Guidelines for Case Study Analyses

Guidelines for Case Study Analyses

What is a case?

A case presents a set of facts about a management situation.  Typically, there is some problem or opportunity faced by the organization, and a decision needs to be made about the appropriate course of action. Cases place the student at the scene of the action with the expectation that a well-reasoned solution will be developed.  Cases are based on real business events that have taken place.

The primary purpose of a case is to provide a situation by which analysis and judgment can be applied and used in later discussion.  A secondary purpose is to show students how businesses actually conduct their affairs. The case analysis process allows students to develop insight into managerial problems, create student confidence in dealing with managerial problems, and improve skills in oral and written communication. The cases assigned for this course should contribute to a better understanding of global strategy and decision making.

Getting Started

When picking up a case for the first time, read the case quickly.  In skimming the case, ask yourself: What are the key facts in the case?  What kinds of questions is the professor asking?  One of the most important objectives of this quick reading is to get a sense of who is the case protagonist and what is the situation that he or she faces.  

The next step is to reread the case carefully.  This process involves underlining or highlighting important sentences, making notes in the margin, indicating points that you would like to probe further, and noting key omissions.

You should pay careful attention to the discussion questions provided by your instructor and be prepared to discuss them in class.  The issues raised and the quantitative analyses discussed must also be incorporated into your written case analyses.

Identifying Underlying Issues or Problems

The most important part of the case reading is to identify the underlying issues or problems.  Is this case about product development, or is product development, while an important issue, symptomatic of some deeper issue needing examination and resolution.  What are the causes or symptoms of the underlying problems?  At this stage, careful examination of the exhibits and data provided in the case often reveals key information.  If a careful analysis reveals that a flawed strategy or a failure to properly analyze the environment is the key problem, support your diagnosis with reasons and evidence.  Why have you identified these issues as crucial for understanding the problems faced by the organization?  

Developing and Evaluating Strategic Alternatives

Given an understanding of the key issues, develop two or more realistic courses of action.  At this stage, the information presented in the case should be examined carefully, data should be analyzed thoughtfully, and evaluation of alternative courses of action should be explored thoroughly.

Recommendations and Implementation

You should clearly articulate action recommendations related to the strategic options the organization should follow. Discuss specific steps the company should follow to implement your recommended alternative.  Briefly mention any special concerns about timing, resources, sequencing, coordination, and assignment of responsibility.

Avoiding Key Pitfalls

1.        Do not rush to a conclusion and overlook important case information.

2.        Do not manipulate ("crunch") numbers until you fully understand their meaning. It is better to focus your financial analyses as they apply to specific strategic alternatives.

3.        Do not disagree with the facts.  Feel free to question the judgments of some people portrayed and quoted in the case.

4.        Do not indicate that there is insufficient data to make a decision.  Managers are often called on to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty.  Case problems are no different.  So rather than plead inadequate information, make a reasonable assumption and state it clearly and explicitly.