Case Study
Key Problem
A Key Problem will always require some sort of decision or action step
1. Who – what is the name of the company, what is the type of business for the company, which individuals are involved?
2. What – describe the situation that has led the decision-makers to this point, what must they decide?
3. Why – what are the main reasons that this decision must be made
4. How Much – what is the significance of the decision for the company; this should involve decisions of importance in both Size and Scale
Key Issues
Key Issues are the items that must be considered in order to make a sound, fact-based decision
• Key Issues are the main points that are critical to making a decision
• There are both Major Issues and Minor Issues; so major of the majors and minor on the minors
Analysis
• Use all the skills and tools you have learned to evaluate and analyze the Key Issues to determine the basic facts of the case
• Run the Numbers! – use Excel and other programs
• Test your assumptions! – Sensitivity Analysis
Recommendation
1. Your unique solution to the Key Problem based on identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the Key Issues
• There can be multiple correct solutions to the Key Problem if the underlying assumptions, theory, and the logic line are sound
How To Prepare & Study Cases
1. Read the entire case straight through for a quick overall impression and summary ?
2. What are the main businesses of the companies in the case? Ask:
• Who are the main players?
• What are the company goals?
• How is the company’s performance?
3. Now try to identify the theme of the case especially the key principle or problem that the case is illustrating. Sometimes, this may or may not be obvious and will require additional thought.
4 Read a second time, but read for detail, recording the key data, statistics, & observations
5. Develop your model and begin your analysis by “running the numbers”. Your analysis should confirm your general
A Key Problem will always require some sort of decision or action step
1. Who – what is the name of the company, what is the type of business for the company, which individuals are involved?
2. What – describe the situation that has led the decision-makers to this point, what must they decide?
3. Why – what are the main reasons that this decision must be made
4. How Much – what is the significance of the decision for the company; this should involve decisions of importance in both Size and Scale
Key Issues
Key Issues are the items that must be considered in order to make a sound, fact-based decision
• Key Issues are the main points that are critical to making a decision
• There are both Major Issues and Minor Issues; so major of the majors and minor on the minors
Analysis
• Use all the skills and tools you have learned to evaluate and analyze the Key Issues to determine the basic facts of the case
• Run the Numbers! – use Excel and other programs
• Test your assumptions! – Sensitivity Analysis
Recommendation
1. Your unique solution to the Key Problem based on identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the Key Issues
• There can be multiple correct solutions to the Key Problem if the underlying assumptions, theory, and the logic line are sound
How To Prepare & Study Cases
1. Read the entire case straight through for a quick overall impression and summary ?
2. What are the main businesses of the companies in the case? Ask:
• Who are the main players?
• What are the company goals?
• How is the company’s performance?
3. Now try to identify the theme of the case especially the key principle or problem that the case is illustrating. Sometimes, this may or may not be obvious and will require additional thought.
4 Read a second time, but read for detail, recording the key data, statistics, & observations
5. Develop your model and begin your analysis by “running the numbers”. Your analysis should confirm your general