BBDM3404 Case Study

Week 1

How to Approach the Case

Situation

2–1
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 1 – Read the case
1. Read the case study quickly without taking notes

2. Reread the case again more carefully

 Pay attention to main headlines, dates, subjects
 Give each paragraph a reference number
 Mark-up the case slowly, taking notes of key
ideas
 Highlight key words
2–2
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 1 – Note taking
Your notes must help you:
 To understand the main sequence of events

 To determine who is who and who reports to who

 To be aware of the main issues in the situation

 To understand the case exhibits and what they are

supposed to convey

 To determine the financial situation of the company

2–3
Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1
By now you should have:
 Prepared page summaries

 Drawn organisation charts

 Computed simple calculations

 Sketched some spider diagrams

 Write quick character sketches of key characters (biodata)

 Timeline of significant events 2–4

Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1
Preparation of page summaries or precis:

 Summary of essential facts with reference numbers

 No need of analysis or opinion yet

 Absorb ideas in your own words

2–5
Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1
Organisation charts:
 Shows who reports to whom
 Indicates who are the key characters
 Identifies the decision maker

2–6
Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1
Financial calculations:
 Liquidity ratios, working capital ratios
 Gross margin %, revenue growth %
 Capital expenditure
 Financial structure ratios

 Market capitalisation data & ratios

 Market share %
 Financial analysis
 Discounted cash flows, Return on Investment
 Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value
2–7
Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1 Spares
Spider Diagrams
Products Cameras

Sales
MP3s
Customers

Distributors
Production
Online
Retail
Suppliers
Sub-contractors
2–8
Approach the Case Situation
Review of Activity 1
Biodata – detail information of case characters:
Andrew Brown — Chairman & CEO
• Background
 41 years old
 Graduate in EIectrical Engineering
 Family close ties with Khan (Investor)

• Personal Characteristics
 Ambitious & driven
 Long term vision — strategic outlook
 Autocratic style of management

• Issues
 Combine role of Chairman & CEO not acceptable
 Style not suitable for large organization
 External investors, besides Khan do not view him as suitable
 Does not trust peers fully
2–9
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 2 – What is needed
Read the question or case requirement
 Who are you? What is your role?

 Who are you writing this report to?

 What is the expected format of the report?

 What is the expected length of the report?

 Is oral presentation required? 2–10

Approach the Case Situation
Activity 2 – List of Problems & Issues

 Based on the case requirements, prepare a list of all the

problems and issues that need to be addressed.

 Identify the technical knowledge areas to a particular

problem/issue. Note that there will be multiple knowledge
areas to be applied.

 Make some snap judgments based on 1st impression.

These may change.

2–11
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 2 – List of Problems & Issues
Ref. Issues Knowledge
25a Management turnover is very high. HR – motivation
Two key directors resigned with theory
short notice.
32 Equipment maintenance system is McFarland’s
still manual and not automated grid for IT

33 Lack highly trained & experienced 5M resource

technicians audit (training)

40a Delay in developing new process Project

with new investment cause revenue planning &
opportunity loss execution
2–12
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 2 – Example of List of Problems & Issues

2–13
Approach the Case Situation
Activity 2 – List of Problems & Issues
Identify the technical knowledge areas to a particular
problem/issue. Note that there will be multiple knowledge
areas to be applied.

Vision & Mission Balance Scorecard Porter’s 5 Forces

Strategic Planning

Benchmarking Risk Strategy SWOT Analysis

Motivation Theory Project Planning & Corporate

Execution Governance

Supply & Value PEST Analysis McFarland’s

Chain Analysis grid for IT systems

2–14
Approach the Case Situation

2–15