J.P. Chartier
Antoine Boyer
Jean-François Signori
Video Case Studies 2009
New this year in Entrepreneurialist Culture, ADM 3396, are a series of video case studies done by our students. They use typical case study methods: set the scene, describe the cast of characters, find the problem(s), define the hypothesis, provide the data and information needed for a robust class discussion and then give us the "instructor's manual" showing what was done. The difference is that this year instead of using a written format, they used a video format.
Thanks to all the groups who produced the first video case studies and who will help future students and others who adopt this format for their case studies in the future. Video is a rich format which can convey a lot of information in ten minutes or so.
These videos are meant to be watched until the problems and some possible solutions have been presented then stopped while a class discussion proceeds. Students should briefly introduce the videos but then let their work do the rest...
Dr. Bruce M. Firestone, April 2009.
Absolute Comedy
Description:
In 2008, this Preston Street comedy club had to deal with two major challenges. First, the street was closed in front of the club because of roadwork. And then Absolute's main competitor, Yuk Yuk's, settled into premises just across the street. They were faced with difficult choices: a) should they decide not to do anything, b) should they increase promotion for their business, c) should they close down for the summer or d) should they try to join forces with Yuk Yuk's?
The Team:
J.P. Chartier
Antoine Boyer
Jean-François Signori
Video Case Study: (Solutions Manual/Instructor's Manual: Stop at 5:48 before finding out what they actually did.)
Sleepwell Property Management (with comparison to Marklyn Management)
Description:
Examining Sleepwell's success in landing initial clients through insight from Conrad Pool, founder of Sleepwell Property Management, Jonathan Kardash, founder of Marklyn Management, and Dr. Bruce Firestone, of the University of Ottawa. Application of key concepts to today's market is included in the Instructor's Manual.
The Team:
Zydra Gestautaite
Travis Comeau,
Video Case Study: (Instructor's Manual, stop at 9:25. Recommendations on the steps a new property management firm might take to land its initial clients.)
Sleepwell Property Management: A Case Study from ADM 3396 on Vimeo.
bOK Now
Description:
Interview with the Founder of bOK Now (Aiden Merize). bOK Now was a company that aimed to lower cell phone bills. The way this was achieved was by turning long distance calls into local calls through text messaging, transforming both ends of a cell phone call into free incoming calls using the Internet. The company eventually dissolved and this is why: see below.
The Team:
Jorden Demeo, Luc Lauzon, Matthew Firestone
Video Case Study (Part 1):
Video Case Study (Part 2): The Instructor's Manual
(The full interview with Aiden can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0M8oLsFrx0.)
Description:
The Financial Intrapreneur is a case about a financial advisor who is experiencing tough economic times. This case is geared towards answering the tough question: "how can someone acquire and maintain his or her clients in a major recession such as now (2008/2009)?
The Team:
Adam Abrams, Ariane Friesen, Scott Laplante, Matt Mcneely
Video Case Study:
Face to Face with Yves Tremblay
Description:
A young fibre-optic company is faced with a crucial dilemma when asked to produce and sell a certain amount of units with deadlines and quantities that seem impossible to reach. The entrepreneur asks himself whether or not he should accept or refuse the contract.
The Team:
Paulette Salloum and Paul Tremblay
Solutions Manual/Instructor's Manual:
Stop at 5:45 (The possible solutions to the problem are numbered.)
Video Case Study:
The Business Inn
The Business Inn is a hotel located in downtown Ottawa. This case study gives a profile of the business, their clientele, their strategies, and the challenge they face; to differentiate themselves to gain a competitive advantage in the market place.
The Team:
Barrett Karam
Andrew Wigmore
Video Case Study:
Thomas Foran, CA
Description:
Thomas Foran is the owner of a small accounting firm. When deciding to start his own business, he was faced with a major problem; he was unsure of how he could create value for his clients simply by providing tax services. Were there other ways to create value and ensure client loyalty and compete with mass service providers like H & R Block?
The Team:
Stephanie Morrison Sabrina LeBlanc Nick McDougall
Video Case Study: (Stop at 7:10. At that point there is a list of alternatives that will appear on screen)
Taj Indian Cuisine
Description:
Ms. Indu Bakshi, owner of the Taj Indian Cuisine, discusses the difficulties of starting up her business. After being laid off from Bell Canada and having very little savings, she and her husband had to find some way to acquire the business and pay the bills.
The Team:
Video Case Study: (Note: for Instructor's Manual, Stop video at 2:17, evaluate problem. Remainder examines how the business was actually started.)
Seasonality Setbacks for Kovar Contracting
Description:
The video case study involves young entrepreneur, Jason Kovar who recently started his own contracting business: Kovar Contracting. Mainly in the roofing business, Jason was faced with the problem of seasonality in the first year of his business this past winter. The case examines the options present in order to combat seasonality in his business and what Jason actually did in order to continue generating revenue during the winter months. Additional insight into the problem was sought from entrepreneur and expert roofer Dan Jorgensen, of well-established Ottawa-area roofing company: Dan's Roofing.
The Team:
Angie Kelly
Stephen Demone
Alex Appleby
Amanda Gorchinski
Video Case Study: (Note: the video should be stopped at 5 minutes where there is a recap of the problem before the instructor's manual begins.)
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