Over the next 2 weeks, you will examine a case study that demonstrates the effectiveness of different leadership approaches of two individuals in a company and will provide to the bus

How to Analyze a Business Case Study

Table of Contents

• What Is a Business Case Study?

• Why Use Case Studies in Business Courses?

• The Three Common Types of Business Cases

• Analyzing a Business Case Study

2© 2021 Walden University, LLC

What Is a Business Case Study?

• Business case studies present complex business issues. They are designed to turn real-world situations into teachable moments.

• The business situation in each case study is presented from multiple perspectives and highlights the interdependencies and non-linear nature of the information.

• Characteristics of a case study include:

• Identifying a significant issue, question, or dilemma

• Presenting comprehensive information to draw a conclusion

• Providing no objective conclusion, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusion(s)—just like in real life

• Presenting facts in a non-linear fashion, unlike a textbook that presents information in a logical or progressive method

3© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Why Use Case Studies in Business Courses?

• A business case study provides you with a controlled (safe) environment to discuss, practice, and apply the business skills presented to you throughout your course work.

• You can draw multiple conclusions from a case study, which simulates a real-life setting and allows you to present multiple solutions.

• There is typically no “right” decision, answer, or solution.

4© 2021 Walden University, LLC

The Three Common Types of Business Case Studies

• Decision Scenario Case

• In this type of case study, a critical decision is required, typically from the main character of the case study. After analyzing the case study, you would recommend what decision to make and explain why.

• Problem-Diagnosis Case

• In this type of case study, you would perform a comprehensive diagnosis that identifies the root cause of the problem described in the case and recommend corrective action.

• Evaluation Scenario Case

• In this type of case study, you would perform an in-depth evaluation to determine the pros and cons or strengths and weaknesses of the subject of the case study and then make appropriate recommendations.

5© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study

• A case study analysis is not merely a summary of the case. Instead, it is a systematic analysis of the evidence within the case in order to identify the dilemma and then develop recommendations to answer, mitigate, or resolve it.

• When asked to analyze a case study within your course work, you will typically be provided with assignment instructions and a list of questions and/or prompts to help guide your analysis. You should begin your case study analysis by carefully reviewing these requirements, along with accompanying rubrics or other guidelines, to understand the objective(s) of your analysis.

6© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study

• Important Disclaimer: The following slides provide some tips or guidelines for basic case study analysis. The purpose of each step described is to ensure you are equipped to analyze the information in the case in a way that will support your work on any academic case study assignments you encounter. The following guidance is not meant to replace or take precedence over any specific assignment instructions. You should always ensure that you adhere to the requirements for any assignments and use the information in this document for additional support.

7© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study

• Case study analysis can be broken down into the following five basic steps:

Step 1: Find and highlight the most important facts surrounding the case.

Step 2: Find the cause and effect of the dilemma.

Step 3: Consider the course(s) of action.

Step 4: Evaluate the alternative action(s) to answer, mitigate, or resolve the dilemma.

Step 5: Recommend the suggested course of action based on the evaluations (i.e., your best solution).

8© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study: Step 1

Find and highlight the most important facts surrounding the case.

• Read through the case several times to become familiar with the information it contains, paying attention to the information in any exhibits, tables, or figures. You may find that the case study provides a great amount of detailed information. As in real life, some of the information is more relevant than others in identifying the dilemma. Your job in this step is to determine what is relevant and what is not.

• As you read through the case, you may want to underline, highlight, and/or list the most important facts and/or figures that will help you understand and define the dilemma. You can assume all of the presented facts and figures in the case are true; however, some of the statements, judgments, and/or decisions made by individual characters may be questioned. (Remember, these are opinions and observations of individuals—just like in real life, they can be biased.) Note: It is good to compare and contrast individuals’ statements to help you determine facts.

9© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study: Step 2

Find the cause and effect of the dilemma.

• This is the main analysis step of the process. (Note: You will be applying many of your learned business knowledge and skills to help you to determine cause and effect of the identified dilemma.)

• In this step, you can use the facts you highlighted in the previous step to identify the key issue(s) of the case. As case studies may present multiple issues associated with the main dilemma, you will want to be able to identify the most relevant, always referring to the assignment instruction prompts and the business topic(s) being studied for guidance.

• Next, you should be able to understand how and why the dilemma occurred and how it affects the organization in the study. You may want to jot down some facts from the case to help you substantiate your position as part of your assignment. (Items to consider: Is this the result of management or leadership issues, technology issues, systems or process issues, market or external issues, etc.?)

10© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study: Step 3

Consider the course(s) of action.

• You may want to create a list of the actions that can be taken to answer, mitigate, or resolve the issue(s) that led to the identified dilemma. These actions should be validated, not only by the evidence within the case study but also through credible sources beyond the case study. Remember to consult your assignment instruction prompts and the business topic/skill being presented for guidance.

• Some questions to determine the course(s) of action might be:

• Are new technologies, business processes, organizational structures, or management behavior required?

• What changes to organizational processes would be required by each alternative?

• What management policy would be required to implement each alternative?

11© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study: Step 4

Evaluate the alternative action(s) to answer, mitigate, or resolve the dilemma.

• Evaluate each of the identified actions you listed in Step 3. Ask yourself: What would be the likely outcome if this corrective action were implemented?

• Identify the challenges/risks and benefits of each of the actions. Consider whether each action is feasible from a technical, operational, and financial standpoint. Be sure to note any assumptions on which you have based your decision and validate these assumptions.

12© 2021 Walden University, LLC

Analyzing a Business Case Study: Step 5

Recommend the suggested course of action based on the evaluations (i.e., your best solution).

• From your evaluation of your potential corrective actions, select your choice for the best action to be implemented and make some notes as to why you made this decision.

• Your final recommendation should flow logically from the rest of your case analysis and should clearly specify what assumptions were used to guide and shape your conclusion. (Remember, there is typically, by design, no single “right” answer.)

13© 2021 Walden University, LLC

References

• Ellet, W. (2007). The case study handbook : How to read, discuss, and write persuasively about cases. Harvard Business School Press.

• Wienstein, A., Brotspies, H. V., & Gironda, J. T. (2020). Do your students know how to analyze a case – Really? Harvard Business Publishing-Education.

14© 2021 Walden University, LLC