In 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided 14 7-Eleven stores that subjected about 50 undocumented immigrants to negligent human rights violations. In 2018, ICE conducted a raid of separately owned franchises that resulted in 21 additional arrests. The franchises were held liable. How can tension be resolved between franchises and the parent company? 9 pp. Case #19-01 (2019)

On August 15, 2015, The New York Times published the results of an investigation, entitled “Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace.” The article denounced a brutal working culture at Amazon.com. Having consistently outperformed its competitors, Amazon is now recognized as the most valuable retailer in the United States, enjoying the biggest market capitalization in its industry. Against the backgrounds of Amazon’s impressive business expansion, this case examines the relationship between a growing social discontent toward Amazon and an aggressive corporate culture long favored by the company. 20 pp. (2015)

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos sent his employees an ultimatum in early 2015 – embrace the self-management philosophy Holacracy or leave the company. Eighteen percent of the staff chose to leave rather than remain under the new system characterized by no job title, no managers, and complex rules governing employee interactions. Is this an experiment in organizational design worth sustaining? 12 pp. Case #17-13. (2017).

In the aftermath of the San Bernardino shooting in December 2015, Apple was required by a federal court order to assist the FBI in unlocking the primary suspect’s iPhone 5c. Apple would need to build a new software program in order to comply with the order, potentially compromising the company’s brand promise regarding the security of customer data. This case examines the importance of customer data privacy to a company’s business model as well as external risk factors related to international politics and terrorism. How can Apple manage the various risks while maintaining the loyalty and trust of its customers? 8 pp. Case #17-07. (2017)

On July 3, 2018, bookseller Barnes & Noble released a statement saying that their CEO, Demos Parneros, was terminated, effective immediately, for “violating the company’s policies.” In this abrupt firing, Barnes & Noble did not specify the policies that were violated, but did mention that it was not related to any disagreement with the company regarding its financial performance. Suspicion quickly grew that Parneros was just the latest executive caught up in a #MeToo moment. 15 pp. Case #19-02 (2019)

In 2012, a former employee filed a lawsuit against Deen and her brother for racial discrimination. Deen later confessed to using racial slurs in a deposition transcript that was leaked in 2013. Deen issued a public apology, but several companies, including the Food Network, elected to end their partnership with her. Can Paula Deen recover? (A) 15 pp. (B) 2 pp. Case #15-04

Larry Nassar’s conviction of first-degree sexual misconduct with young girls in USA Gymnastics raised important questions about the efforts of the USOC and affiliated organizations to keep their athletes safe. The scope and duration of his abuse brings into question the execution of the International Olympic Committee’s values. 15 pp. (A) Case; 10 pp. (B) Case. Case #18-05 (2018)

Perhaps no brand is more deeply embedded in American culture than that of The Walt Disney Company. So, it was especially shocking when the company decided to use the H-1B visa system to replace hundreds of American IT workers with less costly, foreign professionals. Adding to the insult, Disney conditioned the American workers’ severance pay on their willingness to train their foreign replacements. How would Disney navigate the backlash from government officials, media and the general public? 23 pp. Case #16-07 (2016)

Starbucks Corporation is facing a dilemma with a group of employees in Buffalo, New York attempting to form a union in response to compensation and working conditions. Starbucks faces this labor organization effort in the context of a global pandemic and distinctive challenges facing the entire service industry. 10 pp. Case #21-09

For $500 million annually, Facebook contracts Accenture PLC to moderate content that violates its Terms of Service and is not caught by artificial intelligence. The graphic nature of the content has led to mental health issues for content moderators, as well as multi-million-dollar lawsuits, leading Accenture managers to reconsider the value of the Facebook contract. 11 pp. Case #21- 06 (2021)

Microsoft Corporation: Open AI and ChatGPT in the Workplace Chauhan, V.; Hough, P.; Lomeli, J.; and O’Rourke, J. S. (editor)

This business school case study explores Microsoft Corporation’s investment in a start-up called OpenAI, along with the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on the company’s operations and future products. The case examines the actions of Microsoft’s competitors in the AI space and the regulatory environment, highlighting the importance of AI development in the 21^st century. 16 pp. Case # 23-04 (2023)

Keywords: Microsoft Corporation, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Generative Pre-Trained Transformers, Artificial Intelligence, Discriminative Fine-Tuning, Disinformation, Hallucinations, AI Algorithms,