Sample Cases
BLUMEN: Balancing Supply and Demand for Sustainable Growth
BLUMEN, a high-end floral arrangement business in Doha, faces a challenge in balancing supply and demand, especially with the upcoming launch of its Floral School. Founder Abdulrahman must decide whether to stick with his reliable but rigid weekly supply chain or introduce a more flexible second shipment midweek at a higher cost. His decision will impact inventory management, customer satisfaction, and business growth as he navigates unpredictable demand and the perishability of his products.
Students should be able to:
1) Analyze the trade-offs between supply chain reliability, flexibility, and cost in managing a perishable inventory with fluctuating demand.
2) Identify the challenges of demand forecasting and inventory control in a seasonal business, assessing strategies to minimize waste while ensuring product availability.
3) Distinguish between different supply chain strategies, evaluating their financial implications, including logistics costs, bulk purchasing discounts, and the risks of stockouts or overstocking.
4) Outline the key considerations for business expansion, demonstrating how operational decisions must align with strategic growth initiatives like the launch of a new Floral School.
Case No. 250201 (6 pages)
English, February 2025
Subject: Supply Chain Management
Keywords: Demand Forecasting, Inventory, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Perishable Products, Operational Optimization
Gamyra: The Scaling Dilemma
Gamyra, a tech start-up based in Qatar’s Science & Technology Park, must decide how to scale its operations beyond the niche market of driving simulators. Originally spun off from Williams F1, the company built a strong reputation for its immersive training environments, generating nearly all its revenue from local driving schools. Now, amid investor pressure and evolving market dynamics, Gamyra’s leadership team must choose between expanding its simulator business into new regions and adjacent sectors—or pivoting to a platform for immersive web experiences with wider global applications. The decision will shape the firm’s organizational structure, technical roadmap, and long-term financial sustainability, as it confronts uncertain demand, competitive incumbents, and limited internal capacity.
Students should be able to:
1) Analyze the trade-offs between focusing on a niche hardware-based product versus pursuing scalable software solutions in technology-driven start-ups.
2) Evaluate market entry strategies and organizational risk when deciding between deepening core capabilities or diversifying into new industries.
3) Identify the operational, financial, and competitive implications of strategic pivots, particularly in early-stage or innovation-led firms.
4) Outline how business model shifts, such as moving from product sales to subscription-based platforms, can affect resource allocation, investor relations, and long-term value creation.
Case No. 250401 (5 pages)
English, April 2025
Subject: Digital Platforms and Corporate Strategy
Keywords: Tech Start-Ups, Scaling, Software Solutions, Simulators, Digital Sales Platforms, Technological Innovation
Hoops Jewelry: Incentivizing Performance Without Losing Unity
Step into Alya’s shoes, and rebuild her company Hoops Jewelry, as she navigates a crisis in employee trust and accountability following the discovery of internal theft at her boutique piercing studio in Doha. With team morale shaken and professional boundaries blurred by a more informal work culture, Alya must redesign the store’s incentive system to restore fairness, prevent future misconduct, and maintain motivation across specialized roles—all while preserving team cohesion and redefining her leadership approach.
Students should be able to:
1) Evaluate the design and effectiveness of incentive systems in small, service-based businesses.
2) Explain the pros and cons of informal and formal workplace cultures and their impact on accountability.
3) Analyze how breaches of trust affect organizational dynamics and leadership credibility.
4) Propose strategies for restructuring team-based rewards while preserving motivation and performance
Case No. 250402 (6 pages)
English, April 2024
Subject: Organizational Behavior
Keywords: Incentive Programs, Workplace Culture, Theft, Organizational Trust, Group-Based Performance Reviews
AMLAK Holding: Turnaround on a Deadline
Explore challenges faced by Mohammed Al-Naimi, CEO of AMLAK Holding, as he strives to transform the financially struggling organization within a strict one-year deadline. Confronted with inefficiencies, organizational silos, and resource constraints, he must develop a plan to cut costs, boost revenues, and secure AMLAK’s long-term viability while addressing legacy operational issues and navigating sociocultural dynamics.
Students should be able to:
1) Analyze the decisions that the AMLAK Holding CEO made in order to facilitate a turnaround at AMLAK Holding.
2) Identify external and internal determinants of the financial struggles at AMLAK Holding and the external and internal determinants of the turnaround.
3) Distinguish the relationship between organizational structure and systems and the success or failure of strategies.
4) Discuss the mechanisms by which companies such as this can maintain its differential performance post-turnaround.
Case No. 241101 (6 pages)
English, November 2024
Subject: Strategy
Keywords: Corporate Strategy, Turnaround, Operational Issues, Resource Constraints, Holding Company, Hospitality
MEEZA & Msheireb: A Smart City Project
Examine the strategic challenges faced by MEEZA in managing the Msheireb Smart City project. Tasked with integrating complex IT systems and coordinating subcontractors, MEEZA must traverse issues of limited contractual authority, stakeholder conflicts, and project scale. Through innovative strategies, relationship building, and cultural sensitivity, MEEZA strives to overcome obstacles and establish Msheireb as Qatar’s flagship Smart City, aligning with the nation’s 2030 vision for sustainable urban development and technological innovation.
Students should be able to:
1) Explore various strategies a company can use to influence partnering companies when formal authority is limited.
2) Gain insights into the importance of coordination in project management.
3) Learn about the role of leadership in managing partnerships with companies that have diverse interests, focusing on establishing common ground and shared goals.
Case No. 241102 (9 pages)
English, November 2024
Subject: Organizational Behavior
Keywords: Smart City, Project Management, Contractors, Matrixed Communication, Urban Development, Stakeholders
Baladna 2019 IPO: Alpha’s Analysis
Investment firm Alpha faces critical strategic decisions as it evaluates Baladna’s 2019 IPO, Qatar’s largest dairy producer. Tasked with assessing growth potential, competitive positioning, and regional embargo impacts, Alpha must balance risks with the opportunity to diversify its portfolio. By analyzing market dynamics and Baladna’s expansion strategy, Alpha aims to determine the IPO’s long-term investment viability.
Students should be able to:
1) Evaluate the factors influencing investment decisions in emerging markets
2) Develop skills to assess the financial performance and strategic growth plans of a company preparing for an IPO
3) Explore the challenges of portfolio diversification for investment firms
Case No. 240901 (5 pages)
English, September 2024
Subject: Finance
Keywords: IPO, Investment Strategy, Portfolio Diversification, Emerging Markets, Dairy Industry, Geopolitical Context
Farah Aziz’s Portfolio: Qatar Utilities
Farah Aziz is evaluating her personal financial strategy, integrating principles from her business education with practical investment decisions. Initially drawn to the low-cost Qatar Exchange Traded Fund (QETF) for its diversification, she now considers complementing it with individual Qatari stocks: Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, and Qatar Electricity & Water Company. Each company offers unique growth or defensive investment characteristics. By analyzing historical return data from 2019 to 2023, Farah aims to optimize her portfolio’s risk-return profile, balancing market exposure with sector-specific opportunities in Qatar’s dynamic economy.
Students should be able to:
1) Understand the principles of diversification by comparing the risk-return profiles of individual stocks and ETFs
2) Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of utility companies’ stocks
3) Develop skills in interpreting and utilizing historical financial data to make informed investment decisions
Case No. 240902 (4 pages)
English, September 2024
Subject: Finance
Keywords: Portfolio Diversification, Risk Analysis, Exchange-Traded Funds, Qatar Stock Market, Utility Companies
Special thanks to the Qatar Investment Authority for their generous support with the Case Hub.
Researching Qatari business and educating students on business in the region is made possible with the support of the Qatar Investment Authority.