Ivey Decision Point

Ivey Business School

Decision Point unpacks the thinking behind business case studies that get students talking. Are you new to the case method or looking to hone your craft? Join host Matt Quin for key insights on case writing and teaching from authors at the Ivey Business School and institutions around the world. We’ll explore the decisions faced by leaders featured in new and best-selling cases, as well as the challenges in bringing these to life in the classroom.

  1. 2021-11-02

    Digital Transformation at GE: What Went Wrong?

    We speak with Robert D. Austin, Professor, Information Systems at Ivey Business School, and an affiliated faculty member at Harvard Medical School about his best-selling case, Digital Transformation at GE: What Went Wrong? This case examines the digital transformation that GE had been attempting and the challenges it encountered, and is especially timely as many organizations accelerate their digital transformation efforts as a result of COVID-19. Our conversation also touches on such topics as: strategy disruption, looking for – and following – compelling case stories, translating and scaling complex issues into a readable and easily understandable case, and teaching cases in tandem. We conclude our discussion with Rob’s thoughts on the evolution of the case method and Rob’s advice for new case authors. Review the case here  Robert D. Austin is a professor of Information Systems at Ivey Business School, and an affiliated faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Before his appointment at Ivey, he was a professor of Innovation and Digital Transformation at Copenhagen Business School, and, before that, a professor of Technology and Operations Management at the Harvard Business School. At Harvard, he chaired the executive program for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) for more than ten years. Professor Austin has published widely, in both academic and professional venues, such as Harvard Business Review, Information Systems Research, MIT Sloan Management Review, Organization Science, Organization Studies, and the Wall Street Journal. He also is the author of nine books, more than 50 published cases and notes, three Harvard online products, and two popular Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) running on the Coursera platform. His “Cyberattack!" Simulation won the 2020 International Serious Play Gold Medal. His research on neurodiversity employment programs is funded by SSHRC.

    29 min
  2. 2021-10-26

    Traeger Pellet Grills: Cooking up the Competition

    Traeger Pellet Grills: Cooking up the Competition Simon Greathead, Associate Professor, Global Business at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business discusses his award-winning Traeger Pellet Grills case. The case addresses the complexities associated with managing an international supply chain, cross-culture negotiation, meeting the needs of various stakeholders in a supply chain, and how to respond to unethical business partner behaviour. Additionally, Simon shares insights on the three elements contained in a great case, writing cases with multiple themes, allowing students to drive case discussion, building trusted relationships, and his approach to influencing students. Review the case here Traeger Pellet Grills: Cooking up the Competition won the 2020 EFMD case competition award in the supply chain management category. Professor Simon P. Greathead is an international business and global supply chain professor at BYU’s Marriott School of Business. Simon earned an MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading in the UK and a BS in Business Management from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Simon’s current interests focus on process optimization, ERP implementation, change management, global negotiations, international business, supply chain innovation, and the global supply chain as a strategic concern. Simon began teaching at BYU in 2008 as an international business instructor and currently teaches global supply chain, operations, negotiations, and international business courses. Simon has published in Harvard Business Review as well as Ivey Publishing and other notable journals.

    33 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Decision Point unpacks the thinking behind business case studies that get students talking. Are you new to the case method or looking to hone your craft? Join host Matt Quin for key insights on case writing and teaching from authors at the Ivey Business School and institutions around the world. We’ll explore the decisions faced by leaders featured in new and best-selling cases, as well as the challenges in bringing these to life in the classroom.