Writing Case Analysis

7/24/2019 Writing Case Analysis

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Writing a Case Analysis



What is a case?

A case is a scenario that gives you theopportunity to identify problems,apply theory and recommend acourse of action in a businesssituation.

The case may be real or fctional, but

will usually represent a complexsituation with no ready solutions.



Case Analyses

Case analyses assess:

• how you thin

•

how you structure problems• your ability to conceptualise, draw

clarity from ambiguity, form

views, and

makerecommendations.



What is your role as ananalyst?

!n analysing a case your tas is to

• identi"y the problem#s$ in thesituation presented in the scenario

• analyse the ey issues within thecontext o" theory%ies presented inyour course

• develop and compare alternativesolutions to the problems



• consider the advantages anddisadvantages o" various possiblesolutions

• select the best solution and maerecommendations "or action

• write up your case analysis inappropriate case analysis report"ormat.



Why are you ased to writecase analyses?• To enable you to demonstrate that

you can apply conceptual"ramewors to real situations and

integrate topics in your analysis.

• Case analyses also enable you toimprove your critical thining and

analytical abilities, your ability toevaluate sources o" in"ormation andyour written communication sills.



&tages in preparing a case analysis?

These are:

• understanding the case

• identi"ying the core problem in the case

• analysing the issues in the context o" atheoretical "ramewor

• exploring alternative solutions with

re"erence to a theoretical "ramewor• choosing the best solution

• maing recommendations "or action.



What do you need to do to

understand the situation?

'our frst tas is to understand thescenario you are given. When you readthe scenario you should identi"y the

"acts o" the case.

As you are reading you will also needto fll in gaps based on your nowledge

o" theory and o" the world and ignoreirrelevant details.



The "ollowing (uestions can guide youin doing this.

• What is the mission o" theorganisation?

• Who are the )staeholders) withinthe organisation?

• Who are the )staeholders) or targetgroups outside the organisation?



• What is the "ormal decision maingprocess in the organisation?

• What are the in"ormal decisionmaing processes in theorganisation?

• What is the process o" production orservice delivery?



• Who are the competitors?

• What external "actors impact on theorganisation?

• What is the ma*or problem?

• What are subse(uent problems andimplications?



• What is the role o" management inrelation to the problem?

• What is the role o" production%serviceproviders in relation to the problem?



What are the steps in identi"ying thecore problems?

As you identi"y the "acts o" the case you willbegin to thin about the problems and to decidewhich problems are core problems. !n doing this

you will need to• distinguish between symptoms o" the ma*or

problems and the ma*or problems themselves

• distinguish between immediate and longer

term problems• fnd evidence to support your decision about

what you believe to be the core problems.



What are the steps in analysing the

issues?

As you identi"y the core problem#s$ you willbegin to analyse the issues underlying theseproblems. The "ollowing steps assist with this.

•

!denti"y any bias in the way the case isdescribed.

• Classi"y the "actors that in+uence the problemas internal or external to the organisation.

• e+ect on theoretical principles "rom yourcourse that might explain aspects o" the case.



• Apply analytical models "rom yourcourse to "urther illuminate thesituation.

• !denti"y the decisions that need to bemade.

• !denti"y strategic issues.

• !denti"y ris "actors.

• !denti"y historical precedents.



What are the steps in exploringalternative solutions?

As you are analysing the issues you will beginto thin about alternative solutions. 'ou should:

• consider individual and organisational levels

•

consider the long and the short term• defne the alternative possible solutions

• compare the alternative solutions in regard to – Theoretical grounding,

– &trengths and weanesses

– is "actors.



-ow do you choose the best

solution?

As you explore the alternativesolutions you will begin to decide onthe best solution "or the organisation

in solving its problems.

!t is important at this stage to provide

a *ustifcation "or the solution youchoose.



What are the steps in maing a

recommendation?

When you have decided on the best solutionyou will be able to mae a recommendationor recommendations.

At this stage you should do the "ollowing:• xpress your recommendation#s$ precisely.

• nsure that your recommendations arecomplementary.

• nsure that it is "easible to implement therecommendations.



-ow do you present your case

analysis?

A case analysis is presented as a report. The"ollowing is a suggested structure "or a caseanalysis report:

• !ntroduction: /escribe the situation and identi"ythe main problem.

• 0ody: Analyse the problem and the issuesunderlying the problem. 1resent and analysealternative solutions to the problem

• Conclusion: . !denti"y the best solution.

• ecommendations: !denti"y the courses o" actionneeded to implement the best solution.



What maes a good caseanalysis?

A good case analysis:

• clearly identifes the core problem#s$

•

provides a *ustifcation "or the choiceo" core problem#s$

• analyses the issues underlying theproblem in terms o" the relevanttheory

• uses appropriate terminology



• *ustifes the alternative solutions interms o" appropriate theory

• *ustifes the choice o" the bestsolution

• presents "easible andcomplementary recommendations

"or implementing the best solution

• is presented in appropriate report"ormat.

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Writing Case Analysis