Case Studies

This concise case demonstrates blue ocean strategy principles through Gail's transformation from intimidated gym member to successful fitness entrepreneur. Students explore how resource constraints can become strategic advantages when approached through blue ocean thinking, as Gail creates uncontested market space by serving non-customers rather than competing for existing gym members. The case effectively illustrates value innovation - simultaneously reducing costs while increasing customer value - and challenges students to distinguish between competitive strategy (red ocean) and market creation strategy (blue ocean). Perfect for strategy courses focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship, this streamlined case enables complete analysis within one class session while providing rich discussion opportunities about strategic constraints, market boundaries, and the practical application of blue ocean frameworks to small business contexts.

This compact case exemplifies VSTRAT's approach to strategic education - delivering maximum pedagogical impact through purposefully concise, framework-focused scenarios. "Brewing Value" follows Hank's transformation from struggling coffee shop owner to successful B2B supplier, creating an ideal vehicle for teaching Porter's Five Forces, value chain analysis, and industry structure assessment within a single class session. Unlike traditional lengthy cases that overwhelm with operational details, this streamlined format keeps focus on strategic thinking processes and framework application. Faculty will find it particularly effective for demonstrating how systematic analysis reveals non-obvious opportunities that intuitive business thinking misses, making it perfect for strategy courses, entrepreneurship programs, or executive education focused on strategic transformation.

This strategic analysis case follows Zoom Electric's predicament of being "stuck in the middle" despite solid technology and early market entry in the EV industry. Students learn to distinguish between competitive analysis and systematic environmental scanning as CEO Marcus Chen discovers that monitoring competitors isn't the same as analyzing PESTLE forces that reshape entire industries. The case demonstrates how traditional strategic planning can miss opportunities revealed through systematic framework application, particularly when external macro trends interact with specific value chain activities to create new competitive spaces. Ideal for teaching the integration of PESTLE, value chain analysis, and SWOT frameworks, this compact case enables students to explore how systematic environmental intelligence creates proactive opportunity identification rather than reactive competitive positioning, making it perfect for advanced strategy courses focused on analytical rigor and strategic transformation.