Analyzing and Critiquing Business Cases

Dr. John HadjimarcouSummer 2005

What are Cases?

• Cases are short stories describing a company, its environment, and challenge (s) it is facing [at the time the case was prepared].

• Some cases may in fact suggest alternative courses of action

• Other cases may mask the problem or opportunity. YOU ARE responsible for uncovering it!

What is Case Analysis?• A thoughtful and thorough examination of the facts at

hand– Identification of problem, challenge, or opportunity

• What is the main issue in this case?

– Identify the firm’s vision, mission,objectives, and strategies– Internal analysis

• Internal strengths and weaknesses (IFE matrix)

– External analysis• Competition and industry (EFE matrix)

– Prepare:• SWOT matrix, strategic position and action evaluation (SPACE) matrix,

BCG matrix, IE matrix, grand strategy matrix, and QSPM matrix.

Recommendation(s)

– Recommendations for action• Recommend specific strategies and LT objectives

and show costs vs. benefits

• Offer several strategic alternatives

• Recommend one alternative and explain why

• Recommendations must be based on facts and should not represent “gut-feelings” alone!

What is Case Analysis? (cont.)

• You are not encouraged to collect information outside of the material found in the case

• Page limit? Max. 20 double-spaced pages…

• Organization: Address the areas mentioned earlier

• Presentation: – You will have up to 20 minutes to present your analysis.

– You should expect questions from the audience.

– You must provide a final draft of your presentation to the instructor (preferably via e-mail) 24 hours prior to the presentation.

Grading Criteria

• Presentation (comprehensive?, interesting?, well organized?, questions answered adequately?, professional?)

• Written report (comprehensive?, well organized?, grammatically correct?, ample explanations?, thorough?, [proper]use of strategic management terminology, professional?, interesting?)