Case Questions
Note the questions below are meant to help guide your reading of the case for class discussion. Responses to these questions are not sufficient for a complete case analysis as they usually point to only certain areas that we will have time to explore in class.
Charm City Paints:
See questions at end of the case.
Watt, Inc.;
1. Complete the DuPont chart for current year.
2. How healthy is the firm? (complete ratio analysis table)
3. What is the firm's cash flow from operations? (complete strategic funds
programming chart through cash flow)
4. Which option should the firm undertake? A,B, or C? Explain.
Competition in
the Digital Music Industry:
How competitive is the industry? Use Five forces model to analyze industry. See
slides and Text, pp. 38-42.
Azalea Seafood
Gumbo Shoppe:
1. Are the firm's mission and objectives
appropriate?
2. What are the strengths & weaknesses of the firm?
3. Assess the competition and opportunities for the firm?
4. How well off is the firm financially?
5. How should the firm grow? Internal or franchise?
Panera Bread,
Inc.
1. What are they key elements of the firm's
strategy?
2. Does the strategy fit the developments in the firm's environment?
3. How well is PB performing financially? strategically?
4. What should the CEO do to sustain the firm's growth and performance? Be
specific.
Netflix
vs. Blockbuster
1. How strong are the competitive forces for Netflix in the DVD
rental market place?
2. What key factors will determine the company's success in the online movie
industry in the next few years?
3. What is Netflix strategy (include its generic strategy). What type of
competitive advantage is the firm trying to achieve?
4. What does your SWOT analysis reveal about the overall attractiveness of the
situation?
5. Does Netflix have what it takes to go head-to-head with Blockbuster?
6. What does Netflix need to do to strengthen its position vis a vis Blockbuster
and other competitors?
Starbucks
1. What are the key elements of Starbucks
strategy?
2. How has Shultz's strategic vision
changed over the years?
3. What key practices and policies has Shultz used to implement his strategy?
4. Assess Starbucks financial position over the past five years? Does it
indicate the firm is doing well?
5. What issues does the firm need to address as it looks forward?
Mills Corporation
1. What is the issue
facing the company?
2. What should Mr. Goodman do to make the company more competitive?
Tallink: Connecting Estonia
1. What is Tallink's business ?
2. How successful has Tallink been they been so far? Explain.
3. How might Estonia's entry into the EU help/hinder the growth of ferry service
in the Baltic?
4. What might be the proper mix of commerical and passenger business for Tallink?
What factors should be considered?
5. Should Mr. Pant by a new ship, launch a new route, or both. What else would
you recommend management do to assure Tallink's continued growth and prosperity?
Adidas
1. What is Adidas's corporate strategy?
Has it changed with restructuring?
2. What strategic fits exist across the firm's businesses? Evaluate them
individually and in comparison to one another
3. Will the acquisition of Reebok provide positive results? Explain.
4. What actions should CEO Hainer take to improve the firm's performance now
that restructuring is nearing completion?
PepsiCo,
Inc.
1. What generic corporate level and business level strategy is PepsiCo pursuing?
2. Evaluate PepsiCo's domestic portfolio? its international portfolio?
3. What are the actual cashflows of each segment? are they consistent
with the portfolios?
4. What would you recommend PepsiCo do with its businesses?
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Revised on: 02/26/2007