Case Report Guidelines

The purpose of this write up is to help someone to make an informed

decision about the question in the case. Take the perspective that the reader
is your supervisor. That person is busy and wants to quickly understand the
key points about the company and the most important factors that should
affect the decision. Include all points that the reader must know to make a
good decision and exclude all the points that do not help the decision maker.
Each report must have the following sections:
1- Introduction: Briefly describe the company and the main question you
want to answer in the case. This section should not be more than a
paragraph.
2- Body: This is the main section where you present your analysis of the
case. Use multiple paragraphs. Refer to numbers in your supporting
documents to support your arguments. The write-up should flow
naturally. You may use subtitles to organize your analysis.
3- Conclusion/Decision: Based on your analysis, recommend a decision for
the problem in the case. This section is typically one long paragraph or
two short paragraphs. Make sure that you explain how you come to
that conclusion based on your analysis.
4- Key Assumptions: List the important assumptions you made to solve
the case. Provide a brief explanation of the rationale for each
assumption.
5- Tables, spreadsheets, charts: All tables, spreadsheets and charts
should appear at the end. Remember that you should make very clear
references in your discussion to the numbers presented in this section.
All tables, spreadsheets, charts should be titled and numbered.
6- Explanatory Notes: In this section you should explain important
calculations you used in your analysis (especially in your tables,
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spreadsheets, charts). There is no page limit on this section. However,

you do not need to explain every number in your supporting
documents, but only the sophisticated calculations. The purpose of this
section is to document the calculations which are not easily understood
from the presented tables. For example you do not need show how you
calculate the typical financial ratios.

Make the analysis readable and professional. Use paragraphs. Do not

use bullet point format.

Connect your observations so the write-up flows naturally. Write in

complete sentences and use 12 point font, double spaced.

Numbers are important, not for themselves, but for what they tell us
about the business. Use numbers to support your statements and not
as an end themselves. Remember the decision maker wants to know

the whys.
Dont do the following: The net profit margin for the last two years
are 15.4% and 16.7%. The gross profit margin has gone from 34.5% to
37.5%. This approach presents data without providing any judgmental

insight to the reader.

Limit your analysis to two to three pages excluding any supporting
documents such as graphs, spreadsheet analysis, key assumptions and

notes. Staple pages before submitting.

Case write up is a graded individual assignment; therefore you may not
receive any help from anyone else. Giving or receiving help is a
violation of the academic honesty policies as discussed in the course

syllabus.
Your analysis is due at the beginning of the scheduled class via
blackboard turnitin function. Only electronic submissions will be
accepted. A computer or printer problem will not be an acceptable
reason for a late submission. Make sure that you back up your files and

allow plenty of time for meeting the deadline.

Write the full name and the title of the case on your write ups.
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