Guidelines & Checklist for Case Analysis Papers 1 & 2

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Guidelines & Checklist for Case Analysis Papers 1 & 2

Overview: Writing a short analysis paper (including recommendations and/or

conclusions) is like writing an action memo or executive memo in business. The
following sections go over how to organize and format your written work here in
class and in the business world to be attractive to the reader and effective in
getting your point across.
Approach:
Read the entire case before you actually begin to write the paper, and make
notes (including your emotional reactions, which can be useful).
Relate your analysis and recommendations as specifically as possible to
concepts of the relevant class as presented by the cases, materials on the
course web site, articles, and the various guest
speakers and class discussions This is where you show what you have learned
and are able to apply.
Remember that you have to make careful selections of what is most important
in a case, and then develop a coherent, logical way (using separate titled
sections) to present your arguments based on the outline below.
Note that for your case analysis, you are sticking to the information and timeframe presented in the case and any additional materials about the company
that you have been assigned.
Format and Style:
You are expected to follow the requirements of good business writing and the
specific requirements of the course. Failure to follow these requirements (e.g.
papers over length, excessive misspellings, incorrect citations, etc.) will result in
papers being downgraded. Likewise, carefully follow Boston Universitys rules on
plagiarism, originality of content, and academic conduct.
Specific requirements
Follow the minimum and maximum word limits as listed in the
schedule for each assignment. Think about how to get your point across
concisely and effectively.

Papers must be in Word format (either .doc or .docx). Papers may not be in .pdf
or other non-Word formats.

Papers should be organized into paragraphs, written in complete sentences,

and broken into clearly titled sections per the outline below. See
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html and
http://www4.smsd.org/dianelampton/docs/Doc-112176.pdf for outlines of how
to write a great paragraph.

Use correct spelling and grammar. You should use a spell-checking program on
your computer, and proof-read your papers. If English is a second language for
you, ask a native speaker to check your writing and grammar for you.
Remember to set the language of Word to English (U.S.) through the Menu.
Also make sure you have unchecked the box Do not check spelling or
grammar.

Be sure to provide smooth transitions between sections, and dont repeat your
points.

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Double spacing is preferred.

Include your name, the course number, the paper topic, the date, and the page
number (e.g. page 1 of 2) in a footer at the bottom of each page.

Use citations correctly. If you choose to support your analysis with reference to
concepts in the various readings and/or textbook chapters in the course, or to
other cases, news articles, or materials, you should do so sparsely and
effectively, and in the correct APA format.

You must submit your paper via Blackboard by the day and time it is assigned.

Electronic filename: Make sure the filename of the document you upload has
your name or nickname, the course number and section number, and the case
name. (For example Jones-741-B1-HP.docx).You may abbreviate to make the
filename shorter, but your filename must include the basic identifying
information above especially your name.

Special Additional Requirements for Second Case Analysis on Dropbox:

For the second paper, you are expected to go well beyond analyzing the
Harvard Business School case. Use both the case and the recent news articles
on Blackboard about Dropboxs current strategic position, for analysis, AND
then for producing solid recommendations for the companys future product /
service strategy based on this analysis.
Keep your Introduction & Background section short, and then analyze a) how
Dropbox was originally created and improved (relatively briefly), and b) analyze
its current situation (relatively more in depth), including the fundamental
problems it faces.
Then come up with thoughtful effective detailed recommendations (that follow
from your analysis) as to what Dropbox should do now (not the time of the
Harvard case, but now including the recent articles you have been provided).
In both your analysis and your resulting recommendations, please first use
concepts from this particular class (business models and learn startup
methodology), and then as needed, other concepts from previous classes that
can help you to go further. For example, in addition to business models and
learn startup concepts, you may want to consider such concepts /
frameworks / factors as the shifting basis of competition, the changing
dynamics of the industry and related technologies and markets and how this
affects both opportunities and threats, the characteristics of good user
experience, the Product Exploration Space, including The Jobs Done
paradigm, What was your product hired for, and the use of third party
relationships and content to add value and reach.
Generally speaking, avoid the generic strategy tools from the beginning of the
course such as SWOT, Porters 5 Forces, or PESTEL, and use the innovation
specific concepts from the rest of the course, unless using these generic tools
adds something truly significant and actionable to your analysis, rather than
just listing what we already know. We and clients universally - dont like
papers or slide presentations that list what we already know, e.g. four boring
charts of strengths, weakness, threats, and opportunities, and waste
valuable time and space.
Note that although we expect you to have strong opinions, these opinions
should be supported with facts or details from the case or articles.

Guidelines & Checklist for Case Analysis Papers 1 & 2

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Hint: How can you use the big ideas from the article Its Official! The End Of
Competitive Advantage (introduced earlier in course, see Class 2 folder) to
inspire and justify your recommendations? As that article emphasizes, dont be
afraid to be bold, in fact the author emphasizes that you must be bold in order
to survive (and willing to find both new opportunity areas and new business
models.
If you add a short Conclusions section, make sure it tells us what is important
to learn from the story of Dropbox.

Analysis Paper Checklist:

After writing a draft of your paper, use this check-list to help you make sure you
have followed the main guidelines and formatting instructions.
Format and Style
Does my paper have a title?
Is the paper broken up into clear sections, each with section titles or headings,
and well-organized paragraph
Is there a footer on each page with: my name, course number, paper topic, date,
and page number?
Did I stay within the minimum and maximum word limits for the assignment as
listed in the schedule?
Is the text double-spaced?
Did I format my citations correctly using APA style? (See Guidance document on
BB)
Did I use spell-check to catch any spelling or grammatical errors?
Are all my sentences complete?
Did I read my paper through to make sure it flows well and that I did not repeat
my points?
Is my paper in the right computer format (Word.doc or .docx)? Did I name my file
correctly? (FirstName/Nickname-Course#-YourSection#-Name-of-case, for
example Fred-741-B1-HP.docx)
Content
Is there a brief Background or Introduction section?
Do my Analysis sections cover at least 1/3 of the paper?
Does my Recommendation section cover at least 1/3 of the paper? Are my
recommendations specific and actionable, rather than vague?
Did I use the relevant course concepts from the week explicitly and correctly in
my analysis and recommendation sections?

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Did I use generic strategy frameworks such as SWOT or Five Force Analysis,
instead of more relevant frameworks? (Try to avoid making lists that add little)

Does my paper have a brief Conclusions or Final Thoughts section? (optional)

Did I avoid all forms of plagiarism, lack of originality (including taking language
or unattributed content from elsewhere), and violation of the academic conduct
rules of Boston University?
Did I back up my statements where appropriate with facts and details from the
case?
(Dropbox paper only) Did I also use the news articles provided on our course
website to inform my analysis of its current situation, as well as my
recommendations for what Dropbox should do next?

More Tips for Writing Good Papers (some dos and donts).
Do not make recommendations inappropriate to the time, e.g. you should not
be recommending that a company portrayed in a case set in 1992 pay more
attention to its social media efforts.

Section titles can be simple, mild, and descriptive such as Intro, Analysis
or Recs, or normative, bold, or humorous to best reflect your own writing
style, to make things more personal, and also to signal your thinking to the
reader.

Demonstrate that you understand the organization and the situation, its
product/business strategy, business/revenue model and the bets it was
making in its strategy, as well as the problems, issues and decisions facing the
organization or the manager who is the focus of the case, and (later in the
paper) what you would do to address these challenges.

Thoughtfully analyze; dont just repeat what management sees as its

strengths and the virtues of its strategies feel free to question
managements spin. However use polite professional language in your
challenge to managements thinking, just as a hired consultant would.

You may briefly quote from the case or your readings (see the actual
assignment in schedule), but do not quote without attribution! Remember,
Boston University is strict about plagiarism.

Think before you recommend. Your recommendations must deal aggressively

with the companys situation, including its biggest problems, yet still be
practical. You must demonstrate that your recommendations take sufficient
control of the companys fate, and are not just wishful thinking (or accepting
managements wishful thinking). Approach the case as a real situation and
make your answers realistic. Always be asking yourself If this was my own or
my familys money at stake, would I run the business this way?

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Papers should be specific and show the basis of your thinking. If you make
general statements like there is a large market for his proposed service or
negative statements about a company or a strategy, they must be backed up
with data from the case, or reasons for your interpretation?

For any proposed recommendation or changes, show how you will do this in a
risk minimizing way, for example by indicating how you might pre-test your
new approach without jeopardizing the whole company if the approach is
wrong. Do not take the easy way out by recommending the company hire a
consultant, a CEO, or a Finance Officer/ fundraiser, or I recommend that a
study be done to decide a strategy for the company., instead of making
specific suggestions. Solve the problem yourself!