A case analysis is to be a maximum of 2 pages single spaced 12 pt.(90% of your HBR Case Analysis grade) plus ‘Case Analysis Worksheet’ (10% of your HBR
Case Analysis grade) which can be downloaded from The Case Analysis Coach (HBP). You have to use the Case Analysis Worksheet to write your case and
submit it with your two-page case analysis. I posted an “Executive Summary Format for Case Analyses” to give you an idea of the case analysis format in
Blackboard in the course material. You must use the format in the file for your HBR case analysis. All submitted documents should be in MS word format or
PDF format. All reports are to be submitted digitally to Blackboard assignments. Email attachments and paper submissions are not acceptable/reliable (get
lost in spam etc.). A case analysis should have a cover page. If you create multiple files, please merge the files before submission (e.g., copy Excel file into
MS Word file). Please name your file as follows: case name_student last name_First name. Please do not forget to write your name on your case analysis.
HBR Case Analysis Expectations Please think of the two-page write-up as a document you would give to your CEO and board members. The goal of all of
these cases is for you to simulate being real managers, making real decisions, for real cases. PLEASE DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE CASE!! You can assume
that your reader knows the case well. You need to identify a problem(s) in the case and provide solutions for the case. In this analysis using Executive
Summary format, I want you to make a hard decision with logics and rationales. You will be able to identify many problems that Chase encounters. It is very
typical to have multiple issues/problems in an organization. You, as a manger, need to prioritize the problems. You do not have to work on all the problems
that you identified but you will need to demonstrate that you can identify a fundamental problem or most important/urgent problem that needs to be
addressed and come up with alternative strategies (three strategies are sufficient) for the problem that you try to solve with logic. 8 After you explore
alternative strategies to solve the problem, you need to choose only one or two strategies with logic/rationals because a firm/manager cannot implement all
the possible strategies as you know due to lack of resources. When managers make a decision in any business, they use logics/rationale. You need to
persuade your boss that your chosen strategy is the most effective and efficient among the alternative strategies that you explored. There are no clear right
and wrong strategies/recommendations. Still, some strategies/recommendations are well supported by facts/data/theories/concepts, and most people
agree on the strategy. A good case analysis would be a coherent two-page memo clearly articulating the management decision and the logic supporting the
decision/recommendations, along with the important management issues to consider. An excellent write-up would, in addition, articulate relevant
management insights that are not obvious. It is not necessary to include detailed background on the firm in your analysis, only relevant background
supporting your decision. The most important is that you make a decision – the great thing about the MBA program is that it is a place to learn safely, and
the right or wrong answer is not as important as the process you used to come to a decision. A good case analysis (‘A’ grade case analysis) a. is focused and
purpose delineated at the beginning and reiterated at the end. b. has clear and good overall report structure; well-constructed paragraphs and sections with
clear and logical transitions. c. demonstrates clear understanding of the topic and facility with knowledge of the topic beyond surface learning. d. expertly
advances thesis with well-reasoned arguments and appropriate support. e. has appropriate and complete list of references, fully cited in text; appropriate
amount of quotations used to support argument f. is a grammatically-correct report with proper punctuation, good sentence structure, and clear and proper
choices of words/terminology; free of misspellings and typos. g. avoids summarizing the case facts or storyline. Assume that the reader knows this
information and strive to go beyond that to analyze, using case concepts, what is going on. This often takes an additional draft (or more) of your analysis. h.
is as concise and direct as possible. Introductory statements or prefaces to answers should be limited. Get to the point. i. applies core concepts from the
text, lectures, readings and discussions and provides the reader with options or a framework after clarifying the facts. j. Speaks the “Marketing” language,
expressing your thoughts using the concepts, terms, phrases, vocabulary, and ideas of the course. To achieve all of these, you need to read the case and
review your course notes and readings. Ask yourself, “What concepts from these readings and materials could I apply to this case? What 9 framework could I
use to interpret or explain what’s occurring? How can I express what’s going on in the language of Marketing?” When you need to identify strengths and
weaknesses or to assess effectiveness, ask yourself, “What concepts or tools have I learned that would help me assess the extent to which something is
effective or not?” You should plan on drafting and redrafting. Good writing is rewriting. Simply assume that it will take several attempts to be able to express
your thoughts in the language of the course and to do it well.
Sample Solution
