MBA 5235E

Management Skills
Fall 2021
CASE SOLVING

Session 5
Key Points to think about

WHAT IS A CASE LEARNING WITH THREE INDIVIDUAL TIMELINE

CASES STAGES OF PREPARATION:
LEARNING SHORT & LONG
CYCLE
 Cases
What is a case?
▫ A field-based description of an actual situation
▫ A large part of a case remains unwritten

Why use cases?

▫ Learning by doing and by teaching others
▫ An opportunity to practice real-life decision making in a
safe
environment

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 Types of cases

By focus: By source:
▪ Incident case • Researched case
▪ Background case • Interview-based case

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Case Length
▪ Cases vary widely in length, but length should always be
justifiable

▪ Reasons for a long case:

▫ Students aren’t familiar with the industry and/or company, and
background on the
industry is important to understanding the problem in the case.
▫ The case spans several years, and it’s important to cover this time
span.
▫ The case contains several key actors, and all of their actions are
important
to understanding the problem in the case.
▫ The decision in the case requires the assimilation of extensive data.
Source: Erskine and Leenders
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 Learning with Cases

What I hear, I forget

What I see, I remember
What I do, I understand
Chinese proverb

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Learning with cases

▪ Discuss the analysis and solution of practical problems

▪ Apply theory to practice
▪ Learn by doing and teaching others
▪ Stay committed and motivated
▪ Develop communication skills
▪ Not learning by memory

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8
Learning with cases
10% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of what we see and hear
70% of what we discuss with others
80% of what we experience
95% of what we teach each other

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Three stage learning process
Large Group
Discussion

Learning
Small Group
Discussion

Individual
Preparation

Time

© ERSKINE AND LEENDERS, IVEY BUSINESS SCHOOL, reprinted with permission

 Individual
preparation

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 The standard
assignment question

If you were in decision-maker’s position in this

organization, what would be your analysis of the
situation described, and what actions would you take and
why?

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 Short cycle process
20 mins

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 Short cycle purpose
▪ Quickly propels you inside the case
▪ Allows to assess case difficulty and time required
▪ Helps to determine if you need extra help: check out a theory or an analytical tool
▪ Saves time by providing focus and direction to your future prep work

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 Short cycle key components
Who is the decision-maker that I am supposed to identify with? What position, title
and responsibilities do I hold?
• Decision-maker is only one
• The person is usually indicated (but not always named) in the 1st paragraph

What appears to be my issues (concern, problem, challenge or opportunity) and its

significance for the organization?
• Although issues may be many, focus on key/root problem
• Be precise in your terms
• Don’t confuse ‘what’ with ‘why’

Why has my issue arisen and why am I involved now? What was the issue trigger?

When do I have to decide, resolve, act or dispose of this issue? Is there an urgency?
How fast the decision must be made?
• Don’t confuse ‘now’ with “when to decide”
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 Long cycle: Reading

Case contains both facts and opinions:

▫ Take facts at face value
▫ Question/challenge opinions
Not every word and details matter:
▫ Skim background sections but slow down in other parts
▫ Opening and closing paragraphs frame the issue: read them
carefully
▫ Good writers spend the whole day crafting these 2 paragraphs
Understand case outline
Background section:
▫ provides context
▫ serves as a basis for “it depends” answer
▫ Can be read quickly
Specific problem section
▫ Must be read most carefully
▫ Pay attention to details
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Exhibit analysis
Don’t ignore the exhibits and analysis
 GROUP CASE SOLVING IN CLASS
There are many ways to engage in case solving.

Two popular frameworks include:

SCQA framework

MINTO Pyramid framework

Its up to your group how you want to structure your case solution and
presentation of recommendations

18 These slides are meant to provide you with some initial options
*
 SCQA framework: Situation,
Complication, Question, and Answer

Source:
https://strategyu.co/scqa-a-framework-for-defining-problems-hypotheses/

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 MINTO Pyramid

Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-yVA56L2Jg

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