Leadership

Analyzing Strategic Management Cases

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVES

Case analysis uses real-life situations to present the processes of analysis, formulation, and implementation that have been addressed in this textbook. By studying and analyzing the strategic predicaments posed by a case, students can see that the circumstances businesses confront are often difficult and complex. Case analysis also challenges students to make decisions that address the dilemmas in the case and evaluate how their recommendations will affect the situation in the case. The chapter is divided into four major sections.

1. The first section addresses the question why analyze strategic management cases. It describes how case analysis can develop proficiencies in critically evaluating business situations and improves the ability to differentiate, speculate, and integrate.

2. The second section addresses how to conduct a case analysis. It describes five steps -- become familiar with the material, identify problems, conduct strategic analyses, propose alternative solutions, and make recommendations.

3. The third section discusses how to get the most from case analysis. It provides ten guidelines for using case analysis to enhance learning.

I. WHY ANALYZE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CASES?

Strategic managers and business leaders evaluate options, make choices, and find solutions to the challenges they face every day. To do so, they must learn to ask the right questions. These include:

1. Why do some firms succeed and others fail?

2. Why are some companies higher performers than others?

3. What information is needed in the strategic planning process?

4. How do competing values and beliefs affect decision making?

5. What skills and capabilities are needed to implement a strategy effectively?

How does a student of strategic management answer those questions? By strategic case analysis. Case analysis simulates...