What: Case Studies,

Are written summaries or syntheses of real-life cases Based upon data and research Require you to isolate and think through the key issues involved Against both theory and the larger comparative environment Identify appropriate strategies for the resolution of the 'case' Weigh the pros and cons of the remedial options/strategies Recommend and present a rationale for the best resolution

How: The process of developing a case study: Define the objective of the case study 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Identify the important players within the organization, the "stakeholders" Identify other target groups of the organization, whether clients or suppliers State the official mission of the organization studied State the historical mission of the organization State the understood mission of the stakeholders in the organization Scale the importance of stakeholders, whether in decision-making or effect of consequences. 7. Outline the formal decision-making process 8. Note informal decision-making processes. 9. Identify the process of production or service delivery 10. Identify support mechanisms 11. Identify competitors What is the organizational context of the profession or of competitors? State the major problem State subsequent problems and implications State the role of management State the role of production/service providers Identify strategic issues Identify decisions needed to be made Identify risk factors Identify historical precedents Define remedial options Compare options as regards pros and cons, theory, risk factors Make your recommendation and justify Write an executive summary focusing on key elements

Seven stages of writing assignments: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Develop your topic Identify your audience Research Organizing research with notecards Organize and prewrite Draft/write Revise Proofread

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Case

studies are important for lecturers, students, managers, analysts and even competitors. In business, learning case studies and practising case methods allows you to develop you insights into a particular business, its industry as well as recommend strategies to improve business performance. Here are steps to effectively analyse a case study. (1) Read the Case Through Reading through the case has to take place at least twice. First, read it through, looking at it from a bird's eye view. Find that you have to understand the company from an objective point of view before tearing the case study apart. The second time you read through, mentally note the important aspects of the case that need to be the core focus of the analysis. You will begin to see the case study untie a revealing a set of questions you need to answer. (2) Take Notes and Mind Map The next few reads are done analytically. As you read, a little amount down salient issues in the case study on a separate sheet of paper. Read through each point carefully, asking yourself the questions what, when, why, how and where. Also remember to look at exhibits, illustrations, charts and numbers. These are relevant to the pertinent issues of your case. Display your findings in a mind-map - by branching out ideas and linking them to new ones. (3) Analyze the Financial Statements Financial statements mark the essence of business. Without numbers, a business is nothing. Look through the appended financial statements and calculate appropriate indicators in relation to the case at hand. For example, if you find that the company you are studying has invested in a large amount of illiquid assets (such as buildings), you may want to check its viability through the liquidity tests through projected figures. (4) List the Strategic Issues Once you have the salient issues and the statistics together, you would be able to list down the strategic issues at hand. Look at them from every angle - whether they are strength, a weakness and opportunity or a threat to the company. It is important to capitalize on strengths and opportunities while you look at ways to overcome company weaknesses and reduce threats in the environment. Also remember to support your findings with facts / numbers from the case study itself. (5) Find Recommendations for Each Issue Once you have ascertained the management focus, list strategic measures for each issue and the benefits and costs of each measure. Remember to develop a timeline for each strategy as it would take different time periods to effectively allow each strategy to be implemented.