Boston Gopro: The Disruptive Innovator Faces Challenges Case Discussion

Question

How was GoPro different from other players in the industry?

Discuss Nicholas Woodman’s role in making GoPro a market leader. What type of innovation was the GoPro action camera?

What made this camera successful when video cameras (camcorders) and smartphones already existed?

How did GoPro market itself?

Can part of GoPro’s success be attributed to its marketing strategy?

How did GoPro benefit from its marketing?

Case Analysis Memo

There are many ways to conduct a case analysis. Please refer to and follow the guidelines contained in this document when analyzing a case study.

• Make sure you carefully read the assignment questions

• Read the entire case, jotting down your notes.

• As you write your case analysis, please include appropriate references to the assigned reading within the text.

• Even if there are questions associated to the case, it is a good idea to make sure to have the sections presented below (Summary, Analysis and Recommendations and References). You can name your paragraphs and section in a different way from what is proposed, but make sure you follow a similar logic.

Summary:

A short summary of the facts presented; a couple of sentences might be enough to provide a synthesis of the facts. Here you might want to state the problems faced by the company.

Problem(s): Identify problem(s)/issue(s) – Something important happened and there is no explanation for it – e.g. an accounts manager notices that a few of their good customers have large accounts payable balances.

Analysis:

This is the most important section of your case analysis. This section is usually the longest and should contain most of the details supporting your recommendations. This is the most appropriate section to include data and provide evidences that will support any suggestion.

A good case analysis relies heavily on quantitative evidences. An old management adage states: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure”. So try to avoid sentences like “I feel that…”, “I think…”. Start practicing the important skill of Evidence Based Decision Making.

1-Strategic Analysis

Analytical Tools: Even if the assignment questions do not ask explicitly to apply analytical tools such as SWOT analysis and PEST analysis, it is always a good idea to consider the following models and framework:

Models Benefits

PEST analysis To investigate the macro-environment (also called PESTEL analysis)

Porter’s Five Forces Model To analyze industry attractiveness

VRISA Analysis To conduct internal analysis looking at the resources and competences’ Value, Rareness, Imitability, Substitutability, and Appropriability

SWOT analysis Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats and formulate strategies based on the factors identified in the analysis.

Others….. ….

2- Financial Analysis

It might be a good idea to include some financial analysis. Financial ratios analysis is an important tool for assessing the outcomes of a firm’s strategy. There is a Table of financial measures that can be used to assess a firm’s performance attached as a picture.

Recommended Set of Actions

Then, make sure you include recommendations based on the analysis previously conducted. Put the solutions in order of priority and include the implications that your recommended actions might have on the company’s operation – in the short and long term.

• Include pros and cons of the recommendation.

• What specific plans should the company put in place for implementing your suggested strategy?

• Do you anticipate any problem?

• What are the organizational and strategic changes that the company needs to implement to make sure your recommendations are successful?

Resources/References

Please make sure you include the work cited or the sources you used for your case analysis. This can include textbook, lecture material, articles, websites and blog’s entry (from authoritative and reliable sources).