Case library · 100 cases
Business strategy case studies
A free library of 100 real boardroom decisions, famous moments in business history from the boardroom, the crisis room, and the founding pitch. Each case lays out the situation, the stakeholders and their incentives, and the strategy frameworks at play, then lets you practise the decision with an AI coach, decision simulator, and boardroom debate. Sorted by difficulty, then year.
Spanning 76 industries including Automotive / Manufacturing, Restaurants / QSR, Retail / Furniture, Automotive / Motorcycles, Aviation, and more, covering pivots, turnarounds, acquisitions, crises, and product launches. Ideal preparation for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain case interviews or any MBA strategy course.
Ford Motor Company · 1914introstrategy
Ford 1914: The $5 Day
Efficiency WagesOperations & ThroughputScale Economics+1 more
40 min
Automotive / Manufacturing
McDonald's · 1955introstrategy
McDonald's 1955: What Business Are You Actually In?
Business Model DesignFranchising & ScalabilityStandardization & Quality Control+1 more
40 min
Restaurants / QSR
IKEA · 1956introstrategy
IKEA 1956: Make the Customer Do the Work
Cost LeadershipValue Chain ReconfigurationCustomer as Co-Producer+1 more
35 min
Retail / Furniture
Honda Motor Co. · 1959introexpansion
Honda 1959: The Plan vs. What Actually Worked
Deliberate vs Emergent StrategyMarket Entry & LocalizationCategory Repositioning+1 more
40 min
Automotive / Motorcycles
Southwest Airlines · 1971introlaunch
Southwest Airlines 1971: Flying Against the Rules
Blue Ocean StrategyValue Chain AnalysisOperational Excellence+1 more
45 min
Aviation
Costco Wholesale · 1983introstrategy
Costco 1983: Making Money by Refusing to Mark Up
Membership Business ModelProfit-Pool LocationLimited-SKU & Inventory Turns+1 more
35 min
Retail
The Coca-Cola Company · 1985intropivot
Coca-Cola 1985: Should You Change the Formula?
Brand EquityCustomer Loyalty & Emotional ValueMarket Research Validity+1 more
40 min
Consumer Goods / Beverage
Cirque du Soleil · 1987introlaunch
Cirque du Soleil 1987: Reinventing the Circus
Blue Ocean StrategyValue InnovationERRC Grid (Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create)+1 more
40 min
Live Entertainment
Red Bull · 1987introlaunch
Red Bull 1987: Selling a Drink Everyone Hated in Testing
Category CreationBrand Building (Image over Attributes)Premium Pricing+1 more
35 min
Consumer Goods / Beverage
Zara / Inditex · 1995introstrategy
Zara 1990s: Speed Over Cheap Labor
Vertical IntegrationSpeed-to-Market (Responsiveness vs Efficiency)Supply Chain as Advantage+1 more
40 min
Apparel / Retail
The LEGO Group · 2004introturnaround
LEGO 2004: Saving the Company by Doing Less
Turnaround & RestructuringCore CompetencySKU Rationalization+1 more
40 min
Toys
Nintendo · 2006introstrategy
Nintendo Wii 2006: Quitting the Arms Race
Blue Ocean StrategyDisruptive InnovationValue Innovation+1 more
40 min
Gaming / Consumer Electronics
Dropbox · 2008introlaunch
Dropbox 2008: Growth When Ads Don't Work
FreemiumViral Loops & ReferralMVP & Demand Validation+1 more
35 min
Technology / SaaS
Domino's Pizza · 2009introturnaround
Domino's 2009: Admitting Your Product Is Bad
Brand RepositioningRadical TransparencyVoice of the Customer+1 more
35 min
Restaurants / QSR
Warby Parker · 2010introlaunch
Warby Parker 2010: Selling Glasses You Can't Try On
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)Vertical IntegrationDisruptive Pricing+1 more
35 min
Retail / Eyewear (DTC)
Best Buy · 2012introturnaround
Best Buy 2012: Turning Stores into a Weapon Against Amazon
Turnaround (Stabilize then Grow)Omnichannel RetailCompetitive Response+1 more
40 min
Retail / Electronics
Dollar Shave Club · 2012introlaunch
Dollar Shave Club 2012: Attacking a Giant with a $4, 500 Video
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)Subscription Economics (LTV/CAC)Asymmetric Competition+1 more
35 min
Consumer Goods / DTC
Canva · 2013intropricing strategy
Canva 2013: Giving Away Design to Sell It
Freemium PricingMarket Expansion (Non-Consumption)Product-Led Growth+2 more
45 min
Software / SaaS
Amul (GCMMF / Kaira District Cooperative) · 1946intermediatemarket-entry
Amul 1946: Building an Empire Farmers Own
Cooperative Ownership ModelDisintermediationVertical Integration+1 more
60 min
Dairy / FMCG
Toyota Motor Corporation · 1950intermediateoperations strategy
Toyota 1950: Inventing Lean and the Toyota Production System
Lean ManufacturingJust-in-Time (JIT)Jidoka & Built-in Quality+2 more
55 min
Automotive / Manufacturing
Johnson & Johnson · 1982intermediatecrisis
Johnson & Johnson 1982: The Tylenol Crisis
Stakeholder TheoryCrisis Management FrameworkBrand Equity+1 more
45 min
Consumer Healthcare
Maruti Udyog (Maruti Suzuki) · 1983intermediatemarket-entry
Maruti Suzuki 1983: The Joint Venture That Motorized India
Joint Venture StrategyMarket CreationLocalization & Affordability+1 more
60 min
Automotive
Emirates Airline · 1985intermediatemarket positioning strategy
Emirates 1985: Turning a Desert Stopover into the World's Hub
Geographic PositioningHub-and-Spoke Network EconomicsAsset Bet (Long-Haul Widebodies)+2 more
50 min
Aviation
Nestlé (Nespresso) · 1986intermediatebusiness model strategy
Nespresso 1986: Selling the Razor to Sell the Blades
Razor-and-Blade ModelLock-in & Recurring RevenuePremiumization+2 more
50 min
Consumer Goods / Coffee
Asian Paints · 1995intermediateoperations
Asian Paints: The Paint Company That Won With Data
Operational MoatDisintermediationData & Demand Forecasting+1 more
60 min
Paints / Chemicals / Manufacturing
Naspers / Prosus · 2001intermediateventure investment / capital allocation
Naspers 2001: The $32 Million Bet That Became $200 Billion
Venture Investing & Asymmetric BetsConviction & Holding PowerCapital Allocation+2 more
50 min
Media / Technology Investment
Alibaba Group · 2003intermediatecompetitive strategy
Alibaba 2003: Beating eBay and Amazon on Home Turf
Local AdaptationTwo-Sided MarketplacesFree-vs-Paid Monetization+2 more
55 min
E-Commerce / Technology
Blockbuster · 2004intermediatedisruption
Blockbuster 2004: The Netflix Response
Innovator's DilemmaCompetitive Response StrategyLegacy Business Trap+1 more
60 min
Media & Entertainment
Apple · 2007intermediatelaunch
Apple 2007: The iPhone Bet
Blue Ocean StrategyJobs-to-Be-DonePlatform Strategy+1 more
60 min
Consumer Electronics
Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn) · 2007intermediatecustomer concentration strategy
Foxconn 2007: The Factory Behind the iPhone
Contract Manufacturing EconomicsCustomer Concentration RiskOperational Scale & Flexibility+2 more
50 min
Electronics Manufacturing
Netflix · 2007intermediatepivot
Netflix 2007: The DVD-to-Streaming Pivot
Innovator's DilemmaS-Curve TheoryCannibalization+1 more
60 min
Media & Entertainment
Safaricom (Vodafone Group) · 2007intermediatenew market entry
Safaricom M-Pesa 2007: Banking the Unbanked Without a Bank
Disruptive InnovationNetwork EffectsBottom of the Pyramid+2 more
50 min
Telecommunications / Financial Services
Starbucks · 2008intermediateturnaround
Starbucks 2008: Schultz Returns
Brand ManagementOperational ExcellenceCustomer Experience Design+1 more
60 min
Food & Beverage / Retail
Airbnb · 2009intermediatelaunch
Airbnb 2009: Surviving Before They Could Scale
Two-Sided MarketplaceTrust ArchitectureProduct-Market Fit+1 more
45 min
Travel & Hospitality
Facebook · 2012intermediateacquisition
Facebook 2012: The $1 Billion Instagram Bet
Platform StrategyNetwork EffectsBuild vs. Buy+1 more
60 min
Social Media / Technology
Kingfisher Airlines (UB Group) · 2012intermediatecrisis
Kingfisher Airlines 2012: The Good Times Run Out
Premium Positioning vs. Market RealityOver-Leverage & Cash BurnIll-Timed Acquisition+1 more
60 min
Aviation
Nu Holdings (Nubank) · 2013intermediatedisruptive market entry
Nubank 2013: Attacking a Banking Oligopoly with a Purple Card
Disruptive InnovationLow-Cost Operating ModelCustomer Experience as Moat+2 more
50 min
Financial Services / Fintech
Tesla · 2013intermediatelaunch
Tesla 2013: The Direct Sales Model
Vertical IntegrationRegulatory StrategyCustomer Experience Design+1 more
60 min
Automotive
Microsoft · 2014intermediateturnaround
Microsoft 2014: Satya Nadella's Turnaround
Culture Change ManagementPlatform StrategyCore Competency Theory+3 more
60 min
Enterprise Technology
Atlassian · 2015intermediatego-to-market strategy
Atlassian 2015: Building a Software Giant With No Sales Team
Product-Led GrowthGo-to-Market StrategyLow-Touch Distribution+2 more
50 min
Software / SaaS
Nestlé (Nestlé India) · 2015intermediatecrisis management
Nestlé Maggi 2015: A Beloved Brand Banned Overnight
Crisis ManagementRegulatory & Reputational RiskBrand Equity Defense+2 more
50 min
Consumer Packaged Goods / Food
Shein · 2015intermediatesupply chain strategy
Shein 2015: Real-Time Fashion and the On-Demand Supply Chain
On-Demand / Small-Batch ManufacturingData-Driven MerchandisingVertical Supply-Chain Integration+2 more
50 min
Fashion / E-Commerce
Patanjali Ayurved · 2016intermediatedisruption
Patanjali 2016: The Ayurveda Challenger vs. the Multinationals
Positioning & Brand DifferentiationDistribution as StrategyChallenger vs. Incumbent+1 more
60 min
FMCG / Consumer Goods
Reliance Jio (Reliance Industries) · 2016intermediatedisruption
Reliance Jio 2016: The Free-Data Disruption
Disruptive PricingNetwork EffectsPredatory Entry vs. Investment+1 more
60 min
Telecommunications
Samsung Electronics · 2016intermediatecrisis management
Samsung 2016: The Galaxy Note 7 Recall
Crisis ManagementProduct Recall Decision-MakingRoot-Cause Analysis+2 more
50 min
Consumer Electronics
Avenue Supermarts (DMart) · 2017intermediatestrategy
DMart 2017: The Boring Retail Model That Beat Everyone
Everyday Low Cost / Low PriceOwning vs. Leasing AssetsWorking Capital Discipline+1 more
60 min
Retail / Grocery
Flipkart · 2018intermediateexit
Flipkart 2018: Sell to Walmart or Fight Amazon Alone
Build vs. SellWar of AttritionStrategic Buyer Premium+1 more
60 min
E-commerce / Retail
MercadoLibre · 2018intermediatecompetitive defense
MercadoLibre 2018: Defending Latin America from Amazon
Competitive StrategyEcosystem MoatsVertical Integration+2 more
55 min
E-Commerce / Fintech
ByteDance (TikTok / Douyin) · 2018intermediateproduct strategy
TikTok 2018: How the Algorithm Beat the Social Graph
Recommendation Systems vs Social GraphCold-Start & Network EffectsContent Flywheel+2 more
55 min
Technology / Social Media
Jumia Technologies · 2019intermediategrowth strategy
Jumia 2019: The "Amazon of Africa" Meets Reality
Unit EconomicsMarket Entry StrategyInfrastructure-Constrained Markets+2 more
50 min
E-Commerce / Technology
Zoom · 2020intermediatepivot
Zoom 2020: From 10 Million to 300 Million
Hypergrowth ManagementSecurity vs. Growth Trade-offB2B vs. B2C Product Strategy+1 more
45 min
Enterprise Software / Communications
Nykaa (FSN E-Commerce Ventures) · 2021intermediatestrategy
Nykaa 2021: The Profitable Startup in a Loss-Making Cohort
Profitable Growth vs. BlitzscalingCategory FocusInventory vs. Marketplace Model+1 more
60 min
E-commerce / Beauty Retail
Adidas · 2022intermediateethics
Adidas / Yeezy 2022: When a Brand Becomes a Liability
Brand StrategyStakeholder TheoryBrand Management+3 more
55 min
Consumer Goods / Sportswear
Peloton Interactive · 2022intermediatestrategy
Peloton 2022: The $50 Billion Demand Mirage
Unit EconomicsS-Curve TheoryFinancial Modeling+4 more
55 min
Consumer Hardware / Fitness
Twitter / X · 2022intermediatestrategy
Twitter/X 2022: The $44 Billion Experiment
Platform StrategyBrand StrategyCapital Markets Strategy+3 more
60 min
Social Media / Technology
Zomato · 2022intermediatepivot
Zomato 2022: The ₹4, 447 Crore Quick-Commerce Bet
Adjacency ExpansionCapital Allocation Under ScrutinyBuy vs. Build+1 more
60 min
Food Delivery / Quick Commerce
The Walt Disney Company · 2023intermediatestrategy
Disney 2023: Iger's Return and the Streaming Reckoning
Platform StrategyUnit EconomicsCompetitive Response Strategy+4 more
65 min
Media / Entertainment
Meta Platforms · 2024intermediateethics
Meta 2024: The Price of the Public Square
Stakeholder TheoryPlatform StrategyCorporate Values Alignment+3 more
60 min
Social Media / Technology
General Electric · 1981advancedturnaround
GE 1981: Jack Welch's Transformation Mandate
Portfolio TheoryCore Competency TheoryStrategic Business Unit Management+1 more
75 min
Conglomerate / Industrial
Intel · 1985advancedpivot
Intel 1985: Exit Memory, Enter Microprocessors
Strategic Inflection PointPortfolio TheoryCore Competency Theory+1 more
60 min
Semiconductors
TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) · 1987advancedbusiness model innovation
TSMC 1987: Inventing the Pure-Play Foundry
Business Model InnovationIndustry Disaggregation (Vertical → Horizontal)Non-Compete Trust Positioning+2 more
60 min
Semiconductors
Kodak · 1994advancedpivot
Kodak 1994: The Digital Camera Dilemma
Innovator's DilemmaCannibalizationCore Competency Theory+1 more
60 min
Consumer Electronics / Imaging
Amazon · 2006advancedlaunch
Amazon 2006: Launching AWS
Platform StrategyResource-Based ViewTwo-Sided Markets+1 more
75 min
Technology / Cloud Computing
Nokia Corporation · 2007advanceddisruption response
Nokia 2007: The King of Phones Misreads the iPhone
Disruptive InnovationPlatform CompetitionIncumbent's Dilemma+2 more
60 min
Telecommunications / Consumer Electronics
Tata Steel · 2007advancedacquisition
Tata Steel 2007: The $12 Billion Corus Bidding War
Winner's CurseAuction DisciplineScale & Vertical Integration+1 more
60 min
Steel / Metals
BYD Company · 2008advancedvertical integration strategy
BYD 2008: The Battery Maker That Out-Scaled Tesla
Vertical IntegrationCost LeadershipCore Competency Transfer+2 more
60 min
Automotive / Clean Energy
Tata Motors · 2008advancedacquisition
Tata Motors 2008: Buying Jaguar Land Rover on the Brink
Counter-Cyclical AcquisitionPremium Brand StrategyAcquirer Capability Gap+1 more
60 min
Automotive
Satyam Computer Services · 2009advancedfraud
Satyam 2009: India's Enron
Accounting Fraud MechanicsThe Fraud TriangleAudit & Board Failure+1 more
60 min
IT Services / Technology
Mahindra & Mahindra · 2010advancedacquisition
Mahindra 2010: Rescuing a Bankrupt Korean Carmaker
Distressed Asset AcquisitionCross-Border IntegrationTechnology Acquisition Logic+1 more
60 min
Automotive
Royal Philips · 2011advancedcorporate transformation
Philips 2011: From Light Bulbs to Health Tech
Corporate Portfolio StrategyFocus vs DiversificationCommoditization Escape+2 more
55 min
Conglomerate / Health Technology
Qantas Airways · 2011advancedcrisis management
Qantas 2011: Grounding the Entire Fleet
Labor Relations & Negotiation LeverageCrisis Decision-MakingStakeholder Management+2 more
55 min
Aviation
Dangote Group · 2013advancedvertical integration / mega-project
Dangote 2013: Backward Integration Against a Nation's Paradox
Backward Vertical IntegrationImport-Substitution StrategyMega-Project Financing & Execution Risk+2 more
60 min
Industrials / Energy
SK Hynix · 2013advancedR&D investment strategy
SK Hynix 2013: Betting on the Memory No One Wanted Yet
Technology S-CurvesCommitment Under UncertaintyFirst-Mover Advantage+2 more
60 min
Semiconductors
Infosys · 2014advancedleadership
Infosys 2014: The First Non-Founder CEO
Founder SuccessionBoard Governance & OversightInsider vs. Outsider CEO+1 more
60 min
IT Services / Technology
Petrobras · 2014advancedgovernance / corruption crisis
Petrobras 2014: Operation Car Wash and the Cost of Corruption
Corporate Governance FailureState-Owned Enterprise Agency ProblemsProcurement Fraud & Kickback Schemes+2 more
60 min
Oil & Gas / State Enterprise
Theranos · 2015advancedgovernance
Theranos 2015: When the Board Didn't Ask
Stakeholder TheoryCorporate GovernanceAsymmetric Information+1 more
75 min
Healthcare / Diagnostics
Volkswagen Group · 2015advancedcorporate governance / ethics crisis
Volkswagen 2015: Dieselgate and the Cost of Cheating
Corporate Governance & CultureGoal-Setting PathologyCrisis Management+2 more
60 min
Automotive
Uber · 2016advancedexpansion
Uber 2016: The China Retreat
International Expansion StrategyCompetitive DynamicsCapital Efficiency+1 more
60 min
Transportation / Technology
Amazon · 2017advancedacquisition
Amazon 2017: Acquiring Whole Foods
Vertical IntegrationFlywheel ModelPlatform Strategy+1 more
60 min
Retail / Grocery
A.P. Møller-Maersk · 2017advancedcrisis management / operational resilience
Maersk 2017: When a Cyberattack Stopped Global Shipping
Operational ResilienceCyber Risk & Single Points of FailureCrisis Continuity (Manual Fallback)+2 more
55 min
Shipping / Logistics
Ola Electric (ANI Technologies) · 2017advancedpivot
Ola Electric 2017: From Ride-Hailing to Building EVs
Vertical IntegrationCore Competence vs. AdjacencyCapital Intensity & Manufacturing Risk+1 more
60 min
Electric Vehicles / Mobility
Steinhoff International · 2017advancedgovernance
Steinhoff 2017: The $7.4 Billion Fiction
Forensic AccountingFinancial Statement AnalysisEarnings Quality+4 more
75 min
Retail
Grab Holdings / GoTo (Gojek) · 2018advancedcompetitive strategy
Grab vs Gojek 2018: The Southeast Asian Super-App War
Super-App StrategyNetwork Effects & Multi-Sided PlatformsCash-Burn Competition+2 more
60 min
Technology / Mobility / Fintech
Spotify · 2018advancedlaunch
Spotify 2018: The Direct Listing Bet
Capital Markets StrategyTwo-Sided MarketplacePricing Power+1 more
60 min
Music Streaming / Technology
Boeing · 2019advancedethics
Boeing 737 MAX 2019: Safety as a Competitive Casualty
Corporate GovernanceRisk ManagementStakeholder Theory+3 more
75 min
Aerospace / Manufacturing
NMC Health · 2019advancedgovernance
NMC Health 2019: $4 Billion in Hidden Debt
Forensic AccountingDebt AnalysisRelated Party Transactions+4 more
65 min
Healthcare
Saudi Aramco · 2019advancedcapital markets strategy
Saudi Aramco 2019: Selling a Sliver of the World's Most Valuable Company
Valuation & PricingSovereign Diversification (Resource Curse)IPO Strategy & Listing Venue+2 more
60 min
Oil & Gas / Energy
Vale S.A. · 2019advancedsafety / risk governance crisis
Vale 2019: The Dam Disaster That Should Never Have Repeated
Risk Governance & Low-Probability/High-Severity EventsNormalization of DevianceRepeat-Failure / Learning Failure+2 more
55 min
Mining
WeWork · 2019advancedgovernance
WeWork 2019: The IPO Collapse
Corporate GovernanceValuation FrameworksUnit Economics+1 more
75 min
Real Estate / Technology
Embraer S.A. · 2020advancedM&A
Embraer 2020: When the $4.2B Deal Collapsed
M&A StrategyStrategic DependenceDuopoly Dynamics+2 more
60 min
Aerospace / Manufacturing
Luckin Coffee · 2020advancedgovernance
Luckin Coffee 2020: When the Growth Story Was a Fiction
Forensic AccountingEarnings QualityShort Seller Research+4 more
70 min
Consumer / Food & Beverage
Yes Bank · 2020advancedcrisis
Yes Bank 2020: The Collapse and the Rescue
Credit Risk & Asset QualityFounder-Promoter RiskHidden NPAs & Disclosure+1 more
60 min
Banking / Financial Services
FTX / Alameda Research · 2022advancedgovernance
FTX 2022: The $32 Billion House of Cards
Corporate GovernancePrincipal-Agent ProblemRisk Management+4 more
80 min
Cryptocurrency / Financial Services
Tata Group · 2022advancedturnaround
Tata & Air India 2022: Buying Back the Flag Carrier
Turnaround ManagementAcquisition IntegrationLegacy Cost & Culture+1 more
60 min
Aviation
Byju's (Think & Learn) · 2023advancedgovernance
Byju's 2023: From $22 Billion to Insolvency
Growth at Any CostGovernance & Financial ControlsDebt-Fueled Acquisitions+1 more
60 min
EdTech / Technology
OpenAI · 2023advancedgovernance
OpenAI 2023: The Board That Blinked
Corporate GovernanceStakeholder TheoryPrincipal-Agent Problem+3 more
60 min
Artificial Intelligence / Technology
OpenAI · 2023advancedlaunch
OpenAI & Microsoft 2023: Commercializing GPT-4
Platform StrategyStrategic AllianceRegulatory Strategy+1 more
75 min
Artificial Intelligence
Silicon Valley Bank · 2023advancedrisk
Silicon Valley Bank 2023: The Fastest Bank Run in History
Risk ManagementFinancial ModelingAsset Liability Management+3 more
65 min
Banking / Financial Services
Paytm (One97 Communications) / Paytm Payments Bank · 2024advancedregulatory
Paytm 2024: When the Regulator Pulls the Plug
Regulatory RiskCompliance as Core StrategyPlatform Dependency+1 more
60 min
Fintech / Banking
TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) · 2024advancedstrategy
TSMC 2024: The Geopolitics of Silicon
Geopolitical RiskSupply Chain StrategyCompetitive Strategy+4 more
70 min
Semiconductors / Technology