Case Study Standard Format

I. Viewpoint
Student must state specifically the position or viewpoint he/she has taken into
consideration in analysing the case. This is necessary, so that, his/her
audience/listeners can follow the presentation in the same perspective. The
viewpoint taken may be any of the following: top management, manager/officer
involved in the case. In any case, the student must take the viewpoint that will
strengthen his/her stand on the case.

II. Time Context

The student must indicate the date when the situation occurred as indicated in
the case. This is important so that the audience/listeners during the
presentation will be on the same time channel, not earlier or not later.

III. Definition of the Problem

This is the critical phase of a case study, as defining the accurate main problem
will make the effort worthwhile.
Guidelines:
a. The problem must be related to finance, marketing, production, personnel
or administration.
b. The problem as defined must be the major/main issue or problem and not
the minor ones.
c. The problem must be stated in specific terms.
d. There must be only ONE main problem statement.

IV. Objective(s)
The student must state specific directions in solving the problem. He/she must
breakdown the problem into specific component parts which will serve as
objective goals.
The attainment of the objectives should automatically solve the problem
objective. It can be classified into:
a. Must Objective – urgent and necessary to attain
b. Want Objective – ideal goals

V. Areas of Consideration
This is the part of the format where a student identifies and assess the critical
areas affecting the problem. The student is required to master the facts of the
case, which will serve strong evidences in supporting his/her stand on the result
of the case study. The student is also required to provide additional relevant
facts and information that he/she got from other sources or enumerate his/her
basic assumptions (realistic and reasonable) to support the recommendation.
VI. Alternative Courses of Action (ACA(
At this point of the case analysis, the student is required to come up with
possible solutions to the problem. This is the most creative portion of the
format.
Guidelines:
a. Each ACA must be mutually exclusive. Each must be able to stand alone.
b. Each ACA must be a broad statement covering quite a wide area.
c. Select only a maximum of five (5) best ACA and prioritize accordingly.
There must be at least two ACA.
d. “Status quo” must never be included as an ACA, if possible.

VII. Recommendation
Under this part of the format, student selects the best (first priority) ACA as
his/her recommendation. Remember that only one (1) ACA must be placed
under this portion of the format.

VIII. Action Plans

Recommendations are generally broad statements. In order to give substance
and better appreciation to it, student is required to enumerate general action
plans.