Author Profile
Hess, Edward D.
Starbucks Corporation: The New S-Curves
Hess, Edward D. Ludwig, Katherine
S-0239 | Published September 05, 2014 | 24 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
By the end of fiscal year (FY) 2010, Starbucks's painful, three-year transformation agenda was essentially complete. Starbucks began FY11 poised to focus on a new blueprint for growth described by CEO... Read More
United Parcel Service, Inc.: The Challenge of Protecting Organizational DNA
Hess, Edward D. Ludwig, Katherine
S-0238 | Published February 25, 2014 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case explores the nature and strength of the UPS organization and presents the following question: With the increasing speed of change and competition in today's global, digital economy, can UPS ... Read More
Demandforce: Pursuing Entrepreneurial Dreams
Freeland, James R. Hess, Edward D.
ENT-0198 | Published April 10, 2013 | 15 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case lends itself to courses covering the topic of rapid expansion of an enterprise. By 2012, Rick Berry, the founder and CEO of Demandforce (DF), and his team had built a company with annual rev... Read More
Altamar Brands, LLC: A Growth Journey
ENT-0197 | Published April 04, 2013 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
When W. L. Lyons Brown started Altamar Brands in 2005, he wanted to develop new brands or partner with ones that had achieved commercial acceptance and then make use of his skills and capital to scale... Read More
Barbara Lynch Gruppo: An Entrepreneurial Journey
ENT-0189 | Published February 23, 2012 | 12 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
BL Gruppo, a holding company that operated eight wildly acclaimed and highly rated restaurants, plus a catering operation, in Boston, Massachusetts was a culinary mini-empire that had continually achi... Read More
Enchanting Travels (B)
ENT-0167 | Published December 14, 2011 Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
By the fall of 2011, Enchanting Travels had grown revenues over the last four years at a compounded annual rate of 51%. With this success, growth was on the founders' minds: Should they continue to gr... Read More
Learning Launches: Growth Results from Experimental Learning
Hess, Edward D. Liedtka, Jeanne M.
S-0198 | Published October 10, 2011 | 19 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
In this note, the author discusses how research shows that consistent growth companies engage in growth experiments or tests to gather better data to be used in determining which growth ideas are wort... Read More
Creating a Growth Portfolio
S-0199 | Published October 10, 2011 | 23 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This technical note is the fourth in a series focusing on business growth. It addresses how to create a diversified Growth Portfolio based on the Learning Launch experiments. The note covers how growt... Read More
Growth Is Much More Than Just A Strategy: It's A System
S-0197 | Published October 06, 2011 | 24 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This note states that growth research demonstrates that growth is much more than a strategy and it happens when the right kind of leadership, internal environment and processes come together to create... Read More
Growth Is the Dynamic Confluence of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Values
S-0196 | Published September 16, 2011 | 21 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
The author has examined common growth beliefs and the U.S. Growth Model and finds no support for them in any area of business research. He offers instead the Organic Growth Index, the result of ten ye... Read More
Dell Inc.
Hess, Edward D. Eriksson, Cassy
S-0185 | Published March 07, 2011 | 22 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In the 1990s, with more widespread use of the Internet, sales through Dell Computer Corporation's online business swelled, and it became a dominant market leader. By 2010, Dell Computer Corporation ha... Read More
3 Fellers Bakery
ENT-0137 | Published November 27, 2010 | 4 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case could be used in entrepreneurship, strategy, and small-business courses. It presents classic issues regarding successful start-ups such as how to choose from a multitude of growth opportunit... Read More
Starbucks Corporation (A)
Hess, Edward D. Eriksson, Cassy
S-0175 | Published October 13, 2010 | 19 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The issue in this case is whether it is realistic for Starbucks to continue to be a high-growth company. Questions raised are whether all growth is good; whether bigger is always better; whether busin... Read More
Starbucks Corporation (B)
Hess, Edward D. Eriksson, Cassy
S-0176 | Published October 13, 2010 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case follows S-0175 and explores the different responses Starbucks made to correct its operational and overexpansion problems as well as its experimentation with new growth ideas. Analysts who pr... Read More
Stryker Corporation
Hess, Edward D. Eriksson, Cassy
S-0174 | Published August 25, 2010 | 17 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Stryker is the story of how CEO John Brown built his company into a market leader using a simple strategy of growing earnings 20% a year. The strategy was supported by the values statement: "do not li... Read More
Why Everything You Think You Know About Growth Is Probably Wrong
S-0172 | Published June 17, 2010 | 20 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for courses in business strategy at the MBA and executive education levels. By searching the disciplines of biology, economics, strategy, finance, and organizational design and behavior, P... Read More
Better World Books
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0146 | Published January 20, 2010 | 12 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for courses in entrepreneurship and managing a small business. The case follows the evolution of a small business and its founders as they face the challenges of growth. An experienced CEO... Read More
Global Medical Imaging, LLC
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0143 | Published December 21, 2009 | 12 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for courses on entrepreneurship, managing small businesses, and strategy. This is the story of how a growth company's processes, business model, management team, and founders evolve in res... Read More
Enchanting Travels
Hess, Edward D. Mukherjee, Monidipa Jacob, Sanju
ENT-0144 | Published December 21, 2009 Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for entrepreneurship and strategy courses. The focus in the case is on how two entrepreneurs created a differentiating business model that was dependent on quality service and excellent ex... Read More
Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc.
ENT-0145 | Published December 21, 2009 | 6 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Could be used in entrepreneurship business strategy courses. This is a social entrepreneurship case that demonstrates the application of business best practices to a large rural community health organ... Read More
LG Investments, LLC: A Family Business in Generational Transition (C)
ENT-0133 | Published November 27, 2009 | 2 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This is the third case in a series that is appropriate for courses in entrepreneurship and small-business management. It presents common issues that often arise in situations such as the choice of a s... Read More
LG Investments, LLC: A Family Business in Generational Transition (D)
ENT-0134 | Published November 27, 2009 | 2 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The D case in this series is appropriate for entrepreneurship and small-business management courses. At issue is how to balance personal financial needs of stockholders in a family business with the b... Read More
Eyebobs Eyewear, Inc.
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0139 | Published November 27, 2009 Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case could be used in entrepreneurship and managing a small business courses. It describes how an entrepreneur grows her innovative idea into a successful business while managing the associated r... Read More
SecureWorks
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0140 | Published November 27, 2009 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for entrepreneurship, strategy, and leadership courses. When an experienced CFO & COO joins a growing start-up company, replacing the founders who previously occupied these ro... Read More
Octane Fitness, Inc.: The Power of Focus
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0141 | Published November 27, 2009 Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case could be used in entrepreneurship and strategy courses. It's the story of two men, already working in the physical-fitness-equipment industry, who build their own business designing and prod... Read More
Jonathan Virginia, Inc.
ENT-0135 | Published October 21, 2009 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for teaching in business management and strategy courses. At issue in this case is how to institutionalize a business beyond what the entrepreneur has started. This founder bu... Read More
Sammy Snacks (C)
OM-1398 | Published October 05, 2009 | 1 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for use in courses on entrepreneurship, operations management, and managing a small business. Due to the cost, the CEO of Sammy Snacks is not happy with the board's proposal that a sales m... Read More
Sammy Snacks (D)
OM-1399 | Published October 05, 2009 | 2 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate for entrepreneurship, operations management, and managing small businesses courses. This case presents the management challenge of how to grow a business with limited resources and options... Read More
Leaders Bank: Creating a Great Place to Work
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0128 | Published September 24, 2009 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is suitable for courses in entrepreneurship and growing enterprises and management communication. It follows the step by step process of growing a business built on a strong culture that fos... Read More
Cordia Harrington: The Rise of the Bun Lady
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0129 | Published September 24, 2009 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case could be taught in courses on entrepreneurship and marketing. It follows a born entrepreneur and former successful McDonald's franchisee, who, guided by the motto No Is Not an Option, grows ... Read More
Motor City: A Disruptive Business Model (A)
ENT-0130 | Published September 24, 2009 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for teaching in entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, and finance courses. Motor City, the business brainchild of an absentee owner, is a new business model for selling used ... Read More
Motor City: A Disruptive Business Model (B)
ENT-0131 | Published September 24, 2009 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for teaching entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, ethics and strategy courses. It raises issues about matching the pace of growth with available cash flow and whether or not ... Read More
Freedom Technology Services
ENT-0127 | Published September 24, 2009 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is suitable for classes in business ethics, leadership and organizational behavior, entrepreneurship, and managing small enterprises. It focuses on the conflict between the personal values o... Read More
LG Investments, LLC: A Family Business in Generational Transition (A)
ENT-0123 | Published September 24, 2009 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case could be used in courses about entrepreneurship and managing small businesses. The founder and patriarch of a family business is confronted by his children regarding succession, equitable di... Read More
LG Investments, LLC: A Family Business in Generational Transition (B)
ENT-0124 | Published September 24, 2009 | 2 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is suitable for courses in entrepreneurship and managing small or family businesses. It follows ENT-0123, the (A) case, and raises further issues about family demands for larger dividends, f... Read More
Green Copier Recycling: Entrepreneur Meets Private Equity
ENT-0125 | Published September 16, 2009 Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for courses in entrepreneurship and business strategy. It raises issues about the process of dealing with private equity firms and how to know what is a market deal. It also p... Read More
Appalachian Commercial Cleaners: Family Dynamics Versus The Business
ENT-0126 | Published September 16, 2009 | 2 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for students interested in becoming entrepreneurs and growing a business. It presents the issue of what is best for a business and pressure from family members. A successful f... Read More
Designing Learning Launches
Liedtka, Jeanne M. Hess, Edward D.
BP-0529 | Published September 15, 2009 | 15 pages Technical Note
Collection: Darden School of Business
This note lays out in detail a technique, the learning launch, for generating increased revenues through conducting small experiments in the marketplace. A learning launch is a process for testing and... Read More
Trilogy Health Services, LLC: Building a Great Service Company
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0122 | Published August 18, 2009 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case is appropriate for teaching in the areas of entrepreneurship and managing the growth of smaller enterprises. It illustrates how an entrepreneur builds a premier service company by aligning c... Read More
Mellace Family Brands, Inc.: Building a Socially Responsible Enterprise
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0118 | Published July 27, 2009 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
This case illustrates how two entrepreneurs bootstrapped their start-up, overcame the challenges that accompany growth, and built a successful business while remaining socially responsible. Read More
James Abrams @ Clockwork Home Services, Inc.: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0117 | Published June 18, 2009 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Appropriate case for students interested in entrepreneurship, growing a business, or developing a business model. The case presents the challenges that come with growth and examines the iterative entr... Read More
Defender Direct, Inc.: A Business of Growing Leaders
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0115 | Published April 20, 2009 | 15 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Defender Direct, Inc., was a privately held company that sold and installed ADT security systems and Dish Network Satellite TV to homeowners in the United States. The president and CEO started the bus... Read More
Jeff Bowling @ the Delta Companies: From Baseball Coach to CEO
Hess, Edward D. Glinska, Gosia
ENT-0114 | Published April 07, 2009 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
What was essentially a sales organization is forced to morph quickly into a full-fledged healthcare staffing and recruiting business headed by a CEO who was a former baseball coach with no business ba... Read More
Impact Makers
Werhane, Patricia H. Hess, Edward D. Mead, Jenny
E-0342 | Published January 21, 2009 | 27 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Michael Pirron was a health care services consultant who had always dreamed of starting a "Nonprofit Competitive Business" with a social mission. In 2006, he launched Impact Makers, a new hybrid entit... Read More
Students Helping Honduras
Hess, Edward D. Modica, Shizuka
ENT-0105 | Published September 19, 2008 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
A student-founded, student-led nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Hondurans escape from the cycle of poverty accomplished this by engaging college students in its projects from beginning to e... Read More
C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc. (A)
Hess, Edward D. Modica, Shizuka Barger, Ed
ENT-0106 | Published September 17, 2008 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc., (Barger) operated two businesses: It installed gas, water, and sewer lines, and it manufactured and sold precast-concrete septic tanks. In 2002, after 35 years as a local sup... Read More
C.R. Barger & Sons, Inc. (B)
Hess, Edward D. Modica, Shizuka Barger, Ed
ENT-0107 | Published September 17, 2008 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The president of the PCO division at C.R. Barger & Sons has grown the division, so he now must consider whether to build a new PCO plant to accommodate future growth. The new plant would increase Barg... Read More
McDonald's Corporation
Hess, Edward D. Modica, Shizuka
S-0147 | Published August 04, 2008 | 12 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In December 2007, McDonald's had a market capitalization of $69.5 billion, and its stock price was hovering around its all-time high of $58-$60 since the last split, in February 1999. While McDonald's... Read More
Room & Board
S-0150 | Published April 22, 2008 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
A retail-furniture company that abandoned the standard retail-industry business model, disavowed debt and equity-growth financing, and embraced a unique multiple-stakeholder model that valued quality... Read More
Levy Restaurants
Hess, Edward D. Modica, Shizuka
S-0155 | Published March 06, 2008 | 21 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Growing from a passive investment in a Chicago delicatessen in 1978, into a national foodservice company by 2007, Levy Restaurants (Levy) served approximately 63 million customers a year at more than ... Read More
Sammy Snacks (B)
OM-1350 | Published February 28, 2008 | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In January 2007, investors brought in a consultant to analyze why Sammy Snacks was losing money. The consultant spent the months of January and February 2007, reviewing accounting records, interviewin... Read More
The Coca-Cola Company
S-0145 | Published November 09, 2007 | 10 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Coca-Cola was the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage syrups and concentrates, selling more than $24 billion of products in 2006 in more than 200 hundred countries. I... Read More
The Home Depot, Inc.
S-0144 | Published September 20, 2007 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The Home Depot case is a great story. It's about entrepreneurship, growth, CEO leadership, and the dramatic impact, good and bad, a CEO can have on a company's growth culture, strategy, and performanc... Read More
United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
S-0143 | Published September 19, 2007 | 11 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
UPS had become a global public company, with a market cap of $74 billion, more than 428,000 employees, $47 billion in revenue, and operations in more than 200 countries. A recognized leader among pack... Read More
Best Buy Co., Inc.
S-0142 | Published September 18, 2007 | 14 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
In 2007, Best Buy was the leading electronics retailer in the United States with more than 941 stores, revenue totaling $31 billion, and a market cap of $21 billion. In 2005, Best Buy had adopted a ne... Read More
Tiffany & Company
S-0141 | Published September 05, 2007 | 8 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Tiffany & Company was the leading U.S. luxury jewelry brand, generating more than $2.6 billion in revenue through 167 retail outlets globally and from catalogue and Internet sales. For nearly 170 year... Read More
Sysco Corporation
S-0140 | Published August 29, 2007 | 15 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
As a major player in a $200-billion market with only a 15% market share, SYSCO outperforms its industry competition. This execution champion and organic growth winner has figured out how to balance an... Read More
Edens & Avant
S-0146 | Published January 30, 2007 | 9 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
The largest private owner of neighborhood retail shopping centers in the United States is a full-service real-estate development and management company involved in the design, construction, leasing, m... Read More
Hass Shoes
ENT-0142 | Published | 3 pages Case
Collection: Darden School of Business
Suitable for courses on entrepreneurship, managing small businesses, marketing, and strategy. The case raises classic issues about how a stabilized business can reignite its growth. It poses the quest... Read More