This assignment is based on the critical thinking model.
- Understand the Case: Start by thoroughly reading and comprehending the case study. Identify key issues, stakeholders, and relevant context. Take detailed notes.
- Identify the Primary Issue: Define the central problem that needs to be addressed. Focus on significant factors and avoid distractions from irrelevant information.
- Analyze and Choose Frameworks: Break down the case data into categories and patterns. Choose appropriate analytical frameworks such as SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces, or Resource-Based View, based on the case’s information and issues. Justify your choice of framework(s).
- Generate Alternatives: Brainstorm feasible solutions or alternatives that address the primary issue. Present multiple approaches, considering what could be taken or eliminated, and explain why.
- Evaluate Alternatives: Identify at least three feasible alternatives as candidate solutions. Assess pros, cons, feasibility, risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of each. Ensure alternatives are mutually exclusive.
- Use Weighted Decision Matrix: Utilize a weighted decision matrix to assess and compare alternatives objectively. Based on the matrix results, select the optimal solution and provide well-justified recommendations.
- Create Implementation Plan: Describe how the recommended solution can be implemented. Address challenges, required resources (organizational, human, tangible, intangible), and factors affecting execution. Incorporate “quick wins” or easily achievable tasks for organizational buy-in.
- High-Level Implementation Plan: Present a high-level implementation plan that outlines the sequence of events, resource staging, responsible parties for milestones, and the duration/resources needed for each task. Consider using a table format for clarity.
Guidelines for the paper
- Begin by thoroughly reading and understanding the case study. Identify the key issues, facts, stakeholders, and context. Highlight relevant details and take notes.
- Identify the Primary Issue or Underlying Problem: Define the central problem or issue that needs to be addressed in the case. This problem will serve as the focal point of your analysis.
- Analyze the Case Data and Select/Develop a Framework: Break down the case study data and information into relevant parts. Organize the data into categories and identify any patterns, relationships, or trends. Create a framework that helps you structure your analysis. This could involve using frameworks like SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), Porter’s Five Forces, or the Resource-Based View to analyze the industry dynamics.
- Generate Alternatives: Brainstorm potential solutions or alternatives to address the identified problem. Consider different approaches, strategies, or decisions that could be taken.
- Evaluate Feasible Alternatives: Identify at least three (3) feasible alternatives as candidate optimal solutions. Evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative. Consider the feasibility, risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of each option.
- Select the Optimal Alternative Using a Weighted Decision Matrix: Based on your evaluation of alternatives, select the best or optimal alternative and provide clear and well-justified recommendations. Explain why you believe this is the most appropriate course of action.
- Create An Implementation Plan: Discuss how your recommendations could be implemented. Address potential challenges, necessary resources, and any other factors that would impact successful execution. Identify “quick wins” and front-load them in your plan to get organizational buy-in.
Guidelines for the paper:
- Minimum of four (4) pages, to maximum (5) five pages (not including any in-text tables or figures, title page, or reference page and any additional appendices).
- APA style version 7 and formatting required. Do not include an abstract for this paper.
- Include a 1-page graphic of the appropriate strategy framework model(s) as figure(s) or table(s) (SWOT, PEST, Porter Five, and so on) illustrating your analysis
- APA formatted reference page and title page
Resources:
- How to Write a Case Study Analysis: Links to an external site. Schweitzer, Karen. (2020, August 26). How to write a case study analysis. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-a-case-study-analysis-466329
- Also, refer to this HBR e/book for a more definitive reference: Ellet, W. (2018). The case study handbook: A student’s guide. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Here is a video on how to create a weighted decision matrix using Excel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2HtqQjyt5s&t=2s
