Analysing business case studies is an essential part of every B-school management curriculum. These cases present hypothetical or real scenarios for students to ponder over and analyse. Business case studies bridge the gap between theoretical training and real-world application.
The most well-known case studies help students hone their decision-making abilities. The more case studies you solve, the better you understand how the market works. Business case studies spark discussion and critical thinking in students. They give you deeper insights into the internal workings of an organisation.
Management students are always on the lookout for detailed case studies for practice. Here is a list of thetop business case studiesthat every management student must know about.
Workplace Misconduct Case Study
Workplace conduct varies from company to company. However, there are a few standard practices that every organisation must follow. The law of the state decides these regulations. Every enterprise must adhere to these rules
Drug abuse and misconduct fall under this category. Inthis case study, students read about a particular employee who conducts defied the regulations of the workspace. This specific study discusses an instance where Amber, an administrative assistant, is accused of drug abuse within the office premises.
Amber is a top-performing employee who slowly but surely shows signs of decline in the workspace. Her performance falls drastically as she shows signs of irritation when dealing with clients. Later, one of her colleagues catches her injecting drugs.
The crux of the study is to highlight ways in which the management can deal with this misconduct. It also discusses how the administration could prevent this incident.
Five business case studies every management student must know
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Army Crew Team Study
The Army Crew Team studyis an excellent example of how a team functions within an organisation. The crux of the case study is to prove how a team is a sum of its parts. The scenario is set when a rowing coach decided to check the efficiency of two groups.
A group of rowers, all trained and qualified, were divided into two teams. Competition between these two teams revealed some excellent results. The case study highlights the individual contribution of each member
Teamwork is more about integrating everyone’s efforts than unique talents. However, at the same time, a single member’s efforts cannot be discredited. What you need is a balance between these two opposing factions.
Other than that, the case study also provides insights into the conflicts and ego-clashes within the team. This paints a layered and realistic picture, giving you a fair idea of how people work in groups.
Malden Mills Case Study
Malden Mills case studyis another great case study that professors love to discuss in their business studies lectures. Here the study outlines how a prudent business decision directly affects the productivity and profit of the company.
The 1995 fire at Malden Mills led to significant risk on the workforce. The company had only recently recovered from bankruptcy, and the fire incident further set things back. However, instead of sacking the employees, the CEO at Malden decided to reward them in full for the upcoming month
This business decision, though unwise for most, was the right thing to do. However, contrary to popular belief, this act of goodness did not end up with a happily-ever-after. Instead, the company faced further lawsuits as it was unable to clear its debts.
The case study highlights a great problem for business students- the decision between morality and practicality in any venture.
Starbucks Expansion Strategy Study
This is a classiccase studyto discuss the perils of unplanned and sudden expansion strategies. It focuses on the importance of market research and how it can change the face of a brand. Starbucks, a popular name in the beverage industry, reported a loss in revenue post-global expansion.
Starbucks, back in the day, was a niche that offered customers an exclusive blend and ambience. The cosy café spaces, free internet connection and unique flavours were an instant hit among customers. However, with time, the brand started to expand in the market
This led to a decline in the quality of services and the niche they offered. The case study tries to decode the reasons why the brand failed in modern-day business management.
Tylenol’s 1982 Scandal Study
Tylenol faced a considerable scandal back in 1982 where several customers in Chicago died after consuming the tablet. As per the investigation, there were traces of cyanide found in the medicine. This caused a drastic fall in the market share from 37% to 7%. Also, the brand faced an overall loss of $100 million
The company, Johnson & Johnson immediately launched a campaign to rectify the brand image. It pulled the brand off the market, releasing a public apology and relaunched it later. Over time, the brand covered its losses.
The case studyfocuses on the damage control methods used by the company to save its public image effectively.
Teamwork is more about integrating everyone’s efforts than unique talents
How to crack a business case study
Case studies are a staple for management students. It is an essential aspect of their curriculum, connecting their theoretical learning with practical examples. Most case studies pick from real-life business ventures and conundrums.
Business case studies allow you to review specific marketing cases rationally. The more case studies you read, the better you can follow the basic format to solving them. Here is a stepwise guide to cracking business case studies. Read on to know more.
Structuring a case study
Let’s clarify a few things before we begin to talk about case studies. Everycase study follows a standard structure. It starts with an introduction where you read about the background of the brand.
The main body is where the conflict or issue is discussed. The reader finds most of the facts about the company and the core problems here. Business management case studies usually cover HR problems, internal issues, and marketing decisions.
The conclusion usually ties the loose ends together for a proper resolution. I suggest students put forth their arguments and hypothesis in the main body. The concluding paragraphs are where you discuss your understanding of the topic.
Building a hypothesis
The hypothesis is a logical construct wherein you put forth your theory to prove or disprove the argument. It is a statement used to predict the outcome of the discussion, based on the variable information given in the case study.
A hypothesis is always structured around the points mentioned in the case study. Note that the theory is different from a question or interrogative statement.Building a hypothesisfrom scratch is quite simple, provided you have problem statement to back it up with.
Cause, effect, and rationale are the three distinct elements of any given hypothesis. The cause is the primary reason for directing the actions of the brand. The effect refers to the consequences that follow. And the rationale is the justification you provide to explain these events.
Pick your approach
There are different ways to approach a business case study. Read the case study two to three times to absorb the core meaning and issues mentioned in it. With multiple readings, you understand how the case study eventually unfolds.
Collect all the information you find as and when you read them. This makes data analysis and sorting easier. It also helps you paint a more holistic picture of the case- giving you more insights into the business environment.
Recording and analysing facts
The first thing you do is set the case in an appropriate context. The socio-political context, economic stability and other factors determine how well/wrong the brand does. In the case study analysis, you need to mention these details.
Setting the background gives the reader more context into why the company took the said decisions. No business can exist in isolation. Every venture contributes to and is affected by its business environment.
Try to find set patterns and tendencies in the case study. Most case studies require a personal approach where the student is free to have a subjective take on the issue. However, note that all your solutions need logical explanations. All you have to do is justify your arguments using data present in the case study.
Wrapping up
The concluding paras of the case study analysis are where you reinstate your arguments. It gives you the space to remind the reader of your argument. Here you can even discuss the future or potential of the company in question.
Most case studies come with a set of questions. Ensure that you address all these questions in detail before putting in your interpretation. The conclusion doesn’t necessarily have to be definitive. You can keep it open-ended, giving the reader the freedom to interpret it any way they want.
Citations and annotations
A case study analysis always includes references to other studies and papers. Students need to refer to other scholarly works and research to justify their arguments. Ensure that all these sources are correctly cited.
Now, there arefour main ways to cite a source– MLA, APA, Harvard, and Chicago. I recommend APA and Harvard in-text referencing style for stat-based works. Consult your peers and professors about the referencing form to avoid any last-minute hassles.
Quick links and references
Citation generator-Citethisforme
Top business case studies featured in Harvard.
FAQs
How do you answer a case study question in business studies? ›
...
Three answers are possible in this case.
- Time study, to be explained.
- Motion study, to be explained.
- Simplification, to be explained.
- STEP 1: READ THE CASE STUDY AND QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. • ...
- STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE ISSUES IN THE CASE STUDY. ...
- STEP 3: LINK THEORY TO PRACTICE. ...
- STEP 4: PLAN YOUR ANSWER. ...
- STEP 5: START WRITING YOUR CASE STUDY ANSWER. ...
- STEP 6: EDIT AND PROOFREAD. ...
- STEP 7: SUBMIT.
- Read and Examine the Case Thoroughly. Take notes, highlight relevant facts, underline key problems.
- Focus Your Analysis. Identify two to five key problems. ...
- Uncover Possible Solutions/Changes Needed. Review course readings, discussions, outside research, your experience.
- Select the Best Solution.
START STUDYING WELL IN ADVANCE
Most of the students think that Business Studies can be managed at last which is a wrong practice. You should start your studies well in advance so that you can relate each topic with the practical scenario and think over the application of the topic.
Make relevant recommendations in your responses. Here you need to make very clear as well logical recommendations and justify them. Always plan the writing time for your case study assignment paper. Still, give more emphasis to the necessary and relevant point's rate than the less important ones.
Where can I find free case study answers? ›- BusinessEthics.ca. ...
- Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative -- Case Studies. ...
- Ethics Unwrapped. ...
- Knowledge@Wharton. ...
- Merlot OER Case Studies. ...
- MIT LearningEdge Case Studies. ...
- SHRM Case Studies (Human Resources) ...
- World's Best Case Studies.
- Start with a clear headline. This should be like a newspaper headline that gives the most important information. ...
- Provide a snapshot. ...
- Introduce the client. ...
- State the problem, consequences, & hesitations. ...
- Describe the solution. ...
- Share the results & benefits. ...
- Conclude with words of advice and a CTA.
Types of Case Studies
Researchers might study a group of people in a certain setting or look at an entire community. For example, psychologists might explore how access to resources in a community has affected the collective mental well-being of those living there.
- Be brief and convey only the essentials.
- Make it interesting, clear, and concise.
- Eliminate conjecture and minimize jargon.
- Describe your vision of the future.
- Demonstrate the value and benefits the project brings to the business.
- Ensure consistent style and readability.
- Ditch the norm. You've seen that tired, old case study template a million times: ...
- Show the cost of inertia. A more useful approach is to spell out how much not solving their problem could eventually cost. ...
- Prove your value. ...
- Create a more effective format.
How do you complete a case study? ›
...
- Step 1: Select a case. ...
- Step 2: Build a theoretical framework. ...
- Step 3: Collect your data. ...
- Step 4: Describe and analyze the case.
- Don't have over expectations about your case studies. ...
- Find something interesting to engage readers. ...
- Make your case study for the target audience. ...
- Follow the right structure in your document. ...
- Use relevant data in your case study. ...
- Draw your company or service as a helping hand.
Conclusion: Inform the reader precisely why your case study and your findings are relevant, restate your thesis and your main findings. Give a brief summary of previous case studies you reviewed and how you contributed to the expansion of current knowledge.
How can I study smart in business studies? ›- Step #1: Create Effective Study Notes.
- Step #2: Chunk Your Knowledge.
- Step #3: Create Mind Maps.
- Step #4: Commit to Regular Practice.
- Make a list of important terms, concepts, and ideas.
- Look for summaries in the textbook.
- Make more notes as you go.
- Make use of mind maps, charts, and graphs.
- Teach a friend.
- Review your important terms lists.
- Study out of order.
- Take practice tests.
You don't get more marks by writing long answers, but you waste your time. Divide your time between very short and long answers so that you don't run out of time while attempting the last questions. 6) Attempt all questions: You should write and explain whatever you know rather than leaving out the question completely.
What Are case study questions? ›What are case study questions? Case study questions are business-oriented situations or challenges presented during the interview for which candidates have to provide solutions. These questions assess a candidate's business acumen, analytical skills and problem-solving capabilities.
What is a case study in management? ›A case study, in a business context is a report of an organization's implementation of something, such as a practice, a product, a system or a service. The case study can be thought of as a real-world test of how the implementation works, and how well it works.
How do you analyze a strategic management case study? ›- Identify the most important facts surrounding the case.
- Identify the key issue or issues.
- Specify alternative courses of action.
- Evaluate each course of action.
- Recommend the best course of action.
- AsiaCase.com.
- Business Case Studies.
- Business Ethics Case Analyses.
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Case studies.
- Case Centre. ...
- Highlighted Cases and Case Studies. ...
- Marketing Case Studies. ...
- MaRS.
How do I find a case study topic? ›
A good way to locate case studies is to do a keyword search in one or more of the library's databases or try searching using the Everything search in the library website. Try adding case study or case studies to your search. Examples: case study AND environmental remediation.
Where can I find case studies online? ›Finding Case Studies on the Free Web
There are a few noteworthy sites that provide free online access to case studies, including: MIT Sloan School of Management LearningEdge Case Studies. The New York Times Case Studies. The Case Centre - Free Case Collections.
- Summarise the your task.
- Briefly outline the case to identify its significance.
- State the report's aim(s).
- Provide the organisation of the main ideas in the report.
- Briefly describe the key problem and its significance (You usually do not need to provide details of findings or recommendations.
While the guidelines and template contain much detail, your finished case study should be only 500 to 1,500 words in length.
What is case study easy words? ›What is a case study? A case study is a research approach that is used to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in its real-life context. It is an established research design that is used extensively in a wide variety of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences.
What are the 3 methods of case study? ›He has helpfully characterised three main types of case study: intrinsic, instrumental and collective[8]. An intrinsic case study is typically undertaken to learn about a unique phenomenon.
What is a simple case study? ›a case study can be defined as an intensive study about a person, a group of people or a unit, which is aimed to generalize over several units'.1 A case study has also been described as an intensive, systematic investigation of a single individual, group, community or some other unit in which the researcher examines in ...
What does a good business case look like? ›A good business case will explain the problem, identify all the possible options to address it, and allow decision-makers to decide which course of action will be best for the organisation. It will also allow any changes to the scope or time-scale of the project to be assessed against the original purpose.
What are the 5 essential elements of a great case study? ›- (1) A time- and issue-bounded dilemma.
- (2) Explanations of issues and concepts.
- (3) A story, with vivid characters and moments.
- (4) Data and other information.
- (5) Scenarios that lead in different directions.
Again, there are generally three parts: 1) restate POV + meta-statement regarding observations; 2) specific observations and their implications; 3) implications for future research and/or design.
What are the 6 parts of case study? ›
- Preparation. Just like with any study, it's important to first prepare to conduct the case analysis. ...
- Introduction. ...
- Background information. ...
- Proposed solutions. ...
- Recommendations. ...
- Review.
Using yourself as a case study in your nonfiction book can be a great way to bring your messages to life, especially if your book is about personal development or business advice. When you're sharing a true story of your own, you don't need to gain anyone else's permission to use the material.
How long do case studies last? ›Most academic case studies last at least 3–6 months, and many of them continue for years. You may be limited by your research funding or the length of your degree program, but you should allow a few weeks to conduct the study at the very least. Design your research strategy in detail.
What are the 5 problem solving techniques? ›- Step 1: Identify the Problem.
- Step 2: Generate potential solutions.
- Step 3: Choose one solution.
- Step 4: Implement the solution you've chosen.
- Step 5: Evaluate results.
- Next Steps.
- Begin your statement with the ideal situation. Here you will describe the ideal outcome. ...
- Explain the current reality and clearly outline the problem. ...
- Explain and quantify the consequences of the problem. ...
- Propose possible solutions. ...
- Conclude with a summary.
Include Real Numbers
To create a stronger case study, use clear, direct numbers. Share exactly how much your increased traffic, revenue, or whatever goals matter to your customers. This makes your case study more believable and helps build trust in your brand. You want your case study to be as precise as possible.
Case studies usually follow a typical story structure, which means they have a beginning, middle, and end. Think of them as a “before and after” snapshot of a customer's business – complete with quotes, statistics, and images. Business case studies are often created by the marketing team and given to the sales team.
How do you write an introduction? ›Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order: An opening hook to catch the reader's attention. Relevant background information that the reader needs to know. A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.
How do you start a conclusion paragraph? ›The conclusion paragraph should begin by restating your thesis, and then you should broaden back out to a general topic. End with a closing statement. This paragraph looks like the reverse of your introduction paragraph, going from specific to general.
What is summary of case study? ›Case studies are stories that contain a particular management problem or decision that needs to be made. They are usually very detailed and contain information about key stakeholders, organizational processes, products, markets, financials, and so on.
How do you read a business case study? ›
- Identify the most important facts surrounding the case. Read the case several times to become familiar with the information it contains. ...
- Identify the key issue or issues. ...
- Specify alternative courses of action. ...
- Evaluate each course of action. ...
- Recommend the best course of action.
- Follow Up With Another Question. ...
- Explain That You Don't Have All The Information. ...
- Invite People Into Your Thought Process. ...
- Share How You Intend To Find The Answer. ...
- Bring Humor To The Situation. ...
- Give A Timeframe For Closing The Loop. ...
- Stay In Control Of The Narrative. ...
- Be Authentic With What You Do Know.
A business case provides justification for undertaking a project, programme or portfolio. It evaluates the benefit, cost and risk of alternative options and provides a rationale for the preferred solution.
What is a business case in an interview? ›A case interview is defined as “a hypothetical business situation that is presented during the job interview process to determine how a candidate thinks about a particular problem and how they would solve it.”
How do you start a case study essay? ›- Introduction. Introduce the main purpose of the case study and briefly outline the overall problem to be solved.
- Description. Write a brief description of the case under discussion giving an outline of the main issues involved. ...
- Discussion. ...
- Conclusion / Recommendations.
A case study example could be that a researcher wants to study the onset of severe anxiety by a teenager following a natural disaster. This is an example of an explanatory case study, as the researcher will explain that the anxiety was a direct cause of the natural disaster.
How do you memorize a case study? ›A case study on one side
Condensing information onto one side of A4 or A3 is a really useful way of streamlining the case study and making it easier for a student to memorise. Writing out the notes forces the student to read (and hopefully process) the material which reinforces learning.
- Make a suggestion or a recommendation. Be decisive and be clear about which option you have chosen.
- Give an argument to support your decision. ...
- This should be another point supporting your decision. ...
- Give a counter-argument.
In 5 mark questions you usually have to explain the improtance of a business concept, often in a specific context. For example, you may need to explain how the better management of both trade payables and trade receivables can improve cash flow. To secure all 5 marks you will need to effectively explain both factors.
How do you answer a 3 mark question? ›How to Answer a 3 Mark Question (+ Example) - YouTube
How do you write a good business case? ›
To present the strongest possible strategic case, outline the business problem to be solved, detail the scope of what you are trying to achieve, and describe the benefits and risks. Explain how a particular process, if successful, would contribute positively to the business overall.
What makes a good business case? ›A good business case will explain the problem, identify all the possible options to address it, and allow decision-makers to decide which course of action will be best for the organisation. It will also allow any changes to the scope or time-scale of the project to be assessed against the original purpose.
What are the 3 main purpose of a business plan? ›The 3 most important purposes of a business plan are 1) to create an effective strategy for growth, 2) to determine your future financial needs, and 3) to attract investors (including angel investors and VC funding) and lenders.
How do you pass a case study interview? ›- Understand the issue; ask clarifying questions as needed.
- Identify the underlying assumptions.
- Summarize specific issues and findings.
- State your recommendations.
- Outline next steps and expected results/impacts.
You might be allowed to use a calculator in the screening tests, but you definitely can't use a calculator during your case interview.
What should I expect in a case study interview? ›Most case interviews are conducted face-to-face with the interviewer or a panel. Your case will be given to you either verbally or in writing, and you'll be required to describe the assumptions, strategies and steps you're using to solve the case out loud within a designated time frame.