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The Cases MBA 620 - Economics of Strategy - Fall 2005 other pages welcome | course | syllabus | bistro | reports this page

Rather than structure the course around a textbook or a set of lectures, I'm structuring the course around your laptop. What do you need to know about using it? What do you need to be able to do with it in order to prosper in today's business organizations?

How to write a case

This is a great guide to help you in writing your cases.

 Here is the APA book official website; however, there is a $40. fee for access.            http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html

Other documentation styles of writing include APSA, CBE and MLA etc. Check out this reference site for general information about styles:

  http://www.wisc.edu/writetest/Handbook/Documentation.html

Case study guidelines

Our case study assignments follow the format described on this page. I found this format easy to use, and it helped me to prepare  more effective case studies.

Problem Definition

First you must establish a specific definition of the problem(s). While this may be clearly stated in the case, usually problem definition is the crucial first step in the analysis. You need to go beyond simple problem definition and look for symptoms as well. For example, as part of the analysis you might wonder why or how the defined problem has developed in the company. Avoid, however, a repetition of the case facts or a historical perspective. Assume that your reader has all the facts you do and choose reasoning that will serve to strengthen, rather than bloat, your problem definition.

Company Objectives

Once you have the problem, place it within the context of management’s objectives. How does the problem look in this light? Do the objectives make sense given the problems facing management?

In some cases objectives are defined explicitly, such as “increase stock price by 10 percent this year.”  If the problem in the case proves to be that company’s investor relations function is a disaster, this objective is probably overly optimistic. Goals can be more general as well: “Change from centralized to a decentralized communication organization in five years.” In this instance, a centralized department with independent managers at the divisional level has a good chance of meeting its objectives.

Data Analysis

You next need to analyze information presented in the case as a way of establishing its significance. Often this material appears in exhibits, but you will also find it stated within the case as fact or opinion. Remember to avoid blind acceptance of the data, no matter where they appear. As in the real world, information presented in the case may not be reliable or relevant. But you may find that by your manipulating or combining the data, they ultimately will prove valuable to your analysis. Given the time constraints you will always be under in case analysis and in business, you should avoid a natural tendency to spend more time than you can really afford analyzing the data. Try to find a compromise between little or no data analysis and endless number crunching.

Alternative Strategies and Recommendations

After you have defined the problem, identified company objectives, and analyzed relevant data, you are ready to present viable alternative strategies. Be sure the alternatives are realistic for the company under discussion given management’s objectives. In addition, you must consider the implications of each alternative for the company and management. 

Once you have developed two or three viable alternative solutions, you are ready to make a recommendation for future action. Naturally, you will want to support the recommendation with relevant information from your analysis, but you must then take the next step and explore ways to communicate all the information to your reader or listener

 References

Argenti, P. A. (1998).  Corporate Communication  (pp. xiv-xv).  McGraw-Hill Companies.

American Psychological Association. (2000). Publication Manual. Washington DC: Author

Case 1 

Our first case is Heublein Inc. This has several concerns. The case is all about strategy. What moves would you make. Analyze both companies financial position before you make any decision. Remember our discussion about Target/K-Mart/Wal-Mart when you analyze your long term strategy. Who will benefit? Who will lose? There is a lot to consider, read and dissect with precision. 

1. What is the financial condition of Heublein. Are they weak or strong? 

2. What are their strengths?  What are their weaknesses? Think this one through. This about more than just their product line. What is their current market share. 

3. How is Heublein positioned in the marketplace? What direction do you think their market is going. 

4. What about product lifecycles?

5. What or Who is Hamm's? Does their acquisition fit into Heublein's long term strategy? 

6. What is happening in the beer industry, the liquor industry. 

7. Would you buy Hamm's? If yes, Why? If not, Why not? What else would you consider buying  or diversifying into

We will need to write a three to five page evaluation of the case that shows an  insightful and concise evaluation of the case. We need to make sure that we do not simply regurgitate the basics but use our space wisely to provide a detailed and complete evaluation. Double Spaced.

Case 2

  Are we ready for the next one. Sharpen you pencils and lets go. This case is based on J.I. Case industries in the 60's. The events in the last year have helped me decide on this one. This is an excellent opportunity to use your analytical skills along with intuitive thinking. 

1. What is the current status of Case. What is their financial position?

2. What happened as a result of Mr. Brown's leadership?

3. Analyze Mr. Rojtman's performance. Could his plan have succeeded. 

4. Analyze the marketplace. 

5. Did Grede save or destroy Case? 

6. What would you have done???

Case 3

Wal-Mart 

1. What, historically has been Wal-Marts key source of competitive advantage in discount retailing?

2. How sustainable is Wal-Marts competitive advantage in discount retailing in 1986, in 2003 ?

3. Will Sam's Wholesale Club prove as big a success for Wal-Mart as its discount store?

4. How do explain Wal-Marts extraordinary performance in discount retailing?

Quantification? Analysis of Variances

By this point it should be clear that making lists is not going to advance the analysis very far. What is required is an analysis of summary economics, specifically the variances between Wal-mart and the "average" discounter.