Case study analysis:
The use of case studies is widely accepted as a means to assess your ability to apply theoretical concepts to realistic, practical situations which you may encounter in the workplace. A written case study outlining a real or realistic situation is an excellent means by which your lecturer can assess your understanding of concepts, analytical skills, and problem solving abilities in preparation for the ‘real’ world.
The approaches presented below provide general guidelines for case analysis. Consult your unit guide or tutor regarding the specifics of the case you are to analyse for assessment purposes.
Types of case analyses When reading and studying a case, it is possible to take two different approaches:
1. The “analytical approach”
This method requires you to analyse the case to try to determine exactly what has happened, understand the problems which existed in the case, and explain the reasons why events unfolded the way they did. You do not need to develop solutions to improve the situation, and you simply explain the “what and why”.
2. The “problem-oriented approach”
Using this method you must identify the major problems which existed in the case, what caused these problems, understand why the events occurred the way they did, suggest possible solutions to improve the situation, and finally, recommend the best solution for implementation. In a sense, you are now determining the “what, why and how”.
As with many tasks in business situations, there is no ‘one best way’ to analyse or write up a case report. Everyone develops their own methods of sorting and sifting through the information and presenting their findings. Similarly, lecturers have a variety of ways of designing a case study assignment. Some lecturers choose to present a case and ask for an indepth case analysis. Some may present the case followed by a series of questions related to it, whilst others may present the case and ask you to identify and resolve the problems in a formally structured case report.
This chapter will provide in-depth information about case analysis to facilitate the “analytical approach”, and outline the further steps involved to complete your case study assignment using the “problem-oriented method”. Keep in mind also, that the format required within a unit may vary from what is proposed in this chapter. It is up to you to confirm with your lecturer or tutor which approach is required, and the appropriate format to use for your assignment.
In a case study, it is crucial that you integrate relevant theory from your unit of study with evidence from the case. Failure to attempt to integrate theory will lead to severe mark reduction or failure. As with all your assignments, referencing of all non-original material is essential to uphold academic integrity, to avoid penalty, and abide by Monash University’s Plagiarism policy.
Analytical approach case study 1. First, skim-read the case to get a general overview of the situation. 2. Carefully read the assignment task and any questions associated with the case. Identify key words and concepts which will help to guide your analysis and response. Pay particular attention to instruction verbs and make sure you understand exactly what you are being asked to do (see Appendix A on Instruction words for more information). 3. Read closely and make clear notes on the case including: the organisation(s) or stakeholders involved, key terms, conflicts or issues, strategies which were implemented (if any), sequence of events, outcomes and so on. 4. Use the key words identified from the assessment task and the case to locate the relevant sections of your prescribed text and any additional readings containing theory or background information, to help you understand the case and identify problems. You may also use these key words as search terms to find additional literature. 5. Read and make notes in your own words on the theoretical aspects involved in the case. Make sure you record the bibliographical details of the sources you read for easy reference when responding to the case. 6. Re-read the case again, with your greater knowledge of the theory. To analyse the case and identify its problems and their potential causes, you need to question the information presented to you. Here are some examples:
7. What is the organisational environment or structure? Are there any inherent problems with this environment or structure? 8. Who is the decision maker? Is this the appropriate person or group who should be making the decisions? 9. What were the financial constraints of this organisation? What difficulties could arise from such constraints? Are these difficulties relevant to the problems arising in this case? 10. What strategies were implemented here? Was this based upon any particular theory or concept? What problems were caused as a result of this action? 11. It is important to realise that every case is different, and it is likely that the above questions will not be relevant to the case you are analysing. You must determine your own unique set of questions to analyse each individual case.
Problem solving case study
If you have been asked to prepare a full case report, then it is likely that you are expected to apply the “problem solving approach” to the case analysis. Regardless, you should still work through the case analysis steps outlined above. Once you have analysed the case and identified the key problem(s), you need to prepare a report which also identifies potential solutions to the problem(s), then recommend a solution which achieves the most favourable outcome, and justify your decision.
Following is an outline of the typical structure of a case report, and the components of each section.
1. Title page
2. Table of contents
3. Executive summary This section should comprise a brief overview of the case, giving a brief background and noting any important assumptions made. (You will not have all the information you would like – so you may need to make some assumptions). As well as this, you should give a synopsis of your case report, noting very briefly the major problems identified and the recommended solutions.
4. Problem identification and analysis In this section, you should identify all the major problems in the case. Try to identify the underlying causes of problems, not just the symptoms. Seek advice from your tutor on the layout of this information. You should link each problem identified to relevant theory and also to actual evidence from the case. Remember, you MUST integrate theory and reference all non-original work.
5. Statement of major problems In most case studies, you will identify a number of problems. Most likely, there will be too many to actually ‘solve’ in the number of words allowed. Hence, it is crucial to state very clearly which are the major two or three problems, or key issues, which must be solved first. Therefore, this section is just a concise statement of what problems you are going to solve in the remainder of the case. Half a page is adequate. Having once identified the key problems you can continually check back to ensure that you are actually attempting to solve them, and not some other minor problems you identified. This section is crucial to a good case report.
6. Generation and evaluation of alternative solutions While most problems will have many possible solutions, it is your task to identify and evaluate a number of the more appropriate (at least 2–3 for each major problem identified).
Each alternative solution should be briefly outlined and then evaluated in terms of its advantages and disadvantages (strong and weak points). Note: You must evaluate alternatives. It is not necessary to make a statement in this section as to which alternative is considered best – this occurs in the next section. Do not integrate theory in this section and do not recommend theory. Practical solutions to the problems are required.
7. Recommendations This section should state which of the alternative solutions (either singularly or in combination) identified in Section 6 are recommended for implementation. You should briefly justify your choice, explaining how it will solve the major problems identified in Section 6. Integration of relevant theory is essential in this section.
8. Implementation
In this section, you should specifically explain how you will implement the recommended solutions. Theory cannot be implemented; you must translate it into actions. This includes explaining what should be done, by whom, when, in what sequence, what will it cost (rough estimates only), and other such issues. Remember, if a recommended solution cannot be realistically implemented, then it is no solution at all.
9. Reference list 10. Appendices (if any)
This will contain an alphabetical list of all the references you have cited in the body of the report. Do not include details of any sources you have not cited. Ensure the style used is correct and consistent with the APA guidelines outlined in Chapter 10 of this manual.
General checklist Make sure you have confirmed the required approach and case study structure with your lecturer or tutor Check that you have adequately identified the key problems involved in the case, and that you have included the relevant theory in your case study response Confirm that you have completed all the required questions (if asked) or included all the necessary sections in your assignment Avoid repeating what the text book, or case information, has stated. Remember that you are trying to identify, analyse and (possibly) resolve the problems of the case using the relevant theories from the literature Check your completed work for internal consistency. If required to apply the “problem solving approach”, make sure that you attempt to solve the key issues you have identified. For example, do not say ‘X’ is the major problem, and then recommend a solution to ‘Y’ Make sure you have referenced all non-original material, and that you have used a variety of reliable and reputable sources. Even if your referencing style is faultless, the range and validity of your sources of information may also be assessed
Key elements of a case report
1. Executive summary Summary of report and recommendations Brief background to the company and an outline of its problems, your recommendations and any assumptions noted
2. Problem identification and analysis Identification and analysis of management problems including causes Integration of theory and case evidence
3. Statement of ‘key’ problems/issues Clear, concise statement of major problem/s that the remainder of the case is going to solve
4. Generation and evaluation of a range of alternative solutions Potential solutions outlined, linked to the key problems Evaluation of each alternative
5. Decisions/recommendations Clear statement of which of the alternative/s suggested (in 4) is/are recommended, and why Justification for the above using theory and/or course concepts. This solution should solve the key problem/s noted
6. Implementation Action steps involved in actually introducing the recommended solutions: Who/When/How/Cost?