Popular Searches
Useful Links
Blue Ocean Strategy Case Study
Case Title:
Cirque du Soleil: Creating a Blue Ocean by Balancing Creativity and Business
Publication Year : 2006
Authors: Sanchita Ghosh, Nusrath Jahan Maldar
Industry: Leisure and Tourism
Region:Canada
Case Code: BOS0009
Teaching Note: Available
Structured Assignment: Available
Abstract:
In a maturing circus industry dominated by more than a century old giant players like the Ringlings and Barnum & Bailey, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier founded Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun) in 1984. Cirque was a new entrant in an industry, which was afflicted with falling revenues and profit for a long time. During this time, children, the traditional patrons of the circus, were more attracted towards television, computers and video games compared to animal acts, clowns and jugglers featured in a circus. Rather than sticking to the age-old formula for running a circus, Laliberté and Gauthier built their circus along unconventional lines. After identifying that the three core elements of any circus were the tent, the clowns and the acrobatic acts, they did away with the expensive animal acts and launched shows based on unique themes, soundtrack, costumes and sets. Cirque's 'one of a kind' shows that resembled theatric and ballet performances, targeted adults rather than children. After achieving phenomenal success in a matter of two decades, Laliberté planned to extend the Cirque du Soleil brand to spas, restaurants and resorts.
Pedagogical Objectives:
- To discuss and contrast the traditional business model of the circus industry and the new business model of Cirque du Soleil
- To discuss the Blue Ocean strategy in the context of Cirque du Soleil
- To discuss the sustainability of Cirque du Soleil's unique brand of entertainment in the light of an increasing number of 'copycat' circus shows
- To debate Cirque's proposed diversification strategies
Keywords : Cirque du Soleil; Circus industry; Traditional business model; Blue Ocean strategy; Red Ocean strategy; Guy Laliberte, Daniel Gauthier; Ringling Brothers; Innovation Management Case Study; Barnum & Bailey; Brand management; Cost control R&D; Talent acquisition; Trade offs strategic fit; Set and costume design; Mystere Alegria Quidam; Reinventing the circus
Contents:
Circus Industry: The Traditional Business Model
Cirque du Soleil: Creating a Blue Ocean
Core Theme of Cirque’s Shows
Red Ocean vs Blue Ocean Strategy
Cirque du Soleil’s Business Model: Trade offs and Strategic Fit
The Return on Creativity
Cirque du Soleil: Sustainability Issues
Related Case Studies
Recently Bought Case Studies
- Global Banking Industry: The New Horizons
Price: $25
Hardcover edition
ISBN 978-81-314-2414-8 - Fast Food Retailing Industry - Vol. I
Price: $25
Hardcover edition
ISBN 978-81-314-2456-8 - Decision Making
Price: $50
Hardcover edition
ISBN 978-81-314-1571-9 - View all Casebooks »
Case Studies On
- Course Case Mapping For Financial Management - I
Price: $Course Case Mapping For Financial Management - I
Hardcover edition - Course Case Mapping For Quantitative Methods
Price: $Course Case Mapping For Quantitative Methods
Hardcover edition - Course Case Mapping For Marketing Management - I
Price: $Course Case Mapping For Marketing Management - I
Hardcover edition - View All Course Casemaps»
Course Case Mapping For
- An Interview with Personnel of Vaatsalya Group
Price: $Vaatsalya Hospitals (B): The Operational Model - An interview with Dr. Ashwin Naik & Dr. Veerendra Hiremath
Price: $Vaatsalya Hospitals (A): The Business Model - An Interview with Dr.Rajiv Malhotra & (Prof)Dr.M.P.Sharma
Price: $Managing a World-Class Hospital: The Rockland Story - View all Video Interviews»
Video Interviews
- Training and Development
Executive Brief with Anjali Mukherjee
Highly Recommended for Human Resource Management / Training and Development Course - You Can't Play by Rules, Always
Executive Brief with R.D. Prasad, Product Manager.
Highly Recommended for Organizational Behavior Course - New Recruit MBAs Attitudes
Executive Brief with Lopamudra Ray, Keya Gupta and Deepika Lingala.
Highly Recommended for Organizational Behavior Course - View all Executive Briefs»
Executive Brief
- David Conklin
David Conklin, is a professor at the Richard Ivey School of Business
Speaks on Government and Business - Lord Meghnad Desai
Lord Meghnad Desai, is an Indian-born British economist and Labor politician
Speaks on Government and Business - Vijay Govindarajan
Vijay Govindarajan, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on strategy and innovation
Speaks on Reverse Innovation - View All Executive Interviews»