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Case Studies

Is not wisdom
based on being 
well informed?
Plato, 360 BCE Greek

• Case studies ◄
• Seven stages of writing assignments
• Presenting your positive image/brand
• Public speaking
• Presenting projects/speeches
• Writing research papers
• Citing websites

What:  Case studies *

• are written summaries or syntheses of real-life cases
  based upon data and research
• require you to isolate and think through the key issues involved
  against both theory and the larger comparative environment
• identify appropriate strategies for the resolution of the 'case'
• weigh the pros and cons of the remedial options/strategies
• recommend and present a rationale for the best resolution

How:  The process of developing a case study:

• Define the objective of the case study
  
• Identify the important players within the organization,
  the "stakeholders"
• Identify other target groups of the organization,
  whether clients or suppliers
  
• State the official mission of the organization studied
• State the historical mission of the organization
• State the understood mission of the stakeholders in the organization
• Scale the importance of stakeholders, whether in decision-making or effect of consequences
  
• Outline the formal decision-making process
• Note informal decision-making processes
  
• Identify the process of production or service delivery
• Identify support mechanisms
• Identify competitors

What is the organizational context of the profession or of competitors?

• State the major problem
• State subsequent problems and implications
  
• State the role of management
• State the role of production/service providers
  

• Identify strategic issues
  
• Identify decisions needed to be made
  
• Identify risk factors
• Identify historical precedents
  

• Define remedial options
• Compare options as regards pros and cons, theory, risk factors
• Make your recommendation and justify
  

• Write an executive summary focusing on key elements

See also Organizing group projects

* definition adapted from Alternative Modes of Teaching and Learning, Case Studies, the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.   http://www.csd.uwa.edu.au/altmodes/to_delivery/casestudy.html

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