Business Case Studies by Industry - Financial services

The Times 100 financial services case studies

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    Abbey

    • — Customer-led innovation in a competitive market

      As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able toexplain the difference between a product-led and a customer-led approach to business, explain the importance of ongoing market research for identifying customer requirements and thereby enabling an organisation to deliver consumer focused benefits, give examples of ways in which Abbey has simplified its communications with customers. — Edition 9

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    ACCA

    • — The contribution of accountants to sound, ethical business practice

      As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: understand the nature and purpose of accounting, appreciate the role of professional accountants in managing information and using knowledge for decision-taking purposes , understand the contribution made by accounting standards and a code of ethics towards providing a true and fair view of business performance. — Edition 9

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    AEGON

    • — Embracing and pursuing change

      This case study shows how AEGON has responded to its changing business environment to achieve its goals. — Edition 12

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    Barclays

    • [+] Discovering customer needs through research

      The case study shows how market research enabled Barclays to improve its student account offer. — Edition 15

    • [+] Supporting new business start-ups

      This case study looks at the challenges of setting up a new business and at some of the decisions that must be made by a budding entrepreneur. — Edition 14

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    Building Societies Association

    • [+] Working within the business cycle

      This case study illustrates how building societies manage theirbusiness during the various phases of the business cycle. — Edition 15

    • [+] The importance of effective communication

      This case study shows how building societies communicate with their own members on many different levels. — Edition 14

    • [+] Building societies and other types of organisation

      This case study outlines different types of business organisations and their purpose. It highlights the similarities and differences between other types of business and building societies. — Edition 13

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    Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

    • [+] 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

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    CMC Markets

    • — Enterprise in the fast lane

      This case study focuses on the entrepreneur, Peter Cruddas, who set up his own business CMC Markets in the early 1990s with just £10,000 capital. — Edition 14

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    Egg

    • — Motivation - how Egg unleashes the power of people

      This case study helps students understand how companies motivate their staff recognising how individual employee's needs are different. — Edition 12

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    Experian

    • [+] Entering a new market with a new product

      This case study helps students understand the range of choices available to companies for market and product development. — Edition 12

    • [+] Strategic planning - responding to external influences

      This case study helps students understand how effective planning is developed by understanding changes in the external environment. — Edition 11

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    first direct

    • [+] Using customer service to position a business

      This case study shows how the online bank first direct positions itself in the retail banking sector. — Edition 14

    • [+] Using market research to relaunch a brand

      This case study shows how first direct has used market research to revitalise its brand. — Edition 13

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    FTSE Group

    • — The contribution of the FTSE4Good Index to socially responsible investment

      This case study examines the work of FTSE Group, one of the world’s best-known data providers. FTSE manages over 20,000 financial indices including its best known product: the FTSE 100. It also focuses on the new family of indices, FTSE4Good, a new standard for socially responsible investment. — Edition 8

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    Lloyd's of London

    • [+] How Lloyd's responds to changes in the business environment

      As a reult of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: understand that the business environment is uncertain and volatile, know that businesses cannot avoid taking risks, value the importance of businesses and households obtaining insurance cover against risk. — Edition 10

    • [+] A truly global market

      As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: understand why businesses need and value insurance cover, understand Lloyd’s role in insurance, understand the concept of a market. — Edition 9

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    Lloyds TSB

    • [+] Positive about disability

      The case study shows that developing good positive working practices that deal with disability benefits both employers and employees. — Edition 14

    • [+] Changing working patterns

      This case study shows how Lloyds TSB uses flexible working patterns to attract, appoint, motivate and retain its staff in order to deliver the highest levels of customer service. — Edition 13

    • [+] The business benefits of diversity

      This case study describes how Lloyds TSB uses a sexual orientation strategy as part of its diversity programme to deliver improved business benefits. — Edition 12

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    Morgan Stanley

    • [+] Matching people with technology to create a global strategy

      This case study examines the work undertaken by Morgan Stanley to ensure that it is making the best possible use of the opportunities offered by new technology and the benefits to itself and its customers resulting from its conspicuous success. — Edition 8

    • — Operating Globally Through Technology
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    Nationwide

    • — Securing customers' interests through mutual ownership

      As a result of carefully reading the Case Study, students should be able to: understand that all businesses have ownership and management structures, understand the need for an organisation’s structures to be appropriate to the organisation’s purpose and vision, appreciate how mutuality can provide mutual organisations with competitive advantage. — Edition 10

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    Northern Rock

    • — Pursuing a growth strategy

      This case study helps students understand how companies grow by meeting needs. — Edition 11

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    Royal Bank of Scotland

    • — Motivating through Total Reward

      This case study shows motivation theory in action and describes how a company can achieve the highest level of commitment from its employees. — Edition 12

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    Yorkshire Building Society

    • [+] Meeting customer needs - Young Savers

      This case study illustrates customer orientation by showing how Yorkshire Building Society has carried out detailed research into the financial requirements of young people with a view to offering them products that most meet their needs. — Edition 8

    • — Building a local retail strategy
    • — The virtuous circle of mutuality
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    Zurich

    • [+] 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