The Asian Business Case Centre

Asian Business Case Centre

Case Study

About Us

Asia and in particular ASEAN is widely regarded as the region with one of the fastest growth rates. Yet despite this realization, knowledge of business practices in the region is largely understudied.

The Asian Business Case Centre’s mission is to be the source of choice for case studies and practice-based insights in business and social innovations in Asia and in particular ASEAN. Given the central role of entrepreneurship and innovation in the region, ABCC pays special attention to these topics. For example, finance, logistics, marketing, human resources management and recruitment, business strategies, and even accounting and law are all influenced by the latest entrepreneurial and technological innovations.

Our Mission

At The Asian Business Case Centre, we aim to be the partner of choice for developing strategic case studies in Asia. We are the source of choice for case studies and practice-based insights in business and social innovations in Asia and in particular ASEAN.

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Policy Tale of Two Small Open Asian Economies: Singapore and Hong Kong

One common phenomenon post-COVID is the sharp spike in real estate prices around the world. This is more so in open economies where capital inflows are not controlled. Could monetary policy in these economies effective on containing asset price inflation?

Asia Gigaton Fund: Public Equities Investing For Impact

Singapore-based investment manager Panarchy Partners developed the Asia Gigaton Fund to deliver environmental impact--1 gigaton of incremental emissions reductions--through its investments in Asian public equities. Based on field research with the manager, the case (and online data supplement) explores key elements of impact investing and portfolio construction.

The People’s Transformation: “The UOB Way"

Since its incorporation in 1935, UOB (a Singaporean bank) has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. Over nearly nine decades, UOB grew from its humble beginnings, as a bank started by a group of seven businessmen, to become a leading financial institution in Asia, with a sizeable footprint in ASEAN. A core asset of the bank lies with its human capital & resources. Managing this important asset of an organization is a highly strategic and monumental effort. This case looks at how UOB achieves this objective through the lens of the Chief Human Resource Officer.

Unsustainability in Sustainable Urban Farming: Paradox of Apollo Aquaculture Group (AAG)

Highlighting the paradox of unsustainability within sustainable urban fish farming, this case focuses on Apollo Aquaculture Group (AAG), a Singapore-based high-tech aquaculture business specializing in ornamental fish and seafood production. It aims to shed valuable lessons on innovation, sustainability, and economic viability in the aquaculture industry.

Spreading its wings: Jollibee Foods Corporation's quest for growth

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has faced significant challenges. CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong must develop strategies to maintain resilience, increase profitability, and foster growth. How can JFC enlarge its market share and revenue through its acquisition of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL)?

Capitaland Investment Limited: Investment Property vs PPE

Using an SGX-listed firm CapitaLand, this case aims to discuss the accounting for investment properties and its impact on the company’s financial position and performance. It will be useful for undergraduate and/or post-graduate students taking introductory or intermediate accounting modules, either as in-class discussion or out-of-class take-home assignment.

Golden Light: Finding the Sweet Spot in the Premium Sweet Spreads

In the 21st century, Sheng Sheng F&B Industries Pte Ltd (SSFB) entered the sweet spreads with new brand, Golden Light. As COVID-19 pandemic subsided, Golden Light ventured into the premium sweet spreads sector. This case highlights impact of operating environment, market disruption, changing consumer behavior, product development and channel strategies.

Change and Collective Leadership: The Transformational Journey of Tan Tock Seng Hospital

COVID-19 had disrupted life as we know it, affecting individuals from all walks of life and every country around the world. This case study illustrates WHY, HOW and WHAT, Tan Tock Seng Hospital transformed the traditional hospital practices into a future centred hospital in view of the changing demand and challenges faced in medical cares in Singapore.

From Hierarchical Organisation to Boundaryless Hospital: Kampung Spirit and Collective Leadership Beyond Eleven Jalan Tan Tock Seng

This case study demonstrates how collective leadership was adopted by Tan Tock Seng Hospital to thrive in a D-VUCA (Disruptive, Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment. Would collective leadership suffice to bring TTSH from good to great? What is Collective Leadership? This case study illustrates the applications and leadership qualities of collective leadership.

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Singapore's Strategic Transformation as a Smart Nation

The Smart Nation ambition envisioned Singapore as a triad of Digital Economy, Digital Government, and Digital Society, enabled by smart nation-wide infrastructure. Global rankings of smart cities have put Singapore in the top spot. What are its key success factors and its key challenges? What should be its strategic next steps?

Medinex: Business Combinations, Goodwill, and Goodwill Impairment

Medinex’s expansion-through-acquisition strategy resulted in Medinex reporting high goodwill amount. The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) raised queries regarding Medinex’s acquisitions and the possibility of overpayment due to aggressive assumptions used in their valuations. This case examines its three acquisitions in 2019 to demonstrate the acquisition method in the accounting for business combinations.

The Best Bank for a Better World: The Third Wave of Transformation in DBS

After being named the “best bank in the world”, DBS set its sights to be “the best bank for a better world” in its third wave of transformation. This case chronicles its journey towards this aspiration. Yet, challenges remained as it ponders the future of banking in the VUCA world.

Ice Cool – Branding in a Time of Turbulence

Ice Cool produced and distributed beverages in the off-trade F&B retail industry for more than 30 years. The promotional tools the brand utilised was point-of-sale instruments with limited investment in branding and marketing. This case highlights how brand architecture, brand hierarchy, and brand reinforcing strategies might influence brand performance.

KSL Communications

This case is a 2-party negotiation role-play that brings to life the practical application of Harvard Negotiation Project's Principled Negotiation theory and concepts. The case illustrates how the consideration of mutual interests and generating creative options can lead to negotiation success.

Planning for a Successful Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Project and Beyond

In today's fast-paced business world, automation is essential for companies to remain competitive. The use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has proven to be a game-changer for many organizations, including multinational companies. However, implementing RPA at an enterprise-wide scale can be a daunting task.

Singapore Airlines – An Iconic Asian Brand: Decision-Making in Challenging Times, Crisis and Beyond

The case evaluates SIA's business processes, examines the implications of the decisions made by SIA and the potential barriers in decision-making and possible remedies. Moreover, the case describes the elements of a crisis management plan for SIA and discuss sustainability issues relating to SIA and their impact on decision-making.

Mega Solutions Negotiation

This case is a 2-party deal-making negotiation role-play that brings to life the practical application of interest-based negotiation theory and concepts. The case provides multiple opportunities for generating creative solutions and employing strategic communication techniques, and also illustrates the use of BATNA as a realistic measure of negotiation success.

Best Selling Cases in 2022 (Jan to Dec)

We are delighted to announce ABCC’s top ten popular cases (published from 2018 onwards) for the period January to December 2022. Our heartiest congratulations to all the case authors! A big thank you for taking the time to research on and develop these case studies. The cases written by our NBS faculty are drawing attention globally through our three distributors namely, Harvard Business Publishing, Ivey Publishing and The Case Centre. During this same period, several of our cases were also used at top universities such as University of Oxford, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, University of California (Berkeley), London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), McGill University, National University of Singapore and The University of Hong Kong.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited: Why and how does leadership matter to a company’s growth, success and future prospects?”

Alibaba Group Holding Limited is an operator of online mobile marketplaces in retail and wholesale trade. Understanding Jack Ma’s (co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group) leadership behaviours and Alibaba’s organizational culture enabled us to appreciate how the group managed complex and intertwined issues during his tenure.

Starbucks: Creating the ambience and rekindling people's thirst by bringing the brew to the world

The Starbucks case analysis facilitates deeper understanding, critical thinking and application of concepts pertaining to organizational environment and strategic planning. The case illustrates how the macro and competitive environments impact the Starbucks’ strategies and performance, focusing in particular on macro elements.

Towards a Net Zero Future: The Digital Transformation of Johnson Controls for Sustainability

American building technology giant, Johnson Controls International (JCI), recognized the huge business opportunity for sustainable solutions and reinvented itself to become a digital industrial platform for smart building management, and in providing “net zero buildings as a service”. How would JCI seize new market opportunities towards a net-zero future?

Shopee's Short-Lived Venture into India: Market entry and Exit Amid Environmental Uncertainty

Amid environmental uncertainty, investors were increasingly cautious about costly growth business models in challenging markets. Shopee, the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia as of early 2022, entered India in mid-2021 but, surprisingly, announced its exit from the market in March 2022. CEO Chris Feng had had a tough choice to make – whether to stay or to go, especially in the face of a tough geopolitical and legal landscape. What are the trade-offs of the market exit that Shopee has faced? What insights can strategic leaders of e-commerce players and other industries gain about international expansion to emerging markets?

Sheng Siong: Residual Income Valuation

Sheng Siong: Residual Income Valuation is a case that can be used to demonstrate the implementation of the residual income model and the discounted cash flow model, and to show the equivalence of the valuation obtained under both models.

RX:AI, Putting Machine Learning into Medical Prescription – The Case of HealthPlix

This case is about HealthPlix, a health technology firm, that is working towards moving Indian doctors from using pen and paper to digital prescriptions. For the massive Indian healthcare market, it provides an overview of the implementation challenges and opportunities to improve doctors' productivity and patients' health outcomes.

Race and Rise Against the Tide: Sustainable Development for Singapore

Rising temperatures and corresponding sea level rise is a global concern. This Singapore case using a triple bottom line approach reveals how a societal systems perspective of cooperation among stakeholders including the government, society, and companies are needed to control sea levels yet provide for economic development and high-quality living.

THE ROBOTS ARE COMING: READY PLAYER ONE?

Many organisations have started implementing AI and its influence on employment drew substantial interest. AI implementation has brought benefits as well as challenges. This case outlines these challenges offers a hands-on analytical exercise for choosing the right strategy for adopting AI as well as dealing with the challenges presented.

FRESH: Evolving Its Business Model

FRESH is a research centre to foster public-private partnership to develop Singapore’s food security and R&D capabilities in novel food (such as plant-based meat and insect protein). FRESH has to decide between two options for its future business model—remain as a public-funded institution or become a corporatised entity.

From a Mission to Rescue Waste to A Passion for Reducing Single-use Plastics

SimplyGood is a social enterprise that turns fruit waste into cleaning agents. The case provides food for thought on how companies can improve the environment by rethinking its business model and product offerings. Moving forward, SimplyGood is exploring ways to increase product range and expand sales in Asia.

How Many Bottom Lines is One Life Worth?

To generate more income, weavers in Sircilla, India invested in weaving machinery. While cloth production increased, sales remained stagnant, resulting in financial hardship and increased suicide rates. This case discusses a below-the-bottom-of-the-pyramid situation and through an analytical exercise, provides an opportunity to deliberate on policy makers' intervention dilemmas.

At the Nexus of the Triple Bottom Line: Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Ya Kun is a well-loved Asian franchise known for its affordably priced “local” coffee and toast. With increasing customers’ attention on sustainability, it cannot be business as usual. How can Ya Kun raise to this challenge and leverage opportunities afforded by sustainable practices to grow its regional F&B business?

Enhancing patient care by transforming the work environment for front-liners at the National University Hospital (NUH)

With escalating healthcare services demands, National University Hospital Singapore embarked on a major change management program to attract and retain nursing staff by creating an energising and engaging environment for them to stay and grow with NUH. The case illuminates HRM, leadership, communication, strategy, and sustainability in change management.

Foreword Coffee: Marrying Passion and Mission

Coffee, a wake-up drink for many. The case follows the growth of Foreword Coffee, a social enterprise in Singapore that empowers persons with disabilities by providing them with employment in cafes. It highlights challenges faced by these enterprises, including sustainable growth, inclusive hiring and leadership succession.

Wateroam: Social Enterprise in Singapore

Wateroam, a Singapore startup and social enterprise, provides portable clean water filtration systems for rural and disaster-hit areas in Southeast Asia. Facing major social and economic trends and disruptions, including Covid-19, CEO David Pong ponders how his 7-year-old venture should meet them by pivoting business and functional strategies.

ComfortDelGro Taxi: Riding the Headwinds

Taxi companies face severe headwinds with businesses disrupted by Peer2Peer platforms such as Uber and Grab. This case on ComfortDelGro, the oldest and largest taxi company in Singapore, provides an ideal scenario to deliberate how incumbents can use market positioning and strategy to strive in the digital age.

Vibrant Group Limited: Sale and Leaseback and its Financial Statement Effects

Vibrant Group, a logistics company in Singapore, raised capital through a sale and leaseback arrangement. The case illustrates application of accounting standards to differentiate in-substance sales and leaseback versus in-substance financing arrangements. It draws out implications on a company’s financial situation, including gearing ratio, assets, liabilities, and equity.

Lessons in Crisis Leadership: From Peacetime to Post-911

911 changed security forces worldwide. The Singapore Armed Forces underwent a paradigm shift, from peacetime preparedness to an in-between operation other than war. This case examines how Major Cheng Boon KOH, Commanding Officer of the Field Defence of an airbase handled this event, revealing leadership lessons in a crisis.

Wateroam: The Quest for Social Impact and Sustainability

Wateroam provides water filtration systems to the rural poor in Asia. The start-up faces challenges in funding, product innovation, sales and distribution. It recently raised $600,000 in seed funding. David Pong, CEO and co-founder, has to decide how to scale-up Wateroam, balancing the double bottom-line of profitability and social impact.

Conquering the World: One Loaf at a Time

The mention of BreadTalk, an Asian F&B powerhouse, conjures images of delicious, fluffy bread. Despite successes, BreadTalk is experiencing stagnation. How can the Group improve competitiveness? Which international markets to expand to? This case challenges readers to assess BreadTalk’s external environment and capabilities to recommend strategic actions to drive performance.

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Asian Business Case Centre

Nanyang Business School

Nanyang Technological University

91 Nanyang Avenue, Gaia

Singapore 639956

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