Case Author _______________________________________________________

Hush Puppies Case Requirements

(This template is for HP, but you can also use the main principles in developing the other case/s, just with different theory/slides. Theory from Chapter 8 is to be used for
the BRB case and theory from Chapters 12 and 13 is to be used for the Suji case for graduate students)
Title page (not paginated) with case name, date of submission and author name (only point loss Nicely done: good graphics
is possible here)
Nicely done: no page number

Title page should not have a page number and should not be the first page of your
paper: the first substantive page of the paper should begin “Introduction: Catchy
Title”

You might add some graphics to the title page to better “market” your paper

Do not include a table of contents

Paginated (page numbers added; no page number on title page; lower right, plain for page Nicely done
number placement/style) (only point loss is possible here)
Page numbers should be at lower right corner, plain
Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman, font size 12, white space issues; margins should be Well done
set at narrow (only point loss is possible here)
Major white space issues

Incorrect font

Incorrect font size

Headings not size 12

Don’t use italics

Narrow margins not used

Outline format improperly used

Do not insert page breaks between sections

Typos are an issue

Be careful to have all paragraphs indented to one tab in

Sloppy presentation overall

Use of four interesting major headings with proper Roman numerals and good titles (I., II., III., Nicely done: interesting titles, properly presented that provide structure to the
IV.) (only point loss is possible here): your first, second, etc headings, for example: I. paper and alert the reader as to what major topic is being presented
Introduction: The Greatest Idea Ever, II. Alternative Solutions: Now What?...
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 Headings should help the reader understand what the section is about

Boring/unimaginative

Too many headings

Too many subheadings

Improper numbering/format

Do not use notations such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2…for headings
NO use of first or second person (only point loss is possible here) Well done

Too much use of first person

Use of the word you or your

Good grammar is critically important: use the Writing Center for help Well done

Bring it to the Writing Center

Make sure you use the right tense

Make sure you have a match with verbs/nouns regarding the singular or the plural

Sloppy presentation overall

Proper capitalization (only point loss is possible here) Well done

Improper capitalization
Proper treatment of numbers as numerals or words (only point loss is possible here) Well done

Improper presentation of numbers as numerals

Appropriate paragraph length (only point loss is possible here) Well done

Some “paragraphs” are too short

Some paragraphs are too long

Appropriate use of charts, tables, graphs, appendixes Well done

Use more of these to better “market” your paper

Be sure that your graphics are pertinent to your point

Graphics are too big: include in the appendix

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 Graphics are not properly cited to

Graphics are not presented with the wrap-around function

Use less of these: it looks like you are trying to artificially lengthen the paper
Appropriate sourcing and source organization Well done
See instructions in the syllabus/style requirements
*Using poor/no outside sources will lose you major points or more if plagiarism is involved, i.e., In your text, make sure that you properly reference any appendixes you might
disciplinary charges will be brought include at the end of the document

Direct quotes not cited to

Paraphrased information not cited to

Numbers or information that is not common knowledge not cited to

Quotation format improperly done

Case not cited to

Graphics, tables, exhibits, etc. not cited to

Failure to properly cite all information that has a number in it or that is not
common knowledge is grounds for plagiarism

Overuse of direct quotes, particularly lengthy ones: this means you did not write
the paper if there are just strings of quotes, long or short
I. Introduction: Something Catchy Worth 20 points

Immediately alert the reader as to what you are presenting: a strategic plan to further the Well done
business goals of Hush Puppies; let the reader have some idea of what this case is about: why
you are telling us all this, i.e., the management team has been charged with developing a Much longer than about a fourth of the paper
strategic plan for …
Failure to properly introduce what this exercise is about
Factual recitation
Failure to summarize the alternatives so that they are identifiable as separate
Issue definition: for example, remember that Hush Puppies is a strategic planning case; alternatives
summarize slides 153-156 here; you will provide a much deeper knowledge/application of
strategic planning in II. Make sure from the start that your alternatives are well-defined: that will help in
the other sections, too
Summary of alternatives: this should go at the end of this section, after which you need just a bit
of info to lead into the next section; make sure that you specifically and individually define each Failure to include a brief summary of the appropriate theory
alternative

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 Make sure that your alternatives are presented in the same order each time you
present them/something related to them

Don’t confuse the issue (strategic planning) with the alternatives

II. Alternative Presentation: Something Catchy Worth 50 points

Lead into this section by briefly referencing what you are doing, i.e., generating a strategic plan;
for example, a brief review of the theory from slide 139 might be good here, perhaps remind the
reader very summarily about the alternatives: this all provides a segue for the reader, making the
paper flow better
Identify all possible stakeholders, values, etc.: reference theory on slide 158 and apply the
theory
Theory and application should be included: some people like to work the theory in as they go
along in the description of advantages and disadvantages, but some people like to put it at the
beginning of this section and just reference application of the theory as they proceed: regardless
of where you put it, make sure that theory from slides 158-175, a deeper review of the strategic
planning process
Begin the analysis of the alternatives with a comprehensive description of the first alternative
Well done
Difficult to identify a complete set of alternatives
Poor, incomplete or unclear progression of presentation of alternatives and/or
advantages and disadvantages
Comprehensiveness of alternative descriptions is lacking or absent
Comprehensiveness of advantages and disadvantages of descriptions is lacking or
absent
Comprehensive theory presentation is lacking or absent, i.e. failure to define
concepts on slides 158-175 from the course materials and/or failure to augment
that theory with outside sources

Follow this with a comprehensive review of all advantages and disadvantages of the first Application is lacking
alternative
Outside sources for theory are lacking or absent
Do those steps for each alternative

You will find it helpful to do a SWOT Analysis here for each alternative: include this table at
the end of the case as an appendix

For extra credit, you can also include theory and application for slides 177-180: strategic and
tactical objectives you think might be suitable
III. Alternative Choice, Implementation, etc.: Something Catchy Worth 30 points

Again, make sure that your sections are connected in some way, that they flow one from another, Well done
when you begin this section
Failure to comprehensively present theory of required slides
Theory and application that should begin this section includes theory from slides 181-182
Failure to adequately apply required theory
Present your choice of alternative

Discuss the alternative’s pivotal advantages and disadvantages

Present strategies to enhance the solution’s advantages

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Present strategies to overcome the solution’s disadvantages

Explain theory and application of slides 183-189: which generic business strategy would you
adopt for success (you need not include the focused strategies)

Explain theory and application of slides 191-193: which international business strategies would
you adopt (you need not include the transnational strategy)

Use theory on slides 150-152, the control element of management, to wrap up your choice: how
are you going to check to see if your solution will work?
IV. References (see above on appropriate sourcing, etc.) Well done

Improper formatting

Incomplete formatting
Total points