Bus 220 Case Analysis Guidelines

Name:_____________________________________ Case #: Date:__________________

1.

Case Details

Key Person:

the person taking action

Position:

Other People:

everyone else who is involved or impacted

What:

do not analyze the “what and why” – just very briefly summarize what’s happening and why

Why:

2.

Brief Case Summary

*Note – this is the key element of the case analysis. You must have a clear understanding of

the facts of the case in order to analyze it correctly.

1.

Read the case several times.

2.

Write your summary of the key factors of the case, being careful not to make assumptions or

overlay your personal experience onto the case.

3.

Read the case again and make any necessary adjustments

3.

Identify three primary issues and related OB concepts (3 paragraphs, supported with APA in-

text citations)

1.

Start by reading the “home chapter” for the case so you are familiar with the key concepts. You

can pull concepts from other chapters and other sources, but start with the “home” chapter.

2.

Write a list of possible issues that identify what’s going on in the case.

3.

Choose the three primary issues that are associated with key concepts.

4.

Write a paragraph about each of the issues, supporting your thinking with in-text citations in

APA format.

5.

*Note – avoid going immediately to solutions. Ask yourself if the concepts you’re

considering for this section are

issues which describe the problem, or solutions – which

seek to solve the problem.

Stay with the issues – if you don’t accurately identify what’s

wrong, your solutions will not solve the problem. It’s like misdiagnosing an illness – you

end up treating something that is not the problem.

4.

Identify three primary Internal & External Factors and briefly explain

Internal Factors:

See the list in the PPT on case analysis. Choose three factors that are most

immediately associated with the situation.

Briefly

state why you chose these factors.

*This

section does not need to be supported with in-text citations.

1.

2.

3.

External Factors:

Consider the ripple effect – how could this situation potentially impact the

organization as a whole

. What are the consequences for the overall well being of the

organization?

1.

2.

3.

5.

3

Bus 220 Case Analysis Guidelines

6.

Alternatives to Solve Issues –

apply course concepts to

determine the three best ways to address

the issues and note these below. Identify the advantages and disadvantages to each option.

Options

Pros

Cons

1.

2.

3.

7.

Criteria & Assessment –

Note: this section is intended to help you determine which is the

best option

to solve the

problem.

Start

by transferring the options you’ve identified from the previous section.

Next – add 3 criteria

total – 1 qualitative, 1 quantitative and 1 either qualitative or quantitative to the boxes under

each of these headings below.

Finally

– using your criteria, decide if each option will have a

positive (+), negative (-), or neutral (N) outcome and place one of these symbols under each

criteria. This should clearly indicate which option is best.

Options (transfer from previous section)

Qualitative

Quantitative

Qualitative or

Quantitative

Example:

Employee

morale

Example:

Cost

Example:

Ability to meet

organizational

outcomes

1.

Transfer your options from the section

above.

+

–

+

2.

3.

8.

Analyze and Explain

Preferred Alternative

(apply course concepts and provide in-text

citations to support your thinking, APA format)

Explain why you chose the option that you did and how this will address the issue. Apply course

concepts from the text and other sources throughout this explanation to support your thinking; use

in-text citations.

9.

Action and Implementation Plan –

explain how, when and where you will implement your plan of

action. This is the critical step of putting words and thoughts into action.

Who

What

When

Where

How (details)