This exercise takes students back to 2005, when James Cameron began developing Avatar. The exercise introduces the technological breakthrough of performance capture and virtual production developed for Avatar (2009) without detailing how these innovations changed workflows or roles. Students are asked to imagine, in 2005, what such technology might mean for the future of acting, directing, and movie production over the next 10–20 years.<br><br>The .....more

Fleet Feet Charleston, founded in 2013 by Chris and Amy Minkel, expanded from a single Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, store to four running-specialty shops. Guided by an employees-first, community-second, customers-third philosophy, it delivered expert gait analysis and local programs. Yet weekend wait times exceeded 30 minutes, lost-sale walk outs were rising, and high staff turnover threatened service consistency. Amid margin pressure from other .....more

Scott McLaden was a senior product manager at Trustark, a business-to-business software-as-a-service company based in San Francisco. He was promoted directly from a level-three to a level-five role, where he initially thrived, but after a managerial change in the first half of financial year 2024–25, his performance declined sharply, leading his new manager to threaten him in October with either a formal performance improvement plan or a demotion. .....more

The Bay was a unique non-profit organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska, that provided a welcoming third space community for kids who did not fit in, affectionately known as misfits. The Bay grew to include a hang out, skate park, music venue, and art gallery, and it partnered with the public school system to offer diplomas and gap year education. By 2025, having successfully served Lincoln youth for over a decade, the charismatic founder, Mike Smith, .....more

In May 2023, the CEO of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly was called before the US Senate to testify on the rising costs of insulin prices in the United States. At the time of the hearing, Eli Lilly’s insulin prices had increased by 400% over the past 20 years, a much higher rate than targeted inflation (2%). In the face of rising public resentment and potential legislative changes, Eli Lilly was forced to either justify or reckon with its pricing .....more

In 2012, Jessica Alba, a Hollywood actress, co-founded with Christopher Gavigan the Honest Company Inc. (Honest) to produce and sell non-toxic consumer products. Alba took on the role of chief creative officer, leveraging her visibility and millions of social media followers to build a brand centred on transparency. The company grew quickly, reaching a US$1.7 billion valuation and going public in 2021 with an initial public offering that briefly valued .....more

In 2015, the Finnish start-up Oura Health Oy (Oura) launched the Oura Ring, a sleek, sensor-packed wearable marketed for rest and recovery. Unlike Fitbit or Apple Watch, which stressed steps and calories, Oura focused on sleep, heart rate variability, and readiness. Early adoption by biohackers and athletes, visibility in the National Basketball Association, and a Gucci collaboration gave it credibility across wellness, sports, and fashion. By 2024, .....more

The case examines a Philadelphia-based craft vodka brand, Stateside Vodka (Stateside), that prides itself on quality ingredients and a strong local identity. With growing demand and brand recognition in its home market, the company is contemplating an international expansion strategy. Stateside is exploring various aspects of the expansion process, including market analysis, strategic positioning, brand development, and potential international growth, .....more

In January 2025, the managing editor and chief executive officer of Megatherm Induction Limited faced a critical enterprise-level decision. A year after the Kolkata, India company was listed on India’s National Stock Exchange for Small and Medium Enterprises platform at a premium over its issue price, shareholder expectations had intensified—particularly regarding operational transparency, efficiency, and scalability. As a mid-sized induction heating .....more

Supplement for product W45727.