This case presents Harlequin in 1979 at the peak of its success. The company is looking at diversification, trying to use its ever increasing cash flow. Specific issues are the type of diversification (if any) the company should engage in, and whether it should set up its own sales force in the U.S. The general issue is one of accurately identifying Harlequin's capabilities. This case should be used, although it is not strictly necessary, with th...

General Mills and Nestle were meeting to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the two companies in the breakfast cereal business. Executives from General Mills were arriving in a week's time and an executive vice-president at Nestle was charged with preparing a briefing on General Mills before their arrival. The executive vice-president had recently decided that Nestle should consider taking a partner in the breakfast cereal business an...

York River is a Canadian pulp and paper company whose major product is container material, used for making cardboard boxes. The company has three major customers. A small competitor has made a takeover bid for one of these customers. If successful, York will lose 25% of its volume. Should York make a $50 million counterbid to keep the customer? Assessment of the reaction of other customers relative to impending consolidation is critical.

Klaus Woerner and Aer Lingus executives have now visited the company Klaus Woerner wants to purchase in California. Opinions are divided. Klaus is adamant the move be made. Denis Hanrahan is less sure. Trust is an issue. This is the third in a three case series titled, Aer Lingus - ATS (A), Aer Lingus - ATS (B1) and Aer Lingus - ATS (B2) addressing minority shareholders who are also key managers.

This case is an up-close look at the management of a large mining and smelting alliance in Australia. One partner is American, the other Australian. Although it is an equally owned venture, the Australians are the lead partners, but they are not doing a very good job. The Americans are frustrated by this, but uncertain as to how to influence their partner. The Americans also have been frustrated in their attempts to introduce a new technology to ...

Eighteen months after selling 75% of his company to Aer Lingus, Klaus Woerner, general manager and 25% shareholder, is proposing expansion to California. The Board thinks the move is premature, and in the wrong part of the country. This is the second in a three case series titled, Aer Lingus - ATS (A), Aer Lingus - ATS (B1) and Aer Lingus - ATS (B2) addressing minority shareholders who are also key managers.

Aer Lingus, the Irish international airline, is proposing to buy ATS, a small but rapidly growing robotics firm. Negotiations have been protracted and earn out is professed. The owner appears to be getting cold feet. Should Aer Lingus continue? This is the first in a three case series titled, Aer Lingus - ATS (A), Aer Lingus - ATS (B1) and Aer Lingus - ATS (B2) addressing minority shareholders who are also key managers. (A 12-minute video, Aer Li...

An American project manager (with a team of 12 Americans), who is just about to conclude a week long negotiation with a team of 12 Koreans, is faced with a dilemma. He is being pushed to make a decision he is ill equipped to make; he feels it might not be in his company's best interest, but could be in the best interest of the joint venture that his firm is in the process of establishing with the Koreans.

Managers at Chicago Research and Trading, are at a final point in the negotiation and faced with a decision to sign the statement of intent to form a Russian-US Joint Venture. The pending decision highlights the importance of being willing to give up obtaining some additional information about the joint venture that would make MPI surer of their investment in favor of gaining the trust of their Russian partners. It also demonstrates the importanc...

Noranda is preparing to develop a $400 million copper mine in Chile. The Task Force of Canadian Churches opposes the investment because of the lack of human rights in Chile and has made its presence felt at Noranda's last five annual meetings. Enough data is in the case to analyze the investment on financial and moral grounds. Is Noranda morally right to go ahead? To what extent should the answer to this question govern their decision? What is th...