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Teaching Tools and Case Studies

Class Exercises

Teaching Tools

  • The Poverty Simulation Committee at the University of Michigan-Dearborn conducts a session to simulate the poverty experience with students, faculty, and staff.  See the video, which provides additional details.
  • London, T. 2012. Base-of-the-Pyramid: Business Strategies – Module Teaching Note. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Teaching Module Note GL1-429-223.
  • London, T. 2016. Teaching at the intersection of business development and poverty alleviation: Bringing the base of the pyramid into the classroom. In Gudic, M., Parkes, C. & Rosenbloom, A. (Eds). Responsible Management Education and the Challenge of Poverty: A Teaching Perspective, Greenleaf Publishing/PRME Book Series. Greenleaf Publishing: Sheffield UK.
  • Gabadeen, W. O. and Raimi, L. (2012) Management of entrepreneurship education in Nigerian higher institutions: Issues, challenges and way forward. Abuja International Journal of Education and Management Sciences (ABIJEMS), 2(1), 1-26. Diamond Lecture Centre Ltd, Abuja.
  • Liberty & Justice: A Social Enterprise Impact Story by Forbes Magazine - Inspired by the Women’s Peace Movement that ended Liberia’s ravaging civil war, social entrepreneur Chid Liberty — who was born in Liberia and raised in Germany and the U.S. — returned in 2010 to start the first fair trade apparel manufacturing company in Africa: Liberty & Justice. After a devastating outbreak of Ebola that virtually shut down the country and lost the company millions of dollars in contracts, see how Liberty and his workers pivoted their business model and kept the hundreds of precious jobs that Liberty had worked so hard to create.

  • Greenplanetfilms offer a teaching video: Being Poor in the World’s Richest Country, 2019, 52 minutes, English subtitles, fee involved. See the video here. 
  • Stenn, T. (2020), The Perfect Seed (sustainable development, entrepreneurship, marketing in Bolivia). See the video here. 

Case Studies

  • Applegate, L.M., Mehta, S. and Sesia, A. (2017). Guillermo Jaime-An Endeavor Entrepreneur, Boston: Harvard Business Publishiing, Case # 817084-PDF-ENG.
  • Applegate, L., Castilla, J.A.D., and Mehta, S (2017). MIA: Profit at the Base of the Pyramid, Boston: Harvard Business Publishing, Case # 817073-PDF-ENG.
  • Banerjee, T.S. and Kataria, E. (2016). Entrepreneurship and Culture: A Case on Rural Wood Artisans of Bengal, India. Available from The Case Centre. Case # 216-0062-1.
  • Baron, D. (2008). Social Entrepreneurship: Kiva, Stanford Graduate School of Business, available from Harvard Business Publishing, case # P70-PDF-ENG.
  • Buffington, J. and London, T. 2006. Building a Sustainable Venture from the Ground Up: The Mountain Institute’s Earth Brick Machine. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-611D.
  • Chaudhuri, S.K., Kesarwani, G and Gonela, S.K. (2005). Entrepreneurship in Ghana: Government Initiatives. Available from IBS Case Development Center, Case # 205-082-1.
  • Christiansen, M. & London, T. 2008. VisionSpring: A Lens for Growth at the Base of the Pyramid. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-610D. Also available through Harvard Business Publishing. Also available is a video entitled VisionSpring Video: Interview with Arunesh Singh. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Video GL1-428-840.
  • Doh, J., London, T. and Kilibarda, V. 2012. Building and Scaling a Cross-Sector Partnership: Oxfam America & Swiss Re Empower Farmers in Ethiopia. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-429-185D. Also available through Harvard Business Publishing.
  • Farhoomand, A. and Wong, S.K. (2012). The Aquaculture Industry in the Philippines: Creating Social Values at Marina Gana Vida. University of Hong Kong, available from Harvard Business Publishing, Case # HKU980-PDF-ENG.
  • Habib, A., Gulamani, S., Lau, B., Lesau, O. & McKague, K. (2010). IRC in Sierra Leone: The path to scale for an alternative microfranchising model. Ann Arbor, MI: William Davidson Institute, University of Michigan.
  • Kelly, C., Li, S.X., Tutak, J.L., Chimbghandah, R. and No, M. (2011), Srinivasan Services Trust; Combating Poverty with Entrepreneurship. Case reference number 11-113. Available from MIT Sloan's LearningEdge. Note: This item is part of a free case collection. For terms & conditions go to www.thecasecentre.org/freecaseterms
  • Kerr, W.R., Raman, M. and Hull, O. (2019). Hot Chicken Takeover, Boston: Harvard Business Publishing, Case # 819078-PDF-ENG.
  • Khan, U.A. and Cavanagh, R. (2016) Akhuwat: Fighting Poverty with Interest-Free Microfinance, Harvard Kennedy School, available from Harvard Business Publishing, case # KS1198-PDF-ENG.
  • Khana, T., Tahilyani, R.R., and Sesia, A. (2014). BRAC in 2014. Available from Harvard Business Publishing. Case reference 9-715-414.
  • Lee, M. and London, T. 2009. Subsidies in Base-of-the-Pyramid Venture Development. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Case GL1-428-767D.
  • Lee, M. and London, T. 2008. The Role of Subsidies in a Market Economy. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL 1-428-648D.
  • London, T. and Esper, H. 2013. Building a Scalable Business with Small-Holder Farmers in Kenya:  Honey Care’s Beekeeping Model. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-429-313D. Also available through Harvard Business Publishing. Also available is a video entitled Honey Care Africa Video: Interview with Madison Ayer. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Video GL1-429-320.
  • London, T. and Fay, C. 2017. Walmart and Small Producer from the Developing World: Linking Demand with Supply Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing.
  • London, T. and Kennedy, S. 2012. Movirtu’s Cloud Phone Service: Funding a Base-of-the Pyramid Venture. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Case GL1-429-162D. **Also available through Harvard Business Publishing
  • London, T. and Lee, M. 2008. CARE: Making Markets Work for the Poor? Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-645D. Also available is a video entitled  CARE Video: Interview with Late Lawson. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Video GL1-428-839.
  • London, T. and Vakil, M. 2008. Shakti: Unilever collaborates with women entrepreneurs in rural India. In M. W. Peng, Global Business. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, pp. 524- 529.
  • London, T., Augustine, G., and Lee, M. 2008. Targeting Malaria: Comparing Charity- and Social Marketing-Based Approaches (Teaching Note). Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Teaching Note GL1-428-642D. London, T. Targeting Malaria Video: Presentation by Jacqueline Novogratz. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Video GL1-428-842.
  • Lee, M. and London, T. 2008. Acumen Fund: How to Make the Greatest Impact. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing (formerly Globalens) Case GL1-428-592D.
  • McDonald, H., London, T. & Hart S. 2002. Expanding the Playing Field: Nike’s World Shoe Project (A and B). Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-673D and GL1-428-674D.
  • McKague, K. (2007). The Wonder Workshop Tanzania: Entrepreneurship Under Adversity. Toronto: Schulich School of Business.
  • McKague, K. and Branzei, O. (2007). E+Co: The path to scale. London, ON: Ivey Business School Publishing.
  • Morris, M. H. (short cases from Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa (EESA) Program –contact mmorri24@nd.edu)
    • T & I Hair Salon
    • NazPrint
    • Idili Caterers
    • Thando Papers
    • Afrikwizeen
    • Silulu Technologies
    • The Untouchable Mobshop
    • Monde Modeling Agency
    • Smile Fabrics
    • Cookie Company
  • Postigo, S., Tamborini, M, Bearzi, G. and Berger, G. (2006).  The Entrepreneurs Network as a Source of Resources, Social Enterprise Knowledge Network, available from Harvard Business Publishing, Case # SKE057-PDF-ENG.
  • Rao, S. & London, T. 2008. Global Seeds to Village Farmers: Hearing the Voices at the BoP. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-608D. Also available through Harvard Business Publishing. Also available is a video entitled Global Seeds to Village Farmers Video: Voices of the BoP – CARE (India) & Peace. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing Video, GL1-428-841.
  • Rogers, S. and Mills, A. (2017). Eve Hall: The African American Investment Fund in Milwaukee, Boston: Harvard Business Publishing, Case #317076-PDF-ENG.
  • Sharma, N.P. and Sharma, T. (2013). Grassroots Female Entrepreneurs: Rural and Urban Small Business Groups in India. Ivey Publishing, available from Harvard Business Publishing, case #W13206-PDF-ENG.
  • Sorensen, J., Kennedy, M, and Jorasch, G (2012). EcoPost: Financing a Green Startup in Africa, Stanford Graduate School of Business, available from Harvard Business Publishing, Case # IDEO2-PDF-ENG.
  • Sundaresan, M.S. (2015).  Grameen America: An Approach to Mitigating Poverty in the United States, Columbia Business School, available from Harvard Business Publishing, case # CU77-PDF-ENG.
  • Vakil, M & London, T. 2006. Hindustan Lever at the Base of the Pyramid: Growth for the 21st Century. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Case GL1-428-604D. Also available is a video entitled Hindustan Lever Video: Interview with Vijay Sharma. Ann Arbor, MI: WDI Publishing, Video GL1-428-765.
  • Wong, J., McKague, K. & Siddiquee, M. (2014). Krishi Utsho: How to make a microfranchising network financially sustainable.