CASE STUDY

Case studies are used in many professional education programs, primarily in business school, to

present real-world situations to students and to assess their ability to parse out the important

aspects of a given dilemma. In general, a case study should include, in order: background on the

business environment, description of the given business, identification of a key problem or issue,

steps taken to address the issue, your assessment of that response, and suggestions for better

business strategy.

Solving of cases with help these theories often become difficult we have to track our own ways.

There is no ideal path to solve the realistic problems but looking forward I traced new way to

solve it. It may not be ultimate option to solve your case but guide you in right direction where do

you have to be.

At the first stage you have to pass through the four stages

 Study

 Contemplate

 Decide and

 Implement

The most difficult part of solving the case study is to understand the case where majority of

student fails. So as to overcome from this, above four stages can be beneficial.

Presently, an average Indian student does not have specific procedure to solve the case study.

This procedure has different logical steps. A comprehensive list of steps to attain the best

possible solution for the case is as follows.

Case:
“John is a sales person in an insurance company, yesterday at 6:30 pm he gets an urgent

appointment from his client for what he was waiting for 20 days, this deal may increase his sales

volume, he has to meet him tomorrow by 10:30 to 11:00 am at his office in Mumbai, presently,

John is in Delhi.”
With the help of case mention above we can better understand all the steps.

1. Problem Identification:

This should describe what is required to be achieved through the proposed solution. As per the

above case the problem with John is to go to Mumbai by tomorrow morning itself. He has very

short time to go to Mumbai.

2. Define Boundaries:

In this stage specify the limits and boundaries under which case has to be solved. These may be

given in the case clearly or you need to assume it. (Some information has to be consider while
solving the case.) As per our case John has to arrive at Mumbai before 11:00 otherwise he may

miss the opportunity.

3. Case:

This heading should contain the key words given/narrated in the case. This is very important step

but often student rewrite the whole case in this heading. But it gives bad impression to reader of

case.

4. Assumption:

The gaps in the data noticed while writing the keywords have to be filled in by making

assumptions. These assumptions should be clearly stated and reason for making the

assumption should be stated.

5. Possible solution for case:

Under this heading as much as solution you can give that should write under sub heading.

Ex.

1. Solution:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

2. Solution:
Advantages:

Disadvantages:

6. Select best possible solution:

This paragraph should give the answer why this solution is best solution for the case and how it

can be helpful for case, what competency it has. It may be single solution or mixture of more

than one solution.

7. Managerial Application:

Under this heading student should write which managerial theory used to get the solution.

8. Conclusion:

A summary by comparing what was the problem, how the action plan on the basis of optimal

solution.

Here student should sum up the case witch describe the problem and how the implementations

plan of the best solution tackles it optimally.

1. Introduction

o Identify the key problems and issues in the case study.

o Formulate and include a thesis statement, summarizing the outcome of your
analysis in 1–2 sentences.

2. Background

o Set the scene: background information, relevant facts, and the most important
issues.
o Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study.

3. Evaluation of the Case

o Outline the various pieces of the case study that you are focusing on.
o Evaluate these pieces by discussing what is working and what is not working.
o State why these parts of the case study are or are not working well.
 4. Proposed Solution/Changes

o Provide specific and realistic solution(s) or changes needed.

o Explain why this solution was chosen.
o Support this solution with solid evidence, such as:
 Concepts from class (text readings, discussions, lectures)
 Outside research
 Personal experience (anecdotes)

5. Recommendations

o Determine and discuss specific strategies for accomplishing the proposed

solution.
o If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues.
o What should be done and who should do it?

6. Finalizing the Case

After you have composed the first draft of your case study analysis, read through it to check
for any gaps or inconsistencies in content or structure:

 Is your thesis statement clear and direct?

 Have you provided solid evidence?
 Is any component from the analysis missing?

When you make the necessary revisions, proofread and edit your analysis before submitting
the final draft.

The Seven Steps of Problem Analysis

Using an organized seven-stem approach in analyzing a case will make the entire
process easier and can increase your learning benefits.
1. Read the case thoroughly. To understand fully what is happening in a case,
it is necessary to read the case carefully and thoroughly. You may want to
read the case rather quickly the first time to get an overview of the industry,
the company, the people, and the situation. Read the case again more slowly,
making notes as you go.
2. Define the central issue. Many cases will involve several issues or
problems. Identify the most important problems and separate them from the
more trivial issues. After identifying what appears to be a major underlying
issue, examine related problems in the functional areas (for example,
marketing, finance, personnel, and so on). Functional area problems may help
you identify deep-rooted problems that are the responsibility of top
management.
 3. Define the firm’s goals. Inconsistencies between a firm’s goals and its
performance may further highlight the problems discovered in step 2. At the
very least, identifying the firm’s goals will provide a guide for the remaining
analysis.
4. Identify the constraints to the problem. The constraints may limit the
solutions available to the firm. Typical constraints include limited finances,
lack of additional production capacity, personnel limitations, strong
competitors, relationships with suppliers and customers, and so on.
Constraints have to be considered when suggesting a solution.
5. Identify all the relevant alternatives. The list should all the relevant
alternatives that could solve the problem(s) that were identified in step 2. Use
your creativity in coming up with alternative solutions. Even when solutions
are suggested in the case, you may be able to suggest better solutions.
6. Select the best alternative. Evaluate each alternative in light of the
available information If you have carefully taken the proceeding five steps, a
good solution to the case should be apparent. Resist the temptation to jump
to this step early in the case analysis. You will probably miss important facts,
misunderstand the problem, or skip what may be the best alternative solution.
You will also need to explain the logic you used to choose one alternative and
reject the others.
7. Develop an implementation plan. The final step in the analysis is to
develop a plan for effective implementation of your decision. Lack of an
implementation plan even for a very good decision can lead to disaster for a
firm and for you. Don’t overlook this step. Your teacher will surely ask you or
someone in the class to explain how to implement the decision.

A well-written report would contain the following elements:

1. Executive summary. This is a concisely written statement, less than one
page, placed at the front of the report. It briefly summarizes the major points
of the case and your solution. It should describe the major issue, the proposed
solution, and the logic supporting the solution.
2. Problem statement. Present the central issue(s) or major problem(s) in the
case here. Do not rehash the facts of the case; assume that anyone reading
the report is familiar with the case.
3. Alternatives. Discuss all relevant alternatives. Briefly present the major
arguments for and against each alternative. Be sure to state your
assumptions and the impact of constraints on each alternative.
4. Conclusion. Present the analysis and the logic that led you to select a
particular solution. Also discuss the reasons you rejected the other
alternatives.
5. Implementation. Outline a plan of action that will lead to effective
implementation of the decision so that the reader can see not only why you
chose a particular alternative but how it will work.