Product details

The case examines the way in which Terry S Semel turned around Yahoo! (Yahoo), one of the leading Internet companies in the world, which was in deep trouble in the fiscal year 2001. It discusses the problems faced by Yahoo before Semel joined the company. The case then details several measures taken by Semel to turn Yahoo around including remaking the culture, introducing more subscription-based services, entering into partnership deals, acquiring companies and more. The case is designed to familiarise students with the reasons behind the failure of several dotcom companies and Internet portals in the late 1990s. After studying the case, the students will be able to: (1) understand the problems in the business model of Internet companies that led to their downfall with particular reference to Yahoo; (2) examine the strategies that other Internet companies can deploy to revive themselves on similar lines of Yahoo; (3) understand and appreciate the role of a leader in reviving the fortunes of a loss making company; and (4) understand the strategies adopted by Semel to turn Yahoo around in a short span of time. The case is targeted at MBA/PGDBA students and is part of the strategy and general management curriculum. The teaching note does not contain an analysis of the case.