Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

The role of educators often transcends the classroom and reaches across borders. Two case studies published by Harvard Business school and written by Dr. Lucas Wang, a business professor at the University of New Brunswick's faculty of management, are bestsellers in business schools around the world. In last year alone, 100 universities spanning 35 different countries and regions have used these cases to teach strategic management and global strategy. These include schools like the University of Toronto, Columbia University, McGill University, Oxford University, Ivey Business School, and the University of British Columbia, to name a few.

Both cases were published by Harvard Business School. One of these delves into the intriguing journey of how a private fund facilitated the expansion of Tim Hortons into China. "This constitutes the first real leap in the internationalization of Canada's best-known national coffee brand," he explains. "The case serves as an excellent teaching tool for understanding the market entry of a foreign brand and its subsequent growth in a new host country."

The second case takes students through the dramatic and counter-intuitive story of FamilyMart, a world-leading convenience store brand, where a partner initiated legal proceedings to terminate their 20-year and highly successful alliance. "Understanding why this long-term and fruitful international partnership dissolved is a captivating puzzle this case seeks to solve," says Dr. Wang. Through this case, students gain comprehensive insights into the termination of international alliances, including the modes of termination and the underlying triggers. They also practice decision-making skills to navigate the most significant challenge in alliance management: stabilizing a partnership.

Dr. Wang joined the faculty of management this year and teaches courses in strategic management and business planning and entrepreneurship. His research expertise includes global strategy, governance of cross-border cooperation, and corporate sustainability. His work is published the Journal of Business Ethics, Long Range Planning, and the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research. Dr. Wang has authored other cases featuring companies operating in both Canada and New Zealand. Notably, his case on Shandong Moris Chemical Co. Ltd. earned the 2020 Case Writing Award from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

Dr. Wang's case-study method bridges the gap between theory and real-world application. His cases demonstrate how thoughtful research can be combined with creative teaching methods to transcend borders and transform the way we teach and learn about business strategy.

Photo: Dr. Lucas Wang with UNB's faculty of management has published two best selling business case studies .

Learn more about Dr. Lucas Wang and UNB’s faculty of management.

Media contact: Liz Lemon-Mitchell