HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM CASE ANALYSIS

One of the reasons case analysis is so enriching as

a learning tool is that it draws on many resources
and skills besides just what is in the textbook. This is
especially true in the study of strategy. Why?
Because strategic management itself is a highly
integrative task that draws on many areas of
specialization at several levels, from the individual
to the whole of society.
HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM CASE ANALYSIS
Here are some tips for how to do that:
• Keep an open mind.
• Take a stand for what you believe.
• Draw on your personal experience.
• Participate and persuade.
• Be concise and to the point.
• Think out of the box.
• Learn from the insights of others.
• Apply insights from other case analyses.
• Critically analyze our own performance.
• Conduct outside research.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS

The demands on today’s business leaders

requires them to perform a wide variety of
functions. The success of their organizations
often depends on how they as individuals-and-
as part of groups-meet the challenges and
deliver on promises.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS

Three different techniques

1. Integrative Thinking
Four stages; a.) Salience b.) Causality
c.) Architecture d.) Resolution

2. Asking Heretical Questions

3. Conflict-Inducing Techniques
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS
Symptoms of Grouping and How to prevent it (Irvin Janis)
• An illusion of invulnerability
• A belief in the inherent morality of the group
• Stereotyped views of members of opposing groups/
• The application of pressure to members who express
doubts about the group’s shared illusions or question
the validity of arguments propose
• The practice of self-censorship
• An illusion of unanimity.
• The appointment of mindguards.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS
Janis suggestions for preventing group think as guides in
decision making and problem solving.
• Leaders must encourage group members to address
their concerns and objectives.
• When higher-level managers assign a problem for a
group to solve, they should adopt an impartial stance
and not mention their preferences.
• Before a group reaches its final decision, the leader
should encourage members to discuss their
deliberation with trusted associates and then report the
perspectives back to the group.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS
• The group should invite outside experts and encourage
them to challenge the group’s viewpoints and
positions.
• The group should divide into subgroups, meet at various
times under different chairpersons, and then get
together to resolve difference.
• After reaching a preliminary agreement, the group
should hold a “second chance” meeting that provides
members a forum to express any remaining concerns
and rethink the issue prior to making a final decision.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS
Using Conflict to Improve Decision Making

Devil’s Advocacy-one of the groups (or individuals) acts

as a critic to the plan.

Dialectical Inquiry-attempts to accomplish the goals of

the devil’s advocate in a more constructive manner.
USEFUL DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN
CASE ANALYSIS
Dialectical inquiry involves the following steps:
1. Identify a proposal and the information that was used
to derive it.
2. State the underlying assumptions of the proposal.
3. Identify a counterplan (antithesis) that is believed to
be feasible, politically viable, and generally credible.
However, it rests on assumptions that are opposite to
the original proposal.
4. Engage in a debate in which individuals favoring each
plan provide their arguments and support.
5. Identify a synthetic which, hopefully, includes the best
components of each alternative.
FOLLOWING THE ANALYSIS-DECISION-
ACTION CYCLE IN CASE ANALYSIS
1. Analyzing organization goals and objectives.
2. Analyzing the external environment.
3. Analyzing the internal environment.
4. Assessing a firm’s intellectual assets.
5. Formulating business-level strategies.
6. Formulating corporate-level strategies.
7. Formulating international-level strategies.
8. Formulating entrepreneurial strategies.
9. Achieving effective strategic control.
10.Creating effective organizational designs
11.Creating a learning organization and an ethical organization.
12.Fostering corporate entrepreneurship.