Ivey Business School (Canada)
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Little Short Stop: Creating Strategy for a Shifting Industry
Meredith Woodwark; Karin Schnarr; Gerry BesCase IVEY-9B20M076-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyIn early 2019, the general manager of Little Short Stop Stores, a chain of local, family-owned convenience stores in southwestern Ontario, Canada, was projecting a loss for that year. The loss was due in part to a provincial minimum wage increase to CA$14.00 that came into effect on January 1, 2018, increased from $11.60 in 2017 and $11.40 in 2016. Before this change, the store chain had been exceeding the average industry growth rate by 5 per ce...Starting at €8.20
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Sawchyn Guitars: Can an Old Business Learn New Tricks
Meredith Woodwark; Matthew WongCase IVEY-9B13M084-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyAWARD WINNING CASE - Laurier School of Business and Economics Best Case Award 2013. The owner of Sawchyn Guitars makes fine handmade acoustic guitars and mandolins. After 40 years of operating from a two-storey backyard garage, he contemplates a shift from a solely custom-order business to a storefront location. Although his custom-order business is still strong, the owner sees the opportunity to realize his dream of providing a full-service musi...Starting at €8.20
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Somebody Stop the Radio Star: Jian Ghomeshi at the CBC
Karen MacMillan; Meredith WoodwarkCase IVEY-9B16C008-ELeadership and People ManagementIn 2012, the executive producer of the hit radio show Q and the director of Network Radio at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) faced employees’ complaints against the show’s star host, Jian Ghomeshi. The employees alleged that Ghomeshi’s treatment of employees was problematic and contrary to the corporation’s values and policies. A few years earlier, a female employee had also alleged mistreatment by Ghomeshi but no disciplinary action ...Starting at €8.20
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Hell’s Basement Brewery: Surviving a Pandemic
Tyler Case; Darren HowesCase IVEY-W25849-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyOn January 4, 2021, Mike Patriquin was contemplating the tumultuous year of 2020 and the impact it had had on operations at Hell’s Basement Brewery (HBB), the first brewery to open in Medicine Hat, Alberta, since the early 1900s. Recent events both within and outside the brewery had affected his business. Management had recently restructured financially after buying out some of the original partners, and the remaining owners and management were s...Starting at €8.20
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Medicine Hat Meat Traders: Beefing Up a Family Business
Darren Howes; Tyler CaseCase IVEY-9B20M026-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyIn March 2019, entrepreneur Greg Pahl was contemplating the next steps for Medicine Hat Meat Traders; the past year was the company’s best in terms of beef jerky sales. Should Pahl keep the business running at its current state while focusing on streamlinStarting at €8.20
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House, Hearth and Home: Managing Leadership Change
Karen MacMillan; Meredith WoodwarkCase IVEY-9B12C048-ELeadership and People ManagementThe owner and general manager of a large retail establishment faced a dilemma about whether his long-time yard manager was still the right person for the job. The business increasingly depended on providing superior customer service in order to compete in the market. Recently, the owner had placed a personal friend in the operation as an assistant to the yard manager. This new addition had shown a real talent for developing employees and driving ...Starting at €8.20