Case Studies 

Using the Attwoods' Supermarket Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Change.
• Disaster Recovery.
• Customer Relationship Management.

Notes:
This case study looks at a small supermarket chain faced with a potential public relations crisis during a time of major change, including the flooding of the new Data Centre.

Activity Example:
This could be completed by small teams, pairs or individuals. It could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply as a tool to spark a whole group discussion.
• Write a press statement for the CEO.
• Consider possible solutions.
• Present your ideas.

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• SWOT analysis.
• Change Management.
• Disaster Recovery.
• Risk.

Using the Bogo Motors vs Young Upstarts Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Strategy.
• Change Management.
• Negotiation.
• Creative Thinking.

Notes:
This case study looks at a large, well established motor company that is finding it increasingly difficult to retain its position in the market place and remain profitable due to the recent successes of new competitors. The company desperately needs to cut costs and improve efficiency without alienating its already unsettled and divided workforce.

Activity Example:
The following questions could be discussed in small teams or pairs. They could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply as a tool to spark a whole group discussion.
• What options are available to Callum?
• What would you do in Callum's shoes?
• How can Callum make the necessary changes to secure Bogo's future?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Strategic Thinking.
• Change Management.
• Creative Problem Solving.
• Negotiation Skills.

Using the Castelwest Tin Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Strategy.
• Change.
• Leadership.
• Marketing.
• Customer Service.
• Corporate Growth.
• Quality.
• Corporate Responsibility.
• Ethics.

Notes:
This case study looks at a family run manufacturing business which is in trouble due to mistakes made in production of a new customer’s bespoke order, in addition to the already declining turnover and profit of the business due to lack of modernisation and a decreasing number of skilled employees.

Activity Example:
This could be used by small teams, pairs or individuals. It could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply to spark a whole group discussion focused on a particular issue.

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• SWOT analysis.
• Ichak Adizes' ten stages corporate life cycle model.
• Six Sigma.

Using the Colin Breaks the Rules Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Delegation.
• Leadership style.
• Becoming a manager.
• Coaching.
• Discipline.
• Managing challenging people.
• Motivating others.
• Building relationships.
• Influence.

Notes:
In this case study, Colin finds the transition from Team Leader to Transport Manager frustrating, partly due to the senior managers' reluctance to consider new ideas for changing processes and procedures that Colin feels are pointless and time-consuming. So, Colin finds an unorthodox way of being heard!

Activity Example:
Use these questions in small teams, pairs or with individuals. The case study could also form the basis of a written assignment or be used simply to spark a whole group discussion.
• How would you manage and motivate Colin if you were Julie?
• What advice would you offer Colin to help him adjust to his new role?
• What do you think of Colin's 'offence'? If you were the CEO would you have done things differently? If so, how and why?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of DTU's command and control approach to the recession they are experiencing?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• First Time Management.
• Leadership Styles.
• Effective Delegation.
• Managing Conflict.

Using the Country Kitchen Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Leadership Style.
• Workplace Culture and Culture Change.
• Whistle-Blowing.

Notes:
This case study looks at an established family firm who have recently been bought out by a large manufacturing group and how the subsequent changes to leadership style and workplace culture affects the company and its employees.

Activity Example:
This could be used for whole group/small team discussions or written assignments addressing the questions:
How justified was Diana in instructing John to lose weight?
Or
Was Diana correct in believing that banter and nicknaming “creates an unprofessional image, leads to over-familiarity, causes a casual and careless attitude to work and leads to bullying”?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Leadership, Leadership Styles and Corporate Behaviour.
• Approaches to Cultural Change.
• Media Training.
• The use of Social Networks.
• Approaches to Staff Engagement.

Using the Crown's Diner Case Study
There are several ways in which you could use this case study and a number of topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. For example:
• Strategy Development.
• Business Planning.
• Marketing.

Notes:
This case study looks at a small family run diner faced with an uncertain future due to financial troubles.

Activity Examples:
This could be used for whole group/small team discussions or written assignments addressing questions/issues such as:
• What are the options for the future of Crown’s Diner?
• How can Paul and Vicky market the diner more effectively?
• What would you include in a business plan for the diner?
• Write a rescue plan for the diner and compare and contrast ideas with those of Paul and Vicky.

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to support learning about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Strategy Development.
• Models of Business Planning and Techniques (e.g. the Pareto Principle).
• Marketing Tools and Techniques.

Using the Evie Takes a Chance Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Delegation.
• Leadership.
• Becoming a leader.
• Coaching.

Notes:
In this case study, Evie sees delegation as a way out of a dilemma caused by her own lack of time management and procrastination. It powerfully illustrates how not to delegate and the dangers of unplanned delegation.

Activity Example:
Use these questions in small teams, with pairs or with individuals. The case study could also form the basis of a written assignment or be used simply as a tool to spark a whole group discussion.
• How effectively do you think Evie handled the situation?
• What do you think of Evie's approach to delegation? Would you have done things differently?
• What problems might you expect Bryn to experience in carrying out the task?
• Why do you think Evie behaves like this?
• What do you think Jennifer could do to help Evie?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Effective Delegation.
• Leadership vs Management.
• Coaching.
• Time Management.

Using the FoodGym Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Business Growth.
• Market Planning.
• Decision Making.
• Business Planning.
• Strategy.
• Market Research.
• Business Ethics.
• Diversification.

Notes:
This case study looks at a specialist food and health store faced with potential long term problems, which could affect the nature of the business and the longevity of the partnership.

Activity Example:
This could be completed by small teams, pairs or individuals. It could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply as a tool to spark a whole group discussion.

You are the Marketing Company engaged by FoodGym:
• What is the business of FoodGym?
• Analyse the business.
• What is the potential of the business?
• What information is needed to develop the strategy that is not here?
• How would you obtain this?
• What advice would you offer on the basis of what you see here?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• SWOT Analysis.
• PESTLE Analysis.
• Porter's Five Forces.
• Brands and branding.

Using the How Not to Tap the Bottled Water Market Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• The dangers of making assumptions.
• Marketing and market research.
• Public relations.
• Strategic thinking.

Notes:
This case study looks at Coca Cola’s disastrous attempt to launch its bottled water product, Dasani, in the UK.

Activity Example:
The following questions could be discussed in small teams. These could also form the basis of a written assignment or be used to spark a whole group discussion.
• What went wrong with Coca Cola’s launch of Dasani in the UK?
• What would have mitigated or prevented the mistakes?
• How would you successfully launch a bottled tap water product in the UK?

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Strategic Thinking.
• Sales and Marketing.
• Disaster Recovery.
• Public Relations.

Using the Ingleport Contract Cleaning Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Finance for Non-financial Managers.
• Strategy.
• Marketing.
• Business Growth.
• Customer Relationship Management.

Notes:
This case study includes a profit and loss account and a trading account. The extent to which these are used will depend on the depth you require or think suitable for your participants.

Activity Example:
This could be completed by small teams, pairs or individuals. It could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply as a tool to spark a whole group discussion.
• Identify the problems facing Ingleport Contract Cleaning.
• Consider possible solutions.
• Present your ideas.

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• SWOT analysis.
• Ichak Adizes’ ten stages corporate life cycle model.
• Profit and loss versus cashflow.
• Customer Relationship Management.
• Recruitment.
• Over-trading.
• Risk.

Using the Sweet Success Case Study
There are many ways in which you could use this case study and many topics for which it could provide a useful springboard for learning. We suggest some of them here. This is not a prescriptive list but obvious areas would be:
• Leadership.
• Management.
• Engagement.
• Values.
• Management Techniques.
• Motivation.

Notes:
This case study looks at the Ryan family firm - one of the most iconic sweet brands in the country. This case study is unusual because it is a success story. In sparking debate about what constitutes success, the trainer could use this to explore many issues about what makes a business work and whether there really is “anything new under the sun”.

Activity Example:
This could be used by small teams, pairs or individuals. It could also form the basis of a written assignment or simply to spark a whole group discussion.

Other Areas for Learning:
You could also use the case study to allow participants to practice many techniques or to learn about specific theories and approaches. For example:
• Lean and/or Continuous Improvement.
• Recruitment and Selection.
• Innovation.
• Different Business Models.