BUSD 1013 – Case Study Assignment
Written Portion (Use APA Formatting) – Worth 15% of Final Mark
For this individual assignment, each of you has been given a 6 or 7 page-long case study to analyze. Each study starts with the
presentation of the case. Then, two people with industry experience discuss how they would handle the issues that have been
raised. Your case analysis is to pick the better of the two solutions presented and explain why. It has to be a minimum of 5 pages,
but you can have two pages extra for the analysis of the case. The main components of your case analysis are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cover Page and all that follows must be in APA Format (that you learned in Business Communications)
NOTE: Everything must be written in paragraphs and sentences, with topic sentences. Point-form is not allowed.
Executive Summary on separate page (150-200 words) – this is optional and for practice only.
Body (this and conclusion are the only sections that will count toward the page limit so make sure they are at least 5 pages):
a. Introduction (1/2 page):
i. Title: Do not call it a case study analysis, but give it a fun title
ii. Do not use the word “introduction” for this section (as per APA)
iii. Intro should be one or two paragraphs (each paragraph should be 5-10 sentences)
1. Provide a general background to the topic of your case study
2. Discuss the specifics of your case study
3. Must have a thesis statement outlining what your case is about
4. Provide an overview of the rest of the paper
b. Body (4-1/2 pages)
i. Summary of Case
1. Discussion of the Case (1 page)
a. Background: Give a background to the situation
b. Summary: Provide a summary of the case
c. Main Issues: In one paragraph, briefly discuss 3-5 issues raised in the case
2. First Person Solution (1/2 page)
a. Summarize main ideas to deal with issues by the first industry expert
3. Second Person Solution (1/2 page)
a. Summarize main ideas to deal with issues by the second industry expert
ii. Analysis of the Case – You may expand this section by up to 2 pages
1. Discuss each of the 3-5 issues brought up in the summary (1-1/2 pages)
a. Why do they exist?
b. How do they impact the organization?
c. Who is responsible for them?
d. Why is the organization having difficulty resolving the issue?
2. Evaluate the solutions proposed by the industry experts (2 pages)
a. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
b. Which one is better?
c. What evidence are you presenting to support your choice?
c. Conclusion (1/2 page)
i. Summarize main findings
ii. Outline how you would improve the better solution presented by the industry expert
References – use APA formatting.
For help with APA and sample papers, go to the Purdue OWL:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
1
Presentation Portion (3 Minute Thesis Format) – Worth 5% of Final Mark
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
This assignment (done individually) requires you to make a recording of your final project and submitted to Moodle.
You must put everything onto one slide and it must be non-dynamic.
There should not be much writing on the slide (but do include name on top left-hand corner).
There should be interesting graphics (but the slide should be mostly empty).
You must present everything within 3 minutes.
Your presentation should have the following components:
a.
Summary of Case (1 minute)
b. Summary of Solutions by the 2 industry experts (1 minute)
c.
Discussion of which solution you thought was better and why (1 minute)
For help with 3 Minute Thesis and sample video, go to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g44qNS_nxfU
Recording must show you from waist on up for evaluation, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyghH-8UoOE
Please view this video from the 23:04 mark. Use library meeting rooms (they have monitors) and your cell phone.
Rubric for Marking 3 Minute Thesis:
2
Case Study Rubric – Written Portion
Criterion
4 points
A-level qualities
(90-100)
3 points
B-level qualities (80-89)
2 points
C-level qualities (70-79)
1 or 0 points
D- or F-level qualities
(60-69 or below 60)
Completeness
Complete in all respects; reflects
all requirements
Complete in most respects;
reflects most requirements
Incomplete in many
respects; reflects few
requirements
Incomplete in most respects;
does not reflect any
requirements
Understanding
Demonstrates a sophisticated
understanding of the topic(s) and
issue(s)
Demonstrates an
accomplished
understanding of the
topic(s) and issue(s)
Demonstrates an acceptable
understanding of the topic(s)
and issue(s)
Demonstrates an inadequate
understanding of the topic(s)
and issue(s)
Analysis, evaluation,
and recommendations
Presents an insightful and
thorough analysis of all issues
identified; includes all necessary
financial calculations
Presents a thorough analysis of
most issues identified; includes
most necessary financial
calculations
Presents a superficial analysis of Presents an incomplete analysis
some of the issues identified;
of the issues identified
omits necessary financial
calculations
Makes appropriate and powerful
connections between the issues
identified and the strategic
concepts studied in the reading;
demonstrates complete command
of the strategic concepts and
analytical tools studied
Makes appropriate
connections between the
issues identified and the
strategic concepts studied in
the reading; demonstrates
good command of the
strategic concepts and
analytical tools studied
Makes appropriate but
somewhat vague
connections between the
issues and concepts studied
in the reading; demonstrates
limited command of the
strategic concepts and
analytical tools studied
Makes little or no connection
between the issues identified
and the strategic concepts
studied in the reading
Supports diagnosis and opinions
with strong arguments and
evidence; presents a balanced and
critical view; interpretation is both
reasonable and objective
Supports diagnosis and
opinions with reasons and
evidence; presents a fairly
balanced view;
interpretation is both
reasonable and objective
Supports diagnosis and
opinions with limited reasons
and evidence; presents a
somewhat one-sided argument
Supports diagnosis and
opinions with few reasons and
little evidence; argument is
one-sided and not objective
Presents detailed, realistic, and
appropriate recommendations
clearly supported by the
information presented and
concepts from the reading
Presents specific, realistic, and
appropriate recommendations
supported by the information
presented and concepts from
the reading
Presents realistic or
appropriate recommendations
supported by the information
presented and concepts from
the reading
Presents realistic or
appropriate
recommendations with
little, if any, support from the
information presented and
concepts from the reading
Research
Supplements case study with
relevant and extensive research
into the present situation of the
company; clearly and thoroughly
documents all sources of
information
Supplements case study with
relevant research into the
present situation of the
company; documents all
sources of information
Supplements case study with
limited research into the
present situation of the
company; provides limited
documentation of sources
consulted
Supplements case
study, if at all, with
incomplete research and
documentation
Writing mechanics
Writing demonstrates a
sophisticated clarity, conciseness;
includes thorough details and
relevant data and information;
extremely well-organized
Writing is accomplished in
terms of clarity and
conciseness and contains only
a few errors; includes sufficient
details and relevant data and
information; well-organized
Writing lacks clarity or
conciseness and contains
numerous
errors; gives insufficient detail
and relevant data and
information; lacks organization
Writing is unfocused, rambling,
or contains serious errors;
lacks details and relevant
details and information; poorly
organized
APA guidelines
Uses APA guidelines accurately and Uses APA guidelines with
consistently to cite sources
minor violations to cite sources
Reflects incomplete knowledge
of APA guidelines
Does not use APA guidelines
3