Analyzing Strategic
Management Cases
Agenda
 Case Presentation
 Steps to Case Preparation
 Presentation Requirements
 Report Requirements
How to Conduct a Case Analysis
 Put yourself “inside” the case
 Think like an actual participant
 Strategic decision maker
 Board of directors
 Outside consultant
Five Steps: Step One
Become familiar with the material
 Read quickly through the case
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one
time
Use initial read-through to assess possible links to strategic
concepts
Read the case again, making notes
Evaluate application of strategic concepts
After forming first recommendation, thumb through the
case again to assess consequences of actions you propose
Five Steps: Step Two
Identify problems
 Symptoms vs.. Problems: avoid getting hung up on symptoms
 Some cases have more than one problem
 Articulate the problem

Writing down a problem statement gives you a reference point
when you proceed through the case analysis
 Some problems are not apparent until after you do the analysis
Five Steps: Step Three
Conduct strategic analyses
 Determine which strategic issues are involved
 Use strategic tools to conduct the analysis
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Five-forces analysis
PEST analysis
SWOT analysis
Value chain analysis
Resource-Based View of the Firm (VRIO)
Contingency frameworks
Financial analysis
 Test your own assumptions about the case
Five Steps: Step Four
Propose alternative solutions
 Develop a list of options first without judging them

Do nothing is often a reasonable alternative
 Evaluate alternatives
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Can the company afford it?
Is the solution likely to evoke a competitive response?
Will employees accept the change?
How will it affect other stakeholders?
How does it fit with the vision, mission, objectives?
Will the culture or values of the company change?
Five Steps: Step Five
Make recommendations
 Make a set of recommendations

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
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that
your analysis supports
Describe exactly what needs to be done
Explain why this course of action will solve the problem
Include suggestions for how best to implement the proposed
solution
The solution you propose must solve the problem you
identified
Points to Remember
 Always connect the problem(s), alternatives, and
recommendations
 Often, the problem is stated in the case; you just have to look
a little for it
Presentation Requirements
 Introduction of Management Team
 Outline of presentation
 Company Overview
 Problem Identification
 Strategic Analysis
 Alternatives
 Recommendation
 Conclusion/Wrap Up of pertinent information
 15-20 minutes in length
Report Requirements
1.
Include:
a)
Cover sheet with:
a)
b)
c)
d)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
2.
3.
4.
Class and section
Group name
List of group members
Case name and number
Historical Overview/Company Profile
Identify problem(s)
Strategic Analysis
Alternatives
Recommendation(s)
Be thorough, but brief and concise.
Use charts and graphs to consolidate information and keep it interesting.
Pattern report on presentation
Report Requirements (cont.)
 Format-Business style writing
 3-5 pages in length
 Times New Roman font, 12 pt., 1 inch margins
 Single-space paragraphs
 Double-space between paragraphs and after headers
 Section headers in bold; sub-headers italicized; no punctuation after
headers
 All type should be left justified (do not indent paragraphs)
 Charts and graphs should be in-line, not in appendix
 Watch paragraph lengths, grammar, spelling
 Consistent formatting throughout
 Use charts, graphs, images and bullets; be creative but
professional; graphs should not be to big
Submission Requirements
 On day of presentation, submit the following:
 Report
 Copy of slides
 Print 6 to a page; needed for reference only