CASE DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

The goal of case discussion is to illustrate principles, provoke discussion, and facilitate learning.
This document aims at providing general guidelines that will help you during case discussion.

Case studies are designed to be close representations of reality; however, they differ from "real world"
situations in several respects. Please consider these caveats, when discussing. In a narrative case, information
is “pre-selected” and “pre- packaged” in written form. By contrast, managers accumulate relevant
information, together with (much) peripheral information, through different sources (such as meetings,
conversations, research studies, observations, news media reports, other externally published materials, and
rumors). Moreover, participants in class discussions are not responsible for implementing their decisions or
living with the consequences of those decisions. By contrast managers’ choices have a direct impact on their
career and life. You are expected to act, as much as possible, as a fully committed manager. Don’t be
frivolous when making recommendations in class!

There is no one "right" solution to any case - either in the classroom or the real world. Similarly, there is no
one way discussing a case report. Therefore, consider the following only as a suggestion.

STEPS TO DISCUSS THE CASE

1. Read individually the entire case to gain initial hints. During this phase you should ask
yourself.
o Who is involved in the case?
o What are their historical relationships?
o What is going on in the external environment?
o What is the nature of the industry?
2. Identify the issues at stake.
o What is the central problem?
o How did the problem arise?
o What factors are relevant to the problem?
o In which area is there negotiating room? What can you control and what can’t you control?
o Can any negative concerns be reframed positively?
3. Clarify facts as well as feelings.
o In your initial reading, some of the case's facts, elements or issues may not have seemed
very important. As you reflect on the case, are there items which have grown in importance
in your mind?
o What items need clarification? In order to process the case study, will you have to make
some assumptions about some key unstated facts?
o What feelings do you and others have after reading the case study?
4. Make assertions:
o What ought to be going on?
o To implement the most viable solution, what must be done and by whom?

OUTPUT

Class-discussion
All students are expected to read cases before class and be active in class.

During the discussion, the instructor will ask open question to trigger discussion and if needed he will
moderate inputs form the floor. Be respectful of other students. Limit your speech to relevant aspects to
avoid time waste!
The primary focus of the discussion is on “what, why and how” you recommend to solve the problem. The
instructor may involve students who are not actively participating in discussion.