Professor Nils Plambeck Wins Global Case Writing Competition in Entrepreneurship

A case on entrepreneurship has won the Entrepreneurship category of a global Case Writing Competition organized by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

The case on entrepreneurship, titled “Doctor Anywhere – Scaling a Healthcare Platform”, by Nils Plambeck, Associate Professor of Strategy at HEC Paris, has been the winner in the Entrepreneurship category of the EFMD Case Writing Competition.

About the EFMD Case Writing Competition 

Organized by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) in collaboration with The Case Centre, the competition recognizes high-quality case studies that bring real-world business challenges into the classroom. Each category is supported by a dedicated sponsor and highlights contributions that enhance responsible management education.

Eric Cornuel, President of EFMD Global, noted: “This year’s winning cases reflect the pressing issues and dynamic challenges of management education, ranging from climate innovation and ethical leadership to strategic transformation and entrepreneurial agility.” 

Vicky Lester, CEO of The Case Centre, added: “These outstanding cases equip students with the critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills essential for today’s workplace.”

You can find all winning cases here: EFMD Case Competition Winners 2024.

About the Case: “Doctor Anywhere – Scaling a Healthcare Platform”

The case study follows the entrepreneurial journey of Doctor Anywhere, a Singapore-based digital health platform navigating the fragmented and fast-evolving telehealth landscape of Southeast Asia. 

Professor Nils Plambeck designed the case to inspire students to think critically about the strategic decisions involved in scaling a start-up, the challenges of adapting a platform business model across diverse markets, and the importance of forging strong local partnerships.

“I hope this case resonates in many classrooms and inspires thoughtful, critical discussions about entrepreneurial growth,” he shared.

The inspiration and impact

Plambeck credits the genesis of the case to teaching in the CEMS – Global Alliance in Management Education program: “I felt the need for a case that would spark conversations about scaling a platform in complex regional settings. A visit to the University of St. Gallen’s Singapore campus planted the seed—Doctor Anywhere’s story stood out as one worth telling.”

Building the HEC Paris case collection 

The case is now part of the HEC Paris collection on Harvard Business Publishing and is also available via The Case Centre.

Expanding a relevant and dynamic HEC Paris case collection is central to HEC’s pedagogical mission. Teaching with original cases deepens students’ engagement by sparking meaningful reflection and debate, and published cases raise HEC Paris’ academic visibility worldwide.

Nils Plambeck also expressed gratitude to his HEC colleagues: “Writing this concise and crisp case was both a joy and a challenge - so this recognition feels especially rewarding. I am grateful to Anne Michaut, Ioana Helou (Nicula), Mala Banerjee, and Andrea Masini for their continued support of case writing at HEC Paris.” Karine Le Joly is currently leading initiatives to further support faculty in developing impactful cases, including partnerships with The Case Centre and Harvard Business Publishing.