The Case Method of Learning

“The essence of knowledge is having to apply it.” This old adage expresses the philosophy underlying the
case method of learning.

A case or case study is the description of a situation, usually specific to an organization that will require
you to identify a problem, and to make a decision concerning the best course of action. The purpose of
case analysis is to provide you with a realistic problem that allows you to apply your knowledge. The
essence of the case method is that you apply what you have learned.

As much as we would like to tell you “The” best way to analyze a case, we cannot. Each case is unique.
Further, and perhaps the main reason why we cannot, is that individuals will take different paths to develop
logical ways to identify and solve the problem. However, we may be able to offer some helpful hints and to
suggest a standardized way of working and thinking through while solving the problems.

How to Perform a Case Analysis

In general you should prepare a case analysis by proceeding through the following stages:

1. Listen closely and firmly establish an understanding of the case and to the questions
you'll be asked
▪ Familiarize yourself with the situation accurately
▪ Comprehend its contents as efficiently as possible
▪ It may be helpful to take notes and summarize key facts, symptoms of problems,
constraints and major issues
2. Perform a Situation Analysis
▪ Analyze what information in the case is needed to adequately assess the
situation
▪ A good starting point is to ask the interviewer relevant/ focused questions about
the case this starts you thinking about the various aspects of the case and helps
you evaluate the situation.
3. Formulate a Problem Statement
▪ The old adage “a problem well defined is a problem half solved” is worth
remembering because orderly definition of the problem gives a sense of
direction to the case analysis.
▪ The problem statement should identify what you think are the key issues and
what major hurdles must be overcome to achieve the objectives.
▪ In many situations you will not be able to discover the actual problem because
you lack sufficiently detailed information. Under these circumstances it may be
appropriate to make certain assumptions.
4. Identify your Alternative Decisions or Courses of Action
▪ Typically you will be able to identify several courses of action
▪ By presenting alternative solutions and different points of view at this stage, the
case analyst can exercise better critical judgment at the decision making stage.
5. Identify the Criteria for Decision Making
▪ A criterion is a standard of judgment or an established rule for selecting the best
alternative to solve a problem (e.g. the profit criterion, and others like
professional ethics or company mission etc)
▪ Your job is to weigh the evidence provided in the case with respect to each
criterion and evaluate each alternative while taking into account the relevant
criteria.
6. Choose an Alternative/ Make Recommendations and Clearly summarize your Final
Analysis and Conclusions
▪ After weighing the pros and cons of each alternative you must make a decision
and you should also explain why your decision was made.
 ▪ The purpose of this stage is to force one to make a critical judgment based on
the information that is currently available. This is not easy to do, but it is why
the case method of learning is so enjoyable and effective.

Some Helpful Tips

1. Think out loud so that the interviewer understands the direction of your thinking. You may also
want to write down your findings and assumptions.

2. Remember, there is no "right" way of doing a case; nor is there a single answer. If you have
demonstrated the way you think, you have done all you can to "crack the case."

3. Interact with the interviewer. The case should be a dialogue, not a monologue.

4. Pace yourself. It's important to not rush to conclusions.

5. And perhaps most important, relax and have fun. Remember, the case interviews are meant not
only to demonstrate your thought process, but also to show you, in an abbreviated form, the kind
of challenges we enjoy working on!

Areas Where We Will Test You

• Structured thinking abilities

• Demonstrating client focus
• Depth of understanding to the situation
• Critical problem-solving skills
• Analytical capabilities
• Creativity and insight in solving problems
• How well do you manage & structure complex problems
• General comfort with quantitative and qualitative analyses
• Presenting your ideas & thoughts in a logical & well-structured manner
• Ability to collaborate, be open and blunt

Few Links https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R5bT4cJh0A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOcO6R0snxI

Everest Group Website link

Do visit following links to understand more about Everest Group: www.everestgrp.com