case+writing+study

7/28/2019 Case+Writing+Study

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Case Study


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Types of Case Study

The Incident Case : Single Incident, illustrate aconcept or raise a issue, quick reading, no pre-classpreparation

The Background case : impart more information thanconventional reading, one can identify more withdata in case, framework within which other casesexplore specific issues

The Exercise Case : Opportunity to apply specifictechnique, widely used for quantitative analysis andmanipulation of data.


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Types of Case Study

The Situation Case : Analysis of information in case, delineatesignificant relationships existing among various items of data,Involves questions Why did things go wrong, how could thishave been avoided.

The Complex Case : Significant issues immersed in mass ofdata, much of which is irrelevant, required to distinguish

between vital issues from superficial ones, which only distractattention. Sometimes embodied issues are interrelated.

The Decision Case : A step further, one is required to statewhat one would do , formulate action plan , need to developvariety of feasible approaches and exercise judgment inselecting the one with highest probability of success


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Case writing : Deciding on a view point

Omniscient viewpoint : Permits author to see, knowand explore everything that serves the storyline,greatest freedom. Telling story from outside,commenting on anything one chooses

Shortcoming : Difficult to involve the reader directly,authors assessment maypre-empt readers own

evaluation


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Character viewpoint : Tells the story through the eyes ofone or more characters, knowing and revealing only whatthe character knows and feels. They are of 3 types :

First and third person viewpoint : Only from one point of

view, I, He or she can only relate what he or sheknows or feels.

Narrator observer viewpoint : is minor character in

story, whoseposition special knowledge makes thisperson a convincing observer. Someone with whomreader can relate to. Eg. Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmesstories


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Multiple viewpoints : Telling a story from the pointof view of several characters. For eg., a manager may

be presented with different perspectives andopinions on a situation by various members of his orher staff. Form these the manager will have to formhis or her own understanding of the situation anddecide the action it requires


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Writing Case : Tips and Pointers

Preparation :

Plan(Whom to meet, what to talk)

Knowthe company and industry

Reviewannual reports of the firm for the past 3 5 yearsLibrarysearch on firm

Compile view of the industry from public sources

(It helps in 2 ways : Foundation for section in case and

prepares the writer for informed discussions with theexecutives)

Develop a theme


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Interviews

Interviews are best conducted two on one (Two casewriter where one questions and other writes)

Capture every word (Could use Tape recorder)Within 24 hours, fill in the words left out and correctthe words that are unreadable.

Add notes on context or how the person looked oracted as they spoke


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Writing

Draft : Read all material

Look for :

Interesting themes & Issues threads that youwant to develop

Exhibits - Company documents that summarizeimportant data

Opening Quote or a statement that introducesthe case and sets its entire tone.


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Flow

Cases

Start with description of setting

The problem or situation at handGo to company and industrybackground

Three years of financial and current organization chart


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Rest of the case

Three general framework

- Chronology Where we were, where we are now,

where we need to go.- Organization Structure Describe the situation bymoving through key blocks in organization chart(only when chart is reasonable clear and clean)

- Problem Structure Lay out the problem as thecompany sees it, the work through alternative ordifferent positions on what should be done


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Closure

Before sending the draft to the company for review,approval of draft by each person whose quote

appears in caseThe sign off

The officer in the company must formally sign off fora case to be published. .


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Barriers to case clarity

JargonHe had an Oedipus complex Acronyms

As a medium, herESPwas put to good use. Misplaced expression

eg. I hope I have enough compassion to avoid making people redundant if

necessary Abstract nouns

The public lacks an understanding of the inevitability ofexhaustionofNorth Sea Oil

Strings of nounsEg. The article examines government property tax reform proposals.

Strings of prepositional phrasesEg. She had read ofthe achievements ofthe Irish of the southern regions ofNew England.

Subordinated clauses Missing links

Eg. : They want to raise the voting age to 21 because of immaturity


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Postponed verbsPressure to prevent the building of nuclear power stations and even to closethe existing power stations is increasing.

PassivesYour question will be answeredby my secretary

Superfluous wordsShe was unable to buy a ticket at student rates because of the fact thatshe

was not carrying her student union card.

Less familiar wordsThe customer service manager initiated immediate action in her endeavourtoplacate the customer.

Writing about writing

The case writer will begin by discussing ..

NegativeHe knew that unless hefailedto apply within three months compensation

would notbe deniedto him.


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Case drafting Hints

Objectives

Be clear about the teaching and learning objectives

Case Outline

Produce a case outline, perhaps using headings that willform the main sections of the case. Be prepared todiscard irrelevant material.

Case OpeningThink carefully about the opening sentence and its

wording. It must capture the readers attention


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Structure

Time Structure : Make it clear when events took place.Use dates rather than words such as currently, recently,now.

Avoid using present tense.

Narrative Structure : An understandable sequence ofevents.

What led to what.Maintain the flow of an unfolding story.

A network helpful in outlining the case

Case drafting Hints


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Expository StructureWhat the authorwants to make explicit to the readers.

What do youwant them to discover from their own analysisand / or discussion of the case ?

Plot Structure

Case should have an element of drama to develop andmaintain interest.

One or more issues to be resolved.Issues must be significantenough to capture readers

attention

Case drafting Hints


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Case Difficulty

Concepts : How many ? How Complex ? Introducedthrough case or already known to the reader.

Analysis : What methods appropriate for the date in

the case Presentation : How long is the case ? How readable ?

What diagram, table or other supplementarymaterial are to be included.


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Closure

Reiterate key issues.

Remind the reader of the need for a decision,

evaluation, formulation of opinions.What unresolved problems remain ?

Case drafting Hints


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The End

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