Treasury Management • Beginner to Intermediate • 25-35 min

Dell vs Competitors Working Capital Case

Interactive working-capital case comparing Dell with HP, Lenovo, and Apple through receivables, inventory, payables, and cash conversion cycle analysis.

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What this demo is about

Why this case matters

Working capital management is one of the fastest ways for finance leaders to release cash without raising new funding. This case helps learners compare operating choices across companies rather than memorizing one formula.

Learning objectives

  • Explain how DSO, DIO, and DPO combine into cash conversion cycle.
  • Compare how operating policies change cash tied up in working capital.
  • Interpret why a strong CCC position may still involve trade-offs or risk.
  • Recommend which lever a competitor should improve first to release cash.

Teacher cue

Look for receivables discipline, inventory turns, supplier financing, and the amount of cash unlocked when operational assumptions change.

Suggested use

Start with the base case, then ask students to simulate what happens if a competitor adopts Dell-like discipline or if a supply shock forces more inventory into the system.