Analysis of Business Problems

About this course: When does an opportunity to increase the bottom line become a liability for long-term brand sustainability and profitability? That is the question that GAS GAS, an off-road motorcycle manufacturer, is confronting. In this culminating course, it’s time to use the business tools you have learned throughout the specialization to solve this real business problem. To help you as you develop a solution to the GAS GAS dilemma, in the Capstone you will also learn a six-step analysis of business problems methodology. By the end of the course, you will understand how to weave together considerations from accounting, finance, marketing and organizational behavior in order to arrive at a sound decision that will positively impact the firm’s future.

Created by:  IESE Business School

• Taught by:  Carlos García Pont, Professor

  Marketing Department

Basic Info Course 5 of 5 in the Foundations of Management Specialization Commitment 5 weeks of study, 0.5-1.5 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from your peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

IESE Business School For over fifty years, IESE, the graduate business school of the University of Navarra, has been at the forefront of management education, developing and inspiring business leaders who strive to make a deep, positive and lasting impact on the people, companies and society they serve.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Overview and Week 1-Analysis of Business Problems: Capstone



Welcome! Before you start today's videos, please have a look at the syllabus. In this first session, I’ll introduce you to IESE’s six-step Analysis of Business Problems (ABP) methodology. This methodology is a very useful tool to help managers in their principal responsibility: making decisions. Because most business problems involve financial, technical and human issues, they are by nature complex. No matter how much thought you put into it, there is no “correct solution” and certainly no guarantee that your decision will yield the desired outcomes. Learning this six-step methodology is therefore a great help to many mangers as they take on their decision-making challenges, such as the one that GAS GAS faces. Objectives: To give learners a relevant and effective tool to make managerial decisions.


12 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Reading: Course Overview & Syllabus
2. Reading: Required Reading: IESE's Six-Step Process
3. Video: Introduction to Capstone
4. Video: What is Gas Gas? Company Promo Video
5. Video: 1. Week 1 Intro
6. Video: 2. The Role of the Manager
7. Video: 3. Structured vs. Unstructured Problems
8. Video: 4. Finding Solutions to Unstructured Problems
9. Video: 5. Introducing Six Steps to Solving Problems
10. Video: 6. Criteria and Alternatives
11. Video: 7. From Analysis to Action
12. Video: 8. Hamlet & Othello
13. Discussion Prompt: Are you a Hamlet or an Othello?
14. Video: 9. What’s Next
15. Reading: Required Reading: GAS GAS Case
16. Video: Interview with Ramon Puente
17. Peer Review: Making Big Decisions

WEEK 2


Week 2: GAS GAS Marketing Problem



Now that you understand a bit of the history of GAS GAS, it’s time to analyze the situation from a marketing perspective. The decision to manufacture bikes for KTM will undoubtedly have an impact on consumers, branding, pricing and channels. Will that impact be positive or negative? Are the risks worth the long-term benefit? What should the CEO take into consideration when making a decision? By the end of the session you should have enough information to advise Ramon Puente about the relevant marketing issues. Objective: To apply the marketing concepts acquired in Marketing: Understanding Your Customers in order to evaluate and make a decision about GAS GAS.


4 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: About Week 2: GAS GAS Marketing Problem
2. Video: 1. Week 2 Intro
3. Video: 2. Consumer Considerations and Branding
4. Discussion Prompt: The GAS GAS Brand After the KTM Deal
5. Video: 3. Pricing and Channel Considerations
6. Video: Interview with Ramon Puente: The Marketing Problem
7. Peer Review: Weighing Marketing Considerations

WEEK 3


Week 3: GAS GAS Finance Problem



In this session, we will evaluate GAS GAS’ history and current situation and discuss the potential financial effect of partnering with KTM. After looking at some of the concepts we discussed in Module 3 - need of funds for operations (NFO), working capital (WC), sustainable growth and more – the learner will be able to understand how the financial outlook will influence the ultimate decision. Objective: To apply the financial concepts acquired in Operational Finance: Building a Robust Business in order evaluate the GAS GAS problem from a financial perspective.


5 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: About Week 3: GAS GAS Finance Problem
2. Video: 1. Week 3 Intro
3. Video: 2. Understand GAS GAS
4. Video: 3. The Financial Effect of Partnering with KTM
5. Video: 4. Integrate Finance in Strategy
6. Discussion Prompt: Beyond the Bottom Line
7. Video: Interview with Ramon Puente: The Finance Problem
8. Peer Review: Critical Financial Indicators

WEEK 4


Week 4: GAS GAS Organizational Behavior Problem



All business decisions have a direct impact on people. So that the board makes the best decision possible, it is important to examine whether they have the most effective tools at their disposal from an Organization Behavior perspective. Who are the people on the board and how well do they work together as a team? Whatever they decide will affect GAS GAS employees. This is a critical consideration for leadership to take into account as they weigh the financial and marketing issues you have already discussed. Objective: To apply the organizational behavior concepts acquired in Organizational Behavior: Managing People in order to evaluate and help Ramon Puente make a decision about GAS GAS.


5 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: About Week 4: GAS GAS Organizational Behavior Problem
2. Video: 1. Board as Team
3. Video: 2. Degree of Teamness on Board
4. Video: 3. GAS GAS Employees
5. Discussion Prompt: The Board and GAS GAS Employees
6. Video: 4. Week 4 Recap
7. Video: Interview with Ramon Puente: The Managing People Problem
8. Peer Review: Taking People Into Account

WEEK 5


Conclusion and Final Question



1 video expand

1. Video: Conclusion and Final Question

Graded: Final Assignment