More than a Good Story
A Case Analysis
Presented to
Masters in Business Administration Department
Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance
Far Eastern University
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
MANPRI – Management Principles
2nd Trimester, A.Y. 2016-2017
Table of Contents
Summary of Findings …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Background Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Problem Statement …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Answer to Case Questions …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Management Issues ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 5
Management Function …………………………………………………………………… Error! Bookmark not defined.
Bert and John’s Managerial Style ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
“Do what you like, Like what you do” ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Managerial Challenges in having friends working for the business ………………………………………………. 6
Working in a Company like Life is Good …………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Challenges of Customer Service, Innovation and Sustainability …………………………………………………… 7
Analysis of Alternatives and Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………. 8
Recommendation 1 ……………………………………………………………………….. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Recommendation 2 ……………………………………………………………………….. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Learnings ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
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Summary of Findings
The case “More than a Good Story” primarily deals with applying management principles. Items discussed are (1)
Management Issues; (2) Management Functions; (3) Managerial Style; (4) Company Motto; (5) Managerial
Challenges with Friends; (5) Working for a company like Life is Good; and (5) Dealing with Customer Service,
Innovation and Sustainability.
Management issues that Bert and John might encounter vary depending on their surroundings. Primary issues are:
decision making, motivation, communication and team unity.
Planning was evaluated to be the most important function, but only because it is the first step in doing anything.
The functions are equally important and they are needed to be performed in order to reach success.
Bert and John’s managerial style promotes being optimistic, doing what one wants. This is reflected in the
company motto and is very important as in doing something that one wants, they feel a sense of purpose, and they
have better contributions towards the team’s goals. This makes their company, an ideal place to work for.
Background Information
Jake and Rocket, a cartoon guy and his cartoon dog, can be found on most of the apparel and other branded
products sold by the Life is good® company.44 With his perky beret (or other appropriate head gear), Jake has that
contented look of being able to enjoy life as it is and finding reasons to be happy right now. And Rocket? Well, he’s
just happy to be along for the ride. And what a ride it’s been for the two! They’ve been a part of the company’s
growth to over $100 million in revenues. Company co-founders and brothers, Bert and John Jacobs have a personal
and business philosophy much like Jake: simplicity, humor, and humility. However, both understand that even with
this philosophy, they need to be good managers and they need good managers throughout the organization in
order to stay successful.
Bert and John designed their first tee shirts in 1989 and sold them door–to-door in college dorms along the East
Coast and in Boston where they’d set up shop using an old card table in locations on one-way streets so they could
pick up and move quickly if they needed to. They used this simple sales approach because, like many young
entrepreneurs, they couldn’t afford required business licenses. Although they met a lot of wonderful people and
