JacobsRimell (B): A One-Shot Bet Pays Off

Prats, Mª Julia; Sosna, Marc; Darsch, Dave

Product #:EFC-0009-E

Supplier:IESE Publishing

Discipline:Entrepreneurship

Setting:Reino Unido, 2002-2008

Details:Case (PDF) • 6 pages • 2011-01-12

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This case B about a young VC-backed technology company in the UK, trying to turn around from a near-death crisis cannot be taught as a stand-alone case, but is a direct continuation of the FocusCase "JacobsRimell (A): Leading out of Bankruptcy". This second part illustrated the decisions the firm took during and after the crisis (caused by having unexpectedly lost two large contracts within a very short time) with regard to financing, market focus, product, HR issues, positioning, and the overall survival strategy of the firm and which consequences this had. The development is described over several years until the firm achieves an exit through a trade-sale to a large corporation.

Learning Objectives

1. To explore what it means managing a company on the verge of bankruptcy as a newly hired CEO: a) to immediately initiate a turnaround strategy while being completely new in the firm; b) to execute extreme downsizing while retaining core knowledge; c) to manage a founder who was also the previous CEO and has remained in the firm with a strong lobby 2. To understand how to manage innovative technology firms in highly uncertain markets.