Teaching Note: Build or buy: what’s next for Balmer Lawrie?

The case “Build or Buy: What’s Next for Balmer Lawrie?” revolves around Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BL), a legacy organization navigating its strategic transformation to meet ambitious growth targets of $694m revenue by FY 2025–2026. At the core of its strategy is a leadership development program (LDP) aimed at addressing challenges like reliance on external recruitment for key roles and gaps in internal talent development. The case highlights the challenges of aligning HR strategy with organizational goals and the role of leadership in driving change through innovation and operational excellence.

The leadership development initiative employs an action-learning approach, integrating...