International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies (12 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• International entry-mode choices of a family business  
  by Robert Moussetis, George Nakos, Brian P. Hanlon 
  Abstract: This is a case study outlining the entry mode choices faced by a large industrial company that contemplates international expansion. The case study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each entry mode. It describes the Gallo Glass company, a very successful industrial family-owned business located in Modesto, California. Facing a saturated domestic market, the company is contemplating expansion to Europe. It is trying to decide which entry mode is going to be the most appropriate for the firm based on its history and expertise of its managers. Students will learn about entry modes and international expansion. It is designed for graduate courses or upper-level undergraduate classes.
  Keywords: entry modes; internationalisation; international expansion.
  
  
• Winkyverse: motivation in educational metaverse  
  by Catherine Lejealle, Eric Dolansky 
  Abstract: In May 2023, Aurore Belle, product marketing director of Mainbot, faced a critical issue: in order to launch Winkyverse, an educational metaverse, she needed to understand users’ motivation related to each type of knowledge in order to provide adequate guidelines to partners responsible for creating content. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this case examines the different motivations applicable to each type of knowledge and how inherent characteristics of metaverses create efficient and easy learning through contextual factors such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness. For types of knowledge not related to personal values, intrinsic motivation has been shown to be relevant, and for knowledge in areas which typically had a relation to personal values and self-identity, identified regulation worked more efficiently. For the latter, the driving force of the action was congruence with self-identity rather than pleasure.
  Keywords: self-determination theory; metaverse; educational metaverse; intrinsic motivation; extrinsic motivation; autonomy; competence; relatedness; knowledge; identity.
  
  
• Navigating internationalisation: step-by-step expansion vs. born-global strategy in the SquadEasy case  
  by Catherine Lejealle 
  Abstract: Founded in 2014 by French entrepreneur Brice Chapignac, SquadEasy is a platform aimed at strengthening team cohesion and boosting employee engagement through activities centred on physical wellness and eco-friendly challenges. From the outset, Chapignac had envisioned expanding the company on an international scale. This case study analyses the strategic choice between adopting the Uppsala model of incremental internationalisation and embracing a born-global approach. It evaluates both internal and external factors that support a born-global strategy. Additionally, the study examines the selection of market entry modes and the role of digital technologies, particularly social media, in facilitating international growth. Finally, it assesses the economic, social and environmental risks of the born-global strategy.
  Keywords: internationalisation; born-global; Uppsala model; international new venture; entry mode.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10069927
   
  
• Leadership in crisis: emotional intelligence and effectiveness at Luxe Salon and TechWerse Enterprises  
  by Jane Ali, Hawwa Shiuna Musthafa 
  Abstract: Leadership plays an important role in shaping organisational success, whether in small businesses or large enterprises. Effective leaders improve collaboration, productivity, and loyalty, but leadership development is rarely instantaneous or without challenges. This study examines two case studies that highlight the complexities of leadership. The first follows a well-known hairdresser who acquires a salon and must navigate the transition from stylist to business owner while managing existing employees and implementing new business strategies. The second case explores the leadership struggles of Sarah Matthews, the newly appointed CEO of TechWerse Enterprises, whose lack of emotional intelligence (EI) leads to declining employee morale and disengagement. The study further discusses an intervention program involving 360-degree feedback, executive coaching, and empathy training to enhance Sarahs leadership capabilities. These two cases emphasise the importance of EI in leadership development and the need for targeted strategies to improve leader effectiveness and organisational performance. The two cases study provide a teaching guide to show the differences in context and the similarity of leadership struggles. The concepts of EI, leader development and follower morale are the basis of this comparison.
  Keywords: leadership development; emotional intelligence; leadership traits; organisational vision; cultural competence; credibility; trust; organisational change; resistance; employee engagement; workplace dynamics; executive coaching; self-awareness; transformational leadership; business transition; team motivation.
  
  
• Navigating geopolitical tensions in business: lessons from the collapse of an international acquisition  
  by Gary Brown, Yunmei Kuang 
  Abstract: This case offers a detailed account of the firsthand experience of one of the authors, who observed the sudden collapse of a promising acquisition deal between a Chinese smart TV company and a US smart earbud company. Filled with potential for mutual benefits, the deal ultimately fell apart after months of exhaustive due diligence. Through this narrative, the case sheds light on how the broader geopolitical landscape can shape strategic decision-making and contemporary international business practices. Highlighting the imperatives of agility, political astuteness, and cultural awareness in todays interconnected and volatile global environment, the case serves as a compelling resource for students in advanced business courses, for business leaders, and for policymakers alike. In doing so, it responds to the call of Belhoste and Dimitrova (2023) to integrate geopolitical awareness into business learning and education. Company names in the case have been anonymised to ensure confidentiality.
  Keywords: international business; business management; entry mode selection; environment analysis; geopolitics; strategic decision-making.
  
  
• Scaling in the beauty industry: the high-stakes quest for investor capital  
  by Oliver Thomas, Manuel Hess 
  Abstract: Hair & Skin, a rapidly growing Swiss startup specialising in minimally invasive hair and skin treatments, finds itself at a strategic crossroads. In just three years, under the leadership of CEO Philip Lehmann and a founding team of seasoned entrepreneurs, the company became a market leader. However, after saturating the domestic market with 21 clinics and facing escalating operational costs alongside a negative EBITDA, the company must now decide whether to seek external investment for international expansion and operational professionalisation. This case study explores the tension between rapid revenue growth and sustainable profitability, highlighting key dilemmas such as managing cash burn, adapting the business model for diverse regional markets, and convincing investors to back an ambitious internationalisation strategy. In doing so, the case provides a rich basis for analysing strategic financing, operational management, and investor relations in high-growth industries.
  Keywords: startup growth; venture capital; scaling strategy; fundraising challenges; international expansion; cash burn management; revenue growth; sustainable profitability; investor relations.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10072218
   
  
• Larkai healthcare: enabling AI in diagnostics and making healthcare accessible and affordable with disruptive technology  
  by Jordi Diaz, Tatiana Harkiolakis 
  Abstract: This case study delves into the entrepreneurial careers of Pritam Dhalla and Abhilash Chakraverty, the founder and co-founder of Larkai healthcare. The company's flagship product, WREN, is a smart multiparameter portable device that seamlessly integrates measures of respiratory rate, body temperature, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), and electrocardiogram (ECG) to revolutionise patient monitoring. The benefits of WREN are seen in better patient care, more accessibility to healthcare, and more efficiency. The case explores the origins of Larkai, Pritam's product developmental history, Abhilash's business and financial heft, and the difficulties encountered in early business when artificial intelligence was still in the realm of theory. Due to its global ambitions, Larkai faces a unique challenge: how to balance quick innovation with a variety of legal environments. Larkai's case sets an example for the industry by demonstrating how a purpose-driven approach may result in financial success while having a beneficial global impact.
  Keywords: entrepreneurship; Larkai healthcare; artificial intelligence; AI; patient monitoring; healthcare accessibility; healthcare affordability; funding strategies; innovation; disruptive innovation; regulation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10066627
   
  
• How can Mr. L. teach his teams ethical decision-making through sensemaking case from daily life?  
  by Carole Bataillard, Catherine Lejealle 
  Abstract: Part of corporate social responsibilities, managers have to teach their team about ethical behaviour and sensemaking behaviours. This case analyses a daily situation where a manager faced an ethical situation. This situation is used by Mr. L., a manager of a big firm to teach his teams, as it is more efficient then situations from workplaces, where participants try to decipher who the protagonists are and could not concentrate on the situation. The case study is made to lead students to study the opportunities for sensemaking in an ambiguous and ethical situation. Two conceptual frameworks are retained for the analysis of the case: 1) the theory of sensemaking and 2) compensatory strategies to improve sensemaking in ethical decision-making.
  Keywords: sensemaking; ethical decision-making; EDM; leadership; corporate social responsibilities.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10070661
   
  
• An ethnographic case study of literacy and science integration in rural Appalachia  
  by Jody LaShay Wood 
  Abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe how teachers experienced integrated teaching of science and literacy in primary grade classrooms located in a rural Appalachian context. Thus, criterion-based selection and purposive sample size for ethnographic case study design methodology guided the work. It was focused on capturing the detail of two specific teaching instances that were impacted by socio-political and cultural forces. The sampling design yielded data from interviews, observations, and photos. Guided by a socio-cognitive interactive model the data sources were inductively coded for overlapping patterns, categories, and themes. The resulting thematic analysis included, continual shifts occur between teacher autonomy and state-guided curricula through intersections and misalignments; and place-based culture permeates teacher interpretation and enactment of integration. Findings suggested state-directed curricula impacted teaching practice. Additionally, place-based culture was intertwined with integrative instruction through teachers and students' funds of knowledge about science relative to place and space.
  Keywords: ethnography; science; literacy; integration; Appalachia; rural.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10070672
   
  
• OCB cakes case study: navigating entrepreneurial and innovation hurdles - strategies for success  
  by Arayana Roy, Jyoti Verma, Mamta Singh 
  Abstract: OCB Cakes Pvt. Ltd. is a leading company in online customised cakes and gifts delivery with locations across 40 cities in India. It gained attention due to its visionary and innovative outlook while addressing major global goals such as zero hunger, good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production. This case is based on primary data acquired through interviews with the protagonist and other employees within the organisation. The case provides a broad view of the obstacles a business encounters as it grows, particularly focusing on the struggles of entrepreneurship and innovation and reviews the company, market analysis, challenges, growth strategies and future decisions.
  Keywords: entrepreneurship; bakery; startup; business model; innovation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10070662
   
  
• Evaluating misalignment in academic recruitment: a case study on talent, fit, and performance in university faculty hiring  
  by Asif Ali Rahman, Issah Gyimah, Moin Serneabat 
  Abstract: This is a case study of the hiring of a university faculty 'Felix Ibe'. Felix Ibe, a confident, well-educated, and intelligent individual, faces significant challenges in his first teaching role at the University of Ikeja. His students are unhappy with his teaching methods, resulting in many complaints. Felix, accustomed to the teaching methodologies of American universities, struggles to adapt to the different approaches used in Nigerian universities. His students, who are more familiar with book learning and lack prior work experience and a solid theoretical base, struggle to grasp his practical teaching style. This situation has led the university management to reconsider their recruitment methods, questioning whether the selection process adequately addresses the differences between American and Nigerian teaching methodologies, the distinction between training and teaching cultures, and the contrast between multinational corporate and academic organisational cultures.
  Keywords: human resource management; management; business; teaching; university; faculty; recruitment and selection; hiring.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10070664
   
  
• Aramob: creating blue ocean or diving into the red ocean  
  by Atantra Das Gupta 
  Abstract: Andrea Dimitris, the founder of Aramob, faced a dilemma in gaining market share against the dominant trio. Aramob's features resembled those of Samsung and were compatible with Android apps. To achieve a 15% market share, the Aramob board invested in human resources and established a joint venture with a Korean company. Analysing the Cypriot market, Andrea found a 151.7% penetration rate of smartphones and a customer mindset with increased restraint and realism. This highlighted the importance of strategic decisions. Andrea had to decide whether to be groundbreaking, divergent, or align with established smartphone leaders, replicating successes in finance, entertainment, and shopping mobile apps.
  Keywords: digital wallet; data; blue ocean; consumer; producer.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2025.10070666