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Case Analysis
ADMS 2500
Topics in this Module
1. What is a case?
2. Importance of cases in a business education
3. How to analyze a case
4. Case writing skills on exams
ADMS 2500
No cases in 2500
• This course is intro level
• What you see in 2500 is what we would call mini-cases or cassettes • Even your term project is not a full blown case because the required is so highly directly and your required analysis is just number crunching. There is no qualitative analysis required on your part.
ADMS 2500
What is a case?
• Attempt to simulate reality and complexity of real world
• Why do they call university the “ivory tower” world?
• Question types in a “problems” course
• Question vs exercise vs problem vs case
Importance of Case Skills to the Business
Graduate (and Accounting Major)
Some business schools teach entirely thru cases
• Harvard, Western, Schulich
• Pros & cons of such an approach
ADMS 2500
Case Analysis a Learned Skill requiring both:
1. Technique
2. Practice
Accounting majors in BAS degree:
• ADMS 4590 strictly case analysis
• National certifying exams to be Professional Accountant = cases
• 90% of students take case-writing courses after graduation before these professional exams
• Self-study program needed….lots of resources on the Web
• Case analysis skills essential for all business majors
ADMS 2500
Elements of a Case:
1. Verbiage
2. Irrelevant data
3. Missing data
4. Nebulous required
5. Time pressure often exacerbated
6. Often requires a recommendation rather than an answer ADMS 2500
The Harvard Case Analysis Model
1. Problem Statement
•
Role identification
•
Target audience
•
Problem prioritization
2. Assumptions
•
Always missing data
•
Rule of parsimony
3. Alternatives
•
Brainstorm
•
Rank
4. Analysis
•
Usually best 2 (quantitative and qualitative)
•
Economic/technological/legal/ecological
ADMS 2500
Topics in this Module
1. What is a case?
2. Importance of cases in a business education
3. How to analyze a case
4. Case writing skills on exams
ADMS 2500
No cases in 2500
• This course is intro level
• What you see in 2500 is what we would call mini-cases or cassettes • Even your term project is not a full blown case because the required is so highly directly and your required analysis is just number crunching. There is no qualitative analysis required on your part.
ADMS 2500
What is a case?
• Attempt to simulate reality and complexity of real world
• Why do they call university the “ivory tower” world?
• Question types in a “problems” course
• Question vs exercise vs problem vs case
Importance of Case Skills to the Business
Graduate (and Accounting Major)
Some business schools teach entirely thru cases
• Harvard, Western, Schulich
• Pros & cons of such an approach
ADMS 2500
Case Analysis a Learned Skill requiring both:
1. Technique
2. Practice
Accounting majors in BAS degree:
• ADMS 4590 strictly case analysis
• National certifying exams to be Professional Accountant = cases
• 90% of students take case-writing courses after graduation before these professional exams
• Self-study program needed….lots of resources on the Web
• Case analysis skills essential for all business majors
ADMS 2500
Elements of a Case:
1. Verbiage
2. Irrelevant data
3. Missing data
4. Nebulous required
5. Time pressure often exacerbated
6. Often requires a recommendation rather than an answer ADMS 2500
The Harvard Case Analysis Model
1. Problem Statement
•
Role identification
•
Target audience
•
Problem prioritization
2. Assumptions
•
Always missing data
•
Rule of parsimony
3. Alternatives
•
Brainstorm
•
Rank
4. Analysis
•
Usually best 2 (quantitative and qualitative)
•
Economic/technological/legal/ecological