Business Case Studies by Industry

• Automotive

• 

  Kia Motors case studies

  • — Using sports marketing to engage with consumers

    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. — Edition 16

• Chemical

• 

  Cristal Global case studies

• Computing/IT

• 

  ARM case studies

  • — Motivation within an innovative work environment

    This case study will analyse motivational theory in the context of the employees of ARM Holdings PLC. — Edition 16

• Construction

• 

  Portakabin case studies

  • [+] Achieving growth through product development

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] How the role of marketing drives business forwards

    This case study shows how Portakabin uses marketing to identify and anticipate customer needs and then meet them. — Edition 15

  • [+] Lean production at Portakabin

    This case study focuses on how Portakabin uses lean production methods to ensure it produces aquality product that gives value to the customer. — Edition 14

  • [+] Promoting the brand

    This case study explores how Portakabin uses market analysis to identify customer requirements and promote its brand. — Edition 13

  • [+] How market research helps Portakabin to remain at the cutting edge

    This case study helps students understand the importance of market research to successful, customer-led product development. — Edition 12

  • [+] The importance of excellent customer service

    This case study helps students understand the importance of understanding what customers want to improve customer service. — Edition 11

  • [+] The importance of quality in creating competitive advantage

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: know that quality relates to how well a product does what it is intended to do, explain how the ability to provide quality consistently gives some companies competitive advantage, demonstrate the importance of offering customers high quality service. — Edition 10

  • [+] Meeting customer needs for competitive advantage

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: define the term competitive advantage, understand the importance of differentiation as a competitive strategy, distinguish between private and public sector customers. — Edition 9

  • [+] Developing products and services to meet market demand

    This case study examines how Portakabin has developed new products in response to growth in its existing markets. In particular, it focuses on Portakabin WardSpace accommodation: an efficient way of meeting increasingly demanding and highly specific requirements of the healthcare industry. — Edition 8

  • — Responding to an Emerging Market
• 

  Tarmac case studies

  • [+] Competitive advantage through diversity

    This case study demonstrates how Tarmac is benefiting from developing a diverse workforce. — Edition 16

  • [+] Developing a Human Resource strategy

    This case study focuses on Human Resource Management within Tarmac. It looks at how workforce planning and other HR strategies enable Tarmac to meet its mission. — Edition 15

  • [+] How roles and functions contribute to organisational performance

    This case study focuses on how the people in Tarmac Quarry Materials deliver the highest value for customers, communities, employees and investors. — Edition 14

  • [+] How roles and functions contribute to competitive advantage

    This case study shows how Tarmac focuses on attracting and keeping the right staff and ensuring its employees have the right skills and expertise to grow the company. — Edition 13

  • [+] Tarmac's functions - working together towards its mission statement

    This case study examines how organisational structure and departmental functions all contribute to the achievement of business objectives. — Edition 12

• 

  CEMEX case studies

  • — Sustainable performance in the construction industry

    This case study examines how CEMEX locates and carries out its operations in a sustainable way. — Edition 16

• Consultancy

• 

  Chartered Management Institute case studies

  • [+] Using teamwork to build a better workplace

    This case study illustrates how CMI, by training managers and leaders, supports the work of effective team-working within the workplace. — Edition 16

  • [+] The importance of effective management

    This case study looks at the theoretical basis behind CMI's highly regarded practices and shows how CMI ensures its members have the practical skills to make an impact in business. — Edition 15

• Energy

• 

  British Gas case studies

  • [+] Roles, responsibilities and career development

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Workforce planning at British Gas

    This case study explores how British Gas manages the recruitment and selection of new employees. — Edition 15

• Engineering

• 

  Sheffield Forgemasters International case studies

  • — Apprenticeship training within the steel industry

    This case study looks in more detail at SFIL’s apprenticeship programme. It draws on the experiences of three current apprentices: Dan, Kurt and Rebecca. It also considers the broader training challenge for a modern engineering business such as SFIL. — Edition 17

• Fashion

• 

  Primark case studies

  • [+] Engaging with stakeholders

    This case study looks at how Primark engages with some of its key external stakeholders. — Edition 16

  • [+] Providing consumers with ethically sourced garments

    This case study shows how Primark sources the clothes it sells in its shops in an ethical and fair way, often at added cost to itself. — Edition 15

• Financial services

• 

  Chartered Institute of Management Accountants case studies

  • [+] Decision making techniques

    This case study illustrates how management accountants use financial data to help make informed decisions. — Edition 17

  • [+] Decision making across the business cycle

    The case study illustrates how management accountants support business decision making during all the stages of the business cycle. — Edition 16

  • [+] Controlling cash flow for business growth

    This case study looks at how management accountants forecast, monitor and control cash flow in order to maintain the ongoing financial health of businesses. — Edition 15

  • [+] Improving strategic decision making

    This case study looks at a structured approach to decision making. It shows how CIMA-trained management accountants have the skills to offer strategic and practical advice and can contribute to effective decision making at all levels in a business. — Edition 14

  • [+] Financial information in decision making

    This case study looks at the roles and duties that management accountants cover in a business and at CIMA, an organisation which supports management accountants through training and certification. — Edition 13

• 

  Zurich case studies

  • [+] A customer-centred approach to providing insurance

    This case study examines the customer-focused approach of Zurich, the insurance and financial services provider — Edition 16

  • [+] Providing a customer-centric service

    This case study focuses on how Zurich has used market research to develop a business strategy of 'delivering help when it matters so that customers feel valued and taken care of'. — Edition 15

• Food & drink

• 

  Nestle case studies

  • [+] Business principles in action - nutritional labelling

    This case study shows how market research has helped Nestlé understand what consumers wanted to know about Nestlé products so they can make informed choices. This has enabled Nestle to exercise corporate responsibility and demonstrate its business principles. — Edition 12

  • [+] Nutrition, Health & Wellness - New Product Development at Nestle

    This case study helps students understand how companies research, develop and launch new products. — Edition 11

  • [+] Responding to changing customer requirements: the drive towards Wellness

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: know that increasing numbers of people want healthier foods, understand how and why market focused companies (e.g. Nestlé) respond to such developments, know about Nestlé: its size, its products and its worldwide reputation. — Edition 10

  • [+] Sustainability and water

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: know the basic economic problem and how it is solved, understand the factors of production and opportunity cost, describe what is meant by sustainability. — Edition 9

  • [+] From bean to bar - the production process

    This case study looks at the massive, complex worldwide operations that ensures that chocolate products are on the shelves of retail outlets 365 days a year. In reality, it represents a triumph for careful planning and meticulous organisation. — Edition 8

  • — Kit Kat: Revitalising a Brand Leader
  • — Doing Better By The Environment
  • — Coffee - The Supply Chain
  • — Long term maintenance of a classic brand name
  • — The power of love
  • — Injecting new life into the product life cycle
• 

  Bernard Matthews case studies

  • — Communicating with stakeholders

    This case study explores how Bernard Matthews has addressed the challenges of communicating with its customers and other important stakeholders. — Edition 16

• 

  Red Bull case studies

  • — Engaging consumers through word of mouth marketing

    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. — Edition 16

• Logistics

• 

  Parcelforce Worldwide case studies

  • [+] Using the marketing mix to drive change

    This case study explores how Parcelforce Worldwide responded to increased competition by using the marketing mix or 4Ps. — Edition 16

  • [+] Customer service as a strategy

    This case study examines how a strategy focused on customer service can contribute to longterm business development. — Edition 13

• 

  TNT case studies

  • — Delivering a business strategy

    The case study explores how TNT delivers its business strategy and achieves consistently high standards of service through its people. — Edition 16

• Manufacturing

• 

  Kellogg's case studies

  • [+] Building a better workplace through 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’. — Edition 16

  • [+] New products from market research

    This case study focuses on the importance of market research during the development and launch of Crunchy Nut Bites, a more recent extension to the Crunchy Nut brand. — Edition 15

  • [+] Supply chain from manufacturing to shelf

    This case study shows how Kellogg's fulfils this mission in the later parts of the supply chain from manufacturing to shelf. — Edition 14

  • [+] Extending the product life cycle

    This case study shows how Kellogg recognised that the Nutri-Grain brand was losing market share. It used business tools to re-launch the brand and return it to growth in its market. — Edition 13

  • [+] Using aims and objectives to create a business strategy

    This case study shows how the use of SMART objectives is an essential part of creating a successful business strategy. — Edition 12

  • [+] Using promotion to boost sales and brand value

    This case study helps students understand how companies promote above and below the line. — Edition 11

  • [+] Building a brand in order to sustain its life cycle

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: know what is meant by a product life cycle, understand research is needed to identify the best way of injecting new life into brands/products, explain the key components of a SWOT analysis. — Edition 10

  • [+] Using new product development to grow a brand

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: appreciate the need to make decisions that help to manage, maintain and develop the value of brands, appreciate the importance of market research processes and the questions that market researchers seek to answer, link processes of market research with a range of products that closely meet consumers’ needs. — Edition 9

  • — Revitalising a valued character
  • — Re-branding a Corporate Image
• 

  Tata Steel case studies

  • — Business ethics and sustainability in the steel industry

    This case study looks at how Tata Steel is committed to environmentally-sound practices and tackling the challenges of sustainability. — Edition 16

• Mining

• 

  Anglo American case studies

  • [+] Adding value through asset optimisation

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Social responsibility - using resources more efficiently

    This case study shows how Anglo American, through its aims and objectives, is driving forward its approach to sustainable development. — Edition 15

  • [+] New technology development in the primary sector

    This case study focuses on how Anglo American carries out new product and process development. — Edition 14

  • [+] Business ethics and corporate social responsibility

    This case study shows the challenges Anglo American faces in its industry and how it seeks to make ethical choices in its business practice. — Edition 13

  • [+] Social and environmental responsibility

    This case study highlights how Anglo American contributes to sustainable development through being socially and environmentally responsible. — Edition 12

  • [+] Working for sustainable development in primary industry

    This case study helps students understand sustainability, stakeholders and ethics as well as the links between these topics. — Edition 11

• Oil & gas

• 

  OPITO case studies

  • [+] Roles & 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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Sectors of industry

    This case study shows the importance of primary sector activities in the oil and gas industry, highlighting the range of work and the skills required. — Edition 15

  • [+] Management styles in the oil and gas industry

    This case study examines how different management styles may be necessary to support the variety of job roles within the oil and gas industry. — Edition 14

• Public sector

• 

  UNISON case studies

  • [+] Using promotion to campaign for public services

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Negotiation and representation at work

    This case study shows how UNISON is working with employers to support and develop high quality apprenticeship schemes for young people in line with government policy. — Edition 15

  • [+] Use of PEST analysis at UNISON

    This case study focuses on the issues faced by migrant workers in the UK. — Edition 14

  • [+] Driving forward environmental aims and objectives

    This case study focuses on the way businesses impact on the environment. One of UNISON's aims is to help to improve the environment at work and, by so doing, contribute to efforts to tackle climate change. — Edition 13

  • [+] Using effective communications

    This case study helps students understand communication processes and the benefits for an organisation of effective communication. — Edition 12

  • [+] Health and safety in the workplace

    This case study helps students understand the role of unions understanding their work in Health and Safety. — Edition 11

  • [+] UNISON and unions' wider role

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: understand why employers and employees need to agree on what is fair in the workplace, explain the role of unions in both protecting and representing workers at both local and national level, give examples of cases where UNISON has been successful on behalf of workers. — Edition 10

  • [+] Organisations and unions

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: explain the benefits for the employer and employee of working together harmoniously for the common good, outline the work of UNISON in protecting public sector workers’ rights, understand that union membership is a hard-won right that employees should exercise. — Edition 9

  • [+] Trade Unions - dealing with change

    This case study looks at how trade unions still play a vital role in promoting fairness in the workplace and how they achieved big improvements in the lives of working women. It also looks at why they are trying to persuade young members that becoming a union member brings them enormous advantages in the workplace. — Edition 8

• Publishing

• 

  Reed Elsevier case studies

  • — Corporate responsibility and stakeholders

    This case study shows how Reed Elsevier's business benefits from meeting the needs of all of its stakeholders. — Edition 16

• R&D

• 

  Syngenta case studies

  • [+] Investment appraisal in action

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Product design through research and development

    This case study shows how R&D is central to building Syngenta's product range. — Edition 15

  • [+] Developing an effective organisational structure

    The case study shows how Syngenta operates though a matrix structure. This involves staff from different departments working together in teams on specific projects and tasks. — Edition 14

  • [+] Feeding and fuelling the world through technology

    This case study looks at how Syngenta, one of the world's leading plant science businesses, is meeting the dual challenge of increasing crop yield and producing alternative fuels. — Edition 13

  • [+] Using research and development to improve agricultural productivity

    This case study looks at the research and development process as part of product development and its importance to environmental sustainability. — Edition 12

• Retail

• 

  ASDA case studies

  • [+] Meeting business needs through training and development

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Meeting stakeholder needs through community involvement

    This case study helps students understand how companies meet their stakeholders needs through community involvement. — Edition 11

• 

  Tesco case studies

  • [+] Developing appropriate leadership styles

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Motivational theory in practice at Tesco

    This case study looks at how Tesco motivates its employees by increasing their knowledge, skills and job satisfaction through training and development and providing relevant and timely reward and recognition. — Edition 15

  • [+] How training and development supports business growth

    This case study looks at how Tesco provides training and development opportunities for its employees. — Edition 14

  • [+] Recruitment and selection

    This case study looks at how Tesco ensures it has the right number of people in the right jobs and at its structured process for recruitment and selection. — Edition 13

• 

  Co-operative Food Group case studies

  • — Ethically serving stakeholders

    This case study shows how The Co-operative Group's values contribute to improving the diet and health of the UK. — Edition 14

• 

  JD Sports case studies

  • — Creating a winning 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. — Edition 16

• 

  Jessops case studies

  • — Responding to changes in the market environment

    This case study reviews the external factors that have had an impact on Jessops' operations and strategy. — Edition 16

• 

  Morrisons case studies

  • — Developing competitive advantage through 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. — Edition 16

• 

  Aldi case studies

  • — Competitive advantage through efficiency

    This case study will demonstrate how Aldi uses a lean approach to its business operations to offer its customers quality products at competitive prices. — Edition 16

• 

  Harrods case studies

  • — Developing a career path in retail

    This case study show how Harrods develops its employees so they can achieve a rewarding career in retail. — Edition 17

• 

  Bibby Line Group case studies

  • — Growth through investment

    This case study looks at the strategies used by Bibby Line Group to grow the business, whilst retaining a strong family ethos. — Edition 17

• Services

• 

  Enterprise Rent-A-Car case studies

  • [+] Marketing and product strategies for growth

    This case study illustrates how Enterprise Rent-A-Car has expanded its operations beyond its core business of car hire. The case study uses Ansoff's matrix to illustrate how it has developed its strategies to improve and grow the business, creating new products and extending its services into new markets. — Edition 17

  • [+] Locating a business to enhance the customer experience

    This case study focuses on how Enterprise Rent-A-Car decides where to locate its new or relocated branches. — Edition 16

  • [+] Motivation in action

    This case study looks at ways in which Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Enterprise) managers find out about what motivates their staff. — Edition 15

  • [+] Recruitment and selection at Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    This case study explores how Enterprise ensures it has the right people and skills to achieve its business aims and objectives. — Edition 14

  • [+] Using a range of management styles to lead a business

    This case study focuses on leadership within Enterprise. It shows how its managers use a range of management and leadership styles to support Enterprise's focus on customers. — Edition 13

  • [+] The importance of customer service at Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    This case study demonstrates the importance that Enterprise Rent-A-Car places on the role of excellent customer service in growing the business. — Edition 12

• Sportswear

• 

  Hi-Tec Sports case studies

  • — Using promotion to position a brand

    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. — Edition 16

• Telecommunications

• 

  BT case studies

  • [+] Stakeholders as partners

    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. — Edition 16

  • [+] Sustainability, stakeholders and profits

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: describe the moral principles underpinning the pursuit of sustainable development, describe some benefits of sustainability, identify factors that are important to stakeholders. — Edition 9

  • [+] Meeting customers' needs in growth markets - online gaming

    As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: explain how broadband meets customers’ need for speed, identify key segments in the gaming market, explain how BT has developed a marketing mix for broadband gaming. — Edition 9

• Travel & transport

• 

  Network Rail case studies

  • [+] Using PESTEL to design effective strategies

    This case study describes how PESTEL analysis helps Network Rail to respond to changes in its business environment. — Edition 12

  • [+] Critical Path Analysis at Network Rail

    This case study highlights the importance of planning for major projects and how using Critical Path Analysis contributes to efficient and effective use of resources. — Edition 11

• 

  Eurostar case studies

  • — Calculating and managing risk

    This case study examines how Eurostar proactively manages risk through its business continuity programmes. — Edition 16

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