What should be the approach while reading and solving a case study?
Always remember the more there are the pages of the case study the easier is to handle it.
Tips for solving a case study
There are three steps while reading a case study
1. Skimming
This is the first step in solving a case study. Pick out the important things in the case study. Always remember in this process the first one and half and last one and half pages are the most vital pages. The text in those pages will give clue to the issue and solution to the problem. It also includes, who, what, where, when.
2. Scanning
After you are done with skimming and now you have a brief idea about the case study, the problem at hand and probably possible solution. Scanning involves looking for key words or you can important words. For example
• Refer to exhibit or graph or figure – It is very imperative that you read that paragraph very carefully in which you find these kind of words
• Remember exhibits are very important as they give you clues for strategy recommendation.
3. Reading
Now comes the reading part. It is important that you must have three colored pens or pencils or highlighters in your hand. As you read highlight or mark important things using three different colors. E.g. use yellow color to mark facts, red for problem and blue for solutions or strategy. While highlighting one feels that everything is the case study is important however the use of three different colors will help in analyzing and thinking about the statement whether it is a fact, problem or solution.
Remember that case study is time bound and specific.
Now comes writing the solution to the case study.
There are five steps involved in this process.
1. Identify issues / problems
a. Major Problems
b. Minor Problems
List down the issues and briefly describe the issue in your own words.
What the problem is?
It is also very imperative that you mention detailed reference to each problem.
e.g pg #, Para #, line#
also mention that why in your opinion this is problem and about its existence. (give empirical evidence)
2. Identify possible alternatives for each problem. There should be atleast 3 possible alternatives.
Do not just state the alternatives but give a brief explanation let’s say minimum a paragraph.
3. Evaluate the alternatives
Write pros and cons of each alternative. Just list them down.
4. Recommend a strategy
Based on the evaluation of alternative recommend a strategy. This strategy could base on only one alternative or a mix of two or more. However, each strategy should be properly referenced with the issue. As which issue it addresses.
5. Implementation of Strategy
Last but not the least step in the process is the procedure or the way the strategy would be implemented. This steps addresses the “how” of the strategy.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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