PRME

The Just Us! worker cooperative has been in business since the mid-1990s. Founded by Jeff and Debra Moore, this company with an economic and social mission has sought to make its mark in the business world by trumpeting its "humanitarian" positioning through the slogan: "People and the planet before profits." In addition to operating four coffeehouses (two in Halifax, one in Wolfville and one in its Grand-Pré headquarters), Just Us! sells its products (mainly fair trade and organic coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar) via a distribution network. Although the company was prospering, the financial crisis of fall 2008, which triggered an economic recession, quickly prompted the management committee to consider producing a marketing plan for the coming year, to optimize the use of the organization's resources. Pauline, hired by Just Us! slightly more than two years earlier, was assigned this task. Her work at the co-op was so impressive that she had recently been promoted to director of marketing and sales.
SDG Topics: Decent Work & Economic Growth / Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure / Reduced Inequalities / Responsible Consumption & Production / Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions / Partnerships for the Goals.

This fictional case enables students to apply their quantitative analytical skills by inviting them to act as external consultants to the airline, Air Nordic, which is considering investing in winglet technology or a carbon offsetting programme. Using the industry data provided, the class can analyse the merits of carbon offsetting, winglets, or maintaining the status quo.
SDG Topics: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure / Climate Action.

This fictional case enables students to apply their quantitative analytical skills by inviting them to act as external consultants to the airline, Air Nordic, which is considering investing in winglet technology or a carbon offsetting programme. Using the industry data provided, the class can analyse the merits of carbon offsetting, winglets, or maintaining the status quo.
SDG Topics: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure / Climate Action.

The vice-president of the Bank of London was stunned to hear that the union representing clerical workers was initiating a complaint of gender discrimination in starting salaries. The vice-president had believed the Bank of London was actively promoting diversity and inclusion as a natural part of its culture; additionally, the senior leadership team understood how vital diversity and inclusion were to organizational effectiveness and growth. The vice-president was wondering what the accusation of discrimination was costing the Bank of London, and how to manage perceptions both inside and outside of the organization. To determine this, he wanted to understand if discrimination had in fact occurred and analyzed the following factors between male and female job-holders: beginning salary, time at current job, education and experience.
SDG Topics: Gender Equality / Reduced Inequalities / Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions.

The Chinese New Year causes severe problems for some companies due to missing containers throughout the chain but in particular in the European hinterland. Shipping companies, for instance, order fewer containers for new ships than in the past to save cost. For the forwarders, the shortage of containers seems worse every spring. They react by stockpiling containers, or operating their own containers. Then customers are confronted with delays and high container prices.
SDG Topics: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure / Sustainable Cities & Communities / Responsible Consumption & Production.

Targeted at undergraduates, this case is an ideal introduction to responsible management. It focuses on the Danish sportswear brand, hummel, introducing the reader to Dan Bjerg and his work on the company’s philanthropic activities. At the same time, the case addresses the challenges of supply chain management in a global market and highlights the importance of ensuring ethical standards. The case asks where hummel should concentrate its efforts and students are encouraged to develop specific suggestions in relation to internal management and external communication.
SDG Topics: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure / Responsible Consumption & Production / Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions.

Founded in 2007, Bolaven Farms is a coffee business with a social purpose. Set up in Laos and Hong Kong, Bolaven Farms aims at providing high-quality coffee to the worldwide public while helping to alleviate poverty among coffee farmers in Laos. The company's vision of educating farmers and providing them with higher income for their work is very compelling to the public and was quickly picked up by the media. However, the business model has yet to be tested. The case begins with an introduction of the coffee industry and its practices. The case describes the development and implementation of a business model that incorporates vertical integration supported by social networks. It allows for an advanced analysis of issues related to choosing an appropriate business model and focuses on the risks related to future expansion and resulting from the strategic choices of the entrepreneur.
SDG Topics: No Poverty / Quality Education / Reduced Inequalities / Sustainable Cities & Communities / Responsible Consumption & Production.