Procter and Gamble Europe: Ariel Ultra’s Eurobrand Strategy

It’s a critical time for Procter and Gamble – no fun or games. The company is planning product development through a major pan-European project. It must consider intricacies such as cross-border processes and interaction between strategic and organisational developments. Read why Professor Paul Verdin, Professor Christopher A. Bartlett and co-author Alice De Koning propose a bit of “play time” at this juncture – role-playing time, … [ Read more ]

Reuters’ Internet Strategy (A) (B)

INSEAD Professor Subramanian Rangan and Brian Coleman explain that through more than 100 successful years in business, Reuters advanced through countless communication strategies – from carrier pigeons to an Internet portal. So how did Reuters manage its development, from flying through the air to flying through fibre-optic cables?

Great Eastern Toys (D) Case

Great Eastern Toys dolled up its management plan in 1996, to focus on expanding sales. Its plan, however, didn’t face up to the potential problem of working with other currencies, which is was forced to do in 1998. Its banker pointed out that the depreciation of the European currencies during the previous two years had resulted in substantial lost income. Although this is a ficticious … [ Read more ]

Xerox: Building a Corporate Focus on Knowledge

Knowledge is the key element in running an organization. It’s also the cornerstone for a new economy and, combined with innovation, knowledge enables daily business practices to be reworked. Professor Soumitra Dutta, Professor Luk Van Wassenhove and Beatrix Biren consider how knowledge can be converted into marketplace success for any organization. They study one particular Xerox community as well as the overall … [ Read more ]

Managing Knowledge at Booz-Allen & Hamilton: Knowledge On-line and Off

You’ve heard, “It’s who you know, not what you know,” but in top organizations today, it’s “how you know”. INSEAD Professors Charles Galunic and John Weeks use Booz-Allen & Hamilton to show that once the how’s began making sense, the who’s fell into place. It’s what’s next in knowledge management.

The Luksic Group: A Chilean Conglomerate in a Global Economy

Buy low, sell high – the Luksic Group began small using this business tactic, and soon, the formula was highly successful. Over the years, it grew into one of Chile’s largest conglomerates. But a tougher challenge followed when the group attempted to convert its local successes into global ones. In this recent case study, Paulina Cuadra and Professors Lourdes Casanova and Gonzalo Jimenez explain how … [ Read more ]

Adidas’ Human Rights Policy and Euro 2000

adidas, a leading athletic shoe manufacturer, worked hard to develop and implement its human rights policy. It paid special attention to its work practices in the developing world. Nevertheless, it needed to make some strategic decisions, as it was faced with NGO protests on the sidelines of the adidas-sponsored Euro 2000 football championship. Robert Crawford and Professor Jill Klein explain the situation and explore the … [ Read more ]

iMotors: New Competition in Used Cars

iMotors offers customers the chance to custom-order used cars online, all for low, low prices. But can its business plan deliver profitability? And how will it sustain its advantages in the face of growing competition? Professor Ron Adner and Charles Nunn ask you to consider the management’s next steps in this case study.

Spacedisk, Inc: Marketing a Global Distributed Application Platform on the Internet

The fast paced Internet environment provides opportunities to those nimble firms that are capable of revising their business model in real time. Professors Jochen Wirtz and Jill Klein present the case of Spacedisk, Inc. in an effort to demonstrate the power of adaptability and collaboration in e-space.

The Tesco.com Experience: Is Success at Hand?

Tesco currently lays claim to about one-fifth of the UK grocery market, and to take full advantage of the Internet as a sales channel, the retailing chain launched Tesco.com in the mid-1990s. What challenges did the “old economy” firm face as it added this “new economy” expansion? Albrecht Enders, Professor Tawfik Jelassi and Professor Charles Waldman illustrate its path, including the heated debate on implementation … [ Read more ]

The Optical Networking Industry (A) (B)

The Internet revolution burst on the scene, bringing new industries and overhauling existing ones. With the stock market euphoria of 1999 and early 2000, it seemed these tech-oriented firms could do no wrong. In fact, in 2000, despite the reservations of certain analysts who downgraded the stock of Nortel and Cisco, their share prices continued to rise. But with the arrival of the stock market … [ Read more ]

Semiconductors: a Case for Strategic Trade

When the Semiconductor Trade Agreement was set to expire in 1996, some US industry leaders called for renewal, while their Japanese counterparts argued against it. In this case study, Professor Daniel Traca and Robert Crawford challenge you to examine the issues surrounding US-Japanese semiconductor trade and the possibility of an STA III.

Rhodex-Puguet S.A.

Rhodex-Puguet has long been a leader in the specialty chemicals market. Its success has been attributed to heavy investment in R&D, but lately, instead of producing innovative, new products, it’s having problems with missed deadlines, overworked staff and unclear expectations. So what does a firm do when it finds its R&D suddenly stands for Returns Declining? Professor Arnoud De Meyer challenges you to find the … [ Read more ]

Parfums Cacharel de L’Oréal: Decoding and Revitalizing a Classic Brand

Parfums Cacharel’s AnaisAnais and Loulou were once the number one and number two best-selling fragrances in Europe, but profits had slipped and the firm’s new director argued that the organization had lost sight of its brand identity. How could it carry out an effective self-assessment? Cacharel chose brand decoding over market research. Professor Pierre Chandon, Professor Klaus Wertenbroch and Nicholas Rowell ask you to determine … [ Read more ]

Alibaba.com

Beginning with $60,000 and a dream, Alibaba.com shot to the top in less than two years and is now the world’s largest online marketplace for international trade among small- and medium-sized enterprises. But just like the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, making it inside the cave is only the beginning of the adventure. Professor Ming Zeng describes Alibaba.com’s rise, explains the challenges … [ Read more ]

DBS (A), (B), (C), (D): Local Player to Regional Bank

This series of four cases detail DBS’s growth strategy to transform itself from a large local player to a significant regional player. Beginning with the much-publicised problems DBS faced with its first major overseas acquisition at the outset of the Asian Crisis, through the process of building the capability to become a successful acquirer, Keeley Wilson, Professor Peter Williamson and Chua Chei Hwee trace DBS’s … [ Read more ]

Lee Coker

The members of Lee Coker’s team have varying degrees of experience and successes. How can he best manage this mixed group so that each person achieves his or her goals, as well as the milestones of the overall organisation? Professor Jean-Francois Manzoni and Research Fellow Jean-Louis Barsoux illustrate the challenges of operational management in this case study.

Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce: Mondus.com, an E-marketplace for Small- and Medium- Enterprises

The Internet offers yet another forum where buyers and sellers can meet. In terms of efficiency, simplicity and accessibility, what elements make up the best online marketplaces? Michael Mueller and Professor Tawfik Jelassi present the case of mondus.com, a B-2-B website that began just two years ago and struck success. What makes the firm work so well? In this case, you’ll find the insights to … [ Read more ]

The House that Branson Built: Virgin’s Entry Into the New Millennium

Anyone can make music, but when the orchestral baton rests in the hands of someone like Richard Branson (entrepreneur of the Virgin Group), the resulting sound is more than musical – it’s magical. INSEAD Professor Manfred Kets de Vries examines the inner-workings of this successful entrepreneur and the evolution of Virgin – from one leader to more “systematic” management.