estimate the cost of equity for an investment in an emerging market; analyze the different alternatives to estimate country risk discussing the pros and cons of each. Consider the additional complexity in estimating the cost of equity, contrasting the perspective of a local, non-diversified investor with that of a multinational company operating in 39 countries. Case overview/synopsis The Chief Financial Officer of a business group has to determine the correct discount rate for an investment in a new hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The group has traditionally used the same discount rate for all projects and is now presented with several alternatives by his team. Estimating the correct country risk adjustment for the project is an important challenge. He knows that there is no clear solution to this challenge that is accepted by all practitioners and academics, but he has to present a recommendation to the board. Complexity academic level The case study is designed for corporate finance, appraisal or international finance courses in both MBA and executive training programs. To discuss this case study, students are assumed to have been already exposed to the weighted average cost of capital and the CAPM. 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 1: Accounting and finance.

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