Case Study
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
What is Case Study?
A case describes problem to be solved. The problem may relate to the whole organisation or any
part of it.
It may cover all or some aspects of the part under study, Cases contain information about
company's history, internal and external operations.
They also contain information about the industry to which the company belongs, the
competitive practices, products and markets of the company and details about its functional
areas such production, marketing, human resource and finance.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Though case represents a real-life situation, it generally does not give complete information
about the problem to the reader.
Collecting information cannot be possible and, therefore, a case provides the reader real-life
business situations to deal with. It helps in understanding the real business situations in which
managers work and make satisfying and practical decisions rather than optimum decisions.
A case can be structured or unstructured. A structured case has questions that follow to
determine the direction in which case will be discussed. An unstructured case does not have
questions for discussion with respect to issues related to the case. The reader analyses the
problem and focuses on the relevant issues. This is how they learn to deal with real life business
problems.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Objectives of Case Study
It helps to know the problems that managers face at the work place.
It helps the students use managerial concepts and theories into management practice.
It enables them to diagnose and analyse the problem, frame alternatives and formulate working
action plans.
It converts theory (classroom instructions) into practice (realism).
It trains the students to analyse the business situations and find solutions rather than depend
upon outside help.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
It exposes students to a vast variety of business problems which would otherwise take them
years to experience personally.
It promotes learning by doing. It promotes managerial skills of readers by not providing ready
answers to business problems. There are no pre-defined solutions to [Link] situation is
different from the other and requires subjective thinking, initiative and value judgement to
arrive at novel solutions.
It aims to develop answers and not seek answers. The right answer is diagnosed rather than
accepted as a ready solution. This develops conceptual ability of the readers.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Guidelines for Analysing a Case
Case study aims to find solution to the problem related to a business situation. The case analyst can
find solutions if he follows these guidelines :
He should thoroughly study the case and find the problem and facts related to the case. Questions
related to each specific event should be analysed through logic and reasoning.
All facts supporting and opposing the case should be analysed to arrive at the best satisfying decision.
He should follow a definite sequence to find and solve the problem.-Define the problem, Identify the
alternatives, Compare the alternatives, Select an alternatives
The case should generally be discussed in a group. Group thinking contributes more to the analysis
than individual thinking.
The analysts should have a flexible approach to the case as group discussion can keep changing the
solutions according to individual perceptions.
He should be precise in his approach and relate only to concrete ideas. He should not find solutions
around vague ideas.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
How to Write?
Exam questions that ask you to anlayse case studies (also called scenarios) are usually designed
to test your ability to relate theories and concepts to real-world situations.
Preparing for case studies before the exam:
Start by identifying the theories and concepts covered in your course. Organise and review the
information you have on these theories/concepts so you understand them.
Practice reading case studies and identifying relevant information. It's probably useful to
practice doing this with a time limit as you will have one in your exam.
Practice relating concepts and theories to real-world situations: check textbooks for practice
examples. It is also worth checking past exams for your course to see if there are examples of
case study questions.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
During the exam
Take time to plan: Have a clear idea of how much time you have to answer the question. Then plan to
spend some time reading the exam question, the case study and planning your answer.
Take time to make sure you have understood the case study and know what the exam question is
asking you to do:
Read the exam question(s)
Then skim read the case study to get the general idea. Highlight or underline key points
Reread the question to make sure you understand it and to focus your attention when you reread the
case study.
Reread the case study carefully. Make a note of any ideas that you think of.
Answer the question linking relevant theories and concepts to specific information from the case
study. Usually you will need to write your answers in clearly formed paragraphs which have a clear
topic that is well-supported with evidence and examples.
Instead of simply describing or restating information from the case itself, use specific details or
examples to support the points you are trying to make. This is where you link theory to the facts from
the case study.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Hindustan Automobiles
Hindustan automobiles produced spare parts of automobiles. The GM of the company stayed
away from his workers and believed in strict compliance to his orders. Authority and
responsibility flew strictly in the hierarchical line. The demand for company's products went
down and the company come to a close. Then, Mr. Gupta was appointed as new GM of the
company. He scanned the overall working environment of the company, took a round in each
and every department of the company, met every worker personally, so much so that he called
workers by name and discussed labour-management philosophies with them. Every decision
that concerned workers was taken in joint participation by them. Workers could approach him
directly in his r00m without prior appointment. He believed in philosophy - "If you want to get
things done through people, you can't be cold and heartless with them." This changed the whole
philosophy of management. Workers' morale boosted, production and productivity increased
and profits started rising.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Questions
1. What was Mr X's perception about management?
2. Did he believe in the concept - "Management is the art of getting things done through and
with people.“
3. Describe the qualities of Mr. X as a manager.
4. If you were X, would you adopt a similar strategy in your company? Why? If
not, what and why?
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Radiant Industries
"Radiant Industries" manufactures electrical stamping. It supplies 50% of its output in domestic
market and 50% in international [Link] on date, it is doing well in the domestic market, while it is
unable to capture the international market successfully. Market research has identified the following
reasons for this :—1. Intense competition in the international market, as the product is not new
there.2. Quality is not upto the international [Link], the product is new to the domestic
markets, thus, is readily acceptable here. The managing director (MD) of the company is worried
about its international operations and, thus, holds a meeting with Finance and Marketing managers
(major departmental heads) to analyze the [Link] extensive discussion, marketing manager came
to the conclusion that the firm should continue working in the international markets, as he feels that
the firm might face competition in the domestic market which may drive the firm [Link], he wants to
improve quality upto the international level and introduce product [Link] finance
manager, however is not very pleased with this opinion; as quality enhancement upto the
international levels would require huge amount of capital investment; and the firm at present is not
in a position to finance it. This would require some time; thus, the marketing manager's plan cannot
be implemented [Link] MD knows that product differentiation and quality enhancement is
a long-term procedure; but going with the opinion of marketing manager; he wants to continue its
operations in the international [Link] result was increasing losses for the company. The
departmental managers then suggested the MD to reduce the sales targets in foreign markets and
plan accordingly. The MD didn't listen. The company came close to bankruptcy.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.
Questions
1. Analyse the case.
2. What reasons do you account for company's failure?
3. What would you have done in such a situation? Suggest a strategy for the company to come
out of this financial crisis.
Dr. Nihara Marie Thomas | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (Autonomous), Bengaluru.