The co-founders of the custom bra company DOUBL were facing the dilemma of how to achieve all of the stand-out features they envisioned their product having. Notably, they were struggling to develop the custom fit they had dreamed of for their product and deciphering how to build it in the low-skill Canadian garment economy. The founders had to make a decision about whether to persevere with their dream product and brand positioning, or forfeit one .....more

Omoyemi Chukwurah, chief executive officer of Seams & Stitches Ltd., had optimized production through labor specialization and performance-based pay, alongside regular training initiatives. By 2023, however, she grew concerned that these systems hindered her production staff’s professional growth. Additionally, contract workforce structuring led to dissatisfaction among lower-grade employees who lacked the benefits enjoyed by higher-grade staff. .....more

Tongwei Co. Ltd., founded in 1995, initially focused on producing and selling aquaculture and livestock feed. In 2006, the company entered the photovoltaic (PV) new energy industry. Since then, it has consistently maintained leading production volumes in high-purity silicon and solar cell modules. Tongwei adopted a specialized, decentralized, and differentiated development model, concentrating on three key segments of the PV industry chain. In early .....more

For many decades, Toyota maintained its market position due to its primary focus on making its operations effective and efficient. The company revolutionized the industry’s operations. Several car manufacturers tried to imitate Toyota’s principles, yet they failed to achieve the desired results. Its low ranking on climate change and sustainability initiatives in the Greenpeace Automobile Environmental Guide raised an alarming situation for Toyota, .....more

In early 2023, Siddhartha Lal, managing director of Eicher Motors Limited (Eicher Motors), headquartered in Gurugram, India, grappled with a pressing issue. Over the past three years, Royal Enfield, a subsidiary of Eicher Motors renowned for its iconic motorcycles, had noticed a decline in its appeal to Generation Z customers. The Bullet brand, known for its ruggedness and timeless retro charm, was no longer resonating with this younger, digitally .....more

Independent luxury watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier, founded in 1996 by master restorer Michel Parmigiani, was renowned for its craftsmanship, producing over 90 per cent of its watch components in house. Under the leadership of CEO Guido Terreni since 2021, the brand had focused on the Tonda PF collection and revived the Toric line, achieving profitability by 2023 with a fivefold increase in sales. However, the brand faced challenges amid a shifting .....more

Founded in 2009 in Michigan by R.J. Scaringe, Rivian Automotive Inc. (Rivian) aimed to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) market with its adventure-focused luxury vehicles, notably the R1T pickup and R1S sport-utility vehicle (SUV). Adopting a direct-to-consumer approach, Rivian managed its vehicle life cycle in house, generating revenue through sales, financing, insurance, and after-sales services. After a successful initial public offering .....more

On April 1, 2020, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) acquired GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd. (GSKCH) to strengthen HUL’s global presence and assist GSKCH in managing its liabilities. Four years after the merger, HUL reported a turnover of INR 595,790 million in its fiscal year 2023–24 annual report. The case invites students to assume the role of an analyst and reassess the INR 4.39 per share valuation of GSKCH, evaluating whether it is fair .....more

This case outlined the journey of LUSTER LightTech Company Limited (LUSTER), a leading innovator in the machine vision industry, as it prepared to issue its initial public offering (IPO) on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR Market) of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. After receiving approval for its IPO, LUSTER faced a challenging economic environment and a declining A-share market. The company was left grappling with critical issues: .....more

Teaching note for product W42478.