Case Write up Instructions
In addition to in-class contribution, you will be required to submit two case write ups. You can complete these write ups for any 2 cases of your choosing. These write ups will provide a thoughtful analysis of the case questions and formulate recommendations. Write ups should be approximately 500 words and must be submitted prior to the start of class for the case selected. These write ups are graded on a check, check plus and check minus basis and factored into your overall class participation score: Check = acceptable Check + = above expectation Check – = below expectation
The cases we will cover typically fall into two categories:
1. The company is facing some problems and you are expected to diagnose the main problem and its root challenges so that you can offer solutions to address them.
2. The company decision maker is faced with the task of making a strategic decision and you are asked to make a recommendation based on the facts and other arguments in the case.
Your write up should take into consideration the questions that are asked about the case and what the goal of the case is in terms of diagnosing a problem or making a decision. Your write up should include three sections:
1. your position on the key question or the goal of the case.
2. key arguments made by you to support your position. 3. actions that you recommend for solving the problem and helping to implement the decision you support.
1. Your position In one or two paragraphs you should describe the main problem that the company faces and the list of root challenges that have led to this problem. This sets the expectation of the reader as to what your assessment of the overall case is and what you will elaborate on later in the paper in terms of arguments that have led you to this conclusion.
2. Argument supporting your position In this part you identify the cause(s) that led you to formulate your conclusion supported with evidence and facts found in the case. Evidence is more than just mere facts; it may take a few facts to arrive at evidence. For example, if a company’s sales are declining, its current assets are not sufficient to cover its current liabilities, and the firm is highly leveraged, further borrowing to diversify its product portfolio would not be advisable.
3. Recommended Actions In this section you start out by stating a goal. Next you will state specific actions needed to address each root challenge so that the firm can achieve that goal. Using a persuasive argument as to why a specific action can contribute to solving a challenge is also part of this section. Actions should be stated in steps that make logical sense starting with short-term steps, followed by the long- term steps.
post your write-up in the discussion Board under “Case Write-up 1” or “Case Write-up 2” by creating a thread using the name of the case as the title of the thread.
