Next Great Companies in Michigan Mini-cases
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Click on each title for a link to the page for the individual mini-case, or go to Ross School of Business Teaching Materials website and enter "Great Places to Work" in the Keyword Search window for a list of all eight mini-cases.
Bronson: A Journey to Excellence
Bronson Healthcare, a community-owned, non-profit health care system located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has a unique culture which recognizes and rewards its employees. Bronson champions diversity and continuous improvement, and this case study examines the processes and mechanisms by which the organization achieves success.
Cascade Engineering: Finding the Sweet Spot
Cascade Engineering is a Michigan-based firm that develops and manufactures injection molded products for the automotive, solid waste and industrial markets. Its main product is trash containers. The company's leaders, however, proclaim that their priorities are #1 people, #2 planet, #3 profits. This case profiles Cascade's success as a steward of the environment, a generous employer, and a financially-sustainable organization that provides jobs across Michigan.
Dow Corning: The Path to Reinvention
Dow Corning emerged from nine years of Chapter 11 bankruptcy to become one of the strongest companies in Michigan. From scandal with silicon breast implants, the company re-imagined itself as a leader in technologies for healthcare and renewable energy. This case profiles Dow Corning's journey to re-invention and its enduring culture of innovation and leadership.
Plante & Moran: All You Really Need to Know
Plante & Moran, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, is the nation's eleventh largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm. The company has achieved success through a caring and collaborative culture, and has been recognized for nine consecutive years on Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. The case describes Plante & Moran's unique culture and success factors.
Quicken Loans: Enduring an Entrepreneurial Spirit
Rock Financial (now part of Quicken Loans) was founded by Dan Gilbert, when he was only twenty-three-year-old. Although the firm has grown to over 4,000 employees and had become part of a world-class lending organization, it has still managed to maintain an entrepreneurial culture that encourages employees to be innovative in their work. It also boldly recognizes and celebrates employee achievements, and has been named one of the top twenty of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America for four consecutive years. This case profiles Quicken Loans and its road to creating a thriving workplace in Michigan and across the U.S.
The MSU Federal Credit Union: People Helping People
The Michigan State University Credit Union has been a part of the community since 1937. It has provided vital services to students and citizens throughout Michigan, and has had a particular focus on community education. This case profiles the non-profit credit union's establishment and growth as one of the "Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America."
The Y in Google: Attracting and Retaining the Millennials
The case profiles Google, in particular Google's Ann Arbor, Michigan office, and its ability to attract and retain Generation Y workers. The Ann Arbor office was founded in 2006 to support Google's revenue-generating AdWords business. The office started with eight employees and was slated to grow to one thousand over the next five years. The case discusses Google's success factors in attracting young talent, and gives insight into how the company's unique culture has helped it land the coveted #1 spot on Fortune magazine's "Best Places to Work" list.
Valassis: Nurturing a Team-oriented Environment
Michigan-based Valassis has been in the promotions and marketing services industry for thirty-seven years. The company employs approximately seven thousand associates across the U.S. and has created a unique culture of shared success and open communication. In 2005, Valassis was inducted into Fortune magazine's "Hall of Fame" for being named one of the "100 Best Places to Work For" each year since the list's inception in 1998. This case explores the keys to Valassis' success at attracting and retaining talent.
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