Prepared by: Ms. Shirley Anne V. Gaspar M.B.A. CBA-LPU Cavite Campus

The case study approach has developed into a very effective method in improving an individual's ability to analyze a situation, arrive at valid conclusions, decide on courses of action, & visualize consequences & results. They are exercises in the management process & in executive action, providing opportunities for applying principles learned, to business situations encountered in actuality.

A case usually narrates the development of a situation. The case analysis projects himself into the situation & visualizes it as though he/she is personally involved. If the case involves two or more persons, the case analysis assumes in sequence the role of each person. This is done not only for better understanding of human relations aspect but also to learn whether each person acts in the best manner while the situation was developing.

1. Read the assigned case thoroughly and completely. If possible, put the case aside for a period of time. Then carefully re-read the case once or twice or even thrice. Try to get an accurate picture in your mind as to what is really going on in that particular situation.

2.

If the case is lengthy you would wish to make notes or summaries of relevant information before proceeding with your analysis. Lawyers call this "briefing" a case. The procedure may be necessary in preparing management cases if the information has been thoroughly incorporated.

3.

Formulate in writing a precise statement of the problem. This is an analytical step, not a descriptive one. It does not help much to write down a rehashed version of problem-type statements lifted from the case data. Try to state the problem in such way to show that individual must take some sort of action.

4.

5.

Select the several alternative decisions or courses of action which can be taken. These are hypotheses which require investigation. Concerning these hypotheses, raise the question which demand an answer. These are the crucial questions which are the heart of your analysis.

The suggestions apply to either written or oral case analysis. Putting your analysis into

writing requires the following ideas to be considered:

1. Clarity & simplicity of written statements are essential.

2. Use short sentences. Avoid using descriptive adjectives.

1.

2.

To make the student become more efficient & accurate in finding the cause & effect of business problems To train the student become more imaginative (creative) in formulating efficient & effective solutions

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5.

To help the student apply his/her own special experience & to handle new situation if he/she has little or no experience. To develop his/her skill in interacting, cooperating & nurturing closer working relations with his group members.

I.

II.

III. IV. V.

VI. VII.

VIII. IX.

Executive Summary Time Context Viewpoint Statement of the Problem Objectives -Short Range _Long Range Areas of Consideration Alternative Courses of Action Recommendation Conclusion/Detailed Action or Implementation Plan

I.

Executive Summary Brief History of the company.

Identification of organization setup. Mission/Vision and existing strategies, financial position & competitors.

II.

Time Context Specify the time context (month &

year) if the case fact is clear about it. The time context should tell us when the problem was observed, which requires the necessity of an action.

III.

Viewpoint In solving a business problem, the

student must specify the viewpoint he/she is taking. It is always based on the manager's/marketer's viewpoint. Given a business problem, the president of a company will most likely have a different approach or solution from those of other company officers.

IV.

Statement of the Problem A problem is a deviation or an

imbalance between what should be & what actually is happening. This imbalance is caused by a change of one kind of another. A problem could be answered by the question - "what is wrong that needs correcting?"

IV.

Statement of the Problem A business case may contain a

variety of issues or problems, from the unimportant to the significant, from the irrelevant to the relevant.

IV.

Statement of the Problem The student should focus his/her

attention on the key or central problem. The elimination of the central problem will eventually result in the elimination of other unimportant problems. Specify what the problem is by describing it very accurately in terms of four dimensions: identity, location, time, & extent.

V.

Objectives Objectives are specifications by

which alternative courses of action are to be developed. These are statements or functions to be performed or undertaken by the courses of action.

V. Objectives

V-I. Short-Range Objectives This objective sets the limits that

cannot be violated by any alternative course of action. These objectives will help the manager/marketer recognize & screen out the impossible & poorer alternatives right at the outset. These objectives are of absolute importance to the success of the decision & the survival of the organization. These objectives should be attained within a year.

IV. Objectives V-II. Long-Range Objectives

This objective does not set absolute limits but expresses relative desirability. They are of relative performance to the success of the decision but less than absolute. These objectives should be attained beyond a one-year period.

VI. Areas of Consideration When the central problem has

determined & defined the objectives, he/she must proceed to organize the facts around the possible causes of the central problem. This requires the separation of the significant areas from the unimportant ones, & the relevant to the irrelevant. The analysis of each area must come from the personal opinion of the analyst & not from the case facts.

(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats)

SWOT Analysis is a technique for summarizing company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats.

Formulating a strategic plan is largely a process of identifying strategies that will balance the strengths & weaknesses with company's external opportunities & threats.

Human Resources Operations Marketing Finance

Strengths are positive factors which help the company achieve its Key Result Area.

Weaknesses are negative factors which may hinder the attainment of its Key Result Area.

Strengths & Weaknesses are always relative to competition.

Organizations would want to exploit their strengths while correct their weaknesses.

In the same way, managers would assess competition strengths & attack competition based on their specific weaknesses.

Opportunities are external positive situations which will enhance the organization's position in the industry.

Threats are external negative situation which will dampen its position to the industry.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING - means obtaining and compiling information about those environment forces that might be relevant to the company's strategic planning.

In general, six (6) big areas of the organization's environment are "scanned" to identify the environmental forcer that may represent opportunities or threats:

Economics-related to the level of economic activity (flow of money, goods & services)

Politics-related to the use or allocation of political power & foreign government

Social Trends & Demographic-factors that affect & reflect the way people live, including what they value

Technology-related to the development of new or existing technology

Competition-factors that involve actions taken of possibly taken by current & potential competitors

Geography-related to location, climate, natural resources etc. Some techniques to scan the environment (market research, forecasting, benchmarking etc.)

VII. Alternative Courses of Action (ACA) These are possible solutions to the

problem. Alternatives are collections of what appear to be at the moment the best means of meeting individual objectives. In some case, the alternatives are clear; in others, you must formulate alternatives appropriate to the problem at hand.

VIII. Recommendation

This is the final or recommended course of action. Students must be decisive; he/she must not evade making a final choice of the alternative which seems best to him.

VIII. Recommendation Recommendation suggests the

most favorable & best alternative course of action chosen by the analyst for implementation. It shall be back up with a supporting statement of such recommendation & a Decision Matrix.

VIII. Recommendation Example:

Recommended Alternative Course of Action is number 1. It has chosen because it meets all the requirements of the objective & believes to be the best solution of the case discussed & analyzed.

VIII. Recommendation Decision Matrix (sample) Rating Scale 1-5 (lowest-highest

CRITERIA EFFECTIVENESS ACCEPTABILITY TIMELINESS RELEVANCE ECONOMICAL TOTAL

A CA 1 45444

21

A CA 2 221218

A CA 3 32221

10

IX. Conclusion/Detailed Action or Implementation Plan

Make a detailed action plan to ensure the success of the decision or recommendation.

Characteristics of a good action plan: S-Systematic M-Measurable A-Attainable R-Realistic T-Time Frame

Action Steps Responsibility Timetable Budget