Case Questions

LIST OF CASES:

Guidelines for Case Analysis of Cases for Presentation & Discussion Below are some guidelines and suggested questions for you to analyse each of the cases. Use the results of these analyses for your case presentation. Do not answer the questions one by one in your case presentation. Treat your presentation as if you are making it to the Board of Directors of the case company. Your analysis need not be limited to the suggested questions. In your case presentation and executive summary, the key points to be covered are: 1. Provide a very brief introduction of the objective of the presentation, 2. Identify and evaluate the key strategic issues/problems (prioritize the top 3 issues), 3. Provide the necessary detailed strategic analysis to support your evaluation, 4. Provide broad alternatives (if any), 5. Provide your recommendations (prioritize the top 3 recommendations). Be as specific as possible in your recommendations, 6. Provide assumptions (if any) External research material/information (external to the materials contained in the case study provided) can only be used in case analysis and presentation only if the external material/info covers the period included in the case study concerned. No material/info beyond the end date stated in the case study will be permitted.

Case List & Suggested Questions for Case Analysis:

Case 1: Blue Nile Inc. in 2010 (Thompson et al. Text. Case 9, pp. C127-140) Suggested Case Preparation Questions

1. How strong are the competitive forces confronting Blue Nile and other online retail jewelers? Do a five-forces analysis to support your answer. 2. What key factors will determine a company’s success in the online jewelry business in the next 3-5 years? 3. What is Blue Nile’s strategy? What type of competitive advantage is Blue Nile trying to achieve? 4. What do you like and dislike about Blue Nile’s business model? 5. What does a SWOT analysis of Blue Nile reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation?...