Case Study Method

CASE STUDY METHOD

Dr. Rana SinghMBA(Gold Medalist), Ph. D.

www.ranasingh.org98 11 828 987

Singh_rana@yahoo.com

Introduction to Case Study Method

• Case study method is one of the most common methods of teaching in west and in many premier institutes in India.

• The instructor gives a Case document to the participants / students to study, analyze and discuss.

• This helps the students/participants in enhancing their reading, analytical, strategic planning and implementation skills and application of learning of domain knowledge in real life situations.

Why Case Study

• Cricket –Cricket Ground

• Swimming –Swimming Pool

• Hockey –Hockey Ground

• Cycling –Cycling Track

• Business –Business Organinzations

- and/Or Case studies of Business

organizations

Types of Case Studies

• Enterprise level case study• Organization level case study• Function level case study i.e. marketing, finance,

production, IT etc.• Success Story• Cases of Failures• Cases regarding mergers and acquisitions• Subject related case studies –Marketing,

Finance, HR, etc.

Advantages of Case Study Method

• Advantages are millions..To name a few..-Develops strong reading skills-Develops analytical skills-Develops logical thinking-Develops strategic planning skills-Facilitates learning regarding analysis of impact of

decisions taken-Facilitates enhanced domain learning eperience

Advantages

-Develops coherence in the thought processes

-Develops good communication skills

-Develops confidence and art of public speaking

-Develops all the skills and confidence that is required at the time of summer and final placements

-Develops thinking, planning and implementation skills

How to solve a case study

• Read, Read, Visualize, Realize and Analyze

• Think• Think about alternatives?• What went wrong?• Why did it happen?• What is to be done?• What should have been done?

How to solve a case study?

• Focus on the various data, graph and events.

• Find out the major reasons of success /failure.

• Focus on different types of Analysis

• SWOT Analysis, PEST Analysis, Financial Analysis, Ratio Analysis and any other.

Analysis

• Economic Analysis• Industry Analysis• Company Analysis• Financial Analysis• Analysis of Products and Services• Analysis of Strategy• Environmental Analysis –External and

Internal

Process of Case Analysis

• Reading the case• Jotting down / underlining / highlighting the key

facts, figures, events, strategies, success or failures.

• Analyzing the economy and the various dimensions of business environment

• Analyzing the Industry in which the company is operating

• Analyzing the various products and services.

Software Development Case Study

How the customers imagined it?

Software Development Case Study

How the customers described it?

Software Development Case Study

How the salesperson thought they wanted?

Software Development Case Study

How the salesperson told them it would be?

Software Development Case Study

How the architect designed it?

Software Development Case Study

How development believed the

Architect was describing?

Software Development Case Study

what development began to build ?

Software Development Case Study

what marketing envisioned and advertised?

Software Development Case Study

The deadline

Software Development Case Study

What the initial budget could buy?

Software Development Case Study

What happened when management realized what development was doing?

Software Development Case Study

The New Approach

Software Development Case Study

Portion of original code that can be used

Software Development Case Study

Development has a working prototype far behind schedule

Software Development Case Study

What the testers did to it?

Software Development Case Study

Development Cycle and Costs

Software Development Case Study

The final product after a few more iterations of the process

Software Development Case Study

How the project was documented?

Areas to focus

• Data, facts, and figures• Industry reports• Macro and micro-economic statistics• Company financials• Industry financials• Industry life cycle• Economic life cycle• Product life cycle • Other allied topic

Analysis of the case

• Analyse the facts

• Think on various alternatives

• Evaluate the various alternatives in the light of the various resource constraints

• Chalk out the financial implications

• Do the cost benefit analysis

• Chalk out the funding / financing possibilites.

Presentation of the case

• Make a good power point presentation• Support it with graphs and charts• Support it with statistical data and analysis• Present the recommended ideas, and solutions

and the preferably the concept note and detailed action plan.

• Recommend the various functional strategies • Recommend the precautions to be taken in the

process of implementation of your suggested solution

Solution (s)

• Remember that there may be multiple solutions to a case.

• Have an open mindset while presenting a solution.

• Your solution must not be affected by your pre-conceived notions about success or failure.

• Give solutions that are relevant and can be practically implemented.

Thank you!!!!