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The Case Study Method

The assignment is designed to help you develop your skills in Case Study Method. You cannot be passive in a

case study and just regurgitate a summary. You need to make sure that you demonstrate that you understand the

situation and have done an analysis, that you have utilized the concepts and theories, and you can find solutions

based off your analysis and theory.

The purpose of the case study is to develop and exercise one$$s own business skills and judgement. It takes

practice. Good business judgement is valuable and learning a way of thinking about business situations is

something that you can carry from one job to the next.

This case has many right answers and many wrong answers. To provide a correct answer requires analysis of

the case. Use the provided a step by step framework of analysis for this case. Good execution leads to a good

learning experience. Most often what you learn depends on how the case study is approached. To gain the

maximum effect you need to:

$1.$ Read the case. Read the case the right way. The first few paragraphs usually set the problem or the context

of the problem. Don$$t take notes or highlight, instead just read it for a story. The second time you dig for the

details.

$2.$ Understand the case situation. Develop your awareness. With a sense of the story read again for the

details of situation. Highlight and make notes in your second reading or third $($ I provide a framework to help

guide you for case$).$ Now as you encounter the details, you need to organize them in some way. Some people

make tables and others pictures. $1$Link the details necessary to understand the issue$($s$).$ Project yourself into the

position of the decision makers $($this is the empathy part of emotional intelligence so necessary to being

successful$).$ Make sure you understand the actors $($firm$($s$)$ and individual$($s$))$ and their goals. You will also

need to understand some elements of the business. What are the firm$$s functional policies in marketing, Sales,

HR or Finance? How well has the firm or manager historically and currently performed? Broaden your

awareness of the issues from many perspectives. Awareness is an important attribute of a successful manager.

$3.$ Define the problem. A common mistake is identifying the outcome$/$symptom as the problem. Examples of

this mistake are stating $$The problem is the company is not profitable$$ or $$ The problem is the company is

experiencing high turnover$$ or $$individual is not performing their job.$$ These statements are outcomes of some

problems$/$issues facing a firm or manager. Don$$t focus on narrowly defining the problem rather look at the

broader influence on the problem. Define the problem and in the process, validate the problem suggested by the

protagonist in the case. Sometimes the protagonist has it all wrong.

$4.$ Analysis. Use the terms and the concepts from the book in describing and analysis. Understand the

theories which are applicable to the case. How do these theories$/$concepts apply and what do they do to help

you understand the data, situation, or people? Theories can also help you in determining what the solutions

are for the problem.

$5.$ Recommendation. You will need to make a stand and provide a resolution or solution to the problem. First

create a solution set. Too many times students determine from the first reading what the solution is and they

craft their analysis and argument around that solution. Shorted sighted and narrow of focus will be the

comments. $$If all you see is a hammer than all you do is get nails and hammer.$$ To avoid this common

mistake, list the options $-$ at least five to seven. One option is always $$do nothing.$$ Some of the options should

be mutually exclusive, some can be done together. Whether these options can be mixed may be constrained by

cost$,$ ability, and time. After making a list of options you should then look at the pros and cons, outcomes, and

your assumptions. Sometimes you have to state your assumptions for example $$We $($Avon$)$ believe that by

moving into India the brand will translate, we assume this translation because we pushed the brand into

Indonesia successfully.$$ Assumptions are based off some facts in the case. When considering which option

remember to look at how it impacts on the actors in the case. Sometime contrasting two options helps reinforce

$1$ I do both. I find that tables help with blocks of information, where as pictures help with relationships and process understanding.

EG$.$ Individual A works with Individual B$,$ and Individual C$,$ but individual B and C do not know each other. However Individual D

works with C and A$,$ but not B$.$

the solution. One general suggestion is take a moment to think outside the box. Play devil$$s advocate and use

the question $-$what actions would make a worse outcome?$$

Managers are creative problem solvers. Businesses value that ability and expect someone with business degree

to be able to make decision and