Inputs for Case Analysis

Directions
Read the Case Study, Apple Inc. in 2012 (Case #14) in Part Two of your textbook
(Thompson; Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, Crafting & Executing Strategy, The Ques
t for Competitive Advantage 19e). Complete a written Case Analysis of this compa
ny by using the required Case Study Format as described in your text on page CA1
through CA11.
From the instructor:
Cases Analysis
I wanted to clarify expectations for the case analyses in this course. Please r
ead the following carefully as, moving forward, I will direct questions regardin
g case analyses to this post.
1. You must thoroughly address ALL of the required criteria listed in the attache
d case study scoring guides. For every case analysis you submit, I carefully che
ck to be sure that each one of these areas has been thoroughly addressed. Miss a
required criterion and you miss points. Period. These criteria must include:
a) The historical perspective is described.
b) The current situation is described including its strengths, weaknesses, oppo
rtunities and threats.
c) The central issues are described.
d) The alternatives and solution are described and evaluated.
e) An implementation plan is developed.
2. A good way to ensure a better score on your case analyses is to include head
ings for each of the required criteria listed in the attached case study scoring
guides. Also, carefully review the attached Primer on Case Study Analysis.
3. You may either write your case in outline format or in narrative (written pa
per) format. However, again, ALL of the required criteria listed in the attached
case study scoring guides must be thoroughly addressed. As a general rule, you
should plan to write at least 3-5 pages for each case (single-spaced if using ou
tline format; double-spaced if using a narrative format).
4. I do not require APA format for case analyses. However, I DO require that yo
u cite references using whatever method you are comfortable with.
5. The most common oversight I see in case analysis is that many students do a
good job recapping the case. However, their alternative solutions and implementa
tion plan are either severely lacking in depth or they simply skip the alternati
ve solutions and implementation plan altogether.
6. There are usually no right answers for case analyses. What we look for is the
quality and depth of your logical analysis.