Case Study: read the files that is case , thank you
Requirement
Assignments should be no longer than 7 pages not including the Executive Summary (which should be included), references and any other appendices that you may want to include. You do not need to reference the page document although if you do quote passages directly please do provide the page number from which the passage was taken.
One important distinction for this course vis-à-vis the way that cases are prepared in some other courses relates to the use of the ‘Status Quo’ (or the ‘do not do anything’ alternative) as an alternative solution. In the case studies in this course, you are permitted but not required to include the ‘Status Quo’ as an alternative. For those who are not familiar with the case study method, the purpose is to provide students with “real-life” situations that require managerial action. Completing a case study is intended to develop managerial capabilities within students, at least as it pertains to the decision-making process. Cases can be from 1 to 50 pages long and provide an assortment of facts, details and issues for students to consider in coming to a decision regarding: (1) if the company faces a problem that requires action on the part of managers, (2) the nature of this problem, including both direct and indirect causes of the problem and (3) the specific actions that should be taken in order to improve or rectify the situation that the firm faces. Students are typically asked to role-play by assuming that they are either an individual identified in the case or an individual being asked to provide specific advice to the central organization in the case study.
The case study assignment follows a format that is similar to those used in other Telfer courses. Specifically, students will be provided with a case study document that recounts a real management challenging facing a manager/management team. Students are to then analyse the situation by defining the Primary Problem, developing Alternative Solutions, and creating an Implementation Plan that covers the short/medium/long term. This is a written assignment and students will prepare a report of not more than 7 pages in length (single-spaced, 12 point font, Arial or Times, 1-inch margins, justified).
The case study is an individual assignment. However, students are encouraged to work together in preparing their reports. This said, the written portions of each case study should be the unique work of the student submitting the assignment. Exchange students, transfer students and any other students who have found case studies overly challenging in the past are should speak to Mr Ebrahimi prior to completing their assignment and will be encouraged to prepare a practice case study which they will be able to discuss at length with Mr Ebrahimi prior to the submission of their Case Study Assignment.
The Case Study must follow the following structure. Marks are assigned per section and omission of a section will result in those marks not being awarded.
Executive Summary (omission reduces presentation marks)
o One page, using bullet-form where appropriate
o Includes a statement of the Primary Problem
o Lists numerically the alternative solutions developed
o Identifies the recommended solution and provides a brief justification of this choice
Primary Problem – 5 marks
o Should be as concise as possible
o Clearly identifies the decision that needs to make
o Should not be framed as a question
o Will be the basis for action for each Alternative Solution
Secondary Problems – 10 marks
o Identifies all other (i.e. non-primary) problems that the organization and personnel are facing
Implications on the Organization – 5 marks
o Future-oriented
o Explains what will happen to the organization if the primary (and secondary) problem(s) is not partially or fully rectified
Implications on the Personnel – 5 marks
o Future-oriented
o Explains what the impacts will be on the personnel (executives, managers and other employees) if the primary problem is not partially or fully rectified
Alternative Solutions – 50 marks (divided equally over 5 proposed solutions)
o All alternatives must be feasible
o Should be realistic, creative, considerate of costs
o Evaluated in terms of the extent to which the alternative solves the Primary Problem as identified by the student previously in the assignment
o All alternatives should be titled and numbered sequentially
o Each alternative must begin with a short description of what actions the alternative will include – i.e. what changes will be made to the strategy or operations, by whom, where and when.
o Must include a bulleted list of Advantages and Disadvantages associated with the proposed alternative
o Each alternative should be considered in isolation from the other alternatives
o You may consider including the ‘Status Quo’ as an alternative, but only if you believe that the primary problem is of a highly transient nature (i.e. it is likely to be resolved without any intervention on the part of the organization) or the problem cannot be effectively addressed through actions of the organizations
Recommended Solution – 5 marks
o Will clearly indicate which alternative, or possibly a combination of alternatives, is being recommended for implementation
o Provides a well-argued justification as to why this alternative, and not another of your suggested alternative, is the most appropriate
Implementation – 10 marks
o Separated between the Short Term (now to six months from now), Medium Term (six months to a year from now), Long Term (over a year from now) and possible Very Long Term (over 3 years from now)
Presentation – 10 marks
o Includes issues of formatting, spelling, grammar etc.
o Also involves the clarity and strength of your arguments
