Retail Rocket: Personalizing the online shopping experience

In September 2024, Starbucks' then-CEO was abruptly fired after 17 months in the role; the decision followed three quarterly drops in consumer traffic and declining operating revenues. The board then turned to Brian Niccol, a veteran fast-food company executive. Niccol was deemed highly qualified due to his turnaround of two fast-food chains, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Taco Bell. Starbucks was struggling in its two largest markets, the United States and China, which together accounted for 83% of the company's global $36.2 billion in sales. In both markets, customer orders and same-store sales had declined. Niccol's first year was a difficult one, raising questions about his strategy and tactics. The disappointed investors were selling out...

Founded in 1996, Rustomjee Group real estate developers has developed into a notable player and a well-known brand in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The case examines two flagship concepts – “Childhoods Available” and “My Spaces” – and shed...

Founded in 1996, Rustomjee Group real estate developers has developed into a notable player and a well-known brand in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The case examines two flagship concepts – “Childhoods Available” and “My Spaces” – and shed...

Many organizations are discovering that scaling AI is far more difficult than piloting programs. Drawing on data from the world’s largest 300 companies, the IMD AI Maturity Index reveals how the leading companies are responding to the challenge.

Competition is fierce among the companies offering gen AI tools based on large language models (LLMs). Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and DeepSeek release new functionalities on an almost monthly basis. Many of these AI-based systems, all of which us...

The Qualios case tracks the search, negotiations and ultimate acquisition of an industrial, family-owned SME in Southern Germany. Using a variety of materials, including sophisticated composites, the company produces customized, high-quality braided sleeves primarily for technical applications. The fourth-generation owners were led to sell due to a lack of succession and health issues. A reputable niche business serving automotive, packaging, construction and industrial clients across Germany and internationally, Qualios generated €12 million in revenue and healthy EBITDA and employed around 50 staff. The company faced several issues, such as rising raw material and production costs, difficulty attracting skilled workers to the region and growing demands from customers for sustainability certifications. The potential buyer, Konrad, believed he had a joker up his sleeve with Georg, an experienced operating manager, family confidant and potential co-investor. Negotiations proved complex until the duo was able to bypass the broker and establish direct links to the seller. A deal was ultimately closed, involving not only a significant earnout element from the seller but also 90% leverage offered by local banks, with strenuous covenants. Nonetheless, fundamental questions remained after the deal: Had the buyer paid the right price and established the proper structure to ensure long-term success? Closing was only the first battle: Could Qualios grow fast enough to service the debt, repay the vendor loan and justify the price tag – all while honoring the company legacy that mattered so deeply to the seller?

This qualitative study explores how individuals try on entrepreneurship during crisis. We discover that individuals use entrepreneurship as a way to envision a possible future in a moment when their occupational trajectory is upended. We reveal th...

Sometime in late 2025, a Shanghai resident asked her phone a question: "Find me a restaurant near the Bund with good reviews for kids' meals, book a table for four at 7 PM, and get bubble tea delivered while we're walking there." Within seconds, Q...

The case places students in the role of LanzaTech's founder, Dr Sean Simpson, in April 2012. The company was built on the radical idea of using proprietary microbes to capture and convert carbon-rich waste gases from heavy industry (like steel mil...

Drawing on his recent IMD podcast with Amar Bhidé, IMD Professor of Management Stefan Michel debunks longstanding misconceptions about entrepreneurship.