Case Name :      Communauto: A big idea for a big market

Authors :           Raymond Paquin, Dror Etzion, James Povitz, Benjamin Gruber

Source :             North American Case Research Association (NACRA)

Case ID :            NA0315

Discipline :        Social Enterprise

Case Length :    15 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

This case examines Communauto, North America’s first carsharing organization, which is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The case focuses primarily on Communauto’s CEO, Benoit Robert, as he builds on his success and ponders how to make carsharing even more widespread and environmentally impactful. Unlike many sustainability oriented cases which focus on translating a ‘concept’ into a viable enterprise or offering, this case focuses on an organization that is already established, is financially sound, and is attaining its environmental objectives. Students examine how the founder can address the inevitable tension between growing the business and pursuing his ambitious goal of meaningfully reducing the environmental impact of personal transportation. It illustrates a for-profit model of social entrepreneurship in a North American context, providing a contrasting focal point to the multitude of cases that depict not-for-profit social entrepreneurship initiatives in less developed countries.