WRITTEN CASE ANALYSES
The case analyses are limited to two single-spaced pages, with 12-point Times New Roman
text and 1” margins all around. Use major headings and sub-headings to make the format of
your analysis apparent. The questions posted on Blackboard for the case have been developed to
help guide you toward the issues that your analysis should address, but these questions should
not be directly answered 1, 2, etc., in your written analyses. Rather, the analyses should be
smoothly flowing essays that coherently, concisely, and convincingly present your analysis and
recommendations. Each case analysis should demonstrate that you have evaluated multiple
courses of action and believe that your recommended actions make the most sense. Please
include a title page that includes your name and the name of the case. The title page does not
count against your two-page limit.
The following provides a general template of things I consider when grading your cases; it
should help you to understand what will be evaluated. Note, however, that different items may be
more or less important depending on the issues and types of analyses necessary. Thus, all items
are not weighted equally. While there is no one right way to write a case analysis, there are
several common errors to avoid:
• Focusing on minor issues on which there is little data. Let the case facts and questions
guide you to the selection of issues. If there is little or no data on an issue, you can identify
it as being potentially important, but do not dwell on it in the analysis.
• Rehashing the case. Someone has already written the case, and the instructor has certainly
read it. It is not necessary to summarize the case. Present facts from the case to support
your line of reasoning.
• Drawing conclusions without providing the data to back them up. Don’t make unsupported
statements or draw conclusions that the available data does not, or cannot, support.
• Drawing generic conclusions. For example, all companies need to be profitable and to
satisfy their customers. For each case, show clearly what management needs to do so that
it resolves the issues specific to its competitive situation, available resources, objectives,
etc.
• Failure to provide a rationale for eliminating alternatives not selected. It is important to
show that the recommended course of action is likely to deal effectively with the problems
identified. It is equally important to provide a rationale for dismissing other alternatives as
less effective or desirable.
• Fuzzy recommendations. Avoid making recommendations that lack clarity, are impractical,
or fail to address a key issue in the case.
• Incomplete analyses. Indications of incomplete analyses include incorrect computations,
improper use of data, inappropriate assumptions, or failure to draw on concepts and
frameworks presented in this course.
Before submitting your case analysis, carefully proof-read it and run it through a grammar and
spell checker. Sloppiness in writing style, spelling, grammar, and presentation reflects poorly on
your work and decreases your ability to effectively communicate. A paper that is poorly
structured, contains numerous grammatical and spelling errors, or fails to articulately present the
analysis and recommendations, can receive a poor grade (even if the content is fairly complete).
The analysis and recommendations should be professional and illustrate your best possible effort
and abilities.
GENERAL TEMPLATE FOR CASE ANALYSIS EVALUATION
ANALYSIS (Understanding the issues that the firms and that the individuals in the case
are facing)
1. Does the submission contain analyses of the major issues?
2. Do the analyses properly incorporate relevant concepts and frameworks?
3. Are assumptions made in the analyses stated explicitly?
RECOMMENDATIONS (Developing and evaluating alternative courses of action)
1. Are the criteria for making recommendations stated?
2. Are the criteria for making recommendations appropriate?
3. Are the recommendations clearly articulated?
4. Are the expected benefits of the recommendations stated?
OVERALL CRITERIA (Presenting ideas in a coherent, articulate, and professional
manner)
1. Is the submission logically consistent and effectively structured so that it sells its
recommendations?
2. Is there a high likelihood that the recommendations will achieve their desired results?
3. Do the choices of words, spelling, grammar, and other elements of style contribute to
the effectiveness of the analyses and recommendations?
1. How do the ideas about social entrepreneurship described in the article by Seelos and Mair manifest themselves in the Fresh Truck Case?
2. Describe the major challenges Fresh Truck faces as it seeks to expand.
3. What recommendations would you suggest to Josh Trautwein to help manage Fresh Truck’s major challenges?
