Ivey Business School (Canada)
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Starbucks, Howard Schultz, and the Trump Effect
W. Glenn Rowe; Ken MarkCase IVEY-9B19M117-EStrategyAfter the former chief executive officer (CEO) of U.S.-based Starbucks started to voice his political opinions in September 2016, both Starbucks and the CEO faced backlash. As the CEO and former chairman of a large company, he may have felt entitled to voStarting at €8.20
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Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
W. Glenn Rowe; Tony FrancoliniCase IVEY-9B10M081-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyThe president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids Inc. (Goodwill) was analyzing a staff proposal to begin selling donated books online. Her initial response to the proposal had been to approve the idea without any reservation; however, some pointed questions raised during discussion at a recent board meeting caused her to revisit her support for the project. The CEO determined that to make a thoughtful...Starting at €8.20
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Hillberg & Berk: Aiming to Sparkle in the Designer Jewellery Business
W. Glenn Rowe; Selena Shannon PritchardCase IVEY-9B17M040-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyFounded by an entrepreneur in 2007, Hillberg & Berk was a successful Canadian company in the affordable designer jewellery industry. After being funded through the Dragons’ Den television show in 2009, the entrepreneur and her team grew the company to achieving more than $10 million in annual sales. The company had focused its growth in its home province of Saskatchewan and into the neighbouring province of Alberta, but in late 2016, it faced a t...Starting at €8.20
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Privacy Issues and Monetizing Twitter
Deborah Compeau; Nicole R.D. Haggerty; Shady FraihaCase IVEY-9B11E002-EEntrepreneurship, Information Technologies, StrategyIt was early 2010, and the Twitter Trio, the founders of Twitter, were faced with a changing market situation and pressures to make money. Twitter was a free service that had been operating without a viable business plan since 2006. In early 2010, Twitter was still not making enough money and it was time that Twitter showed a real return on investment. The Trio had to decide on a business model that was competitive. There was a data-mining projec...Starting at €8.20
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Facebook, Inc.: The Initial Public Offering (A)
Deborah Compeau; Craig Dunbar; Michael R. King; Ken MarkCase IVEY-9B12N031-EFinanceIt was May 16, 2012, and the highly anticipated pricing of Facebook Inc.’s initial public offering (IPO) was underway. An analyst at CXTechnology Fund was preparing to speak to the lead underwriter about his final interest in the deal. The analyst had reviewed Facebook’s phenomenal growth, its profitable business model and the competitive landscape for the social networking industry. The IPO appeared to be oversubscribed with heavy interest from ...Starting at €8.20
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epost: Evolving an Online Business
Deborah Compeau; Jane GravillCase IVEY-9B07E001-EInformation TechnologiesThe chief executive officer (CEO) of epost is preparing for a meeting with his successor. Epost, a division of Canada Post, is in a transition and many decisions will need to be made by the successor. With the introduction of the Internet, people are using regular postal services less frequently. Epost was created to generate revenue and to provide customers the ease of paying bills electronically. In 2004, epost acquired its competitor, Webdoxs....Starting at €8.20
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Carmichael Outreach: A New Leader Takes Charge
W. Glenn Rowe; Sean TuckerCase IVEY-9B13C018-ELeadership and People ManagementThe new executive director is reflecting on her first two months at Carmichael Outreach, a non-profit organization that helps homeless people and others in need in Regina, Saskatchewan. She has already identified several risks to staff and client safety but must also address longer-term issues. Many believe the organization should do more to address the city’s chronic shortage of safe and affordable housing. Although clients, volunteers, staff an...Starting at €8.20
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Lululemon: Stay Public or Go Private?
W. Glenn Rowe; Maria SemenovaCase IVEY-9B15M033-EStrategyAfter having virtually created the yoga-wear segment more than a decade earlier and having become a stock-market darling, Lululemon Athletica finds itself at a critical point in its development. After a series of missteps and a first-quarter profit drop of 60 per cent, the yoga-wear retailer’s founder, Chip Wilson, prepares to go into battle, meeting with banks and private equity firms to mount a buyout and take the company private. Similar to ot...Starting at €8.20
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BCE Inc.: Facing the Future
Stephen R. Foerster; W. Glenn Rowe; Heather TobinCase IVEY-9B09N015-EFinance, StrategyBCE Inc. (BCE), one of Canada's leading integrated communications companies, faced numerous challenges. In the key wireless communications market, BCE was trailing its competitors on growth and revenue. BCE's share price was underperforming and shareholders, including the powerful Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, were becoming concerned. In addition there were regulatory changes on the horizon that could have a serious impact on BCE's wireless div...Starting at €8.20
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State Fair of Virginia
W. Glenn Rowe; Karin SchnarrCase IVEY-9B12M050-EFinance, StrategyIn November 2011, the State Fair of Virginia, Inc. (SFVA), which had been operating since 1854, was facing a dire financial situation. SFVA was a privately held, not-for-profit organization that operated the state fair independent of the state government, and received no operating support from state or local governments. In 2003, the organization had borrowed $83 million against a $47 million investment portfolio in order to develop its new fairg...Starting at €8.20