Guideline to Follow when You Conduct a Case Analysis
1) Presentation of facts (Facts)
a) Identify the facts that have the pertinent value to your issues, applicable theory, and analysis. For example,
i) Determination of a market segment potential is the prerequisite to the product sales forecast, … but
ii) Classification of market demographic characteristics have no direct pertinent value in product differentiation
b) Present the facts that follow a logical order in time, place, and manner; for example,
i) Whether the segmentation of a market has been done before the identification of that market’s potential
ii) Please always be specific and fact-based, not be general nor assume something beyond the facts
2) Determination of major issues ( Issues)
a) Differentiate between symptoms and the root of problems; for example,
i) Whether an electricity blackout or a price-cut from a competition has caused a decrease of the month’s sales number
ii) Formulate the issue(s) that have not been answered in the case. For example, whether the inappropriate product positioning strategy has created a confusion among consumers in identifying our unique product attributes from our competitors’ product
iii) Issues should always written in a generalizable fashion. Please NOT specifically refer the company’s name, for example – Apple — instead, you should use an IT company
iv) Please always start with “whether — type of statement to formulate an issue that needs to be answered
3) Identification of proper and applicable theories/rules (Rule) to the issue. For example,
a) What is the framework of rules/theories you want to adopt to conduct an analysis to answer your issue?
b) What specific rule or theory can be used to answer the current issues
c) Please write the rules/theories to be generalizable and abstract, NOT specific nor have any fact.
4) Analysis of issues (Analysis)
a) How are the facts related to the issues within the theoretical framework to be analyzed and rationalized
b) Please offer your perspective of analysis (e.g., the firm-based, market-based, or culture-based perspective, or value co-creation based perspective.
c) Please use the facts presented to compare with your rule in an attempt to answer your issue statement.
5) Reach of Conclusion (Conclusion)
a) It must be supported by your analysis of the facts within the theoretical framework by a reasonable person’s standard
b) Conclusion could go any direction, all dependent upon the fact presentation. Additional fact can change your conclusion
6) Alternative solutions, tactics or strategies (Alternatives). Any change in fact presentation by the same rule could render a change in conclusion.
a) What could have been done to make it better or reach a different result?
b) What lessons have been learned from the case?
c) What can be generalized into a similar situation in future, etc?
The acronym for the format of case analysis is FIRACA. When you write, please always ask yourself with the following.
Is my writing in its correction section? Common mistakes: conduct your analysis in the fact section, or refer the specifics in the issue or rule section, or does not follow the logic order of what comes first and second, ..
Can my issue statement be answered by comparing facts with the rules/theories I have adopted? Common mistakes: formulate an issue that cannot be answered, specify the scope of an issue too narrow, or fail to see an issue at a conceptual level, etc.
Please follow this format to conduct a case analysis and keep your analysis within a limit of 2 pages.
