UNDER GUIDANCE FROM

WHY CASE STUDIES ARE REQUIRED FOR

MBA STUDENTS
balance theory

Case studies present realistic situations,

allowing students to with practice.

The is an account of an administrative problem or situation in a or organisation.

case study

real imagined

 A good case is the vehicle by which a chunk of reality is brought into the classroom to be worked over by the class and the instructor. A good case keeps the class discussion grounded upon some of the stubborn facts that must be faced in real life situations.

 It is the record of complex situations that must be literally pulled apart and put together again before the situations can be understood. It is the target for the expression of attitudes or ways of thinking brought into the classroom.

case study may include :

Additional information necessary to place the scenario in context
analysis of possible solutions or actions arising from the situation.

The case study puts the you in the problem solvers shoes.

How can
problems

case study help you

identifying and recognising understanding and interpreting data thinking analytically and critically

exercising and making

judgments

communicating ideas and

understanding and assessing interpersonal relationships

opinions

making and defending decisions.

USING CASE STUDIES

Class Discussion
Interviews

Role Play

Assignments

THE LIFESPAN OF A CASE STUDY

Case studies can quickly become obsolete.

Ex:-A case based on issues of computer technology will not be a useful once that technology has been superseded.

Case Study Topics

Organisational framework
Facility and resource management

Records management

Acquisition and collection development

ELEMENTS OF A CASE STUDY

One scenario or several, and it may take many forms, From a traditional paper-based document to films, videos or audio recordings.

Elements of a Case Study

Introduction Overview/analysis Status report Case problems Appendices

Introduction
Defines the problem to be examined Explains the parameters or limitations of the situation.

Overview/analysis
Provides a scenario of the situation and offers more detail about the various players in the
scenario, including the organisation, its employees or other people involved with the issue in question. In complex case studies, the overview and analysis may be presented separately

Status report
describes the organisations actions, on the matter. It may include statements from managers or employees about their intentions for resolving the issue.

Case problems
The status report may end with one or two case problems, which require the learner to analyse or solve a particular question.

Case problems generally take one of three forms:

Give a situation and ask learners what they would do next.
Set a task, such as asking learners to prepare a report recommending an action for review by a key official. Illustrate a scenario and ask learners to analyse the faults and recommend how it should have been

handled.

APPENDICES
The case study may include as many appendices as necessary to ensure learners
understand the case scenario and have the necessary information to solve the case

problems,
and so on

including exhibit

copies of

documents, charts, technical specifications

Tips for Resolving the Case Problem

Identify the key players, factors and issues in the case. Tease out the underlying problems, prioritise
them, then identify resources and gather information pertinent to addressing them.

Tips for Resolving the Case Problem

Identify and analyse the various options, perhaps using a SWOT type analysis: For example, the Director sees his options as follows: submit a proposal for revision to the existing system; submit a proposal for development of a new system;

Tips for Resolving the Case Problem

Are there other constructive options he hasn't considered? Do you have to consider all of them in equal detail? Make and justify appropriate recommendations. Decide the best way to present the research and its findings in three pages.