Reference no: EM133238138

Guidelines for analyzing the case Ford Motor Company

Firstly,

Identify the key points or issues
Weigh up the situation
Identify the information you do have and that you need to know
Explore the website of the firm to explore and get more information about the firm's current operations and strategies

Before you can:

Define the problem/issues to be addressed precisely
Outline the objectives: the desirable outcomes
Identify resources/techniques helpful to opening up the case study
Generate ideas or alternative solutions

Then you can:

Choose a "best fit" solution from the options (SWOT is compulsory, other choices are VRIO, BCG portfolio matrix etc.)
Decide on an action plan
Outline what you need to suggest and how it can be implemented
Consider what might go wrong and how to monitor the success of the action plan

How to approach the case study

Step 1. Read the case carefully and work on the following:

What are the main presenting issues?
What is the firm doing right? What is it doing wrong, according to you?
What is the current situation of the firm/enterprise?
What would happen if nothing is/was done?
What hard evidence (data - ratio analysis, financial data, marketing data etc.) is there that the situation needs action?

Once you have done this, you can write the introduction to the case study analysis, which outlines the situation, the key issues, and why these have arisen and required action. In this way, you should avoid rewriting large chunks of the case study.

Step 2. Analyze the situation/issues clearly and ask yourself the following questions:

What is the background of the case study?
What (Internet) research could I use to understand the issues?
What solutions are desirable/possible?
What solutions are suggested/supported by research?
What are the legal and ethical considerations?
What would be my role?

Step 3. Use the SWOT (SO-WO-ST-WT) provided to record your ideas/analysis.

Step 4. Use one more suitable tool like Portfolio Analysis, Competitive Profiling, etc. to develop a better understanding of the case's situation.

Step 5. Collect information about the current situation of the firm/ enterprise. Then, perform a thorough analysis of the current situation as well.

Step 6. Suggest solutions and make assumptions explicitly clear.

Step 7. You must communicate what you learned from this case study and how you can generalize.

How to write the case study Report?

An effective case study report should

Clearly identify the core problem(s) / issues
Analyze the issues underlying the problem
Discuss and justify alternative solutions using theory/experience
Present feasible recommendations
Be presented in an appropriate format

The report format

Introduction

Overview of the situation and identification of key issues underlying the problems identified in the case study

Main body

Present and analyze the issues. Consider and assess possible solutions regarding theoretical grounding, strengths, and weaknesses, and possible risk factors drawn from both literature and experiences. Collect as much information as possible from the Internet about the firm's current position.

Conclusion

Summarize main findings. Identify and justify the strategy proposed. You must mention the important issues you learned from the case study (I strongly urge you to bring up a couple of slides highlighting the issues you learned).

Recommendations

Recommendations should be in line with your analysis. It may be separate or within conclusions

Appendices -A compilation of supplementary and illustrative material.
Minimum 5 references

Do not include items that are not mentioned in the report.

Bibliography - A list of sources consulted or referred to in alphabetical order of authors' name(s).

Tables, charts, graphs, and diagrams - may be included within the report or in the appendices. Used in the appendix, they avoid cluttering the main text and do not add to your overall word count.

All illustrations should be clearly labeled, numbered, and referred to in the report.

Pitfalls of case study analysis

You may lose marks when analysis fails to:

Identify the real problem, focusing on describing the case study situation and missing the underlying issues
Separate the strategic management issues from the operational issues
Identify for whom the issue is a problem (that means you fail to identify key decision makers)
Examine possible alternatives
Present a realistic implementation plan
Address the specific issues
Support their ideas with evidence from research, studies, or theories