Description
The case is set in January 2012, and begins with Kenneth Yap, the founder of Quantine Pte Ltd, strategising on an effective growth plan for his company. Quantine is a job candidate pre-screening service provider specialised in asynchronous video interviews. In the three years since its inception, market forces and internal factors necessitated a change in its original corporate strategy. The business originally started out in 2009 as a competency assessment service for testing technical skills in the information technology industry. But due to strong competition in the market, likely demise of the platform for its technology, and lack of funds, Quantine was forced to re-evaluate its business proposition. It now focuses on a different business idea — a new method of candidate pre- screening: on-demand video. The Next-5 platform, as it is called, was created as an ecosystem for recruitment agencies, companies and prospective employees. From 2009 to late 2011, Quantine has gone through four rounds of fund raising. With the latest grant of US$392,000, Yap wonders how he can best use this money to market his company’s suite of pre-screening services, and implement an effective growth plan for the company.
This case can be used to teach concepts related to new product development strategy. Students will have an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by a start-up, and the reasons for these challenges. They will learn that the maturity of the market is a key-determining factor in product development strategy. Students will also get an overview of the stage-gate process to product development, and discuss its strengths and weaknesses.
Inspection copies and teaching notes are available for university faculty. To receive an inspection copy and teaching note, please email cmpshop@smu.edu.sg with your registered faculty email ID and a link to your contact information on the faculty directory at your university as verification. An inspection copy and teaching note will then be sent to your faculty email account.