Российская экономическая академия им.Г.В.Плеханова

Кафедра иностранных языков экономических факультетов

ACTIVE LEARNING:

Case-Based Studies

Collection of cases with assignments

Moscow 2011

Introduction

This Workbook is designed to assist the student (i.e. you) in mastering the principles of case studies and analysis and making up a format in accordance with the Harvard Business School model. It supplies the framework for analyzing a case both at home and in class.

Please remember that there is no universal solution to any given case. It is your personal viewpoint and its logical base that count most of all in this subject.

1. The Summary.

It is usually written in the following way: you read the case carefully the second time around (a few minutes after familiarizing yourself with it by scanning it through for the first time), maybe even refer to the dictionary for the clarification of new words.

Then you put the Case aside and write down the most essential facts that you remember – in your own words. You do not copy the relevant sentences from the case – it is what struck you as being very important that should be reflected in the Summary.

The Summary should comprise about 30% of the original contents of the case – the most vital points only (5 to 10 sentences). It is preferable (where the logic and the text permit it) to write the Summary in the Simple Present-Simple Past Tense.

2. The Problem.

The problem is “the nail”, on which the picture called the Format hangs.

It is arguably the most crucial item of any format.

The Problem is always a full sentence (the subject/noun + the predicate/verb) and a statement (not a question or a negation).

The most vital part of the Problem is the predicate – the verb – as it carries the bulk of the information contained in the Problem. That is why it is not at all advisable (prohibited even) to use modal verbs or the verb “to be” for that purpose.

The problem must contain no more than 7 to 9 language units (words) as its aim to compress a maximum of information into a minimum of streamlined form. Please avoid general and vague wordings.

III. The Cast of Characters.

This item lists: a) People and b) Institutions – but not everyone and everything that is mentioned in the Case – only those that you personally consider relevant to the Problem.

IV. The Chronology.

The Chronology of a format is given in reversed time sequence – that means entry №1 states the most recent event and for example entry №4 – the most distant. Its purpose is to give an overview of cause and effective sequence.

V. The Issues.

The Issues item contains facts that stand in the way of solving the Problem; it presents conflicting viewpoints of the Problem and the situation described in the Case. Any given Format must contain at least 3 issues (you can have more Issues, but less than 3 is considered an infringement of the Format). They can be written in the form of a table or as 3 sentences of a definite type. (It is strongly advised to write Issues as full sentences).

VI. The Options.

The Options are ways of solving the Problem – suggested and formulated by you. Any given Format should contain at least 3 options (again, less than 3 is considered an infringement of the Format). They are basically means that Option №1 is supported to be the best for the company which is dealt with in the Case.

Every Option (usually given in the form of f full sentence) should be accompanied by a list of its advantages and disadvantages (Pros and Cons? Pluses and Minuses).

Option №1 will, of course, have a bigger number of advantages, and option №3 – of disadvantages.