CBDA: calm sea does not make a good sailor

Learning outcomes The purpose of this study is for students to develop an understanding of the importance of the presence of corporate governance mechanisms within companies that are not listed on the stock exchange. Case overview/synopsis This teaching case was based on real events experienced by the Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA), an Olympic sports organization in Brazil, which manages one of the most successful sports in winning international medals and generating idols in the national sport, swimming. In 2017, with the poor performance at the Rio Olympic Games and investigations into institutionalized corruption scandals, the entity fell into discredit and lost its main sponsor. In this context, the fragility of the control mechanisms present in management and the lack of transparency in the CBDA command became evident. Students are expected to put themselves in the shoes of Mr. Carlos dos Santos, new president of CBDA, to suggest strategic actions that can be implemented to solve the challenges faced in the management of the entity. Complexity academic level The suggested application is in undergraduate and lato sensu postgraduate courses in Administration, in the discipline of corporate governance. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.