HOW TO SOLVE CASE STUDIES ?

SOLVING A CASE STUDY The most difficult part of solving a case study is to understand the case. The student can solve the case only when he clearly grasps what is given in the narrative of the case and what is being asked. This requires: Reading the narrative thoroughly with all the concentration you can command. Mind is reported to work in short bursts of intense activity. Try and use these mind-bursts to understand what is given in the case either explicitly or by implication. You should understand the environment in which the case is set. Get a clear idea of what you are required to do. Re-read the narrative and underline key works/phrases in the case, which have a bearing on the solution expected from you. Re-read what is being asked. Understand that clearly. It is desirable to write the requirements in your own words at the beginning of the solution. This may also be used to select a suitable heading for the case study solution, if the same is not given in the narrative. There is a need to identify the boundary limits of the case. These constitute the constraints under which a case has to be solved. Boundary limits could be geographical boundaries, age brackets, income groups, or educational qualifications, etc. The boundary limits may be given directly or indirectly through adequate hints included in the narrative to enable the student to assume the boundary limits. However, state the boundary conditions in your own words, for the sake of clarity in the answer. Give a brief (maximum one to two lines) explanation for fixing the boundary limits if these are not given clearly in the narrative. You may discover some gaps in the information or some vital data may have been not given clearly. Some data may be capable of more than one interpretation. Even in everyday situations, a manager would rarely have complete and clear data available to him. Make suitable assumptions under these circumstances to fill up the gaps. The assumptions should not contradict the facts given in the narrative directly or indirectly. The assumptions should be such that an ordinary person may be expected to make these in the environment in which the case is set. Write down the assumptions clearly and give brief reasons for making each assumption. You should now have reached a stage in solving the case study that would have ensured the availability of all the needed data. A clear understanding of the questions required to be answered and the boundary limits of the case should be understood. You should now apply your mind to find the solution. Managerial cases have a number of different ways of tackling the problem. Select 2 -3 better solutions out of the possibilities that come to your mind. The next step is to arrange the solutions evolved in an order of merit. This can be done by critically examining each solution beginning with what appears to be the worst solution. List advantages/merits and disadvantages/demerits of each solution. Normally, the following things should happen: As we proceed from what we considered as the worst solution towards what appeared to be the best solution, the number of merits/advantages of each succeeding solution should

increase. It should be appreciated that even the best solution, which was planned to come up last, will have some demerits/disadvantages, though the advantages/merits will be many more. No attempt need be made to somehow reduce the demerits/disadvantages of the last solution to zero Number of merits and demerits may be important, but the crucial consideration must be the impact a merit of a demerit will have for attaining the objective. Even a single merit may lead to a possible solution being abandoned. Each solution should be described and thereafter analyzed to determine its merits and demerits. These should be clearly and briefly listed. Evaluation of the possible solutions should lead to the selection of the best solution. This should be done after discussing the merits and demerits of each solution developed earlier. The finally selected best solution should be clearly stated, thereafter. You would have applied some concepts studied by you at the Business School for developing the various alternate solutions and determining the best solution. The selected solution has to be implemented. This required breaking down the selected solution into step / actions to be taken to implement the selected solution. These steps should be listed logically. A case study may call for answers to only a few questions rather than evolving a total solution. This could be achieved by abridging steps listed earlier and concentrating on the aspects of the problem proposed to be covered by the questions given in the case study. It is a good idea to introduce a feedback system into the solution and implementation plan. The feedback system should, if possible, suggest corrections or changes that should be made if certain contingencies occur. In any case, the feedback system should suggest, specific points in the solution where the implementation should be monitored/measured. This is to ensure that the solution is proceeding on the planned lines. Mid-course corrections should be applied if there is variation between the planned and achieved/monitored results. The final step is to conclude the solution. This should consist of summarizing what the case study required and how this has been optimally achieved through the proposed solution