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

A junior associate at a consulting firm is startled to realize that she may have accidentally sexually harassed a colleague during a passing conversation. She wonders if she was in the wrong and is left worried that her reputation and relationship with the person may be damaged. The case explores what to do when a workplace interaction goes awry, from both the victim and perpetrator perspective. The theoretical basis of the discussion relies on the .....more

The small Filipino Canadian family business Frontier Foods Canada Ltd. was started in Calgary, Alberta with deep roots and a strong commitment to the family’s cultural heritage. By 2024, the business had grown from its start in the family’s garage into a successful and renowned food producer in Canada and was considering expansion. The company was facing critical operational challenges such as production management and a high employee turnover rate. .....more

George Weston Limited (GWL), Canada’s largest retailer, decided in March 2023 to sell its bakery operations to focus on food, retail, and real estate development. The company distributed a package outlining the operational and financial performance of the bakery unit, Weston Foods, to likely bidders. Before bids were received, GWL needed to estimate the unit’s fair market value. GWL hoped to complete the sale before its December year-end, and had .....more

<b>All royalties from the adoption of this case will be donated to First-St. Andrew’s United Church.</b><br><br>In November 2022, First-St. Andrew’s United Church (FSA) was dealing with the same challenges that plagued other churches in Canada: a younger generation that was less interested in joining or supporting a traditional church congregation. With an aging membership and shrinking numbers in the congregation, FSA could .....more

This exercise immerses participants in the innovative intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and luxury branding. Set in the competitive perfume industry, participants assume the role of entrepreneurs tasked with launching a new luxury perfume brand. They must establish a brand identity, analyze market data, design a product, and develop a marketing campaign, all while leveraging generative AI tools. The case challenges participants to think .....more

In October 2024, the chair and chief executive officer (CEO) of George Weston Limited (GWL), was reviewing the draft environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports of GWL and its operating companies, Loblaw Companies Limited and Choice Properties REIT. As the fourth generation to lead the 142-year-old family-controlled business, the CEO was focused on creating generational value and promoting a stakeholder perspective that addressed the needs .....more

This undated negotiation exercise documents the issues surrounding BHP Billiton’s all-cash bid for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. This negotiation involves multiple stakeholders including representatives from both companies, the provincial government of Saskatchewan, and the Canadian federal government. It makes for an engaging exercise; students can explore the complications that arise during political negotiations, with primarily conflicting .....more

TELUS Corporation (TELUS) issued Canada’s first sustainability-linked bond (SLB), in mid-June 2021. An SLB was a newer category of green bond that allowed companies to raise funds for general corporate purposes instead of specific environmental projects. This SLB supported TELUS’s sustainability journey and commitments, towards which it had made significant progress since setting its first climate targets in 2011. Building on this success, TELUS set .....more

In January 2024, an account manager at Devos National Bank was reviewing a request for a $35,000 long-term loan and a $20,000 working capital loan for Malibu Restaurant, a diner located in Centralia, Ontario. The funds were needed to build an outdoor patio for the diner, which would improve its capacity and further bolster the community atmosphere that the owner had curated. While the owner was extremely driven, the account manager was hesitant to .....more