Matthew’s Choices: Critical Career Decisions

This case study set in 2013 discusses the critical career decisions that Matthew Tan, a young university graduate from National University of Singapore, has to make. The case is in three parts. In Part A, Matthew inspired by his childhood experiences is toying with the idea of leaving his job at Ernst & Young (E &Y) and opening a hotel that would help under-privileged youths. It is a risky decision as he has no experience in the hotel business and no capital to start it with.

In Part B, Matthew quits E&Y and to gain experience first works at a Vietnamese hotel as a bell boy for three months and then at a hotel in Singapore as a management trainee for another three months. This gives him confidence about the hotel business but the financial pressure of not having a stable job is getting tougher by the day. He faces the dilemma of whether or not to return to the corporate world.

In Part C, Matthew identifies a plot of land to develop the hotel and raises a significant part of the capital required from his friends and acquaintances. He and his wife also start a side business to bring in some financial respite, while Matthew continues to raise capital for his dream project – building a hotel in Vietnam.

This case is suitable for undergraduate/post-graduate students (MBA) and for early career executives. It is designed to help students think critically about career choices, and the challenges faced when deciding upon a career change specifically when starting their own business.

Inspection copies and teaching notes are available for university faculty. To receive an inspection copy and teaching note, please email cmpshop [at] smu.edu.sg with your registered faculty email ID and a link to your contact information on the faculty directory at your university as verification. An inspection copy and teaching note will then be sent to your faculty email account.

Download Information

SMU Faculty/Staff can download the case & teaching note on iNet with your SMU login ID & Password via the following links:

· The Case Part A (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part B (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part C (SMU-15-0003)

· Teaching Note (SMU-15-0003TN)

For purchase of the case and supplementary materials via The Case Centre, please access the following links:

· The Case Part A (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part B (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part C (SMU-15-0003)

· Teaching Note (SMU-15-0003TN)

For purchase of the case and supplementary materials via Harvard Business Publishing, please access the following links:

· The Case Part A (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part B (SMU-15-0003)

· The Case Part C (SMU-15-0003)

· Teaching Note (SMU-15-0003TN)