Guidelines for Final Project:

Case Analysis Report and Presentation

Strategic Management (MGT 470)
Summer 2 2018

Produce a written report analyzing a company’s alternative strategies to 6

CLO4
position itself or its products in the market.

Type: Group Project

You will prepare a strategic analysis of an existing company as part of a group. You will apply
the concepts, analytical tools and frameworks of this course to analyze the firm’s external and
internal environments, identify its strategic options, and present a set of recommendations to
maximize the firm’s long-term performance.

Final Presentation
Your final presentation allows each team to report their analysis and recommendations to the
class. The exact presentation date and time for each team will be assigned by a random drawing.
Each presentation is followed by questions.

Following is the guidelines for the course project written report. Your presentation will be based
on the report; however, it will emphasize the analysis and recommendation more than the other
parts.

Some practical advice (also refer to other tips at the end of this note):

 Focus on a particular duration. For example, period between 95-2005 or challenges firm
facing at the end of 2005/ or, say, 2009.
 Focus on some major specific aspects/decisions/challenges associated with erosion of
competitive advantage, inability to catch up with the leading competitors, growth
challenges etc. Please do not include all that come across.
 For multinational focus on a single big country or a regional block such as GCC etc. For
example Toyota in India.
 Please do not hesitate in asking me for help with your specific questions.
 Good luck with the course Project.

While preparing this note I have liberally borrowed from a note prepared by Professor Melissa Schilling, Stern
School of Business, NYU.
 Case Title (18 pt. font)

Interesting Heading

Introduce the company and set the stage: Why is this interesting story? What are some
of the pressing issues for the company or key decisions to be made? Here’s where you give your
opening story, often introducing the key people, key issues, and anything else you think is
important to introduce your case and draw in your reader.

Interesting Company’s History

When, why, and by whom was this company founded? What were some of the key
turning points in the company’s evolution, particularly during the period your are focusing on?
Sometimes a timeline in an exhibit is nice, but don’t use a timeline instead of telling an
interesting story. Every exhibit must have a reference to it, and it must indicate a source (see
Exhibit 1).

The [your product] Industry

What is the key business or product of interest for the case? Describe it. Reference all of
your sources in appropriate bibliographic form, using footnotes. If it would be interesting, put a
picture of the product in an exhibit and refer to the exhibit here (see Exhibit 2). (Note, your
exhibits must be in the same order that they are referred to in the text!).

The [your product] Market

Describe the target market for the product, and what customers look for in this product
(or the products anticipated benefits). Give as much sales data as possible (e.g., current demand,
estimated demand, etc.). Graphs in an exhibit are nice here.

Suppliers
What are the necessary supplies? Are any suppliers particularly important? If so,
describe them.

Competitors
What is competition like in this market? Describe a few key competitors in detail (with
some financials in exhibits if possible), and how they are different from one another and from
your company.
[Competitor #1]. When was the competitor founded, by whom, and where. What are
some of the distinguishing characteristics of this competitor (size, breadth, etc.). How is this
competitor different from your company? Etc. If possible, please provide financials in an exhibit.
[Competitor #2]. When was the competitor founded, by whom, and where. What are
some of the distinguishing characteristics of this competitor (size, breadth, etc.). How is this
competitor different from your company? Etc. If possible, please provide financials in an exhibit.

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 [Competitor #3]. When was the competitor founded, by whom, and where. What are
some of the distinguishing characteristics of this competitor (size, breadth, etc.). How is this
competitor different from your company? Etc. If possible, please provide financials in an exhibit.

The Current & Future Challenges

Most good cases emphasize/summarize where the company is headed or what the key
decisions are to be made. You can also mention them as specific questions.

Case Analysis

You can either: i) Organize this as a typical case analysis (refer to the bullet points below) and
then answer the challenges mentioned above at the end, or ii) you can do your complete
analysis, and then find a way to break it up into pieces that would fit under the questions
corresponding to the challenges. One way or another, you need to make sure you do a complete
analysis. A typical strategic case analysis includes:
 external analysis of industry and macro-environmental factors
 internal analysis of strengths and weaknesses, including identification of sources of
sustainable competitive advantage and financial ratios when appropriate
 business-level strategy, including overall positioning, and how this is supported through
functional-level strategies such as marketing strategies, manufacturing strategies, etc.
 corporate-level strategy when appropriate, including analysis of what businesses the
firm is in, how it entered them (e.g., Joint venture? Acquisition? Internal development?),
and whether these were good choices
 analysis of structure and controls if appropriate
 analysis of special topics such as international expansion, new product development
ventures, etc.
 Recommendations (duly supported by facts and analysis) that address all key issues

If you decide to break your analysis up and do it in the response to the questions, it is a little
trickier, but can end up being more exciting. Just make sure you haven’t left any part of the
analysis out! (You may be forced to add a “key issue” like “How attractive is the industry
overall?”or “how is the company positioned?” just to make sure you have an opportunity to do
all of the analysis components.)

If you used any figures or tables (for instance, strengths & weaknesses, pros/cons, or a proposed
organization chart) in your analysis, you can group them at the end in exhibits. Make sure that
your analysis does not include information that is not in the case.

Update

Make sure you provide an update to the case, if your case ended in the past.

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Exhibit (s) 1:
Nice exhibits to include: timeline, financials (income statement and balance sheet), comparative
market numbers (such as market share pie charts, etc.), any interesting and relevant
advertisements the firm has used or product descriptions, comparative financials for competitors,
etc.
[This template is to guide you about components you need to include, and provides your
formatting. You don’t, however, have to use this exact order of topics or organization, and you
should come up with your own interesting headings. You can use other cases that you have read
as models for your case. Look at how the case authors divided up their sections, and the types of
headings and subheadings they use. Look at what types of material they have included (and
what types they haven’t included). This is not an exact template of what your case will look like,
because each case has unique issues and therefore will have a unique organization. This template
is to provide formatting, and should serve only as a guideline for your content.]

Tips:
These are the minimum elements; you may decide that your case needs other features as well.

 Shoot for 8-10 pages (8 as a minimum and 10 as a maximum) with double spacing, 12
pts.
 Times New Roman, not including exhibits. Exhibits will be placed in an appendix.
 Presentations will be 25-30 minutes long.
 Use interesting headings and subheadings that clearly communicate what each section is
about
 Make sure all exhibits are referenced in the text.
 Make sure you use a minimum of 3 references and you cite all of your sources.

Criteria for evaluating your presentation will include:

Content, ability to present the material clearly, use the appropriate visual aids for presentation,
following the allotted time frame for your presentation and most importantly your ability to
answer questions.

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 Assessment Rubric – Oral Presentation

Student Name: ________________________________ ID Number: __________

Formal Oral Presentation Scoring Rubric (Scaled down to 10%) Pts.

Points/ Basic Below Basic 0 Earned
Advanced Proficient
Proficiency
Content Topic well developed; Topic adequately Topic somewhat
Topic limited in Presentation not ….. Points
/2 introduction draws developed; developed;
development; conducted
the audience into the introduction is introduction does
weak introduction
presentation; body of clear and not create a
lacking in
advanced knowledge coherent; body strong sense of
structure, does not
shows extensive shows what is to follow;
create a strong
preparation; preparation with body may have
sense of what is to
effectively supported inclusion of few supporting
follow; body may
by relevant examples supporting details, or may be
have few
or data; conclusion materials an overly detailed or
supporting details,
summarizes key advanced incomplete;
lack of advanced
points. Critics well knowledge; conclusion
knowledge;
addressed conclusion generates little
conclusion lacks
generated some analysis of key
analysis. No critics
analysis of key points; Critics
points. Critics poorly addressed
somehow
addressed
Organization well-structured; adequately somewhat
lacks structure; Presentation not ….. Points
/2 material focused structured; structured;
speaker provides conducted
and ordered to material ordered material is
little or no focus or
make a unified to make a general thematic, but
order to the
point or effect point or effect point unclear
material
Ability to addresses questions adequately somewhat able to
limited ability to Presentation not ….. Points
respond to carefully and addresses appropriately
appropriately conducted
questions asked thoroughly, questions address questions
address questions
by instructor integrating evidence
during the and additional
presentation information in
/3 responses
Delivery and Voice, facial Voice, facial Voice, facial
Voice, facial Presentation not ….. Points
language expression, body expression, body expression, body
expression, body conducted
/2 movements effectively movements movements
movements
and consistently engage listeners sometimes
ineffective in
engage listeners and and supports engage listeners
engaging listeners
supports important important points or supports
or supporting
points of presentation most of the time important points
important points
Word choices clearly Word choices Word choices Word choices fail
demonstrate an demonstrate an indicate an to reflect an
awareness of the awareness of the awareness of the awareness of the
listeners; language is listeners; listeners; listeners, because
deliberately chosen to language is although the either the
aid the listeners’ consistent and vocabulary is vocabulary of the
understanding and is seems generally appropriate, the reference to the
appropriate for age, appropriate to the language seems listeners is

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 education, and listener’s chosen more for
inconsistent or
background understanding of the speakers
inappropriate
knowledge of the the subject convenience than
listeners the listeners’
understanding
Visual Materials visual materials are visual materials visual materials
visual materials Presentation not ….. Points
/1 attractive; excellent in neat and basic; somewhat
lack polish; do not conducted
supporting and organized; support points in
support points in
enhancing the adequately the presentation
the presentation
presentation support
presentation
Total Points (10
possible) Equal
to 10% of the
total Marks

Group Case Analysis Grading Rubric

Student Name: ___________________________________ ID Number:
_________________
Undergraduate Percentage Scale: 0.00 – 57.49% 57.50 – 76.24% 76.25 - 93.74% 93.75 - 100%
Undergraduate Scaled Score: 0.0 – 0.6 0.7 – 2.1 2.2 - 3.5 3.6 - 4.0
% Below Standard Approaching At Standard Exceeds
Standard Standard
Clear explanation of key strategic issues 20 Shows little Shows some Shows Shows superior
• The problems, scope, and seriousness was % understanding understanding adequate knowledge of
clearly identified in the discussions. of the issues, of the issues, knowledge of the issues, key
• There was a well focused diagnosis of key problems, key problems, the issues, key problems, and
strategic issues and key problems that and the and the problems, and the company’s
demonstrated a good grasp of the company’s company’s the company’s present
company’s present situation and strategic present present present situation and
issues. situation and situation and situation and strategic issues.
• Effective Executive Summary strategic issues. strategic issues. strategic issues. Effective
• Did not waste space summarizing Executive Executive Executive Executive
information already found in the case. summary summary summary Summary
missing or inadequate adequate
poorly
constructed
Appropriate analysis, evaluation, synthesis 30 Analysis of key Analysis of key Analysis of key Analysis of key
for the specific industry identified and % change drivers change drivers change drivers change drivers
specific questions asked by the instructor and the and the and the and the
 There was complete data on which to base underlying underlying the underlying the underlying the
a thorough analysis issues issues were not issues were issues were
 Key change drivers underlying the issues inadequate. identified. partially clearly
were identified. identified identified
 Synthesis, analysis, and evaluations were
clearly presented and supported in a
literate and effective manner.

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Conclusions and recommendations are 20 Effective Effective Effective Effective
congruent with strategic analysis % recommendatio recommendatio recommendatio recommendatio
 Specific recommendations and/or plans of ns and/or plans ns and/or plans ns and/or plans ns, solutions,
action provided. of action not of action of action were and/or plans of
 Specific data or facts were referred to provided. inadequate. partially action were
when necessary to support the analysis Specific data or Specific data or provided. provided.
and conclusions. facts necessary facts were not Specific data or Specific data or
 Recommendations and conclusions were to support the referred when facts were facts were
presented and supported in a literate and analysis and necessary to occasionally referred when
effective manner. conclusions was support the referred when necessary to
not provided. analysis and necessary to support the
conclusions. support the analysis and
analysis and conclusions.
conclusions.
Proper organization, professional writing, 30 Key points were Key points were Key points were Key points were
and logical flow of analysis. APA formatting, % poorly not identified partially clearly
and following guidelines identified and and supported identified and identified and
 Logically organized, key points, key supported with with a well supported with supported with
arguments, and important criteria for a well thought thought out a well thought a well thought
evaluating the business logic easily out rationale rationale based out rationale out rationale
identified. based on on applying based on based on
 Key points were supported with a well applying specific applying applying
thought out rationale based on applying specific concepts or specific specific
specific concepts or analytical frameworks concepts or analytical concepts or concepts or
to the data provided in the case. analytical frameworks to analytical analytical
 Proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, 3rd frameworks to the data frameworks to frameworks to
person objective view, professional writing, the data provided in the the data the data
and syntax. provided in the case. provided in the provided in the
case. Grammar, case. case.
Grammar, spelling, Adequate Excellent
spelling, punctuation, grammar, grammar,
punctuation, professional spelling, spelling,
professional writing, and punctuation, punctuation,
writing, and syntax needs professional professional
syntax needs improvement writing, and writing, and
significant syntax syntax
improvement

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