BUSI 5906A
Business Case Analysis
Fall 2012 F1
Course Outline
Instructors:
Office:
Telephone:
Email:
Linda Schweitzer
310 Dunton Tower
520-2600 ext. 1967
linda_schweitzer@carleton.ca
Seminars:
Practicum:
Office Hours:
Wednesdays - 2:35 – 5:25pm
Mondays - 4:00 – 5:00pm
by appointment
Julie Caldwell
710 Dunton Tower
x 8848
julie_caldwell@carleton.ca
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Introduction to and practical application of the methods and tools of rigorous business case analysis and
the design of strategic responses, including the preparation and delivery of presentations designed to
convince decision makers of the validity of the analysis and strategic response.
LEARNING GOALS
This course aims to provide students with the following skills:
§ Critical analysis of information through use of case-based corporate scenarios.
§ Development of logical, coherent, well supported argument.
§ Effective presentation of work for business environment (written and verbal).
PREREQUISITES
Enrolment in the MBA.
The School of Business enforces all prerequisites.
REQUIRED READINGS
TEXT: The Case Study Handbook: How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases
by William Elliot, Harvard Business school Press, 2007
CASE STUDY: Research in Motion: Managing Explosive Growth, Rod E. White, Paul W.
Beamish, Daina Mazutis. Product Number: 9B08M046
OPTIONAL READING: Made to Stick, Chip Heath & Dan Heath, Random House, 2008
The books can be bought at Haven Books on Sunnyside.
The case study can be purchased at iveycases.com
CELLUAR PHONES
The use of cellular phones IS NOT PERMITTED in this class. It is disruptive to the instructor
and class members. If you carry a phone to class, please make sure it is turned off. If an
emergency situation requires you to keep your cell phone turned on you may wish to keep the
silent mode on, please discuss this with the instructor prior to the class starting.
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GRADING SCHEME
1. Practicum
2. Class Participation
3. 4 Short Case Analyses (10% each)
4. Final Case Presentation (Team)
5. Written Executive Summary (Team)
TOTAL
12%
13%
40%
20%
15%
100%
LATE ASSIGNMENTS POLICY
Assignments must be handed in before the class begins. Late papers will not be accepted.
PRACTICUM (12%) Mondays 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Students will be required to practice and hone their presentation and analyses skills during a
one-hour practicum.
Each week, students will be assigned a case to review and prepare an individual written
summary. Each team will be expected to discuss the case and prepare a short 10 minute
presentation on their findings and recommendations the following week.
Teams will be given 15 minutes during the practicum to do a run through of their presentation
and ask questions of the TA to ensure that they are on the right track. Teams are expected to
stay and watch and learn from other groups during the practicum but are to be respectful of the
time allotted for each group.
CLASS PARTICIPATION (13%)
Each week, the class will actively discuss new concepts and cases and present analyses and
recommendations. Participation marks will depend on three factors: presence, preparation, and
positive contribution to the class. Students who do not attend class OR arrive late/leave early
will not be awarded participation marks for that week. Students who attend class but do not
contribute in a positive manner to class discussions will also lose marks. Preparation and active
participation in this hands-on and practice-focused course, is the expectation.
SHORT CASE ANALYSES (4 x 10% each) THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
Each week, a short case will be assigned. You must come prepared with a short case analysis
which will be in the form of a written report of approximately 1 page. A short case analysis
template will be provided. After the summary has been handed in, you will be given time to
discuss the case with your team. Your team will then present the case in class the following
week. You will be expected to practice your presentation in the Practicum. Further details will be
provided on the course website Assignments page.
FINAL CASE PRESENTATION (20%) THIS IS A TEAM ASSIGNMENT
Students will be assigned to small teams of 3 to 4 people. Each team will be assigned a case to
assess and prepare a presentation to make to the class. Each team will present their case
analysis during the last class. Presentations will be 20 minutes in length followed by an
opportunity for Q&A. Further details will be provided on the course website Assignments page.
NOTE: no written team report is required on the day of this presentation.
FINAL CASE REPORT (15%) THIS IS A TEAM ASSIGNMENT
Each team will be required to submit a written report based on final case presentation. The
report will be no more than 4 pages in length that integrates the elements of analyses learned in
the course. This is a team assignment. Further details will be provided on the course website
Assignments page.
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COMMUNICATION
Information on weekly assignments and other general information will be communicated during
class on a regular basis. However, weekly readings, critical additional information, updates
about the class and details regarding upcoming assignments will be posted to the course
webpage (http://webct6.carleton.ca). It is your responsibility to visit WebCT regularly and
to do your required readings and analyses in advance of each class.
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TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Date
Topic & Chapters
Part 1: COURSE OVERVIEW &
EXPECTATIONS
Sept. 12
Part 2: DEFINING PROBLEMS – CRITICAL
THINKING
Part 3: CASE DISCUSSION
Sept. 17
Reading/Chapter
2. What is a case
8. How to discuss a case
9. Writing a case-based strategy
*optional read of Ch. 10-12
5. Problems
CASE 1: Malaysia in the 1990s (A)
Practicum: Practice presentations CASE 1:
Malaysia in the 1990s (A)
Team Presentation: CASE
1: Malaysia in the 1990s (A)
Part 1: TEAM PRESENTATIONS:
Sept. 19
Part 2: PRESENTATION SKILLS & STRATEGY
Short Analysis CASE 2:
Allentown Materials
Corporation: The Electronic
Products Division
(Abridged)
Part 3: CASE DISCUSSION based on Short
Analysis CASE 2
Sept. 24
Practicum: Practice presentations CASE 2:
Allentown Materials Corporation: The Electronic
Products Division (Abridged)
Part 1: TEAM PRESENTATIONS
Sept. 26
Deliverables
Part 2: ANALYSIS
Part 3: CASE DISCUSSION based on Short
Analysis CASE 3
3. How to analyze a case
4. Case Analysis Demonstrations
Team Presentation: CASE
2: Allentown Materials
Corporation: The Electronic
Products Division
(Abridged
Short Analysis CASE 3:
General Motors: Packard
BASIC NORMS FOR THIS CLASS:
A CALL TO ACTION FOR LEARNING AND SUCCESS THROUGH COMMITMENT
You are investing a lot of time, energy, and money in your education. Your chances of earnin
potential return on your investment in each course end when each course does. Learning a
success in your education requires your active commitment to it. You will be successful in
course if during class and homework times you are prepared to learn, engage in, and comm
the learning process. I am prepared to do everything I can to help you.
My Commitment
Your Commitment
Prepare a learning environment for each
class.
Come to all classes ready to learn and
participate.
Start and finish on time, provide a break
Attend all classes, attend each class in
full. Missing classes and/or arriving late
leaving early, except for emergencies an
with notification, is rude to the class and
disruptive of the learning environment.
Cell phone/PDA switched off throughout
class.
Cell phone/PDA switched off throughou
class.
Solicit and encourage participation.
Participate constructively, presenting ow
ideas and critiquing those of others.
Present opportunities to learn new ideas.
Strive to learn, seek clarification, and as
questions.
Provide opportunities to apply new learning.
Think about how to apply new learning t
examples given and share with class.
Keep up-to-date with theory and practice
and link course material to current events.
Make an effort to track what’s happenin
in your profession.
Provide assistance and opportunities to
consult during class breaks, during office
hours, by email, and at other times as
required subject to availability.
Seek assistance as issues arise. Do not
expect 24 hour e-mail feedback, and
consider your colleagues – the instructo
deals with many students.
Provide detailed instructions on
assignments. Provide timely feedback on
assignments, exams.
Follow instructions. Hand assignments i
on time, learn from feedback.
Treat all course participants as responsible
professionals, and act with civility and
professionalism at all times.
Treat all course participants as
responsible professionals, and act with
civility and professionalism at all times.
original prepared by Dr. L.A. Heslop; adjusted by Dr. N. Papadadopou
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IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Group Work
The Sprott School of Business encourages group assignments in the school for several
reasons. They provide you with opportunities to develop and enhance interpersonal,
communication, leadership, follower-ship and other group skills. Group assignments are
also good for learning integrative skills for putting together a complex task. Your
professor may assign one or more group tasks/assignments/projects in this course. If
you have a group assignment you may find the resources at
http://sprott.carleton.co/students/undergraduate/forms-resources/forms/ useful.
Before embarking on a specific problem as a group, it is your responsibility to
ensure that the problem is meant to be a group assignment and not an individual
one.
Medical Certificate
Please note that in all occasions that call for a medical certificate you must use or furnish
the information demanded in the standard university form.
http://www.carleton.ca/registrar/forms/Med_Cert_Carleton_University.pdf
Person with Disabilities
Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this course are
encouraged to contact a coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre for Students with
Disabilities to complete the necessary letters of accommodation. After registering with
the PMC, make an appointment to meet and discuss your needs with me at least two
weeks prior to the first in-class test or ITV midterm exam. This is necessary in order to
ensure sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements. Please refer to
http://www.carleton.ca/pmc/ for all PMC information.
Religious Observance
Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious observance
should make a formal, written request to their instructors for alternate dates and/or
means of satisfying academic requirements. Such requests should be made during the
first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is
known to exist, but no later than two weeks before the compulsory academic event.
Accommodation is to be worked out directly and on an individual basis between the
student and the instructor(s) involved. Instructors will make accommodations in a way
that avoids academic disadvantage to the student.
Students or instructors who have questions or want to confirm accommodation eligibility
of a religious event or practice may refer to the Equity Services website for a list of holy
days and Carleton’s Academic Accommodation policies, or may contact an Equity
Services Advisor in the Equity Services Department for assistance.
Pregnancy
Pregnant students requiring academic accommodations are encouraged to contact an
Equity Advisor in Equity Services to complete a letter of accommodation. The student
must then make an appointment to discuss her needs with the instructor at least two
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weeks prior to the first academic event in which it is anticipated the accommodation will
be required.
Plagiarism
The University Senate defines plagiarism in the regulations on instructional offenses as:
“to use and pass off as one’s own idea or product work of another without expressly
giving credit to another.”
Borrowing someone else’s answers, unauthorized possession of tests or answers to
tests, or possession of material designed in answering exam questions, are also subject
to university policy regarding instructional offenses. For more information on Carleton
University’s Academic Integrity Policy, consult:
http://www.carleton.ca/studentaffairs/academic_integrity
The photocopying of substantial portions of a textbook (e.g. more than 1 chapter or 15%
of the total page count) without the publisher's permission is another misuse of
intellectual property, and is also a violation of Canadian copyright law. Access
Canada's web site provides guidelines on legitimate copying. You may also find helpful
information at: http://library.wlu.ca/access/guidelines.htm
Important Dates and Deadlines can be found at:
http://sprott.carleton.co/students/mba/dates-deadlines/
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Date
Oct. 1
Topic & Chapters
Reading/Chapter
Practicum: Practice presentations CASE 3:
General Motors: Packard Electric Division
Team Presentation: CASE
3: General Motors: Packard
Electric Division
Part 1: TEAM PRESENTATIONS
Oct. 3
Part 2: DECISIONS
6. Decisions
Short Analysis: CASE 4:
Whistler Corporation
(Abridged)
Part 3: CASE DISCUSSION based on Short
Analysis CASE 4
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Deliverables
NO PRACTICUM - HOLIDAY
Part 1: TEAM PRESENTATIONS
Part 2: RECOMMENDATIONS
7. Evaluations
Part 3: CASE DISCUSSION based Short
Analysis Final Case
Team Presentation: CASE
4: Whistler Corporation
(Abridged)
Short Analysis Final Case:
RIM
Oct. 15
Practicum: Practice Final Presentations
Oct. 17
FINAL TEAM CASE PRESENTATIONS
Final Case Presentations:
RIM
Oct. 23
NO CLASS
Written Case Report Due:
RIM
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