Curated Lists

E-0470

Automated Hiring at Amazon

In this fictionalized case, students inhabit the role of a Black businesswoman, director of talent and recruitment at Amazon who has been charged with developing an AI hiring tool that could shape the future of recruiting practices. She has noticed some apparently biased results from the tool and has begun to question its ethical implications. Now she must decide whether to suggest that Amazon continue using the tool as it was or to insist that Amazon invest more into the research and development of the tool in hopes of creating an unbiased product. If she did the latter, however, it would be exorbitantly expensive in terms of both time and money and would reflect poorly on her efforts to produce the tool.

OB-1289

Butts in Seats: Helping the UVA Athletic Department Fill Scott Stadium

This case follows Carla Williams, director of athletics for UVA, as she considers what steps the Athletics Department needed to take in the coming years to increase revenues. The UVA Cavaliers had a number of athletics programs that were consistently ranked among the nation’s elite. Still, football fan attendance lagged well behind what Williams thought it should be for a school of UVA’s size and reputation. At a high level, the question facing Williams was simple: How could UVA get butts in seats at home football games?

OB-1432

Nikki Brown: Caught between Career and Conscience

This field-based case puts students in the role of Nikki Brown, a Black female police officer at the St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD). After repeatedly witnessing and experiencing acts of discrimination, favoritism, harassment, and racism within the SLCPD, Brown must decide whether to file a formal complaint or remain silent. Reporting illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior within a long-entrenched US police culture could cost Brown her job. Conversely, opting for silence could mean Brown is implicitly perpetuating unethical practices that often harm other officers and citizens like herself. With the pressure mounting, which should Brown choose—her career or her conscience?

OB-1443

Katchia Gethers: In the Business of Getting Better

This field-based case uses the challenges Katchia Gethers, a Black female principal of the second-largest school district in South Carolina, encountered in an underperforming school. Pushback from some inside the school, critiques from individuals who want to keep Gethers in line with their views, and anonymous online attacks have left Gethers questioning her own leadership. But Gethers has made a difference—the underperforming school showed signs of academic improvement, and she has a strong circle of supporters who want her to continue in her role. This case sets the stage for unfolding a framework on cultures, situations, and selves, and reveals elements of burnout, racism, and interpersonal and structural problems. It prompts an exploration of managers unconsciously placing greater expectations on high-performing women employees of color.

OB-1456

Courtney Meeks and the Culture of Change at Milliken

This field-based case puts students in the role of Courtney Meeks, a young Black senior HR manager at Milliken & Company in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A self-described “yes-to-everything girl,” Meeks was promoted at Milliken three times in less than seven years. On top of her current obligations, Meeks must now decide whether to accept a request to lead the multicultural employee resource group (ERG), start an ERG to mentor and sponsor Black women at the historically White Milliken, or cut back on her commitments for her own well-being.

E-0441

NASCAR and the Confederate Flag (A)

In May 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests that followed the death of George Floyd, leadership at the National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) had to decide whether to ban the Confederate flag at its events. Race attendees often carried the flag with them, it was emblazoned on clothes, souvenirs, and mugs, and some even tattooed it on themselves. The Confederate flag had been controversial for years—many saw it as a symbol of racism and a celebration of the Confederacy and its attempts, in the American Civil War, to retain the institution of slavery. But many NASCAR fans claimed the Confederacy flag was representative of “heritage, not hate” and threatened to boycott the sport if NASCAR banned the flag. Despite NASCAR’s attempts to diversify both the organization and the audience, NASCAR’s fan base remained decidedly conservative and, for the most part, tolerant of the flag’s presence. NASCAR did not want to alienate its fan base, but leadership did want to change with the times and instill diversity in every aspect of the organization.

E-0442

NASCAR and the Confederate Flag (B)

This case is a follow-up to “NASCAR and the Confederate Flag (A)” (UVA-E-0441). It outlines how NASCAR leadership announced that the Confederate flag was no longer welcome at race events and venues. Reaction was both positive and negative. However, despite this decisive move, questions remained, including: How would each track enforce the ban? What steps could NASCAR take to move past this controversy and get fans—and some employees who disagreed with the ban—to focus on the sport? How could NASCAR grow its demographics beyond the conservative, white Southerners who had comprised much of NASCAR’s fanbase over history, and how could the organization become more inclusive?

E-0459

The NBA, China, and Social Media: What Are the Rules of the Game?

The general manager of the Golden State Warriors, a National Basketball Association (NBA) dynasty, must contend with the recent controversy between China (the People’s Republic of China, or PRC) and the NBA over a pro–Hong Kong tweet from the Houston Rockets general manager. China had responded to this tweet by removing NBA games from the powerful PRC-controlled CCTV5 sports channel, and key Rockets marketing partners cut ties with the team as well. The Warriors franchise had effectively leveraged inroads made by the NBA into the Chinese market over the past decade, building up a loyal and lucrative Chinese fanbase. Many of the Warriors’ leading stars were set to hold a basketball clinic as well as a press conference in Shenzhen during the NBA’s annual preseason games in China. All this was now threatened, and the manager must decide whether to cancel the trip altogether or make concessions to the Chinese government that would negate the NBA’s carefully crafted spirit of individual rights, civil rights, and liberties that partly defined it in the United States.

E-0478

The United States Olympic Committee and Rule 50 in the 21st Century

This technical note explains the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) Rule 50, put into place in the 1970s, which prohibited protest at the Olympic Games. Athletes had pushed back against this rule for decades and, in 2020, with worldwide social protest following the death of George Floyd, the IOC had to rethink Rule 50 and how the organization would deal with protest at the Games. This note gives a brief history of the Olympics and of protest at the games over the course of their existence.

E-0479

Gwen Berry and the Politics of Protest (A)

In summer 2019, track and field athlete Gwen Berry had won the hammer throw while representing Team USA at the Pan American Games in Peru. As she stood anxiously on the podium for the medal ceremony, she thought about both her own challenging upbringing and the social and racial injustice in the United States, exemplified by a recent encounter she’d had with a suffering unhoused person, Berry wanted to make a gesture of protest. But if she did, she’d be going against the IOC’s Rule 50, which prohibited protest in many sports venues, and she would no doubt be disciplined at best, and prohibited from further competition at worst. This case pairs well with a technical note about the IOC’s Rule 50, “The United States Olympic Committee and Rule 50 in the 21st Century” (UVA-E-0478).

E-0480

Gwen Berry and the Politics of Protest (B)

This case is a follow-up to “Gwen Berry and the Politics of Protest (A)” (UVA-E-0479). Gwen Berry did protest at the Pan American Games in the summer of 2019 by raising her fist in the air when the US national anthem was playing. Pushback by the IOC and the public was swift and fierce. However, after the death of George Floyd in May 2020 and the subsequent protests and sustained examination of social and racial-justice issues, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee apologized to Berry and seemed to be making the protest rules more lenient. Yet Berry knew that the underlying problems still existed and that the IOC maintained its grip on how protests could occur and on the athletes’ lives and livelihoods.

E-0477

A Dolphin Bullied: Jonathan Martin’s NFL Experience in Miami (A)

In 2013, Jonathan Martin, a starting lineman for the Miami Dolphins, left the team. He cited the negative effects of the team’s culture—specifically, bullying and mistreatment by several of his teammates—on his well-being, saying it had contributed to depression and thoughts of self-harm. The US National Football League (NFL) hired a law firm to investigate, and in February 2014, the findings (called the Wells Report) were released to the public. There was clear evidence of harassment targeting Martin as well as others on the Dolphins team. But while some within the NFL reacted to the findings with dismay, others said that playing football was “a man’s job,” and said the behavior was simply part of the high-testosterone culture. This public-sourced case uses the context of the NFL to expand student understanding of gender binaries as shaped by racial and socioeconomic factors, and to discuss possible interventions to diminish turnover and promote inclusion. They promote a discussion of how underrepresented individuals navigate a work environment where they are not prototypical. This case also allows for a discussion of mental health as part of a broader focus on wellness at work.

E-0481

A Dolphin Bullied: Jonathan Martin’s NFL Experience in Miami (B)

This case should be used after students have read “A Dolphin Bullied: Jonathan Martin’s NFL Experience in Miami (A) (UVA-E-0477). It provides a brief update on actions taken by different stakeholders following the release of the Wells Report in 2014. The case also directly addresses issues of sexuality in the NFL.

E-0482

Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics and Beyond (A)

This partially disguised, public-sourced case details the situation surrounding longtime USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse of athletes from the standpoint of someone who must decide whether and how best to intervene. In 2015, Megan Peterson, an elite gymnastics coach, has accidentally overheard a troubling conversation about Nassar between the athlete she directly supports, Janet Smith, and a teammate. After helping Smith feel safe enough to talk to her about what is going on, Peterson learns that Nassar has been abusing young athletes from his position as a trusted, respected medical professional for the national gymnastics team. Does she have a responsibility to report what Smith told her? If she does report, would she be betraying her athlete’s confidence and hurting Smith’s chances to make the 2016 Olympic team? Moreover, given Nassar’s position and good reputation in the USA Gymnastics organization, if Peterson reported what she’d learned, would she be believed?

E-0483

Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics and Beyond (B)

This case, a follow-up to “Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics and Beyond (A)” (UVA-E-0482), details what happened after top gymnastics coach Megan Peterson reported team doctor Larry Nassar to USA Gymnastics leadership for his abuse of young athletes. It turned out that many others had tried to report Nassar for various instances of inappropriate behavior and abuse over the years, but coaches, trainers, administrators, and even local and federal law authorities had ignored, dismissed, and generally failed to take action on the accusations. Finally, in 2017, Nassar faced consequences, as did some others in power who had allowed Nassar’s abuses to continue—but hundreds of women and girls had been hurt and then had their hurt ignored in the years before Nassar was finally brought to justice. Why had so many individuals and groups stayed silent and done nothing?

E-0485

Nike: Retaining Talent and Managing a Brand

In 2021, Nike had lost some of the top female athletes it had sponsored, including WNBA two-time champion Breanna Stewart and gymnast Simone Biles. The reasons for the departures varied, but several prominent departing female athletes had accused Nike of bad practices when athletes became pregnant. Track and field star Allyson Felix, in a New York Times op-ed, described how Nike wanted to pay her 70% less after her pregnancy. An iconic brand since the 1970s, Nike had sponsored many prominent athletes and had tried over the years to attract more women; these accusations were a blow to both its reputation and brand. Nike leadership had to decide how to address these issues and, in doing so, retain its reputation, brand, and ability to attract and retain female athletic talent.

E-0488

Billie Jean King: Serving Up Leadership

Throughout a lifetime of athletic success, hard work, high visibility, and professional and personal challenges both on and off the tennis court, Billie Jean King, an icon of professional tennis, business, and activism, remained deeply committed to gender equality, social parity, and justice. King had fought many battles, overcome many challenges, and knocked down barriers in the sports world and beyond. This case study examines the many challenges King faced over the years and her efforts to overcome barriers, level the playing field, and promote justice, not just for herself, but for others in and outside the sports world.

E-0491

Looking for the Fast Break: The WNBA Nears a Quarter Century

In 2019, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) faced many challenges. The players were disenchanted with subpar salaries, facilities, and amenities, as well as with their international play, which was necessary to bring in additional income but often had adverse effects on both their health and the league’s schedule. There were also labor issues, as the league negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with its players association, as well as declining viewership and a need for more corporate sponsorship. Newly appointed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league leadership had to navigate this thicket of issues in their quest to grow the 12-team league’s revenue streams and make it more self-sufficient, to improve the overall fan experience, and to increase its audience both within the United States and globally.

E-0492

Norwegian Women’s Beach Handball: Bucking the Bikini Bottoms

In summer 2021, as they prepared for the European Beach Handball Championship, the Norwegian women’s beach handball team rebelled against wearing bikini bottoms as part of their uniforms. The bottoms had been imposed as part of dress code for women by the International Handball Federation (IHF) despite the fact that they were impractical and, members of the team thought, degrading. The players wanted to wear shorts instead, but knew that if they did, they would risk possibly having to forfeit the game or be fined. This case covers other gender-based outfit issues in sports and widens the lens to other industries, including aviation, politics, and entertainment, where dress codes have historically adversely affected women.

E-0503

Transgender Athletes: What Are the Rules of the Road? (A)

In summer 2023, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s international governing body, and USA Cycling (USAC), cycling’s US governing body, faced a dilemma. Austin Killips, the first openly transgender woman to win an official UCI women’s stage race, had just won several high-level cycling competitions. Although Killips had participated in accordance with UCI guidelines, there was immediate criticism both from some other athletes and parts of the public about the inclusion of transgender women participants in cycling competitions. Particularly given rising social upheaval over transgender rights in more politically conservative areas in the United States, the two organizations had to determine whether to adhere to the current guidelines as set by UCI in 2022 and try to ignore angry denunciations, or to somehow adjust the rules. UCI and USAC both realized that they would receive criticism from various groups of stakeholders no matter what they decided to do. This case covers this situation as well as the history of transgender athletes, and gives a brief overview of the research on transgender athletes and competitive advantage.

E-0504

Transgender Athletes: What Are the Rules of the Road? (B)

This case is a follow-up to “Transgender Athletes: What Are the Rules of the Road? (A)” (UVA-E-0503). It outlines the decision UCI and USAC made about the inclusion of transgender women participants in cycling competitions.

OB-1206

Colin Kaepernick and the NFL

In early August 2017, the majority owner of a popular American football team was facing a troubling dilemma. The team’s starting quarterback was battling a devastating knee injury, and the owner is considering signing a free-agent quarterback who could give the team a realistic chance to win football games. The owner was aware that Colin Kaepernick was available to sign. But Kaepernick was responsible for sparking much of the political activism prominently on display within the NFL in recent years. On the one hand, Kaepernick had proven to be a skilled player early in his career, leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance and back-to-back conference championship games. On the other hand, due to Kaepernick’s protest against racial injustice, he was a risky choice.

OB-1289

Butts in Seats: Helping the UVA Athletic Department Fill Scott Stadium

This case follows Carla Williams, director of athletics for UVA, as she considers what steps the Athletics Department needed to take in the coming years to increase revenues. The UVA Cavaliers had a number of athletics programs that were consistently ranked among the nation’s elite. Still, football fan attendance lagged well behind what Williams thought it should be for a school of UVA’s size and reputation. At a high level, the question facing Williams was simple: How could UVA get butts in seats at home football games?

OB-1368

Fired Fairly?

This case presents students with the question of whether Black college football coaches are fired fairly. Students are asked to use the provided data set to think through the various prompts about building the model they would test, including considering the dependent and independent variables and their initial hypothesis.