Case Studies

PayPal discovered that many of its own employees were living paycheck to paycheck. CEO Dan Schulman launched a bold plan to improve worker financial wellness, transforming compensation, benefits, and the role of business in society. Explore how investing in people reshaped PayPal’s future 

Starbucks’ Coffee Crisis shows how rapid expansion and recession pressure caused the brand to lose its identity. Until founder Howard Schultz returned to refocus the company on coffee quality, employee culture, and customer experience, sparking one of the most successful corporate turnarounds of the modern era.

Marsha Jackson, Head of Internal Audit at RiseEngineer, investigates a whistleblower's bribery allegation regarding a foreign subsidiary's construction bid. The case challenges students to identify problematic transactions and evaluate the oversight roles and incentives of management, auditors, and the board.

Volkswagen’s Dieselgate case study shows how one of the world’s biggest automakers installed defeat device software to cheat emissions tests, which triggered massive fines, a plunge in trust, and major governance reforms. It is a good example of what happens when corporate culture and board oversight fail to keep ethics and compliance in check.

FTX went from a $32B valuation to bankruptcy in 11 months. This erased billions in investor money and revealed up to $9B in missing customer deposits. Once praised as a crypto success story, Sam Bankman-Fried’s empire quickly unraveled into one of the largest financial frauds in history. Explore the rise, collapse, and hard lessons of FTX.

Netflix's switch from DVDs to streaming was utmost impressive. They reinvented themselves and continued to be a top streaming service throughout the years.

Amazon marked its 20th IPO anniversary in 2017. This case analyzes Amazon's strategy of prioritizing long-term value creation through massive reinvestment over immediate accounting profitability. It highlights the company's reliance on cash flow measures rather than net income to evaluate performance.

There was a discovery of significant accounting errors in 2014 by the company, Hertz. They were forced to restate their financial statements, which allowed analyst Abby Devins to investigate potential ties to the management of its massive rental fleet. The analysis focused on how these financial errors might impact the company's future vehicle acquisitions and its role as a key buyer for automotive manufacturers all over the world.

In 2019, Athletes Unlimited (AU) was founded as a professional softball league featuring a unique, centralized competition format. With rapid success, the company expanded to four women’s sports, and was recognized as one of the world's most innovative companies.  AU must determine how to scale, increase revenue, and secure partnerships without compromising its core player-driven mission.

On October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed due to issues linked to the MCAS system, followed by a second crash involving Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, killing a total of 346 people. The crisis led to a global grounding of the 737 MAX, billions in losses for Boeing, leadership changes, and investigations revealing the company had prior knowledge of critical safety flaws that were not disclosed.

Ferrari more than doubled its revenues between 2015 and 2024 by leveraging its strong brand, Formula 1 success, and reputation for high performance vehicles. To sustain growth, Ferrari must maintain its leadership in the luxury automotive market while expanding to new customers and markets, including launching its first fully electric vehicle in 2025 and building on its competitive advantages.

In 2017, Liberty Media acquired Formula 1 to transform the motorsport into a global entertainment brand by building out its business infrastructure, improving on-track action, and attracting a younger, diverse audience. Management aimed to balance these commercial goals with F1's role as a technology leader, navigating the challenge of modernizing the sport while retaining its traditional base.

Students take on the role of Sungi Cho, who started a tactical gear business using 3D printing while serving as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. As the company grows, he must decide whether to keep production in house or switch to injection molding, which lowers costs per unit but requires a large upfront investment, making him uncertain if future demand will justify the expense.

This case examines Ford Motor Company’s decision to separately report its EV division, Ford Model e, to explore how research and development is accounted for under U.S. GAAP versus IFRS. Students analyze Ford’s choice to expense R&D compared to international competitors who capitalize development costs, and consider how these differences impact financial reporting and strategy, including the decision to highlight its electric vehicle segment.

Ever wonder what the Great Recession actually entailed? This case examines the causes of the 2008 financial crisis and proposed solutions while highlighting the complex interplay between human behavior, free enterprise, and government regulation. 

In mid-2018, the U.S. auto industry was beginning a major shift toward electric, autonomous, and shared vehicles instead of traditional car ownership. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, aimed to lead this transformation with its electric cars, especially the Model 3. However, Tesla was losing money quickly, and many people questioned whether the company could survive financially and whether Musk was the right leader.

In July 2015, Managed by Q CEO Dan Teran was deciding how to grow his 15-month-old office cleaning and maintenance startup. The company could grow by gaining more customers in existing cities, expanding into new markets, or offering more office services. No matter the strategy, Teran wanted to protect Q’s unique business model and company culture.

This case tells us about Active Surfaces, an MIT startup developing flexible solar technology. It serves as the setting for an introductory accounting course, where students practice recording transactions, calculating cash flow, and preparing a balance sheet.

Michael Bakshi, owner of Suits for Men, Inc., must decide whether to replace his current tailor-made suit line with a medium-priced line, balancing profit potential against changing customer demand. This case delves into analyzing relevant revenues, ongoing costs, and one-time, non-recurring costs to determine if the strategic change will increase profitability for Michael's company. 

The Auswide Bank made an introductory exercise designed for early financial accounting students. Centered on a community-focused Australian bank, it teaches the fundamental accounting cycle by having students record business transactions using the balance sheet equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).

Shortly after Lisa Baird became NWSL Commissioner in March 2020, she successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by making the league the first professional sports organization to return to play. Through strategic planning and the creation of a "bubble" tournament, Baird led the league to record viewership and new sponsorship deals despite immense pandemic-related challenges. 

In 2024, Checkr was a leader in fair chance hiring, promoting equal job opportunities for individuals with criminal records while also practicing it within the company. CEO Daniel Yanisse wanted to expand this movement and convince other businesses of its economic and social value despite growing pushback against initiatives like diversity and equity efforts. As Checkr considered a potential IPO, the challenge was how to clearly demonstrate the strategic value of fair chance hiring to investors and respond to possible concerns about its mission.

In October 2000, Robin Chase discovered that Zipcar’s revenue was only half of what she had projected just weeks before securing its first round of funding. After months of building the company, this unexpected setback forced her to quickly figure out how to make the business profitable while maintaining trust with its early members.

Chris Peterson successfully built a cohesive, high-performing consulting team at DSS. Though their achievements were met with skepticism from upper management. The case highlights the gap between the team's self-perceived success and the organization's strategic alignment. 

During the Great Recession, the U.S. restaurant industry declined as consumers reduced spending, with casual dining hit especially hard. By 2016, investors reconsidered the sector, expecting improved consumer confidence, and students evaluate whether Bloomin’ Brands is a good investment using valuation multiples.

In July 2020, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association negotiated both a return to play plan during COVID-19 and an extension of their collective bargaining agreement through 2025–26. Students analyze how different revenue transactions should be treated from the perspectives of both players and owners when determining how league revenue is shared.

Pension fund advisor Harry Markham faces an ethical dilemma over reporting potentially underestimated liabilities, weighing professional duty against loyalties to the board and his firm. This scenario forces a confrontation between actuarial and economic valuation methods, highlighting conflicts of interest within a framework of professional ethics and responsibility to stakeholders.

Ontario Products is profitable but is experiencing a cash flow problem after its supplier’s cheques bounced due to insufficient funds, causing the supplier to demand immediate payment and stop shipments. The case teaches that a business can show profits while still lacking enough cash because of timing differences between cash inflows and outflows, especially during periods of growth or seasonal changes.

Strand Art Products must decide whether to accept a large one-time order for 2,000 cartons of mirrors at a price below its normal selling price, while also considering delivery requirements and limited cash flow. The case focuses on analyzing the financial impact of the order, determining whether it can be completed on time, and using cash budgeting to make the decision.

Christina Berdytch is asked to review her family’s clothing manufacturing business as her grandmother prepares to retire, with several operating, marketing, and management problems needing attention. The case focuses on analyzing the business’s financial statements, identifying key problems, and developing recommendations before making important decisions.

By 2017, the Spartan Race became the top global obstacle course race provider. The CEO even contemplated an initial public offering. However, leadership needed to determine how new revenue recognition standards would affect investor perception of their varied income streams. 

Founded in 2015 by Aline Lerner to fix inefficient hiring, interviewing.io created an anonymous, technical-vetting platform connecting software engineers with top-tier tech companies. While successful in democratizing hiring and generating significant revenue, the company's business model became vulnerable to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2008, Yunnan Lucky Air, a Chinese low-cost carrier modeled after Southwest Airlines, sought new competitive advantages within a heavily regulated market. To differentiate itself and improve profitability, the airline explored adopting e-commerce as a key growth strategy. This approach aimed to enhance operational efficiency and help the airline navigate competitive pressures.

TLC Pools Ltd. is facing a workplace conflict where supervisor Paul became frustrated with employee Cindy’s poor performance, eventually contributing to his decision to resign after a motorcycle accident. The case asks whether management could have prevented the situation from escalating and emphasizes understanding employees’ perspectives, valuing and motivating workers, and taking timely action to address workplace problems.

Carson Planters (CP), a small family-owned plastic pot manufacturer, receives a large special order from a major retailer at a lower-than-normal selling price and must decide whether to accept it. The case focuses on using fixed, variable, and contribution costs to make the decision while also considering long-term effects, such as future orders and relationships with other customers.

Eternal Faucet Limited must decide whether to purchase new production machines that would reduce manufacturing costs by 10% but require new production methods and a significant investment. The case focuses on using contribution and break-even analysis to evaluate the purchase while considering variable and fixed costs, the investment’s risks, and the possibility of a 20% decline in sales.