GUIDE TO CASE ANALYSIS
Preparing a Written Case Analysis:
Preparing a written case analysis is much like preparing a case for class discussion, except that your analysis must be more complete and put in report form. Unfortunately, though, there is no ironclad procedure for doing a written case analysis. All we can offer are some general guidelines and words of wisdomthis is because company situations and management problems are so diverse that no one mechanical way to approach a written case assignment always works.
Your instructor may assign you a specific topic around which to prepare your written report. Or, alternatively, you may be asked to do a comprehensive written case analysis, where the expectation is that you will (1) identify all the pertinent issues that management needs to address, (2) perform whatever analysis and evaluation is appropriate, and (3) propose an action plan and set of recommendations addressing the issues you have identified. In going through the exercise of identify, evaluate, and recommend, keep the following pointers in mind.For some additional ideas and viewpoints, you may wish to consult Thomas J. Raymond, "Written Analysis of Cases," in The Case Method at the Harvard Business School, ed. M. P. McNair, pp. 13963. Raymond's article includes an actual case, a sample analysis of the case, and a sample of a student's written report on the case.
1. Identification
It is essential early on in your paper that you provide a sharply focused diagnosis of strategic issues and key problems and that you demonstrate a good grasp of the company's present situation. Make sure you can identify the firm's strategy (use the concepts and tools in Chapters 18 as diagnostic aids) and that you can pinpoint whatever strategy implementatio ...