Learning case library

Cases and tasks for learning

Browse cases, pick the right tasks and share them as links or embeds in your LMS.

6

cases ready

68

tasks published

Cases

Ohjelma
Bike Lease Finland

Bike Lease Finland

Leasing and maintenance of employee bicycles, digital services.

Ohjelma
Excelence Solutions

Excelence Solutions

Consulting and data analytics, expert services and consulting.

Ohjelma
Finnish Timber Oy

Finnish Timber Oy

Ecological log buildings and construction site processes, project business.

Ohjelma
Green Scape

Green Scape

Customized green wall services for B2B clients, service business.

Ohjelma
Marine Craft

Marine Craft

Customized motorboats, project delivery, manufacturing industry.

Ohjelma
Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design

Leasing and maintenance of company bicycles, digital services.

Task

Condensing the Core of a Business Idea



In this task, the student condenses the business idea of a chosen case company into four elements: customer, problem, solution, and revenue model. They analyze who the company sells to, what problem it solves, how it does so, and how it makes money. The result is a clear one-page business idea description that could be used, for example, in a company presentation or as a summary of a business plan. The task develops the student's ability to quickly grasp the core of a company's operations and present it understandably to others.

Learning objectives

After completing the task, the student:
1. Can identify the main customers of the case company and their key needs or problems.
2. Can describe how the case company's solution addresses the customer's problem and creates value.
3. Can outline how the company makes money with its solution (revenue model).
4. Can condense the business idea into a concise and understandable one-page description.

Step by step

  1. Summarizing the core of the business idea

    Objective:
    The objective of this assignment is for the student to summarise the case company's business idea into four key elements: customer, problem, solution and revenue model. The goal is to learn to identify the core of the company’s operations and understand how it creates value for its chosen target group.

    Material:

    • The case description of the selected case company from the learning material.

    • The assignment is based on the information in the case description and on justified assumptions made about the company’s operations.

    Assignment process (instructions for the student):

    1. Read the case description and write a short overview of the company
      Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the case description. Write a 4–6 sentence overview describing:

      • what the company does

      • the industry it operates in

      • what types of products or services it provides.
        This forms the background for summarising the business idea.

    2. Define the customer
      Consider who the most important customers of the case company are. Write briefly:

      • who the customers are (e.g. consumers, companies, public sector)

      • what characteristics they have (e.g. size, sector, life situation, needs)

      • why these customers are important to the company.

    3. Clarify the customer’s problem or need
      Describe clearly the customer’s problem, need or challenge that the case company addresses. Write 1–2 paragraphs discussing:

      • what harm or inconvenience the problem causes the customer

      • why solving the problem is meaningful for the customer (e.g. time savings, cost savings, safety, convenience).

    4. Describe the company’s solution
      Summarise how the case company’s product or service solves the problem described above. Write concretely:

      • what the company does differently compared to the customer’s current situation

      • what kind of value the solution provides (e.g. faster, easier, cheaper, higher quality).

    5. Outline the revenue model
      Describe how the case company earns money with its solution. Write briefly:

      • what the customer pays for (e.g. one-time fee, monthly fee, commission, licence)

      • what other revenue streams the company might have (e.g. add-on services, maintenance, advertising revenue)

      • how the revenue model supports the company’s long-term operations.

    6. Combine everything into a one-page description
      Finally, write one coherent page of text (approximately ½–1 page) where you combine the four elements:

      • customer

      • problem

      • solution

      • revenue model.
        Aim for clear and understandable language. The goal is that any reader can understand the core of the case company’s business idea from a single page.

    Submission and evaluation:
    Submit approximately one page of text that clearly shows:

    • a short overview of the case company

    • who the company sells to (customer)

    • what the customer’s problem or need is

    • what solution the company offers

    • how the company earns money with its solution (revenue model).

    In the evaluation, attention will be given to how well you:

    • identify and describe the key elements of the business idea

    • stick to the case description and make logical assumptions based on it

    • write a brief, clear and coherent description.

    Recommended working time: approximately 30–45 minutes, individually or in pairs.

Tasks by audience and theme

University of applied sciences

Polytechnics and higher education studies.

68 tasks