Publication database

Launched in early 2005, Zopa is a peer-to-peer online brokerage that couples British residents who want to lend with those who want to borrow. The company represents a new business model in the retail financial services industry, and since Zopa is not technically a bank and does not lend money itself, the capital requirements to run the business are relatively small. Compared to a traditional full service bank Zopa concentrates on only a few steps of the value chain. This case study provides an overview of the financial service industry, especially banks, in the UK in 2006 and how Zopa, a value innovator, has developed a unique position in the market through an innovative business model. Rich data especially on banking trends are given. Additional data on key players in the industry are supplied. This data will enable students to develop a good understanding of the elements of a value innovation and how technologies have the potential to shake up an established industry structure and its key players. A focus is on the concept of value innovation and sustainable competitive advantage. The case can also be used to address the topic of how incumbent firms should respond to innovative new business models.

The case provides an overview of the financial service industry in the UK in 2006 and how Zopa, a value innovator, has developed a unique position in the market through an innovative business model. Rich data especially on banking trends are given. Additional data on key players in the industry are supplied. This data will enable students to develop a good understanding of the elements of a value innovation and how technologies have the potential to shake up an established industry structure and its key players. A focus is on the concept of value innovation and sustainable competitive advantage.

This case study critically examines the journey that British Airways (BA) embarked upon between 1999 and 2004 when changing the structure of procurement to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive marketplace. It also contains an update of the transformation program up to April 2006. Since 1999, the procurement team at BA has been significantly downsized whilst the nature of their work has changed, which has been partly driven with the implementation of a sourcing methodology. This case study looks at how this has contributed to the revision of fortunes for the business, and what challenges it will have to meet for the future.

The three cases (Georg, Kati, Mario) can be taught separately or as a threesome devoted to leadership dilemmas/responsible leadership. The cases treat respectively four dilemmas: an ethical dilemma (George); dilemmas concerning personal career goals versus family/spouse goals, and economic versus environmental goals (Mario); and finally a dilemma concerning downsizing and employment (Kati). All three cases at first glance seem to pose rather obvious trade-offs and choices as the student puts himself/herself in the shoes of George, Mario and Kati.

This case illustrates key concepts and lessons about crisis management in the context of the energy sector in Sweden but also relates to broader general management and leadership topics. The A case is the first of a three-part case series. It portrays the events and actions following a massive hurricane (called "Gudrun") which devastated southern Sweden in January 2005, causing a major power outage among 258,000 of Sydkraft's customers. The initial impact of the storm was about 10 times more powerful than the standard "major disruption" scenario. Sydkraft AB is a Swedish energy company with a corporate history of more than 100 years and became part of the E.ON Group in 2001. What seems to start out as an operational crisis due to damages to the company's network infrastructure is gradually threatening to escalate into a fully-fledged corporate crisis. The case allows participants to assume the roles of several protagonists in the case, in order to solve the tensions that have surfaced during the discussion.

This case illustrates key concepts and lessons about crisis management in the context of the energy sector in Sweden but also relates to broader general management and leadership topics. It portrays the events and actions following a massive hurricane (called "Gudrun") which devastated southern Sweden in January 2005, causing a major power outage among 258,000 of Sydkraft's customers. The B case is the second of a three-part case series and describes a number of measures that the company took as part of "Operation Gudrun" in the aftermath of the severe hurricane.

This case illustrates key concepts and lessons about crisis management in the context of the energy sector in Sweden but also relates to broader general management and leadership topics. It portrays the events and actions following a massive hurricane (called "Gudrun") which devastated southern Sweden in January 2005, causing a major power outage among 258,000 of Sydkraft's customers. The C case is the final case of a three-part series and mainly presents authentic reflections by people who were involved in the crisis and the total effort.

The three cases (Georg, Kati, Mario) can be taught separately or as a threesome devoted to leadership dilemmas/responsible leadership. The cases treat respectively four dilemmas: an ethical dilemma (George); dilemmas concerning personal career goals versus family/spouse goals, and economic versus environmental goals (Mario); and finally a dilemma concerning downsizing and employment (Kati). All three cases at first glance seem to pose rather obvious trade-offs and choices as the student puts himself/herself in the shoes of George, Mario and Kati.

The case study 'Madonna - Strategy in Action' explores the theme of strategy by examining the career of Madonna, the world's highest earning female entertainer and one of the best-known women on the planet. Strategy is not a specific plan or set of detailed instructions; but rather a guiding theme that provides coherence and focus to the actions and decisions of an individual or an organization. The case identifies the contribution that strategy can make to successful performance, both for individuals and for organizations. The case study is intended for as an introduction to MBA or executive education programs dealing with key concepts in business strategy. The case clearly distinguishes strategy from planning.

The three cases (Georg, Kati, Mario) can be taught separately or as a threesome devoted to leadership dilemmas/responsible leadership. The cases treat respectively four dilemmas: an ethical dilemma (George); dilemmas concerning personal career goals versus family/spouse goals, and economic versus environmental goals (Mario); and finally a dilemma concerning downsizing and employment (Kati). All three cases at first glance seem to pose rather obvious trade-offs and choices as the student puts himself/herself in the shoes of George, Mario and Kati.

Peer coaching in executive education programs is a developmental approach that uses a number of principles developed in executive coaching practice and research, and the power of work and life experience of fellow participants in helping other members of the class clarify their goals, assess the current reality of their situation and understand the forces that help or hinder goal achievement, elaborate available options or alternatives, identify necessary resources and support mechanisms, and, last but not least, commit to action through development and peer approval of an action plan and agreeing on a follow-up with the peer coach throughout the process of implementation of the action plan. This technical note serves as a resource for participants of leadership development programs involving elements of peer coaching.