FORMAT FOR WRITTEN CASE ANALYSIS
Required Sections
I. Situation Analysis
II. Statement of the Problem
III. Objectives
IV. Decision Criteria and
Alternative Solutions
V. Recommended Solution,
Implementation and
Justification
VI. External Sourcing
VII. Spelling Grammar and
Presentation
Guidelines
● State the problems facing the manager/key person
● Identify and link the symptoms and root causes of the problems
● Differentiate short term from long term problems
● Provide a detailed analysis of the problems identified.
● In the analysis, apply theories and models from the text and/or readings
● Support conclusions and /or assumptions with specific references to the case and/or the readings
● Conclude with the decision facing the manager/key person
● Your objectives should be stated using action verbs that are specific enough to be measured, for example: to
compare, to calculate, to assess, to determine, to verify, to calculate, to describe, to explain, etc. Avoid the use
of vague non-active verbs such as: to appreciate, to understand, to believe, to study, etc., because it is difficult
to evaluate whether they have been achieved.
● Identify criteria against which you evaluate alternative solutions (i.e. time for implementation, tangible costs,
acceptability to management)
● Include two or three possible alternative solutions
● Evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative against the criteria listed
● Suggest additional pros/cons if appropriate
● Identify who, what, when, and how in your recommended plan of action
● Solution and implementation should address the problems and causes identified in the previous section
● The recommended plan should include a contingency plan(s) to back up the ‘ideal’ course of action
● Using models and theories, identify why you chose the recommended plan of action – why it’s the best and
why it would work
● To back up reccomendations, in case you wan to mention a theory, or an excerpt from a book/journal you
would have read, or any useful information from any other literature, you may feel free to do so, provided
you are able to mention the source details.
● Your case analysis should :
● Include the 6 sections listed in the outline
● Be written in legible handwriting
● Be free of spelling and grammar errors