What is a Case
G3
WHAT A CASE IS? WHAT IT DOES?
WHAT IT DOESN'T DO?
The definition of CASE 🖊
verbal representations of reality 👥
A business case imitates or simulates a real situation
put the reader in the role of a participant in the situation
TAMING AN INDETERMINATE TEXT
Newspapers, magazines, television and the internet tells the reader what it mean.
Business case require active readers.
In a text book, an expert delivers the truth to readers.
News paper article states its subject clearly
The case doesn't report only those facts relevant to the controversy or offer the views and reasoning of all the parties.
謝宜樺
方德文
In case method classroom
Varieties
The unit of analysis
an individual
an organization
an entire nation
WHAT A CASE IS? WHAT IT DOES?
WHAT IT DOESN'T DO?
李佳容
黃品筑
the world
江羽晴
A case's range
1page
≥ 50 pages
Similarities
王渝絜
Represent reality
Convey a situation with
all its cross currents & rough edges
irrelevancies
sideshows
misconceptions
little/overwhelming amount
In case method classroom
Cases & Real business situations
student
logical ❎ coherent ❎
fluid ✅
Instructor
Teach concepts for analysis cases studies
Use questions as a guide for students to think and discuss
They don't do it announce definitive conclusions or right answers
(inevitably involve) uncertainty ✅
In class
After class
Before class
They should preview the case in advance
Discuss about the problem
Take responsibility for the outcome of the discussion
selected & sorted info ❎
clarity ✅ contingency ✅
cases
business students
laboratories
THREE WAYS TO READ
educating scientists & doctors
THREE WAYS TO READ
Find it
Make it
Receive it
Fits a text that states both a subject and its significance
Example
News story
Online product review
Fits a text that has keys or clues that readers recognizes and puts together for a solution
Example
Mystery novels
Need to find the correct formulas or equations that will fill a need states or implied in a case
Appropriate for cases
The content of CASE 📰
3 characteristics
Sufficient information on which to base conclusions
No stated conclusions
A significant business issue or issues
The information varies considerably in its apparent relevance to the issue
Essentials
Most basic matters of facts are not clearly stated or are stated in multiple ways
By design
A case doesn't tell you what it means
Have to read a case actively and construct own meaning
An adequate fact base
reasonable conclusions with no statement
complicating properties
A nonlinear structure
Information that includes "noise"
Readers should be able to
A linear structure ⁉
Headings/subheadings divide the case into sections
Introduction and conclusion
👉🏼Adjusting reading methods that match the quality of the text
DO NOT always provide invaluable info ❎
but they ARE NOT linear‼
A case with a significant issue
educational value
Unstated information that must be inferred from the information
fact base ⬇ readers' ability to infer ⬆
Associate evidence from different parts
Furnish missing information through inferences
Filter out irrelevant or low-value portions of the text
Construct conclusions
Assume that every case deals with sth important
Debt-equity trade-offs
A major problem in a plant
A pricing dilemma
Harvard Business School case: Malaysia in 1990s
portion of a simulated case discussion
student
Instructor
What do you think?
He shouldn't give in to the environmentalists
Which would you perfer?
I would want the government to be willing to talk.
A government open to discussion and negotiation about issues
The case doesn't say
One that takes a hard line with outsiders
Does Malaysia have a strong environmental movement?
I think the country can't afford to have Western standards for environmental protection.
Let's assume it doesn't.
species of frog that Western scientists have not yet had a chance to study?
A
The case does mention some negative consequences for Malaysia, things like erosion, floods, and some types of plants that
might be destroyed which could be developed for medicines.
B
Does an environmental point of view have any utility for a developing nation?
Can deforestation hurt the country's long-term
development?
It could. Harvesting trees at a rate that isn't sustainable means the timber harvest will get smaller and smaller.
C
Eventually, the industry and the revenue from it will disappear.
a small problem?
something in between?
a big problem?
❓
The scope of the problem?
Has anyone got numbers that help define it?
I think it's mostly in one area.
Don't have specific numbers.
Timber is going down as a percentage of exports.
irrelevancies
dead ends
false/biased/limited testimony
related evidence is scattered through out the text
Integrate into a conclusion
Cases may put statements that sound conclusive in the mouths of case characters ⚠
But every case character is subject to skepticism
based on
his/her self-interest
limited point of view
elaborate padding in the text & exhibits
To distract the reader
make it harder to distinguish useful info
The content ❌ logical
TAMING AN INDETERMINATE TEXT