Assignment
Each of the five mini-cases will allow each student to develop the thinking skills of practicing managers who are constantly evaluating key strategic decisions in a larger global environment. As such, the mini cases should allow each student to apply the strategic concepts and practices in the textbook to sharpen his/her analytical and evaluative management skills. Each mini case will require the student to focus on three basic, yet critical questions:
1) Where is the individual(s) and/or the organization(s) at the time that the mini-case was written?
2) Where does the individual(s) and/or the organization(s) need to go?
3) How should the individual(s) and/or the organization(s) get there?
When considering the overall theme in constructing a mini-case response, each student should start by reading the questions associated with each mini-case in the textbook. All mini case responses MUST, at the minimum, address each of the questions posed. Each student must also be sure to relate the response to the weekly chapter's topics and/or issues in a significant way. Although it may be interesting to know what happened to an individual and/or an organization after the fact, do NOT include additional research and/or information in the mini-case response about what may have transpired AFTER the mini-case was written.
A Three-Step Process:
The first part of the process in analyzing a mini case involves sifting through a mass of information to pick out the important patterns and issues in order to investigate a business problem. In doing this, each student will be guided partially by his/her overall judgment about the individual(s) and/or the organization(s) mentioned in the mini case. Each student will need to start by making an initial judgment(s) that is formed through critical thinking and problem-solving in approaching the mini-case response as a whole.
The second part of the process is to evaluate an individual's or an organization's external and/or internal position using the data and/or the tools discussed in the textbook. Depending on the content of the mini case, an examination of the data and/or the tools may include: (a) external environment analyses; (b) internal analyses; (c) past/present strategies; (d) possible strategic directions; and (e) a process to implement how the organization(s) might go about carrying out a given strategy to maximize performance. It is important to examine the alternative solutions, and then, assert and defend the most effective and efficient solution using the supporting evidence that has been uncovered.
The third part of the process is to use the seven following sections in a mini-case response - an introduction (2A), the background (2B), the alternatives (2C) (the findings and the results), the proposed solution (2D) (an evaluation and analysis of the results), recommendations (2E), the conclusion (3A), and a list of references (3B). Note: These seven section titles should be used as subheadings in the mini-case response. One by one -- make an assertion and defend it. Write an argument from a position of strength by doing the required homework.
Ashford University Outlines The Steps In Writing A Mini-Case Response:
Ashford University suggests the following steps in outlining a mini-case response.
1. Pre-Work -- Preparing the Case. Before you begin writing, follow these guidelines to help you prepare and understand the case study:
2. Read and examine the case thoroughly.
1. Take notes, highlight relevant facts, underline key problems.
3. Focus your analysis.
1. Identify two to five key problems.
2. Why do they exist?
3. How do they impact the organization?
4. Who is responsible for them?
4. Uncover possible solutions.
1. Review course readings, discussions, outside research, your experience.
5. Select the best solution.
1. Consider strong supporting evidence, pros, and cons: is this solution realistic?
6. Drafting the Case. Once you have gathered the necessary information, a draft of your analysis should include these sections:
7.
1. Identify the key problems and/or issues in the case study.
2. Formulate and include a thesis statement, summarizing the outcome of your analysis in 1-2 sentences.
8.
1. Set the scene: background information, relevant facts, and the most important issues.
2. Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study.
9.
1. Outline a minimum of three possible alternatives (not necessarily all of them will work out). All must have references.
2. Explain why alternatives were rejected.
3. Constraints/reasons.
4. Why are alternatives not possible at this time?
10. Proposed Solution.
1. Provide one specific and realistic solution.
2. Explain why this solution was chosen.
3. Support this solution with solid evidence:
1. Concepts from class (text readings, discussions, lectures).
2. Outside research.
3. Personal experience (anecdotes).
1.
1. Determine and discuss specific strategies for accomplishing the proposed solution.
2. List a minimum of three as Recommendations. Each Recommendation must have references.
3. If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues.
4. What should be done and who should do it?
2. Finalizing the Case (Conclusion). After the first draft of the case study analysis is composed, read through it to check for any gaps or inconsistencies in content or structure: Is the thesis statement clear and direct? Is the evidence solid? Is any component from the analysis missing When making the necessary revisions, proofread and edit the analysis before submitting the final draft. (Refer to Proofreading and Editing Strategies at the Ashford University site as a guide at this stage.)
3.
• Draft a conclusion to wrap up the project.
1.
• Add a list of references, including the Rothaermel text and any other sources used in the mini-case response. Be sure to use correct APA style in citing references - see the "Tips on Writing Assignments" later in the syllabus
Some Additional Questions To Consider:
Some additional questions that could help each student pull together some ideas on mini-case topics/issues are provided. Not all of the questions will fit all of the mini-cases. Students are not expected to answer all of these additional questions in a mini-case response. However, keep in mind that many of the questions below could require outside research that must be documented and can then be used as a reference source(s).
• What is the management structure of the organization(s)? Who are the important players? What are their respective roles? How are specific individuals tied to the organization's success? What is unique about the management structure? What are the problems in the management structure?
• What are the core strengths of this organization(s)? How does the organization(s) retain its competitiveness?
• What are the organization's sales figures? How much market-share does the organization(s) have? What is the organization's marketing strategy? How does the organization(s) plan to retain customers and/or market-share? What is the plan to gain new customers and/or market share? Who is/are the direct competitor(s)? How much market-share is/are it/they capable of taking?
• Can this organization's products/services be easily replaced? What new products/services does this organization(s) have or need?
• What are the short-term and/or the long-term outlooks for the organization's industry? What barriers to entry exist in the organization's industry? How weak or strong are the barriers?
• What can you say in terms of the organization's financial performance? What are the organization's financial strengths? What are the organization's financial weaknesses? Whenever it relates to a mini case, students may want to conduct an in-depth financial analysis with regards to profitability, liquidity, and growth, and then, they may want to provide an assessment of the overall health of the organization's finances.
• What significant Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, or Threats does this organization(s) face? Do a SWOT. What is the organization(s) doing to capitalize on its Strengths and/or its Opportunities? What is the organization(s) doing to mitigate its Weaknesses and/or its Threats?
• Do suppliers to this organization(s) have strong bargaining power or not? How does this impact the organization's success? What strategic decisions are made as the result of its suppliers? Overall, is this an effective and efficient organization(s) in terms of operations?
• What international markets is this organization(s) in? Where is the organization(s) succeeding? Why is the organization(s) successful? Where is the organization(s) struggling? Why is the organization(s) struggling?
• What is the organization's stock trading at in the mini-case? What was the high? What was the close? What was the volume? Would you buy stock in this organization(s)? Why or why not?
• Is this a socially responsible individual(s) and/or organization(s)? What examples can a student provide that demonstrate the importance of ethics in his/her life and/or the organizational culture?
Mini-Case Final Check:
All mini-case work responses should run in the three-to-five page range in length with the use of at least six appropriate, academic-style references to back up the statements made. (Please see other sections within this syllabus regarding proper use of references.) Each student who elects not to supply references with each mini-case work assignment will face a substantially reduced grade, usually averaging a reduction of 25-50% of the points possible, depending on the specific mini-case response under consideration. No student should consider him/herself to be an expert and substitute professional/personal examples for any of the required references.
A minimum of six academic reference sources is needed for each mini-case work responses.
• A minimum of three reference materials from the current chapter of the week in the textbook (different pages) AND/OR three references from the videos are required. Additionally, three OTHER references are required as noted below. This means each mini-case response will have a minimum of six reference citations.
o Three references MUST come from the current chapter of the week in the textbook using different page numbers (citing the quote and/or page number where you found the information). (References from the relevant course videos may be substituted.)
o The other three references (and any additional references beyond a total of six references) can come from any source in the following list of external research sources. Note: Use any combination of the references in the list given here for the second set of three references and beyond.
o Mini-case video sources included with the current chapter of the week on Canvas.
o Additional textbook references from other chapters.
o Experts in the field (cite the name of the individual and the professional occupation or reason that this person is an expert).
o Other ACADEMIC journal sources on the Internet (NOT Wikipedia or E-How or a like kind).
o Newspaper studies or articles from ACADEMIC places like the Wall Street Journal.
o Other types of library reference sources.
• Notes on Copyright and Attribution:
o When quoting other publications (online or offline), be sure to link to the original text (if possible) and use quotation marks or block quotes (for longer texts).
o When using an image from Miami University's image pool, contact the appropriate department and make sure that the image is licensed for online use.
o When using a photograph found on the Web, you must do one of the following:
o Get permission from the original copyright holder (which may not always be same as the site displaying the image).
o Document receipt of permission.
o Use an image with a creative commons license and include the appropriate attribution.
o Make sure images are properly credited, citing the source and photographer's name.
Point Distribution:
The mini-case responses are worth a maximum of 450 points each for a total maximum number of 2,250 points.
Mini-case responses will lose points if:
• The writing is top of mind, babbled, jumbled, and/or disorganized.
• The writing is not on topic - meaning that the writing is not about the focus of the mini-case.
• They are too short or too long (the ideal range is between approximately three pages to no more than five pages). However, going over five pages is fine if needed to complete the argument contained in the mini-case response.
• There are weak or non-academic references, less than six total references, and/or no references.
• There are problems in grammar and/or spelling.
Text Book: Strategic Management by Frank T. Rothaermel, FOURTH EDITION.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.