Case Teaching Package
A case teaching package, written by Ed Marram, is available for this case. It includes strategies for case presentation, key concepts, solutions to the assignment questions in the case, and suggestions for the most effective ways to work this case into your course.
Length
This case is
20 pages in length and its case teaching package is
8 pages.
Abstract
Two partners in the college spring break travel business must decide whether to expand into the high school travel business. The case explores their decision making process in a potentially high growth environment. It also illustrates the impact of regulatory requirements in shaping the opportunity and the challenges that are created. Finally, it provides a discussion on issues such as how and when to professionalize the business, how to project its financial growth, and the capital required for growth. There is another case in this series: "Scott Tompkins", which deals with the starting up of this business.
- Location of the company: Massachusetts
- Years spanned by the case: 1989 through 1996
- Industry segment: Spring break travel for students
- Stage of the company: Growth
- Age of the entrepreneurs: 20s
Study Questions
- What is Take A Break's "growth strategy"? Do you agree or disagree with this approach?
- What resources does Take A Break's strategy require in calendar year 1996? Please quantify.
- Is their harvest expectation realistic? Evaluate the fit between their goal of a five-year buyout and the corporate structure they are creating. How big do they need to get before they become attractive: revenues, number of employees, passengers, other?
Key Words
cash flow, new ventures, growth management, guerrilla marketing, partnerships, international entrepreneurship, product development
The downloadable file for this case is an self-extracting WinZip file. After downloading, find TakeABreak.exe in Windows® Explorer and double-click the file to decompress. The case file itself is in Microsoft® Word 7.0 for Windows®.
If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download the free Microsoft® Word Viewer 97 right here: For Windows 3.x For Windows 95
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