This is the first of a two-case series. The first Case (A) discusses the evolution of the circus industry up until the emergence of Cirque du Soleil. This case provides a detailed discussion on the structure of the circus industry to make possible a rich analysis of how its industry attractiveness has changed over time and the challenges the industry now confronts.

This is the second of a two-case series. Cirque du Soleil very successfully entered a structurally unattractive circus industry. It was able to reinvent the industry and created a new market space by challenging the conventional assumptions about how to compete.

Competing head-to-head in a mature, slowly growing market can be cutthroat. The US car retailing industry was very much characterized by the classic symptoms of an unattractive industry. Players very much disliked competing in this difficult environment but did not see how they could break away from the pack.

Competing head-to-head in a mature, slowly growing market can be cutthroat. The US car retailing industry was very much characterized by the classic symptoms of an unattractive industry. Players very much disliked competing in this difficult environment but did not see how they could break away from the pack.

Competing head-to-head in a mature, slowly growing market can be cutthroat. The US car retailing industry was very much characterized by the classic symptoms of an unattractive industry. Players very much disliked competing in this difficult environment but did not see how they could break away from the pack.

One observes that despite the continued application of superior personal strategies and leadership throughout Napoleon’s lifetime, success eluded him in the end. A pattern is observed of meteoritic rise in the early stages (victories in the battle of Lodi, Marengo, Austerlitz) and a downfall later (Russian invasion, Waterloo). What is behind this rise and fall?

The home video-game market in Japan was relatively small and the market in the US was on the verge of collapse. In Japan, Nintendo could expect stiff competition from a number of companies in, or actively considering an entry in this market. This did not look a good time for Nintendo to make an entry.

The case describes the turnaround of a moribund Scottish airport sold off by BAA, the leading airport operation in Britain. Although the air transportation industries are experiencing deregulation, which appears to favour rich incumbents, Prestwick Aviation Holdings Limited (PAH) manages to succeed where most observers predicted it to fail.