Technological innovation
April 2024
The Transformation of Digital China: Harnessing the Potential of Data, Cloud and AI
By Julian Birkinshaw, Dickie Liang-Hong Ke
In early 2024 Guo Wei reflected on another successful year for Digital China group of companies (DC), the group he had led for more than 20 years. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he had overseen the transformation of DC from an IT distributor to an IT services market leader, and now leading...
November 2020
Protean Electric: Innovation upon innovation
By David Arnold
The case is intended as a vehicle for analysis of the challenges involved in launching an innovative product. It is set against the background of the wave of innovation in the vehicle market, as manufacturers race to replace internal combustion engines (ICEs) with electric power. Protean Electric, a...
July 2020
Haier’s (2019) ecosystem revolution: From Rendanheyi 2.0 to Rendanheyi 3.0
By Michael Jacobides, Lisa Duke
2019 was an important year for Haier. Its new version of its radically decentralised structure, dubbed Rendanheyi 2.0, based on many independent ‘Ecosystem Micro-enterprise Communities’ (EMCs) had been devised to help it respond to the shifting ways of adding value in the digital, internet-based...
June 2020
Enel S.p.A.: A Traditional Utility Embraces the Digital Revolution
By Julian Birkinshaw, Ken Mark
The case study describes the digital transformation of Enel under the leadership of Francesco Starace from 2014 to 2019. Enel is one of Europe’s largest utilities, providing electricity to 71 million customers across Europe and South America. It is also an impressive success story. At the time the...
August 2016
ONk: Dining at the Funding Buffet
By Gary Dushnitsky
The idea for ONk originated in 2012 when six-year-old Mike asked his father, Sam Ke, one night, “Can we make a computer that is simple and fun?” Soon afterwards, a team of three – Alex Bell, Joe Costa and Sam Ke – came together to answer the call. The mission: to give young people – and th...
February 2013
Eight19 (A): A Social Enterprise?
By Jeff Skinner, Tom Ryan
Eight19 is a technology-based start-up company based on Cambridge Science Park. The company is developing a new (and very low cost) solar-panel technology aimed primarily at domestic use in developing countries. The case describes the issues faced by eight19 as it develops a business model for the n...
January 2016
Unilever Foundry
By Julian Birkinshaw, Shahnoor Meghani
This case focuses on the Unilever Foundry, a platform for Unilever to engage with start-ups and entrepreneurs, providing them with access to Unilever’s brands as a means of enabling their growth while bringing innovative technology back to the company. The case provides a brief description of Unil...
September 2011
The Rise and Fall of Nokia
By Julian Birkinshaw, Lisa Duke
The case describes Nokia’s spectacular rise and fall, shedding light on the combination of external factors and internal decisions that resulted in the company’s handset business being sold to Microsoft in 2010.During the successful period of growth (roughly 1990 through to 2006), Nokia’s focu...
January 2013
Eight19 (B) Azuri Technologies
By Jeff Skinner, Tom Ryan
Eight19 is a technology-based start-up company based on Cambridge Science Park. The company is developing a new (and very low cost) solar-panel technology aimed primarily at domestic use in developing countries. The case describes the issues faced by eight19 as it develops a business model for the n...