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Analyzing the case study

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  1. Read the case study attentively at least two or three times. Become familiar with the key points of the situation without adopting a position on the case. Read as carefully and objectively as you can.
  2. After becoming thoroughly familiar with the case, make notes regarding the main issues as you see them.
  3. Since, you are also the writer of the case, the above two steps can be skipped.
  4. Identify two or three main problems from your case.
  5. Identify alternative solutions to the above-identified problems. Describe several alternatives, existing constraints and explain why some alternative solutions rejected.
  6. Solution – provide one or more realistic solution to the problem; explain the reasons behind the proposed solution; support this solution with justification and include relevant theoretical concepts
  7. Recommendations – identify specific strategies to accomplish the proposed solution; recommend further actions; outline an implementation plan.
  8. References: Your list of references citing articles, reports or any online resources.

The case study analysis and writing must be 15 to 20 pages in length (not more than 30 pages, APA 6 or 7 format, and 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins) excluding bibliography, table of contents, graphics, tabular or illustrative material. Projects turned in after due date are considered late. 2.5 points deducted for each day the project is late. Special circumstances need to be discussed with the instructor ahead of time when possible. The due date for this exercise is July 21st, 2020.

Some references:

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/research/Documents/Shapiro-Participating-in-a-Case-Study.pdf

https://student.unsw.edu.au/writing-case-study-report-engineering

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1082474/Case_Study_Structure.pdf

http://www.streetofwalls.com/finance-training-courses/consulting-case-study-training/consulting-case-study-types/

https://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/_resources/pdfs/wss/casestudyanalysis.pdf

Writing a case study

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To develop an individual case study, you may refer to how case studies are written from the homework document (“MIS Cases.pdf”) (Attached). You may also refer to case studies at the end of the textbook chapters. Alternatively, you may refer to how Harvard Business Cases are written, by searching for them using Google. Although most of them might be behind pay wall (i.e. paid), you may be able to find some for free.

A case is a description of a management situation1. For your class project you are required to write a library case, (not a field case) based on published material in the public domain. A case should not illustrate the correct or incorrect handling of a situation, nor is there an editorial bias that implies a particular conclusion. Ideally, cases offer students experience in dealing with complex, realistic situations, with emphasis on decision-making.

According to Kardos and Smith (1979), a good case has the following features:

  1. It is taken from real life (true identities may be concealed). Although in our case, the focal business organization can be hypothetical.
  2. It consists of many parts and each part usually ends with problems and points for discussion. There may not be a clear cut off point to the situation.
  3. It includes enough information for the reader to treat problems and issues.
  4. It is believable for the reader (the case contains the setting, personalities, sequence of events, problems and conflicts)

The structure of your case study report may include the following elements:

 

  1. Introduction: Introduces the case, including the background
  2. Aims: Describes the purpose of the study and the specific questions you are trying to answer.
  3. Method: Explains how the study was carried out, e.g. what research methods did you use to collect data: interviews, observations, questionnaires, etc.? What were the circumstances of your data collection? In your case, the data collection will be either from published reports, articles or online resources.
  4. Results: Describes what you found through your investigations, e.g. the main themes that came out from articles or reports.
  5. Discussion: Explains the significance of the study and what can be learnt from it. Note that a case study is a study of a situation so you cannot generalize the results to all other situations. That means your discussion should focus on what can be learnt about that situation and the individuals involved.
  6. References: Your list of references citing articles, reports or any online resources.

The following can be the subject or focus of your case study: an organization or a project, an event or a time-period, a person or a group. For example, your case can be historical case study examining the collapse of a company and analyze what went wrong. An example of a case study focusing on a person is a case on Mark Hurd and why he was ousted from his previous employer (HP). You will find numerous articles on Mark Hurd and HP. He later joined Oracle as Co-CEO.

Alternatively, your case may focus on a business situation such as the following:

  • Profitability Optimization
  • Pricing Optimization
  • Industry Landscape & Competitor Dynamics
  • New Product or Project
  • Growth Plan/Strategy
  • Market Entry or Expansion
  • Merger/Acquisition/Joint Venture
  • Start-Up/Early-Stage Venture

The case written by you will be regarded as a real-life situation, while the study is the analysis of the case.