Third Wave Coffee (TWC) was established Bengaluru, India, in 2016. In 2024, the company had 114 outlets in different regions of India. Though TWC increased its revenue manifold due to rapid expansion, the operational efficiency remained poor compared to the competition. Most stores lost money, and investors were concerned about the firm’s future. The founders roped in a professional CEO, Rajat Luthra, a quick-service restaurants industry veteran, .....more

The successful integration of information systems (ISs) in any merger and acquisition (M&A) was crucial for achieving the expected synergies of the transaction. This case described the journey of the merger of two telecom giants in India, Vodafone India Limited and Idea Cellular Limited, into Vodafone Idea Limited (Vodafone Idea), India’s largest telecom services provider at the time of the merger in August 2018. The case invited students to understand .....more

On June 16, 2024, the chief executive officer (CEO), founder, and director of V21 Group of Ventures (V21), a real estate conglomerate based in Pune, India, was preparing to meet with members of a housing society in Mumbai to finalize the agreement for a residential reconstruction project. While the CEO had successfully built five real estate ventures, this was V21’s first project in the challenging field of real estate development, and it presented .....more

This case explores the journey and strategic dilemmas of Tech-Tailor Solutions Private Limited, an Indian custom tailoring start-up. Starting with men’s garments in Bangalore, it expanded into women’s wear, business-to-business, international, sustainable, and business-to-government-to-business segments. Facing intense competition, the team evaluated four strategic options to boost customer engagement: artificial intelligence-powered support, augmented .....more

By the end of 2024, Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd. (ACKPL), an Indian publisher renowned for its iconic and extensive cultural content, was navigating the difficulties of a digital-first world. This case study examines ACKPL’s product portfolio, its forays into digital media and entertainment, and its competition from established and up-and-coming publishers. ACKPL faced two core challenges in maintaining sustainable growth. First, the brand had to decide .....more

In June 2024, Shweta Verma, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ginny’s Planet Pvt. Ltd. (Ginny’s Planet), faced a pivotal decision: Should she continue with her company’s subtle but too cautious messaging or launch a bold new campaign to reach more people? Ginny’s Planet was a Delhi-based social enterprise whose signature product, the Ginny doll, was designed with physical differences to foster empathy and normalize disability. The company .....more

In October 2023, Battery Smart, a fast-growing Indian battery-swapping company for electric vehicles (EVs), faced two strategic decisions that could reshape its future. The chief executive officer was considering backward integration through battery manufacturing to reduce supplier dependency amid rising competition across the EV value chain. At the same time, investors were pressing the company to pursue forward integration by entering the ride-sharing .....more

In August 2024, the executive director of ECU Worldwide and Group chief digital officer at Allcargo Group reviewed the company’s global customer retention initiative. Although progress had been made, concerns remained regarding challenges faced during implementation. The company had a churn rate matching the global industry average, and leadership sought further reductions to enhance profitability. In the less-than-container load (LCL) segment, even .....more

The United Villages Children’s Foundation’s (UVCF) Gram Bhavishya Yojana (GBY) program focused on holistic child development and protection in semi-rural areas of India by empowering local communities. Through participating in the United Nations Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, GBY aimed to provide safe and accessible toilets in schools in an effort to increase student enrolment. A UVCF volunteer program officer assigned to assess the .....more

In April 2024, Kavita Singh, the operations manager at HeatWave Appliances, headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, India, faced an immediate challenge in forecasting monthly demand for the firm’s premier product, microwaves, which exhibited seasonal fluctuations. Specifically, she needed to estimate the economic order quantity (EOQ) and safety-stock levels needed for HeatWave to maintain a service level of 99 per cent. The company's manufacturing .....more