Casr Study Analysis

Case Study Analysis Paper

Prepare a 1,400 to 1,750-word case study analysis paper based on the University of Phoenix Material, “Case Study for Student Analysis,” located in Week Two of the COMM/215  page.

Below is a detailed description explaining how to prepare a case study analysis paper.

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Typically written in narrative form, a case sets forth, in a factual manner, the events and organizational circumstances surrounding a particular managerial situation. Placing the reader at the scene of the action, the real events presented provide an opportunity to help evaluate alternative courses of action.

Case analysis is used in academics to help you demonstrate your ability to evaluate situations critically, to apply concepts you have learned in a class, to solve problems, and to communicate your findings and conclusions. The purpose of this exercise is to introduce you to case studies and the analysis process, and to a proper format for writing the case study analysis report.

Try not to worry about trying to find the “right answer” to a case. Usually, there is no single right answer. Most cases are intentionally ambiguous and can be viewed from many different perspectives. Several feasible solutions are usually available to any give case. The best solution is the one you can best support with thoughtful analysis, logical arguments, and substantiating evidence from your research or your own experience. Your goal in analyzing a case is to provide an effective solution to the situation outlined and to support that solution with solid and persuasive evidence.

Overview

Analyzing a case study can take several forms, and you should check with your instructor on the specific approach or point of view that he or she recommends. For example, you might analyze the case from the perspective that you are the central character of the narrative and must provide a report of what you would do in the situation. On the other hand, you might play the role of an outside consultant hired to evaluate the situation for which you provide a report.

Make sure you allow enough time for the various tasks you must perform. These tasks are listed below and explained in more detail in the following sections.

(Note: When writing a case analysis as an exercise in a writing class, there will be no content-related course concepts (e.g., management or health care theories) that apply directly to the case. The objective of the assignment will be to produce a well-written analysis. You should check with your instructor to determine the expectations of content and the amount of research required.

Analyzing the Case

1.     Read and study the case thoroughly.

2.     Define the problem(s).

3.     Select a focus for your analysis by identifying key issues and their causes.

4.     Identify and apply course concepts in order to identify possible solutions.

5.     Evaluate alternative solutions and choose the solution you believe is best.

 

Writing the Case Analysis

1.     Determine how you want to present your views and structure your paper.

2.     Produce a first draft of your case analysis.

3.     Revise and edit the draft.

4.     Format and proofread the final report.

Analyzing the Case

1.     Read and study the case thoroughly.

Read the case once for familiarity with the overall situation, background, and characters involved, noting issues that you think may be important. Read the case again, and highlight all relevant facts. Make sure you understand the situation and have all the facts. Make notes about issues, symptoms of problems, root problems, unresolved issues, and the roles of key players. Watch for indications of issues beneath the surface.

2.     Define the problem(s).

Identify the key problems or issues in the case. Case studies often contain an overabundance of information about a particular situation, not all of which may be relevant. Do not try to analyze every fact and issue. Part of the skill of good case analysis is in determining which facts are relevant.

3.     Select a focus for your analysis by identifying the key issues and their causes.

Determine how to focus your analysis. Narrow the problem(s) you have identified to between two and five key issues. Do not try to examine every possible aspect of the case. Identify the most important issues that relate to the concepts you have been studying in the course (if applicable).

Once you have focused on one or two key issues, try to gain a fuller understanding of their causes. Why do these problem(s) exist? What caused them? What is the effect of the problem(s) on the organization or the relationships among individuals in the organization? Who is responsible for or affected by the problem(s)?

4.     Identify and apply course concepts in order to identify possible solutions. (See previous note regarding writing a case analysis as an exercise in a writing class.) This section is included so that you become familiar with the application of case studies in context of applying content-related course concepts.)

a.     Identify and apply one or more concepts discussed in class, covered in your readings, or learned from your own experience that would apply to the case and provide some insight or guidance in solving the problem(s).

b.    Review your notes from class discussions and your texts and other readings in the course, conduct outside research, and use your own knowledge and experience to decide what concepts, theories, or ideas could be relevant.

5.     Evaluate alternative solutions and choose the solution you believe best reflects the findings from your analysis.

Make certain you can support the solution you choose with solid evidence from your case analysis. Weigh the pros and cons of each alternative. Which solution is the most feasible? Make certain you can defend that solution.

 

Now you are ready to proceed to the next step—determining how to present your ideas and structure your paper.