Strategy

Take a look at strategy-related case studies from the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University.

  • Starbucks and Conservation International

    Company: Starbucks

    Publisher: Harvard

    Call Number: 9-303-055

    Year Published: 2004

    Starbucks developed a strategic alliance with Conservation International to promote coffee-growing practices of small farms that would protect endangered habitats. The collaboration emerged from the company's corporate social responsibility policies and its coffee procurement strategy. Starbucks was reviewing the future of this alliance and its new coffee procurement guidelines aimed at promoting environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable coffee production.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    How does Starbucks use its alliance with Conservation International to develop its socially and environmentally sustainable coffee system?

    Website where case study can be found

    http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/web/product_detail.seam?E=15809&R=303055-PDF-ENG&…

  • Sensible Life Products (A and B)

    Company: Sensible Life Products

    Publisher: Ivey

    Call Number: 9B09M057 & 9B09M058

    Year Published: 2007

    An entrepreneur and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sensible Life Products has developed a revolutionary botanical disinfectant called Benefect, the flagship product of his company. This new product is unique among disinfectant products in that it is non-toxic, unlike the majority of conventional disinfectants containing harmful chemicals, such as ammonia, alcohol and chlorine. As a result of the unique properties of the product, the CEO has received numerous offers to purchase or license the technology and is faced with the decision regarding which offer, if any, he should accept.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    Which offer from outside companies to accept?

    Website where case study can be found

    https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/global-search/Sensible%20Life%20Products%20?c__…

  • Sanyo's 'Think Gaia' Vision and Turnaround Efforts

    Company: Sanyo

    Publisher: ICMR, ECCH

    Call Number: 307-185-1

    Year Published: 2007

    Sanyo has been a pioneer in developing alternate energy technologies like solar cells and rechargeable batteries. The case describes the company's 'Think GAIA' vision, the objectives of the vision, and the actions of the company in its efforts to effect a turnaround.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    To make students understand turnaround effects and to understand a need for strong financials for a company that wants to demonstrate CSR.

    Website where case study can be found

    https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=73433

  • Root Capital

    Company: Root Capital

    Publisher: Harvard

    Call Number: 9-510-035

    Year Published: 2009

    Founded in 1999, Root Capital had loaned $150 million to nearly 250 small and growing businesses, mainly in Latin America. In 2009, as the organization launched a five-year, $55 million capital campaign, it had to determine a strategic path going forward in keeping with its goal of achieving financial sustainability by 2013.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    How can Root Capital achieve financial sustainability by 2013

    Website where case study can be found

    http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/web/product_detail.seam?E=1314158&R=510035-PDF-EN…

  • Rick Dubrow, A-1 Builders, and Pro-Whatcom

    Company: Rick Dubrow and A-1 builders

    Publisher: ECCH

    Call Number: NAC2516

    Year Published: 2022

    Rick Dubrow, the owner of A-1 Builders, is faced with a decision that potentially brings his personal values and his business into conflict. Long a proponent of sustainable business practices in the construction industry, Dubrow has made a name for himself and his company. But now his long interest in population issues has led to an interest in becoming a public face of a new organization, Pro-Whatcom, that is pursuing what many people see as an anti-growth agenda.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    Conflict of personal values

    Website where case study can be found

    https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=78428

  • Reciclare: Rethinking the Future

    Company: Reciclare

    Publisher: SKE

    Call Number: SKE-135

    Year Published: 2009

    In 2006, Reciclare, an association of scavengers of paper, cardboard and reusable materials founded by formerly homeless people from the city of Guariní, celebrated its 16th anniversary. Despite the experience it had gained over this time, its sustainability still faced countless challenges.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    To take part in the public bidding process or not?

    Website where case study can be found

    http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/web/product_detail.seam?E=1592168&R=SKE135-PDF-EN…

  • Pyramyd Air: Looking through the Scope of Values

    Company: Pyramyd Air

    Publisher: Ivey

    Call Number: 9B13C038

    Year Published: 2013

    Pyramyd Air, a small and growing online airgun retailer serving the shooting community, wants to broaden its sustainability practices from its current internal initiatives in order to communicate an even stronger value proposition: sustainability isn’t just about recycling and efficiency, it is about a thriving environment leading to more engaged employees and more loyal premium customers. Pyramyd Air recognizes that some sustainability practices are vital to its customers’ long-term enjoyment of a flourishing outdoor sporting industry. 

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    For a company with strong customer relationships but operating in a sector not usually frequented by pro-environment types, can sustainability strengthen the relationship between employees and customers by building on the inherent industry values of the great outdoors and a sense of community? How can the company’s culture and employee perspectives evolve in order to frame sustainability in a new light leading to specific sustainability initiatives that the company could pursue in order to resonate with customers and increase profits?

    Website where case study can be found

    https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/product/pyramyd-air-looking-through-the-scope-o…

  • Procter & Gamble: Children's Safe Drinking Water (A, B)

    Company: Procter & Gamble

    Publisher: UVA

    Call Number: 0315

    Year Published: 2008

    In 1995, Procter & Gamble (P&G) scientists began researching methods of water treatment for use in communities facing water crises. P&G was interested in bringing industrial-quality water treatment to remote areas worldwide, because the lack of clean water, primarily in developing countries, was alarming. With a long history of scientific research and innovation in health, hygiene, and nutrition, P&G considered ways it could address the safe drinking-water crisis as the new millennium approached.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    How P&G can take the business of pure, clean drinking water to other geographies.

    Website where case study can be found

    http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/web/product_detail.seam?E=1350161&R=UV1160-PDF-EN…

  • Patagonia

    Company: Patagonia

    Publisher: Harvard

    Call Number: 9-711-020

    Year Published: 2010

    Patagonia produces high-quality environmentally friendly garments that command significant price premiums. Its environmental mission motivates it not only to donate to environmental causes and reduce the impact of its own production, but also to share its practices with other companies. In spring 2010, Patagonia was in the process of implementing a new, radical environmental initiative called "Product Lifecycle Initiative" (PLI). It constituted Patagonia's efforts to take responsibility for the products it made, "from birth to death and then beyond death, back to rebirth."

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    How can the company balance profits with a commitment to the environment?

    Website where case study can be found

    http://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cb/web/product_detail.seam?E=2453174&R=711020-PDF-EN…

  • Novo Nordisk A/S – Integrating Sustainability into Business Practice

    Company: Novo Nordisk

    Publisher: ECCH, EABS

    Call Number: N/A

    Year Published: 2008

    Novo Nordisk is an excellent example of an organization that attempts to consider sustainability as an integrated part of its strategy and in all of its business decisions. To meet this goal, the company has adopted a management philosophy which they call the ‘Novo Nordisk Way of Management’ to ensure all actions taken by employees meet corporate objectives. However, it is not certain to what extent this is effective in influencing behavior at the operational level.

    What is the dilemma or tough decisions?

    Will the Novo Nordisk Way of Management be successful at the operational level?

    Website where case study can be found

    https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=87866