Class Prep 04 – Case (Practice #1)

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.