Case Studies

Amway is a global company which has built its success on direct selling. Direct selling is different from the more traditional distribution channels: customers...

Banking is currently undergoing significant structural change. Large building societies have demutualised. Newcomers, such as supermarkets, are entering the banking market with a growing...

HMV has one of the world's most instantly recognisable trademarks and its name is inextricably linked with the history of recorded music. Few, if...

The Kellogg Company was founded in 1898 by W.K. Kellogg and his brother, Dr John Harvey Kellogg. Through experimentation with flaked corn, W.K. Kellogg...

This case study looks at the turn-round in the fortunes of Skoda which has come about through investment in new technology, management training, product...

Zurich® is a major financial services group that was founded in 1872. Its headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, the company employs 60,000 people. It...

In the 21st century, consumers really do matter and businesses that wish to prosper must address their needs. This case study illustrates the high...

In recent years, Australia has become an increasingly desirable holiday destination for UK travellers due to its diversity as a travel destination, beaches, outback,...

As an organisation develops a strategy, it is not making short-term decisions. Instead, it is creating a pathway that leads to a long term...

The Arcadia Group Limited is one of the UK's largest fashion retail companies with over 25,000 employees, 2,000 outlets throughout the UK and a...

Aldi is a leading retailer with over 8,000 stores worldwide. It continues to expand in Europe, North America and Australia. The Aldi brand is...

As markets become increasingly competitive it is essential that employers and employees have a good working relationship and are pulling in the same direction. The employment...

UNISON works with both employers and employees to ensure that public service workers receive a fair deal. A big advantage for any worker represented...

In the business environment, nearly all individuals within an organisation will belong to one or more groups or teams. A team is a set...

In a social world, businesses are social organisations. Within any organisation, there is a maze of pathways along which communications travel. Imagine the endless...

Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd (SFIL) is a steel producer and engineering company. Based in South Yorkshire, the heartland of traditional steel production, the company...

People spend a considerable part of their lives at work, so it is not surprising that they expect to be rewarded and satisfied with...

Effective Human Resource Development (HRD) involves matching an organisation's needs with the needs of its employees. For example, an organisation's corporate objectives may include...

Zurich Insurance Group is a leading global provider of insurance services. Zurich’s mission is to help customers understand and protect themselves from risk. The...

The development of a transportation system which links up places both within the UK and across the world has enabled people, goods and services...

Limited companies (those owned by shareholders) are required by law to produce Financial Statements. These statements must be published and made available to shareholders...

It was the European Commission that first coined the term ‘small and medium enterprise’ (SME) to describe businesses which employ less than 500 workers. This...

PricewaterhouseCoopers was created in 1998 by the merger of two firms - Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand - each with historical roots going...

CIMA is the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Its members are trained and qualified in the vital area of management accountancy. Businesses can only...

Every morning millions of people in the UK have a bath or shower, make a cup of tea and wash the dishes before they...

There is an element of risk in an activity when the outcome cannot be predicted with any certainty, or when the outcome is known...

Investment decisions involve weighing up the risk and the likely rewards of various options. It is often the riskiest alternatives that yield the highest...

The food retail industry is a highly competitive market. More so than ever, organisations need to offer customers value for money. Customers want the...

Walkers are the UK's biggest crisp manufacturer. The business operates the world's largest snack factory at Bursom Road, Leicester. Walkers had a humble origin, Mr...

The origins of Sheffield Forgemasters can be traced back to 1805. In that year, Edward Vickers, a traditional miller, made the largest steel ingot...

Lafarge may not be a company name that you would quickly recognise but its products and expertise have helped to create some of the...

New goods and services come to market after a sequence of activities: researchdevelopmenttestingproduction and launch. This case study shows how BSI British Standards (BSI), the UK”s...

A quality material, product, process, service or system is one that meets the needs of customers. Today, customers, including consumers, know what they want...

It is easy to take for granted everyday fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as bread. When consumers go to a corner shop or the...

How we use oil is becoming an increasingly important issue. There has been growing concern over society's dependence on oil, the impact of vehicle's...

When Michael Marks and Tom Spencer became partners in 1894, they could not have imagined what they were creating. Their energy, drive and enthusiasm...

In order to grow, a business needs to develop competitive advantage. This means that it is different or does things better than its rivals....

Web opportunities By exploiting opportunities offered by both the Internet and intranet, Cummins has pioneered some innovative methods to enhance communications with its employees and...

Successful organisations are able to compete in tough environments. To do this, they need: capable managers who are willing to face facts and make hard decisionsexcellent...

Do you ever think about what goes into a motor car, a power tool or a particular type of domestic appliance? If you were...

This case study outlines ways in which it is possible to change the culture of an organisation so that it retains what it sees...

This case study examines how Akzo Nobel is building on the heritage of some of its established coatings for timbers at a time when...

Building societies date back to the late eighteenth century. The first known building society was set up in 1775. This was to enable people...

The challenge for organisations in competitive markets is to provide clarity for customers in a way which reduces the random nature of their product...

The Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereals. For more than 100 years, Kellogg’s has been a leader in health and nutrition...

UNISON is Britain and Europe's biggest public sector trade union, representing more than 1.3 million members working in public services. Job roles they represent...

Today, more than ever, we have come to appreciate and value the relationships that can be forged between individuals, organisations and the wider community....

Businesses and consumers in the UK are buying and selling goods and services in ever more diverse and distant markets as globalisation increases. Trade...

The first decade of the 21st century has been a rollercoaster ride for economic activity. Business confidence was high at the start of the...

All business organisations operate within an external environment of change. The success of each business very much depends on its ability to adapt and...

Businesses have a number of objectives. Typical examples include: winning the biggest share of the total marketincreasing salessatisfying customersmaking profit for shareholders. A business' ability to...

The UK Government provides a range of public goods and services. The main ones include: educationbenefitslaw and orderdefenceroadsNational Health Service. Within the UK, public expenditure is...

The importance of ethics in business Ethics concern an individual's moral judgements about right and wrong. Decisions taken within an organisation may be made by...

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) helps people to understand the law and, if necessary, helps them to gain their rights under the law. The...