Edition 17 Business Case Studies eBook 
Social and environmental responsibility
This case study highlights how Anglo American contributes to sustainable development through being socially and environmentally responsible.
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.
Improving strategic decision making
This case study looks at a structured approach to decision making, showing how CIMA-trained management accountants have the skills to offer strategic, practical advice and contribute to effective decision making at business levels.
From ice-cream van to Dragons' Den - Duncan Bannatyne
This case study focuses on Duncan Bannatyne, one of the UK's best-known entrepreneurs.
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.
Intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship
This case study shows how the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) helps owners and entrepreneurs to protect their ideas or concepts by registering their intellectual property rights.
The importance of entrepreneurship in small businesses
This case study helps students understand entrepreneurship and its importance to the economy as well as types of ownership.
Entrepreneurship in engineering
This case study examines the relationship between engineering and enterprise and the role that the Institution of Engineer (IET) has played in developing engineer entrepreneurs.
Strategic growth in the retail fashion industry
This case study looks at how asos.com uses the Internet as a channel for business growth.
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.
Meeting needs in a competitive sector
This case study outlines how deregulation, organisational structure and planning can support the growth of a company.
Pursuing a growth strategy
This case study helps students understand how companies grow by meeting needs.
Growing a company by international acquisition
This case study describes and analyses the growth of the Davis Service Group.
Securing customers' interests through mutual ownership
This case study demonstrates that all businesses have ownership and management structures and explains the need for an organisation’s structures to be appropriate to the organisation’s purpose and vision.
Creating and effective organisational structure
This case study explains that the organisational structure of The Coca-Cola Company is designed to meet its own particular requirements.
Developing a sustainable supply chain to add value
This case study will explore how Lafarge UK is active in all three sector of industry and how it manages the need to develop the business alongside protecting the environment and respect for local communities.
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.
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.
Integration in the public sector – HMRC
This case study helps students understand how integration in the public sector benefits stakeholders, mirroring private sector mergers and acquisitions.
Businesses and taxation
This case study explains how strong business growth can benefit the UK by creating employment and raising tax revenues.
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.
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.
Business aims, objectives and values
This case study explains the relationship between aims, objectives, values, and plans and identifies Michelin’s mission and its economic objectives.
Effective strategies for long-term growth
This case study explores the strategies NATS is employing to achieve its vision of being a global provider of air traffic solutions.
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 its efforts to tackle climate change.
Strategy in action - healthy schools
This case study explains the importance of carefully planning any new initiative and the relationship between aims and objectives.
Engineering Advantage - strategy in action
This case study looks at how IMI has developed its strategy of ‘Engineering Advantage’, combining its skills and knowledge, customer insight and innovation to achieve global market leadership.
Creating strategic direction
This case study focuses on how Mott MacDonald stands out in its competitive environment by using the skills and knowledge of its people to achieve its business purpose.
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.
Customer service as a strategy
This case study examines how a strategy focused on customer service can contribute to long term business development.
Calculating and managing risk
This case study examines how Eurostar proactively manages risk through its business continuity programmes.
Delivering the mission statement
This case study examines how the FCO meets its goals through the skills and competencies of its people.
London 2012 - achieving the vision
This case study shows how creating a clear vision and set of values has made it possible to establish clear objectives for delivering an unforgettable Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012.
The business of nuclear decommissioning
This case study shows how a clear mission statement, SMART objectives, strategy and tactics all contribute to a successful planning framework for an organisation.
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 its AO programme, been able to deliver on its target of saving $1 billion from core operations.
Delivering a business strategy
The case study explores how TNT delivers its business strategy and achieves consistently high standards of service through its people.
A customer-centred approach to providing insurance
This case study examines the customer-focused approach of Zurich, the insurance and financial services provider.
SWOT analysis and sustainable business planning
This case study will show why IKEA believes a strong environmental stance is good business practice.
SWOT analysis in action at Skoda
The case study shows how Škoda UK transformed its brand image and built its competitive edge using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis.
Implementing a new vision at Virgin Trains
This case study looks at how the implementation of a new vision is transforming the culture and performance of Virgin Trains.
Developing vision and values to build a market strategy
This case study helps students understand how companies develop and communicate their vision and values to improve performance.
Promoting social inclusion through access to legal services
This case study explains how government appointed bodies are responsible for contracting services to private businesses.
Values into vision
This case study demonstrates how Syngenta’s vision, mission and values help drive the company’s culture.
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.
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.
Business aims, objectives and values
This case study will allow students to understand the importance of organisational values.
Effective strategies for long-term growth
This case study explores the strategies that NATS is employing to achieve its vision of being a global provider of air traffic solutions.
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.
Strategy in action - healthy schools
This case study explains the importance of carefully planning any new initiative.
Engineering Advantage - strategy in action
This case study looks at how IMI has developed its strategy of ‘Engineering Advantage’, combining its skills and knowledge, customer insight and innovation to achieve global market leadership.
Creating strategic direction
This case study focuses on how Mott MacDonald stands out in its competitive environment by using the skills and knowledge of its people to achieve its business purpose.
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.
Corporate responsibility and stakeholders
This case study shows how Reed Elsevier’s business benefits from meeting the needs of all of its stakeholders.
Balancing stakeholder needs
The case study examines how stakeholders influence the achievement of Shell’s aims and how the company seeks to meet the needs of all of its stakeholders and balance the social, economic and environmental impacts of its work.
Ethically serving stakeholders
This case study shows how The Co-operative Group's values contribute to improving the diet and health of the UK.
Stakeholders in recycling and re-use at Vodafone
This case study focuses on one area Vodafone and its stakeholders are interested in – the recycling and re-use of old mobile phones to reduce the carbon footprint of the company and its users.