In this class you will be taken through a practice live case and the process that you will repeat for the five graded mini-cases.
1. Learning objectives:
- Understand and develop skills in strategic analysis of live cases.
- Synthesize analysis to make supported recommendations to decision-makers.
2. Preparation: Consider the following articles and questions and be prepared for in-class activity and discussion.
Research ahead of class by reading:
- News article on Target’s decision to close in Canada: Jan 15th 2015, Globe and Mail.
- Question: is this a critique of strategy or tactics? What is missing or could be improved in this analysis?
- Look at other related articles on Target, in Canada, and in the USA to understand similarities and differences.
- In class 4 in your teams you will be working under the following guidance:
- Breaking News: (fictitious) A major shareholder is furious with decision to exit Canada.
- Your Role: You are part of the senior management team at Target Canada and have been invited to present to the CEO of Target Canada.
- You will be given new information and “the ASK” and a process to follow, leading up to presentations and a Q&A session.
3. Other Actions: N/A
4. Additional References (optional):
Explore the Retail Industry Research database. It will help you significantly if you understand performance metrics and the criteria for competing and winning in the retail industry.