In case study, TRUST THE ALGORITHM

OR YOUR GUT?

A VP DECIDES WHICH CANDIDATE

TO PROMOTE. BY JEFFREY T$.$ POLZER

JEFFREY T$.$ POLZER is the

UPS Foundation

Professor of Human

Resource Management

in the organizational

behavior unit at Harvard

Business School.

HBR$$s fictionalized case

studies present problems

faced by leaders in real

companies and offer

solutions from experts.

This one is based on the

HBS Case Study $$Susan

Cassidy at Bertram Gilman

International$($case no$.$

$417-053),$ by Jeffrey T$.$ Polzer. Write the following$-$

Description of the case situation. Identify key issues, people, and conditions in the case.

Also, consider any constraints or demands imposed by the situation or environment.

This component will set the context for your case analysis and should be completely

objective $($facts only$).$ The description of the case situation should comprise a SMALL

portion of the overall case analysis. I recommend no more than $45$ sentences on this

section.

$2.$ Diagnosis of the problem and application of course concepts. Begin this section with a

clear statement of what you see as the focal problem in the case. Often a case will

embed problems within a broad context of many other problems. Diagnose what is

causing$/$contributing to the problem using information from the case and key concepts

from the text $($and$,$ possibly, application readings$)$ in an appropriate way.

In your application, it is critical to show that you specifically understand the course

concept you are applying. For example, do not simply say $$leadership is a problem at

XYZ company.$$ Based on your learnings from the text, videos and other readings, what

specific leadership concepts are relevant?

In addition, try to differentiate symptoms from underlying causes. Consider the problem

from the multiple viewpoints of the relevant stakeholders. This component should

comprise a LARGE portion of the case analysis.

$3.$ Generation and analysis of recommended course of action. Discuss a recommended

course of action, again integrating information from the case and applying key concepts

from the text $($and$,$ possibly, application readings$).$ Consider the possible solution from

multiple viewpoints. Provide a detailed description of the course of action that you would

recommend. Your course of action should follow logically from your diagnosis of the

problem. Provide a rationale for your course of action and discuss its potential impact$$

both intended and unintended. This component should comprise a MODERATE portion

of the case analysis.