This case follows the IMD-3-1611 Patrik Bernstein A: “From Suit to Jeans”. Bernstein has described that entrepreneurship for him as like falling in love. But it wouldn’t be an easy journey and after eight years of struggle to get Spotlight and later also Boblbee off the ground Bernstein is faced with a big decision. Was he the right man to continue to lead the company? Not only had he faced many disappointments and difficulties in the role of a CEO, but he had also faced many private hardships. He was mentally burned out and was not sure he could continue to lead Boblbee. But after all it was his dream…
Boblbee (D): The urban backpack
Summary
This is the D-case in the Boblbee series. It requires an integrative analysis of an entrepreneurial opportunity born in Sweden in 1996. The case su...
2006 EFMD AWARD WINNER (Entrepreneurship)
Reference
IMD-3-1614
Copyright
©2006
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Boblbee (E): Inventing the urban nomad
Summary
This is the follow up on the integrative case IMD-3-1614. It tells the story of what happened between the years 1998 end 2004 with Boblbee. Patrik ...
2006 EFMD AWARD WINNER (Entrepreneurship)
Reference
IMD-3-1615
Copyright
©2006
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Patrik Bernstein (A): From suit to jeans
Summary
At the age of 35 Patrik Bernstein, currently the marketing manager for Unilever’s skin division in Indonesia, starts to feel that something is miss...
Reference
IMD-3-1611
Copyright
©2006
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Patrik Bernstein (B): Breathing again
Summary
This case follows the IMD-3-1611 Patrik Bernstein A: “From Suit to Jeans”. Bernstein has described that entrepreneurship for him as like falling in...
Reference
IMD-3-1612
Copyright
©2006
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Patrik Bernstein (C): Back in his suit
Summary
This case follows the IMD-3-1612 Patrik Bernstein (B): Breathing again and IMD-3-1611 Patrik Bernstein (A): From Suit to Jeans. In 2005, Bernstein ...
Reference
IMD-3-1613
Copyright
©2006
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Strategy Stack: an integrated approach to decision-making
Summary
The ways popular frameworks are used fall short in today’s rapidly changing environment. Here is a new way to make better-informed strategic choices.
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The family business book
Summary
Families are the most prevalent type of business owners in any global economy. But succeeding across generations is tricky, and only a few continue to prosper across generations. The Family Business Book is your comprehensive guide to building a s...
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
External Copyright
Available Languages
English
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Bossard’s AI strategy for proven productivity (Cartoon case)
Summary
Bossard, a Swiss company founded in 1731, has successfully transitioned from a product-centric approach to one that offers services and solutions. It has achieved significant revenue growth despite economic challenges. Its brand promise, “proven productivity,” guides its actions, including its early adoption of AI. From 2010 to 2022, the firm's net revenue grew from CHF 475 million to CHF 1.154 billion (7.7% CAGR), despite a massive currency appreciation, a global pandemic and a supply chain crisis. “Proven productivity” permeates all levels and activities of the company and serves as a guiding principle in everyday decisions: How do you increase the productivity of customers? According to public records, Bossard’s customers were original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Tesla, John Deere and Thermoplan. Bossard did not serve the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market, nor did it sell through do-it-yourself (DIY) chains like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Adeo, Kingfisher, Bunnings, OBI and Bauhaus.
Bossard already employs machine learning to anticipate demand trends across various products. The company's leadership is optimistic about leveraging generative AI for customer interactions. This could include an AI chatbot drawing on Bossard's extensive knowledge base to provide technical advice to customers, or AI-assisted tools to support Bossard’s own specialists in responding to enquiries. With a governance structure that promotes collaboration between the executive and non-executive boards, including AI expert Petra Ehmann, Bossard aims to democratize AI knowledge across the organization. It is also leveraging AI tools like Microsoft Copilot during its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system rollout. This strategic focus on AI aligns with Bossard’s dedication to enhancing customer productivity while embracing technological advancements to evolve its business. Balancing ongoing operations with strategic AI integration is a key challenge, but Bossard is confident in its ability to leverage AI to strengthen its brand and maintain its growth trajectory.
Reference
IMD-7-2575
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
Bossard Holding
Industry
Manufacturing, Fasteners
Available Languages
English
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The AI paradox: Will generative AI enhance or destroy the business model of 99designs.com? (Cartoon case)
Summary
99designs.com is a global platform connecting freelance designers with potential clients. The case study examines the potential impact of generative AI on 99designs’ business model. The platform uses a crowdsourcing approach that invites designers to compete for projects with only the winning designer getting paid. This model offers clients a variety of design options at a fixed fee, fostering creativity and competition among designers. The authors of the book “Real Impact Strategy” used the competition model at 99designs to design their book cover. The authors appreciated the interactive and collaborative nature of the process, which allowed them to incorporate feedback from potential readers into their final decision. However, the use of 99designs sparked criticism from traditional designers and colleagues regarding potential exploitation of designers and claims that genAI tools could have done the job instead. This criticism highlights the growing influence of genAI as proponents claim it can produce high-quality designs quickly and at low cost. Generative AI poses both opportunities and threats to 99designs. It can enhance the platform by increasing the quantity and quality of design submissions, making design services more accessible and affordable. Conversely, it threatens to devalue human creativity, reduce the demand for freelance designers, and undermine the platform’s business model by enabling clients to generate designs without professional assistance. The case ultimately raises questions about the future role of generative AI in the creative industries. In the teaching note, but not in the case itself, the authors conclude that 99designs.com provides publishers, and in this case, the co-authors, many benefits beyond designing the cover. It involves them in a learning process as well as helps them to create awareness and interest for the book through the cover survey.
Reference
IMD-7-2505
Copyright
©2024
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Industry
Manufacturing, Graphic Design
Available Languages
English
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Redefining wealth management: How family offices can lead the charge in responsible investing
Summary
Family offices are uniquely positioned to drive positive change through impact investing by leveraging their wealth, influence, and values to create a legacy th
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Putting the ‘G’ in ESG (and the ‘A’ in alpha)
Summary
Test your knowledge on ESG governance with our fun quiz! Learn how strong governance drives environmental and social success in investing. Take it now!
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Five lessons business could learn from the Olympics
Summary
Discover how Paris overcame uncertainty to successfully host the 2024 Olympics, demonstrating crisis management, leadership and excellent commercial expertise.
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How CEO’s drive saved car giant Ford from the scrapyard
Summary
Companies desperately in need of a turnaround in fortunes should take inspiration from the 2008 rescue mission by the then-new Ford boss Alan Mulally.
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The next US administration must reassure China, not just deter it
Summary
Panelists debate the next US administration’s policy on China
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Family businesses and strategic change: The role of family ownership
Summary
In this study, we analyze how the performance-aspiration gap influences strategic change in family firms, providing evidence of the moderating role of family ownership in this relationship. According to socioemotional wealth (SEW) theory, family o...
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