CASE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

This course relies heavily on cases as vehicles for learning. A short set of questions are posed
below for each case to guide you through the analysis and developing recommendations. You
are expected to bring your responses to class for discussion but are not required to submit
them.

The Individual Case Analysis is to be submitted (see outline above). Responses will be
submitted on-line using the drop box on the course website, submissions will be closed at the
start of class late submissions are not permitted. While I expect students to submit individual
responses, I encourage you to discuss the cases with fellow students to enhance your
comprehension and learning.

Be sure to follow the Case Analysis Guidelines posted on the course website. This explains
how to approach the case, how to prepare and present your responses, and the exact criteria
on which you will be graded.
 CASE PREPARATION QUESTIONS

Evolution of the circus industry

1. What were the factors the traditional circus competing on?
2. Is it possible to find new market space in the circus industry?

Global Multi-Products Chile

1. What is Multi-products' strategy (at the corporate level)?
2. What specific systems or programs is it using to implement this strategy?
3. What changes have taken place in Multi-products' business environment in Chile?
4. What internal changes have been made at Multi-products Chile? What is your evaluation of
these internal company changes do they make sense? Why or why not? Think about these
changes in relation to the companys strategy.
5. What were the barriers to change? How did they operate as barriers?

Best Buy Co. Inc.: Innovators Journey.

1. What do you think of Best Buys strategy of embedding innovation capability? Is it
sustainable (can it be maintained over a long period of time)? Transferable (would it work in
other divisions of the company)?
2. What would you recommend to Patel as a solution to his dilemma of diffusing innovation
throughout the company?
3. Was the investment in I-Journey worth it? How would you measure the return on this
investment?

Stamypor
1. What type of innovation is Stamypor?
2. Why is it useful to have a separate NBD unit in the light of innovation?
3. What should Rein Nieland report to the NBD board? Could a decision have been taken
earlier in the process?
4. Was the stage-gate process useful in the case of Stamypor?
5. Identify issues in the Stamypor project that can be learned from, and describe how they
should be dealt with in a new project.

Innovation at Mahindra & Mahindra

1. How does the Farm equipment sector balance between structured processes and the
creation of an environment in which radical innovations can succeed?
2. Identify the obstacles encountered and suggest why they occurred.

CEMEX: Innovation in Housing for the Poor

1. What is the business model for CEMEX in this case?
2. What is the innovation? How does it generate economic value for CEMEX?