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The following case studies show all the business studies theory you need to know in practice. By studying real life business case studies, you will see how business and marketing work and therefore learn quicker.

Each of the following case studies show a different aspect to business and marketing that you can use as a revision tool for your business studies.

[ Advance Previews of New Edition 14 Case Studies. Due in print July 2009. ]

Browse Case Studies by Company

Search for company alphabetically: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
 
Parcelforce Worldwide

Customer service as a strategy

This case study examines how a strategy focused on customer service can contribute to longterm business development.

Edition 14: Using the marketing mix to drive change
 
Portakabin

Promoting the brand

This case study explores how Portakabin uses market analysis to identify customer requirements and promote its brand.

Edition 14: Lean production at Portakabin
 
Siemens

Training and development as a strategy for growth

This case study shows how Siemens manages its ongoing need for skills and the contribution that training and development makes to its business growth.

Edition 14: Motivation within a creative environment
 
Skoda

SWOT analysis in action

The case study shows how Škoda UK transformed its brand image and built its competitive edge using SWOT analysis.
 
Syngenta

Feeding and fuelling the world through technology

This case study looks at how Syngenta, one of the world’s leading plant science businesses, is meeting the dual challenge of increasing crop yield and producing alternative fuels.

Edition 14: Developing an effective organisational structure
 
Tarmac

How roles and functions contribute to competitive advantage

This case study shows how Tarmac focuses on attracting and keeping the right staff and ensuring its employees have the right skills and expertise to grow the company.

Edition 14: How roles and functions contribute to organisational performance
 
Tesco

Recruitment and selection

This case study looks at how Tesco ensures it has the right number of people in the right jobs and at its structured process for recruitment and selection.

Edition 14: How training and development supports business growth
 
UNISON

Driving forward environmental aims and objectives

This case study focuses on the way businesses impact on the environment. One of UNISON’s aims is to help to improve the environment at work and, by so doing, contribute to efforts to tackle climate change.

Edition 14: Use of PEST analysis at UNISON
 
Vodafone

Stakeholders in recycling and re-use

This case study focuses on one area Vodafone and its stakeholders are interested in – the recycling and re-use of old mobile phones to reduce the carbon footprint of the company and its users.

Edition 14: Using technology to improve economies
 
Wilkinson

Marketing strategy for growth

This case study focuses on how Wilkinson created and implemented a marketing strategy to grow the business, using the findings of its market research.
 
Amway

The role of stakeholders

This case study explores the relationship between Amway and its stakeholders.
 
Anglo American

Business ethics and corporate social responsibility

This case study shows the challenges Anglo American faces in its industry and how it seeks to make ethical choices in its business practice.

Edition 14: New technology development in the primary sector
 
asos.com

Strategic growth in the fashion retail industry

This case study looks at how asos.com uses the Internet as a channel for business growth.

Edition 14: The product life cycle and online fashion
 
Audit Commission

Flexible working patterns

This case study shows how the Audit Commission has implemented flexible working practices to improve its services and meet the changing needs of its staff.
 
Barclays

Supporting new business start-ups

This case study looks at the challenges of setting up a new business and at some of the decisions that must be made by a budding entrepreneur.

Edition 14: Supporting new business start-ups
 
Ben Sherman

Using the marketing mix in the fashion industry

This case study examines how Ben Sherman uses the marketing mix to help the business remain competitive and extend its market share and influence.
 
British Gas Services

Workforce planning at British Gas Services

This case study explores how BGS manages the recruitment and selection of new employees.

Edition 14: Workforce planning at British Gas
 
BSI

Supporting business through standards

This case study shows how BSI British Standards (BSI), the UK’s National Standards Body, supports businesses at every step of the research, development and manufacturing processes.
 
Building Societies Association

Building societies and other types of organisation

This case study outlines different types of business organisations and their purpose. It highlights the similarities and differences between other types of business and building societies.

Edition 14: The importance of effective communication
 
CEMEX

Sustainable performance in the construction industry

This case study examines how CEMEX locates and carries out its operations in a sustainable way.

Edition 14: Sustainable performance in the construction industry
 
CIMA

Financial information in decision making

This case study looks at the roles and duties that management accountants cover in a business and at CIMA, an organisation which supports management accountants through training and certification.

Edition 14: Improving strategic decision making
 
Corus

Continuous improvement as a business strategy

This case study focuses on the process of Continuous Improvement (CI) at the CCI steel plate manufacturing mill at Scunthorpe. It will show how Corus is finding new ways of achieving its objectives from existing resources.

Edition 14: Product development through continuous improvement
 
Davis Service Group

Growing a company by international aquisition

This case study describes and analyses the growth of the Davis Service Group.

Edition 14: Managing firms throughout the business cycle
 
Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Using a range of management styles to lead a business

This case study focuses on leadership within Enterprise. It shows how its managers use a range of management and leadership styles to support Enterprise’s focus on customers.

Edition 14: Recruitment and selection at Enterprise Rent-A-Car
 
first direct

Using market research to relaunch a brand

This case study shows how first direct has used market research to revitalise its brand.

Edition 14: Using customer service to position a business
 
First Group

Managing external influences

This case study looks at how PESTEL analysis helps a business to identify which factors in its business environment may be threats or opportunities and to plan for them.

Edition 14: Investing in safety
 
Food Standards Agency

Market research and consumer protection

This case study focuses on how the FSA uses scientific and market research to provide consumers with reliable up-to-date information, enabling them to make healthy choices about food.
 
Go-Ahead

Meeting needs in a competitive sector

This case study outlines how deregulation, organisational structure and planning can support growth of a company.
 
IKEA

Building a sustainable supply chain

This case study looks in detail how IKEA has achieved its aim to be a responsible business in each of the three sectors of the supply chain.

Edition 14: SWOT analysis and sustainable business planning
 
Intel

Using innovation to create competitive advantage

This case study focuses on how Intel takes an integrated approach to research, development and manufacturing to drive its business.
 
IPO

Intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship

This case study shows how the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) helps owners and entrepreneurs to protect their ideas or concepts by registering their intellectual property rights.

Edition 14: Protecting the marketing mix through intellectual property rights
 
Kellogg's

Extending the product life cycle

This case study shows how Kellogg recognised that the Nutri-Grain brand was losing market share. It used business tools to re-launch the brand and return it to growth in its market.

Edition 14: Supply chain from maunfacturing to shelf
 
Legal Services Commission Edition 13

Using PEST analysis to identify external influences

This case study focuses on the work of the LSC and illustrates what factors affect its performance and how it responds to these factors.

Edition 14: Becoming a lean service organisation
 
Lloyds TSB

Changing working patterns

This case study shows how Lloyds TSB uses flexible working patterns to attract, appoint, motivate and retain its staff in order to deliver the highest levels of customer service.

Edition 14: Positive about disability
 
McCain Foods

Sustainability through investment

This case study explores how McCain Foods evaluated the benefits of proposed sustainable energy projects before making major financial investment.
 
Mott MacDonald

Creating strategic direction

This case study focuses on how Mott MacDonald stands out in its competitive environment by using the skills and knowledge of its people to achieve its business purpose.
 
NIVEA

The use of the marketing mix in product launch

This case study shows how a carefully balanced marketing mix provides the platform for launching and re-launching a brand onto the market.

Edition 14: Developing a market plan
 
npower

Managing risk through effective team-based decision making

This case study highlights the skills necessary for creative problem solving and effective decision making at RWE npower.

Edition 14: Developing people through decision-making
 
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Meeting responsibilities to stakeholders

This case study focuses on how the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority listens to and makes sure that it meets legal and other responsibilities to its stakeholders.

Edition 14: Developing a motivated workforce
 

Advance Previews of New Edition 14 Case Studies. Due in print July 2009.
Anglo American View:

New technology development in the primary sector

This case study focuses on how Anglo American carries out new product and process development.
 
asos.com View:

The product life cycle and online fashion

This case study shows how ASOS.com uses the product life cycle to ensure its product portfolio continues to meet the needs of its customers and provide up-to-date fashions in the fast-moving online retail industry.
 
Bannatyne View:

From ice cream van to Dragon's Den - Duncan Bannatyne

This case study focuses on Duncan Bannatyne, one of the UK’s best-known entrepreneurs.
 
Barclays View:

Supporting new business start-ups

This case study looks at the challenges of setting up a new business
 
British Gas Services View:

Workforce planning at British Gas

This case study explores how British Gas manages the recruitment and selection of new employees
 
Building Societies Association View:

The importance of effective communication

This case study shows how building societies communicate with their own members on many different levels.
 
CEMEX View:

Sustainable performance in the construction industry

This case study examines how CEMEX locates and carries out its operations in a sustainable way.
 
CIMA View:

Improving strategic decision making

This case study looks at a structured approach to decision making. It shows how CIMA-trained management accountants have the skills to offer strategic and practical advice and can contribute to effective decision making at all levels in a business.
 
CMC Markets View:

Enterprise in the fast lane

This case study focuses on the entrepreneur, Peter Cruddas, who set up his own business CMC Markets in the early 1990s with just £10,000 capital.
 
Co-operative Food Group View:

Ethically serving stakeholders

This case study shows how The Co-operative Group’s values contribute to improving the diet and health of the UK.
 
Corus View:

Product development through continuous improvement

This case study focuses on how Corus used its knowledge and experience of continuous improvement (CI) to win new business.
 
Davis Service Group View:

Managing firms throughout the business cycle

This case study examines how Davis Service Group, one of Britain’s key service companies, has managed the recent change in the business cycle.
 
Enterprise Rent-A-Car View:

Recruitment and selection at Enterprise Rent-A-Car

This case study explores how Enterprise ensures it has the right people and skills to achieve its business aims and objectives.
 
first direct View:

Using customer service to position a business

This case study shows how the online bank first direct positions itself in the retail banking sector.
 
First Group View:

Investing in safety

This case study shows how FirstGroup, the worlds leading transport company, has developed a safety culture.
 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office View:

Delivering the mission statement

This case study examines how the FCO meets its goals through the skills and competencies of its people.
 
Forestry Commission View:

Developing people through training

The case study will show how training and development is central to the work of the Forestry Commission and how it benefits the career development of its people.
 
Highways Agency View:

Highways Agency - PEST analysis

This case study looks at the political, economic, social and technological factors that impact on the Highways Agency.
 
IKEA View:

SWOT analysis and sustainable business planning

This case study will show why IKEA believes a strong environmental stance is good business practice.
 
IPO View:

Protecting the marketing mix through intellectual property rights

This case study looks at how one technology company, Forensic Pathways, has used these legal safeguards for a new development.
 
KBR View:

Roles and responsibilities within an organisational structure

This case study shows how these different roles can be organised within the structure of KBR to enable it to achieve its mission, which is ‘to safely deliver any project, any time, in any environment for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities we serve’.
 
Kellogg's View:

Supply chain from maunfacturing to shelf

This case study shows how Kellogg’s fulfils this mission in the later parts of the supply chain from manufacturing to shelf.
 
Legal Services Commission Edition 13 View:

Becoming a lean service organisation

This case study shows how the process of reform, using lean production principles, is helping the Legal Services Commission to cut down on any wasteful expenditure.
 
Lloyds TSB View:

Positive about disability

The case study shows that developing good positive working practices that deal with disability benefits both employers and employees.
 
London 2012 View:

London 2012 - achieving the vision

This case study shows how creating a clear vision and set of values has made it possible to establish clear objectives for delivering an unforgettable Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012.
 
NIVEA View:

Developing a market plan

This case study examines how NIVEA re-launched the NIVEA FOR MEN range in 2008
 
npower View:

Developing people through decision-making

This case study explores the way in which RWE npower delegates responsibility to extend the capabilities of its employees.
 
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority View:

Developing a motivated workforce

This case study will show how developing a motivated workforce enables NDA to deliver safe and sustainable solutions to nuclear clean-up and waste management.
 
OPITO View:

Management styles in the oil and gas industry

This case study examines how different management styles may be necessary to support the variety of job roles within the oil and gas industry.
 
Parcelforce Worldwide View:

Using the marketing mix to drive change

This case study explores how this was achieved using the marketing mix or 4Ps.
 
Portakabin View:

Lean production at Portakabin

This case study focuses on how Portakabin uses lean production methods to ensure it produces a quality product that gives value to the customer.
 
ScottishPower View:

Recruitment and selection in the energy industry

study focused on how ScottishPower manages its recruitment and selection processes to attract people with relevant skills and competencies into the energy industry.
 
Shell View:

Balancing stakeholder needs

The case study examines how stakeholders influence the achievement of these aims and how Shell seeks to meet the needs of all of its stakeholders and balance the social, economic and environmental impacts of its work.
 
Siemens View:

Motivation within a creative environment

This case study examines motivation theory and its relevance to leading and inspiring a workforce in a modern engineering environment.
 
Syngenta View:

Developing an effective organisational structure

The case study shows how Syngenta operates though a matrix structure. This involves staff from different departments working together in teams on specific projects and tasks.
 
Tarmac View:

How roles and functions contribute to organisational performance

This case study focuses on how the people in Tarmac Quarry Materials deliver the highest value for customers, communities, employees and investors.
 
Tate & Lyle View:

Ethical trading and sustainable business

This case study describes how Tate & Lyle Sugars demonstrates the Tate & Lyle Group’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and ethical business practice.
 
Tesco View:

How training and development supports business growth

This case study looks at how Tesco provides training and development opportunities for its employees.
 
UNISON View:

Use of PEST analysis at UNISON

This case study focuses on the issues faced by migrant workers in the UK.
 
Vodafone View:

Using technology to improve economies

This case study highlights Vodafone’s activities in different types of economies and the impact of technology on both developed and developing markets