Business Case Studies by Edition - 16

The Times 100: Edition 16

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  Lean production: This case study will demonstrate how Aldi uses a lean approach to its business operations to offer its customers quality products at competitive prices.

  Competitive advantage through efficiency

  1. Introduction
  2. Lean production
  3. Reducing costs and eliminating waste
  4. Just in time
  5. Benefits of lean production
  6. Conclusion
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  Strategic planning: This case study shows how Anglo American ensures it operates in the most efficient way possible. Since 2008 Anglo American has, through the implementation of its AO programme, been able to deliver on its stated target of saving $1 billion from core operations by 2011.

  Adding value through asset optimisation

  1. Introduction
  2. Reviewing operations
  3. Asset management and optimisation
  4. The Asset Optimisation process
  5. Benefits of Asset Optimisation
  6. Conclusion
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  Motivation: This case study will analyse motivational theory in the context of the employees of ARM Holdings PLC.

  Motivation within an innovative work environment

  1. Introduction
  2. Motivation
  3. Maslow (hierarchy of needs)
  4. Taylor (scientific management) and Herzberg (2-factor theory)
  5. Mayo (human relations approach)
  6. Conclusion
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  Developing people: This case study focuses on how ASDA's training and development programmes enable its General Store Managers (GSMs) to develop the skills and experience they need to become the Regional Operations Managers (ROMs) and senior leaders of the future.

  Meeting business needs through training and development

  1. Introduction
  2. Training and development
  3. Costs and benefits of training and development
  4. Progression routes
  5. Identifying training and development needs
  6. Conclusion
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  Communications: This case study explores how Bernard Matthews has addressed the challenges of communicating with its customers and other important stakeholders.

  Communicating with stakeholders

  1. Introduction
  2. What is communication?
  3. Barriers to communication
  4. Communicating with internal stakeholders
  5. Communicating with external stakeholders
  6. Conclusion
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  Roles and responsibilities: This case study illustrates the variety of career paths available within British Gas, the structures that employees work within and the levels of responsibility for each role.

  Roles, responsibilities and career development

  1. Introduction
  2. Organisational structure
  3. Roles and responsibilities
  4. Management
  5. Developing skills
  6. Conclusion
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  Stakeholders: This case study shows how BT engages with its stakeholders. It explains how the company is working with different stakeholder groups to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

  Stakeholders as partners

  1. Introduction
  2. What is a stakeholder?
  3. Internal stakeholders
  4. External stakeholders
  5. Stakeholder conflict
  6. Conclusion
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  Location of business: This case study examines how CEMEX locates and carries out its operations in a sustainable way.

  Sustainable performance in the construction industry

  1. Introduction
  2. Sectors of industry
  3. Location of industry
  4. Sustainable location
  5. Benefits and impacts
  6. Conclusion
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  Business cycle: The case study illustrates how management accountants support business decision making during all the stages of the business cycle.

  Decision making across the business cycle

  1. Introduction
  2. The business cycle
  3. Boom
  4. Downturn and recession
  5. Recovery
  6. Conclusion
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  Organising people: This case study illustrates how CMI, by training managers and leaders, supports the work of effective team-working within the workplace.

  Using teamwork to build a better workplace

  1. Introduction
  2. The role of a team leader
  3. Working in teams
  4. Team decision making
  5. Team working in practice
  6. Conclusion
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  Location of business: This case study focuses on how Enterprise Rent-A-Car decides where to locate its new or relocated branches.

  Locating a business to enhance the customer experience

  1. Introduction
  2. Factors affecting the location of a business
  3. Return on investment
  4. Identifying a new location
  5. Qualitative influences
  6. Conclusion
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  Risk: This case study examines how Eurostar proactively manages risk through its business continuity programmes.

  Calculating and managing risk

  1. Introduction
  2. Business continuity
  3. Benefits of business continuity
  4. Calculating risk
  5. Business continuity – Eurostar implementation
  6. Conclusion
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  Promotion: This case study illustrates how Hi-Tec Sports developed a new approach to promoting its brand positioning and engaging with customers through a viral marketing campaign.

  Using promotion to position a brand

  1. Introduction
  2. The marketing process
  3. Above-the-line promotion
  4. Below-the-line promotion
  5. Liquid Mountaineering - a viral marketing campaign
  6. Conclusion
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  Marketing mix: This case study describes how JD (part of the JD Sports Fashion PLC Group of companies), a large and well-known retailer, manages the balance of its marketing mix around its consumers' needs in order to achieve business growth.

  Creating a winning marketing mix

  1. Introduction
  2. Product
  3. Price
  4. Place
  5. Promotion
  6. Conclusion
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  External influences: This case study reviews the external factors that have had an impact on Jessops' operations and strategy.

  Responding to changes in the market environment

  1. Introduction
  2. Political factors
  3. Economic factors
  4. Social factors
  5. Technological factors
  6. Conclusion
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  Motivation: This case study focuses on how Kellogg's motivates its people. It illustrates how the use of motivational techniques helps to develop the business as a ‘great place to work’.

  Building a better workplace through motivation

  1. Introduction
  2. Taylor
  3. Maslow
  4. Mayo
  5. Herzberg
  6. Conclusion
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  Marketing mix: This case study illustrates how Kia, a South Korean motor company, has used sports marketing to develop its brand identity in the European motor market.

  Using sports marketing to engage with consumers

  1. Introduction
  2. Marketing
  3. Promotion
  4. Above-the-line and below-the-line promotion
  5. Sponsorship
  6. Conclusion
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  Customer service: This case study shows how Morrisons uses customer service to differentiate itself from its competitors, motivate its colleagues and help the business to grow.

  Developing competitive advantage through customer service

  1. Introduction
  2. Customer service
  3. Measuring customer service
  4. Colleague engagement
  5. The benefits of customer service
  6. Conclusion
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  Roles and responsibilities: This case study demonstrates how the right people with the right skills ensure that the sector can maximise the recovery of the remaining oil and gas reserves as well as remaining competitive and profitable.

  Roles & responsibilities

  1. Introduction
  2. Workforce planning
  3. Functions of an organisation
  4. Roles and responsibilities
  5. Roles within the oil & gas industry
  6. Conclusion
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  Marketing mix: This case study explores how Parcelforce Worldwide responded to increased competition by using the marketing mix or 4Ps.

  Using the marketing mix to drive change

  1. Introduction
  2. Product
  3. Price
  4. Place
  5. Promotion
  6. Conclusion
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  Product portfolio: This case study illustrates how Portakabin, a manufacturer of factory produced buildings, has developed a range of new products called Essential Business Solutions (EBS). The purpose of EBS was to develop products that more closely meet the needs of its customers.

  Achieving growth through product development

  1. Introduction
  2. Ansoff’s Matrix
  3. Generating ideas through research
  4. Analysis and development
  5. Testing and launch
  6. Conclusion
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  Stakeholders: This case study looks at how Primark engages with some of its key external stakeholders.

  Engaging with stakeholders

  1. Introduction
  2. What is a stakeholder?
  3. Trade unions and civil society groups
  4. Workers and communities
  5. Customers and shareholders
  6. Conclusion
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  Promotion: This case study illustrates how Red Bull, the manufacturer of the world's best selling energy drink, uses a range of innovative promotional techniques to improve the process of communication and drive consumer engagement and loyalty.

  Engaging consumers through word of mouth marketing

  1. Introduction
  2. The role of the marketing function
  3. Promotional approaches
  4. Word of mouth (WOM)
  5. Evaluating promotional activities
  6. Conclusion
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  Stakeholders: This case study shows how Reed Elsevier's business benefits from meeting the needs of all of its stakeholders.

  Corporate responsibility and stakeholders

  1. Introduction
  2. Internal stakeholders
  3. External stakeholders
  4. Potential stakeholder conflict
  5. The benefits of a stakeholder focus
  6. Conclusion
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  Investment appraisal: This case study looks at how in 2008 Syngenta proposed an investment in new manufacturing capacity that would allow it to increase production of Amistar. It reviews the analyses that helped the company decide whether to proceed with this investment.

  Investment appraisal in action

  1. Introduction
  2. Reasons for investment
  3. Investment appraisal
  4. Projected cash flows
  5. Discounted cash flows
  6. Conclusion
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  Diversity: This case study demonstrates how Tarmac is benefiting from developing a diverse workforce.

  Competitive advantage through diversity

  1. Introduction
  2. What is diversity and inclusion?
  3. Diversity as a HR strategy
  4. Benefits of a diversity strategy
  5. Diversity in practice
  6. Conclusion
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  Ethics: This case study looks at how Tata Steel is committed to environmentally-sound practices and tackling the challenges of sustainability.

  Business ethics and sustainability in the steel industry

  1. Introduction
  2. What are business ethics and sustainability?
  3. Making ethical and sustainable decisions
  4. Examples of promoting the sustainability of steel
  5. Benefits of taking responsibility for sustainability
  6. Conclusion
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  Organising people: This case study will show how Tesco's leadership framework is fundamental to developing the qualities of leadership needed at every level in the business.

  Developing appropriate leadership styles

  1. Introduction
  2. Management and leadership
  3. Leadership styles
  4. Leadership styles in action
  5. Factors influencing leadership style
  6. Conclusion
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  Strategic planning: The case study explores how TNT delivers its business strategy and achieves consistently high standards of service through its people.

  Delivering a business strategy

  1. Introduction
  2. Mission, aims and objectives
  3. Building a strategy
  4. Delivering the strategy
  5. Strategic direction and strategic gaps
  6. Conclusion
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  Promotion: This case study focuses on how UNISON has promoted its A Million Voices for Public Services campaign. It has used a range of methods and technologies designed to reach a variety of different audiences.

  Using promotion to campaign for public services

  1. Introduction
  2. Objectives of promotion
  3. Promotion
  4. Above-the-line promotion
  5. Below-the-line promotion
  6. Conclusion
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  Strategic planning: This case study examines the customer-focused approach of Zurich, the insurance and financial services provider

  A customer-centred approach to providing insurance

  1. Introduction
  2. Vision
  3. Aims and objectives
  4. Strategy and tactics
  5. Measuring performance
  6. Conclusion