Guidelines for Doing Case Studies

Learning from Cases

What are cases What are the learning benefits for you How do you prepare a case What happens in class

Examiner expectations for case assessments

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What are Cases

Case study = actual business situation of what a firm has done in the past. It is a description of events for enquiry think of the case writer as a reporter Your task is to assess not what the case says but what it means Put yourself in the role of the managers

Objectives: What are you going to do with the Information?

Interpret the situation by application of: - analytical frameworks and tools e.g. five forces model, value chain analysis - concepts and arguments from leading authors Evaluate the findings of your analysis to reach judgements on: - managements past actions - alternative actions that could have been taken - what actions should be taken in the future.
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Benefits of Doing Cases

Analysis and evaluation supported with case evidence improves your: problem solving skills thinking and reasoning skills to build and defend your arguments

Benefits of Doing Cases

Cases are real life situations not quite learning by doing but close, enables you: appraise real business problems extend your knowledge and experience to a range of organisations which vary by industry and national origins collectively learn from other participants in working in groups

How to you Prepare a Case

Allow plenty of time! Read the case at least twice - once quickly to gain overview - second time requires notes and pre-analysis pointers Identify the main strategic issues Identify the tools, concepts and writers you will draw upon to support your analysis Perform the case analysis
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Effective Preparation
Exploit opportunities to use analytical tools, concepts and author ideas to explain what is happening in the case Do not overlook exhibits or financial information is there a story in the data or figures/diagrams?

Do not research the company after the end date of the case only use the information in the case to support your analysis
Be careful about making assumptions if they are logical and relevant then state what they are as you build your analysis If appropriate bring in knowledge from other areas of the course to assist your evaluation
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Effective Preparation
Adopt a problem solving approach:
Recognise problems Analyse causes Generate alternative solutions Evaluate alternatives/select appropriate actions Reach a conclusion/implementation actions

What Happens in Class

Come to tutorial classes having prepared the case and addressed the questions (with notes)
The tutor may form you into groups to discuss your individual contributions and reach a group view on the questions Tutorials help you to apply your knowledge and enhance your analytical skills, important for your coursework assessment.

Presenting your Coursework Assessment

Read the guidelines in section 6 of your Study Guide and answer the questions Structure with introduction, analysis organised into sub-sections which match the parts of the answer Comply with word limit. Use appendices if necessary for supporting information as they do not form part of the word count Referencing: use a recognised system preferably Harvard. Unlikely to be extensive but should acknowledge the sources of frameworks, concepts and ideas used to analyse the case information. Quoted case information should be referenced.
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Presenting your Assessment

Be specific rather than general. Apply the concepts and frameworks to analyse the case evidence. Use evidence from the case study to illustrate a point you are making.

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Coursework Assessment: Examiners Expectations

Assessment = application, analysis and evaluation of the case rather than a conceptual discussion Essential that your analysis is driven by the academic grounding covered on the module. Be careful not to reassemble case information without analysis and evaluation. Case information must be used as evidence to support analysis. Integrate analyses and develop arguments to reach conclusions.
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Final Comments
In case studies you demonstrate how to apply knowledge in order to analyse and evaluate business situations and recommend solutions.

Case studies are interesting and fun!!! but only if you prepare them in advance.

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