Your essay may contain no more than 10% quotes from other sources. Paraphrase what you read instead of copying and pasting. You may not re-use work that you have submitted in previous classes. All work in this class must be original.
Essays that contain more than 50% unoriginal content will not earn any credit. Essays that contain between 10% - 49% unoriginal content will receive a substantial point deduction. Paraphrase instead of copying and pasting. Please note there is a difference between unoriginal content and plagiarism. Unoriginal content is correctly quoted and cited. Plagiarized sentences and paragraphs are not correctly quoted or cited. Plagiarism will result in an automatic zero for this assignment.
Format for Case Analysis: The Strategic Audit
There is no one best way to analyze or present a case report. Each instructor has personal preferences for format and approach. Nevertheless, in Appendix 12.B we suggest an approach for both written and oral reports that provides a systematic method for successfully attacking a case. This approach is based on the strategic audit, which is presented at the end of Chapter 1 inAppendix 1.A. We find that this approach provides structure and is very helpful for the typical student who may be a relative novice in case analysis. Regardless of the format chosen, be careful to include a complete analysis of key environmental variables—especially of trends in the industry and of the competition. Look at international developments as well.
If you choose to use the strategic audit as a guide to the analysis of complex strategy cases, you may want to use the strategic audit worksheet in Figure 12–1. Print a copy of the worksheet to use to take notes as you analyze a case. See Appendix 12.C for an example of a completed student-written analysis of a 1993 Maytag Corporation case done in an outline form using the strategic audit format. This is one example of what a case analysis in outline form may look like.
Case discussion focuses on critical analysis and logical development of thought. A solution is satisfactory if it resolves important problems and is likely to be implemented successfully. How the corporation actually dealt with the case problems has no real bearing on the analysis because management might have analyzed its problems incorrectly or implemented a series of flawed solutions.