Case Studies Home
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.
1. LEADERSHIP
The importance of effective communication
This case study shows how building societies
communicate with their own members on many different
levels.
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.
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.
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Delivering the mission statement
This case study examines how the FCO
meets its goals through the skills and
competencies of its people.
Highways Agency - PEST analysis
This case study looks at the political,
economic, social and technological factors
that impact on the Highways Agency.
SWOT analysis and sustainable
business planning
This case study will show why IKEA
believes a strong environmental stance is
good business practice.
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’.
Positive about disability
The case study shows that developing
good positive working practices that deal
with disability benefits both employers
and employees.
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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.
Developing people through
decision-making
This case study explores the way in which
RWE npower delegates responsibility to
extend the capabilities of its employees.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
2. MANAGEMENT
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.
Investing in safety
This case study shows how FirstGroup,
the worlds leading transport company, has
developed a safety culture.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
How training and development
supports business growth
This case study looks at how Tesco
provides training and development
opportunities for its employees.
Use of PEST analysis at UNISON
This case study focuses on the issues
faced by migrant workers in the UK.
3. ECONOMY & BUSINESS
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.
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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.
Using customer service to position
a business
This case study shows how the online
bank first direct positions itself in the
retail banking sector.
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.
Supply chain from manufacturing
to shelf
This case study shows how Kellogg’s
fulfils this mission in the later parts of the
supply chain from manufacturing to shelf.
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.
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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
New technology development in the
primary sector
This case study focuses on how Anglo
American carries out new product and
process development.
Developing a marketing plan
This case study examines how NIVEA relaunched the NIVEA FOR MEN range in
2008
Using the marketing mix to drive
change
This case study explores how this was
achieved using the marketing mix or 4Ps.
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.
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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-todate fashions in the fast-moving online
retail industry.
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.
Supporting new business start-ups
This case study looks at the challenges of
setting up a new business
Workforce planning at British Gas
This case study explores how British Gas
manages the recruitment and selection of
new employees
4. ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable
performance in the
construction industry
This case study examines how CEMEX
locates and carries out its operations in a
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sustainable way.
5. ETHIC & INTEGRITY
Ethically serving stakeholders
This case study shows how The Cooperative Group’s values contribute to
improving the diet and health of the UK.
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