Lesson 4

Lesson 2

How to Analyze a Case Study

Most business cases simulate a real situation with three specific characteristics: 1. A significant issue; 2. Enough information to reach a reasonable conclusion; and 3. No stated conclusion.

Cases will include irrelevant information, unstated information that the reader must infer, and a nonlinear structure in which related evidence is scattered throughout the text.

1. Determine what type of case study you’re reading. Types of cases generally are:

* problems, a situation in which something important happened but we don’t know why;

* Decisions – an explicit decision that must be made;

* Evaluations- valuation of worth, or effectiveness of a performance;

* Rules- quantitative methods to analyze a business area.

2. One should also develop a hypothesis (explanation that accounts for the facts that can be tested) to resolve a dilemma.

-What do I need to know about the situation?

- If it’s a problem, what are the aspects? What’s the significance? Who is responsible?

When completing a case, one should keep the following facts in mind:

1. Cases do not provide completed information – One may need to make assumptions regarding some of the facts involved. You can’t just assume the case though, don’t oversimplify the data.

2. Make sure that you’re able to sift through the irrelevant data and figure out what’s important to the case.

3. There might not be a correct approach/answer to a case. Markers look for you to provide a recommendation that is supported by solid and thorough analysis.

4. Do not rewrite the case facts. Makers want you to use the case facts as support.

5. Qualitative/intangible components to cases are just as important as numbers.

When reading a case, it’s often valuable to first read the introduction and then immediately read the conclusion. Try and understand what the case problem or decision may be from the information provided. After you’re able to...