FOR OFFICE USE:

GRADE

COMMUNICATION FOR MANAGERS

Case Assignment No. 1

Case Analysis Report on

‘The Alaskan Gold Mine’

Submitted by:

Name: Hemil Joshi

Roll No: 191228

Section: B

Batch: MBA – FT (2019-2021)

INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, NIRMA UNIVERSITY

Date of Submission: 7th August, 2019

 Case Analysis on ‘The Alaskan Gold Mine (A)’

Executive Summary:-

After I found gold in the Alaskan mines, I am only left with two weeks to
get back to the claims office. But weather is not warm and there is a possibility of storm which I
would only know after some days. So I have four alternatives to reach there: 1) waiting for three to
four weeks; 2) Take the mountains; 3) Take the valley passes; 4) Wait for two to four days and then
decide. I chose to take the valley as it is less dangerous and would also give me a chance to reach
claims office in time.

Total words: 100

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Situational Analysis:

I have taken an option on a possible gold mine for a period of three months
in Alaska. After two months of hardship of a journey full of risks, I finally reached there but it had
taken a toll on my health. However, when I was searching for gold for about two weeks I regained
my health back except for my injured left hand which was getting weak abruptly. After a while, only
in the last twenty- four hours of second week, I actually discovered gold. Now, I had only two weeks
to get to the claims office. And if I get late and then try to secure the property, the owners would hold
an auction as they would know that I had visited the place. And then with my limited resources I
would get outbid easily.

So, now I have the following alternatives:

1. Wait for the weather to get warm for three to four weeks and then enjoy a safe journey home.

2. Take the mountain, risking life as it gets impassable sometimes. It can be travelled in 7-10 days, if
one can make it without any harm. But, if one meet storms or get injured in the journey before
reaching to the top, he may have to get back. In both the situations, he may get perished as reaching
over to the top is the longest part to cover.

Also, the weather is only moderately favourable as a mountain storm may be brewing which I can
only know in next forty- eight hours that if storm is going to be there and if mountain is passable.

3. Another way to make it to the destination is through valley passes which is usually passable.
However, it can take two to three weeks as it is slow and tiring.

4. Wait for two to four days and then decide if you can take the mountain or not. After that you can
make up your mind on the above options.

Problem Statement:

1) Time constraint is the major problem here. As I have to reach to the claim office within two weeks
only. If I reach late, knowing that I have visited the property, the owners would hold an auction.

2) Weather is another problem as it is not warm and storm may be brewing.

3) Dangerous mountain is also an issue as it gets impassable sometimes.

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Objectives:

1) To get to the claims office within two weeks and avoid owners to hold auction of the property.

2) Ensure safe trip to home as the weather is not warm enough and storm is also expected.

3) To ensure that the hard work of the past two months don’t go in vain.

Options & Evaluation:

1) Wait for three to four weeks for the weather to warm up and enjoy a safe trip home.

This option would mean that I would not even try to get to the claim office in time and
would give up even before trying for it. My efforts for the last two and a half months would go in
vain. But this would ensure that I am completely safe. It would ensure proper rest to my left hand and
it would recover quickly.

2) Go over the mountains.

This alternative is very risky as I know that the weather is not on my side and even my
injured left hand would suffer because of it. Also if I get injured mid-way before reaching to the top,
I have to return back to the base, wasting time as the longest part of the journey is in reaching to the
top. But the big positive of selecting this option is that it will take only seven to ten days to reach to
the customs office which will ensure my claim on the property.

3) Go through the valley passes.

Valley option is relatively safe as compared to the mountains and would also give me
a hope of reaching to the claims office on time as it would take around two to three weeks. However,
it would take a lot of time and is also tiring.

4) Wait for two to four days and then decide.

In this way I would get to know about the weather conditions and then can decide
whether I can take the mountains or not. But it is only helpful when there will be no storm because
only then I can reach to claims office on time. But if there is a storm then we cannot reach to the
destination by any means.

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Decision & Justification:

I would choose to go with the option of going through the valley passes
without waiting i.e. option number third. I am selecting this alternative because of two reasons. The
first reason is that I would first like to ensure my safety and secondly because I would definitely like
to fancy my chances of reaching the claims office in two weeks through it.

Action Plan:

1) I would take the valley way without waiting to see the weather conditions.
2) I will try to pass the tiring valley as early as possible within two weeks.
3) I will reach claims office within two weeks and would keep the property.

Contingency Plan:

I would go for the mountain without any delay as a backup. Because I would
not like to give up on my goal after so much of hard work. So, I would keep my hopes alive through
the mountain. I would try to make it safely through the mountain because I can afford to take my time
through the mountain. I can afford to come back to base if I met storm or injury but would give it a
shot for sure.

Exhibits:

Parameters Alternatives
Wait for Go over the Go through Wait for 2-4
three to four mountains valley passes days then
weeks decide
Time Almost a 7-10 days 2-3 weeks Minimum 9
month days
Weather No High Less No
Threat
Safety Full Very risky Considerably Full
safe
Possibility of No Large 50-50 Less
Success.

Total words: 997

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 Case Analysis on ‘The Alaskan Gold Mine (B)’

Executive summary:

Now after selecting the valley passage, I covered half of the journey in just
five days. However, I strained my ankle due to which Pat, a friend of mine had to take me to a cabin.
Now, I can’t carry on alone without taking few days off. So, either I can send Pat alone or I have to
go with him. But going with him would take more days instead of sending him alone. But the issue
is Pat is not as sincere and has excessive drinking habit. So, I need to decide what to do next.

Total words: 97

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Situational Analysis:

After I made my mind to travel through the valley passes, I started the
journey in full swing. After five days, I realise that I have covered half the distance but it took a toll
on my ankle and it was sprained. My old friend Pat, on a trapping expedition came along and took
me to a cabin. He was able to get to the claims office and also offers to take me to same. Now, if I
was fit, I could have covered the distance in seven days but because of the injury, it will take me ten
to two weeks to reach the destination and only after some days of rest. If I travel with Pat, it will take
me ten to fourteen more days. If I tell Pat about the gold and compromise with it, Pat will take eight
to ten days to reach the office.

But I am not sure if Pat can complete the task on his own and can file the
claim. He is a simple man, not that bright and often drinks too much. He is not so dedicated and
focused who can complete a work at hand with determination. He likes trapping but I doubt the needs
and wishes financial independence. But I can trust Pat if I offer a 50-50 deal to him because he still
needs my knowledge to capitalize on the discovery.

Problem statement:

1) Strained ankle is the main problem because of which I am forced to depend on others.

2) Trust on Pat’s ability is another issue as he drinks too much sometimes and is not so single-minded
hustler.

Objectives:

1) At least to get 50% of the claim.

2) To make Pat reach the claims office in time by offering 50% share.

Options and Evaluations:

1) Go it alone

Going alone would mean that I have to take rest for couple of days and then it will take
10 to two weeks for me to reach the claims office. This would be of no use to me as I have already
spent five days from two weeks and I cannot reach the office in time.

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 2) Go with Pat

If I decide to go with Pat, it would again take ten to fourteen more days to reach the
claims office. This would again be of no good as I can never reach the office on time. Because
minimum time required will be of ten more days. So, there is a very small possibility.

3) Send Pat:

Now, if I want to get any share of the claim I had to send Pat alone who can get to the
office in eight to ten days. I can trust Pat if I offer him 50-50 share so there is no issue of trust as he
also need my guidance. But the problem here is that, he has issues related to excessive drinking and
is a simple person, not having a single minded determination.

Decision & Justification:

I would definitely send Pat alone trusting him. Because anyway I am

not capable of going either alone or with Pat in time to claim the property. So, I should instead send
him and give him all the guidance required and hope that he gets to the office in time. So, I do not
have a choice but to trust Pat but I should also keep in touch with him motivating him and tell him to
stay away from drinking.

Action Plan:

1) Firstly, I will tell Pat about the gold ask for the 50-50 deal.
2) Then I will motivate him to focus on the goal.
3) Then I will guide him with all the knowledge required to accurately claim the
property and make sure he does it in time.

Contingency Plan:

As a backup plan, I would go together with Pat and would try to make it to the
claims office as early as possible. It would also ensure that Pat doesn’t get into drinking and remains
focussed. There is a very small chance of getting it to the claims office as the minimum time going
together would take ten more days but we need to make it in nine more days.

Total words: 704 words

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 Undertaking

To whom it may concern:

I, Hemil Joshi hereby declare that this assignment is my original work and is not copied from
anyone/ anywhere. If found similar to other sources, I shall take complete responsibility of the
action, taken thereof by, CFM Team.

Signature : ___________________________________________

Name : ___________________________________________

Roll No. : ___________________________________________

Section : ______

Batch : MBA – FT (2019-2021)

Date : ___________________

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