The Case Study Handbook ppt is the presentation I made for my BBA students at the university I taught for a brief period of time. The PowerPoint content is fully based on the book "The Case Study Handbook - How to Read, Discuss, and Write Persuasively About Cases" 2007 by William Ellet. If you're enrolled in an executive education or MBA program, you've probably encountered a powerful learning tool: the business case. But if you're like many people, you may find interpreting and writing about cases mystifying, challenging, or downright frustrating. In "The Case Study Handbook", William Ellet presents a potent new approach for analyzing, discussing, and writing about cases.

1. THE
CASE
STUDY
HANDBOOK
How to Read, Discuss, and
Write Persuasively About Cases
- WILLIAM ELLET
CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal

2. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
PERSUASION,
ARGUMENT,
AND
THE CASE METHOD
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method

3. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
At the Conclusion of the case,
Readers has literal and figurative headache –and nothing
Explicit is mentioned about what he should do.
Instructor use Socratic methods in classes to carry out the
discussion through answers to a stream of question (Q&A).
Initial month can be difficult for student as they feel vulnerable,
written based case poses another challenge. In classroom,
entire groups including instructor works collaboratively.
Depending on the size of the classroom every students tries there
best to contribute. But on exams students are on there own on
limited time.

4. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
In class and on exams, case method students are asked
questions
like these:
Is the change effort described in the case worthwhile? If it is, why has it
failed? How can it be successfully implemented?
How attractive is the industry described in the case? Are some
segments
more attractive than others? Why? Identify, analyze, and evaluate the
strategy of the company feature in the case.
Thinking from perspective of current European Union members, do you
agree with their decision to enlarge the EU by ten new members? What
are the pros and cons? What is the impact on the world economy?

5. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
SKILLS FOR STUDYING IN CLASS
Case method require lot from students. First, the
students needs to be able to analyze the case,
to give meaning in relation to its key issues or
questions that have been asked about it. Goal is
to come with the conclusion, taking account of
the gaps and uncertainties.
Second, students have to be able to
communicate their thinking effectively.
The role is to communicate, share, explain
validity, and mainly to advance the discussion
and contribute to the collective understanding of
the case.

6. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
RECEIVING KNOWLEDGE
VERSUS MAKING IT
Students have been educated in a lecture system.
It is efficient way for an expert to deliver content to
many individuals at once. It is a learning model
where volumes of content can be delivered at
same time.
Like any learning method it has its limitations...

7. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
…it does not encourage listeners to think
about the content and apply it. Lectures on
organizational development or
macroeconomics aren’t truly meaningful
until the learner can apply the content to
issues to better understand organizations
or countries. No practical opportunities. No
rigorous practices. Learners tend to be
graded on recall of facts.

8. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
While in case-basedprogram,
students are surprised when professor
expect them to know the facts and ask
them to apply them to support their
argument.
In lecture method, learners receive
knowledge from expert. In case method,
learners make the knowledge with the
assistance of an expert.

9. WRITING AND PERSUASION
A graduate once summed up his feeling in an
MBA Program: “I didn’t go to business school to
learn how to write!”
But, many business school students don’t
think they have strong writing skills and aren’t
sure how to write an argument. EX:
backgrounds in science and technology may
have done no significant writing.
CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method

10. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
The title of a much discussed New York
Times article captures the state of writing
in the United States. “What Corporate
America Cannot Build: A Sentence.” Well
written document can be hidden source of
competitive advantage.
Persuasion is the art of convincing
audience, listeners or readers, to
believe, think, or act as the speaker or
writers wants them to.

11. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
Cases have multiple meanings and are
always controversial. Forty students in a
class has forty different views of a case.
Hence, writers must meet a high standard
of proof knowing the fact that there
classmates and professor are familiar with
the case.

12. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
There are many ways to persuade an
audience – emotional appeal, tricks of
logic; appeals to authority; reasoning and
evidence. In academic or business setting
the best way to persuade is through
argument.

13. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 1: Persuasion, Argument, And The Case Method
Broadly speaking, an argument is a series
of logically related statement. One that
matters most is between conclusion and
evidence for it. You make a conclusion fine
but also provide evidence for why. What
can you say to prove it for the audience to
take your conclusion seriously, you need to
show them why they should. Follow What?
Why? Model.

14. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
WHAT
IS
A CASE ?
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?

15. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
In a case method classroom, both the instructor and
student must be active in different ways.
Instructor are experts, but they rarely deliver their expertise directly.
The art of a case method instructor is to ask the right question at the
right time, provide feedback on answers, and sustain a discussion that
opens up meanings of the case.
Students provide most of the content of a case discussion. Students
are responsible for the outcomes of the discussion.

16. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
WHAT A CASE IS, WHAT IT DOES,
WHAT IT DOESN’T DO
Cases are verbal representation of reality that
put the reader in the role of a participant in the
situation. They can be of any size but they all
have a common purpose: to represent reality, to
convey a situation with all its cross currents and
rough edges- including irrelevancies,
slideshows, misconceptions, and little
information or an overwhelming amount of it.
Just like real situation cases don’t present
selected and sorted information.

17. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
As an analog to reality, a substitute for direct
experience in a business situation, a case must
have these three characteristics:
• A significant business issue or issues
• Sufficient information on which to base
conclusions
• No stated conclusions.
A case without significant issue has no
educational value.

18. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
Many cases have these complicating properties:
• Information that includes “noises” –
irrelevancies, dead ends, and false, biased,
or limited testimony by characters in the
case.
• Unstated information that must be inferred
from the information that is stated.
• A nonlinear structure in which related
evidence is scattered throughout the text and
is often disguised or left to inference

19. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
As a reader of cases, therefore, you must be
able to:
• Construct conclusions from the information in
the text
• Filter out irrelevant or low-value portions of
the text
• Furnish missing information through
inferences
• Associate evidence from different parts of the
case and integrate it into a conclusion
If memorization is the primary skill of the lecture
model, inference is the primary skill of the case
model.

20. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
TAMING AN INDETERMINATE TEXT
There is a difference between news, stories,
histories and text. The journalism of
newspapers, magazines, television, and the
internet, whether reporting or opinion, tells the
reader what it means. If it doesn’t it has failed.
Newspaper article, states its subject clearly,
often in the first paragraph, and carefully
declares the main points, which are usually
explained and amplified through specific
examples. But while dealing with cases, readers
go through ambiguity throughout their reading.
Compared with a news story or textbook, the
case’s opening and closing sections seem to
have little to do with the text in between.

21. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 2: What Is A Case?
THREE WAYS TO READ
Receive it.
Find it.
Make it.

22. PART I
ANALYSIS
CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal

23. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
HOW
TO ANALYZE
A CASE
Chapter 3: How to Analyze a Case

24. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
A case is a text that refuses to explain itself. How do you
construct a meaning for it?
Start by recognizing some contextual factors that help limit and narrow
the analysis. Marketing cases requires you to think as a marketer, not a
strategist or manufacturing manager.

25. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
STARTING POINT FOR UNDERSTANDING
Case method is heuristic. A term for self-guided learning that employs
analysis to help draw conclusions about a situation. Analysis is derived
from a Greek word meaning. “a dissolving”. In English, analysis has two
closely related definitions: to break something up into its constituent
parts; and to study the relationships of the parts to the whole. To
analyze a case, you therefore need ways of identifying and
understanding important aspects of a situation and what they mean in
relation to the overall situation.

26. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
THINKING, NOT READING, IS KEY
Reading is never the primary resource of case analysis. Reading is
simply an instrument directed by the thought process that makes
meaning from the text.

27. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
TYPES OF CASE SITUATIONS
Four types of situation occur repeatedly in cases:
• Problems
• Decisions
• Evaluations
• Rule

28. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Problems Situation
In case situation, it is a situation in which (1) there is a significant
outcome or performance, and (2) there is no explicit explanation of the
outcome or performance. To put it simply, a problem is a situation in
which something important has happened, but we don’t know why it did.

29. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Problem analysis begins with a definition of problem. First, you need to
realize a problem exists and then define it for yourself. Next, you work
out on explanation of the problem by linking the outcome or
performance to its root causes this is the main work of problem
analysis. To carry it out, you’ll need relevant tools, the specialized
methods of business disciplines such as organizational behavior and
operations management.

30. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Decisions Situation
Here the decision needs to be made. This decision however can only
be made after the company’s current strategy (case facts) and how well
it works are analyzed. Analyzing it requires the following:
• Decision options
• Decision criteria
• Relevant evidence
There is no objectively correct decisions. The standard for good
decision is the one that creates more benefits than the alternatives and
has fewer or less severe downsides.

31. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Evaluations Situation
Evaluation express a judgment about the worth, value, or effectiveness
of a performance, act, or outcome. Like with decision, evaluation
requires appropriate criteria that are based on specialized methods. For
example, Long list of formula can be used to evaluate company’s
financial performances over a five-year methods. But remember, that
circumstances portrayed in the case come into play as well. Your
Number may not align with the circumstances. An overall evaluation
expresses best fit between evaluation criteria and the evidence.
Another requirement of evaluation is that it requires both positive and
negative sides to be assessed.

32. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Rules Situation
Applies Quantitative method. Qualitative method is different from rule.
For rule analysis you need to know:
• The type of information needed in a situation
• The appropriate rule to furnish that information
• The correct way to apply the rule
• The data necessary to execute the rule.
Rules aren’t pursued further in this book as it means learning financial
and accounting, valuations. However, it may be helpful to remember
that when rules depend upon assumptions, the values chosen for them
require an argument.

33. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
CASE ANALYSIS AS A PROCESS
The three concepts contributing to to help students become efficient,
productive, and Active reader are goal of analysis, point of view, and a
hypothesis.
Goal of Analysis
Its better not to dwell on understanding but better to come up with a
conclusion. The problem is that “understanding” is too vague. How do
you know when to conclude your case? Is important question. Here is a
more concrete goal: you are familiar with the information in the case,
you have come to a conclusion about the main issue, you have
evidence showing why your conclusion is reasonable, and you have
thought about other possible conclusion and why yours is preferable to
them. Allocate a set amount of time to do this (for example, 2 hours).
This is a good way to put constructive pressure on yourself to make the
most of the time.

34. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Point of View
Adopt the point of view of the protagonist – the main character. Put
yourself in her shoes. Her dilemma should be your dilemma. Often a
good question to ask yourself is, Why is the person in this dilemma?
Hypothesis
One of the most useful constructs for resolving the protagonist dilemma
is a hypothesis. It is a tentative explanation that accounts for a set of
facts and can be tested by further investigation. For example, if the
protagonist improves on her communication skills, then her employees
will perform better. (this needs to be backed by evidence).

35. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS
The rest of this chapter outlines a process for working on
cases. The process has five phases:
1. Situation (5 minutes)
The process advocate to understand the big picture first
and then fill it with details. Start by asking this question.
What is the situation?
2. Question (15 minutes)
knowing the situation allows you to ask questions pertinent to a
problem, decision, or an evaluation. The most important of
these questions is: What do I need to know about the situation?

36. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
3. Hypothesis (45 minutes)
4. Proof and Action (40 minutes)
Collect evidence supporting your hypothesis and build argument. Then
prepare a action plan. Action plan is a program in which actions are
taken at a certain time for a reason. It isn’t a to-do list.
5. Alternatives (15 minutes)
It is a paradox. Question, what is the greatest weakness of the
hypothesis? What is the strongest alternative to it?

37. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
BUT WHAT IF MY HYPOTHESIS IS WRONG
Its alright to be wrong, if you reach to this point it also means
you have a good grasp of the case now, and probably have
sense of what the better hypothesis is and where it is. It can all
contribute to invaluable learning experience.

38. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 3: How to Analyze A Case
Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 of this book are the chapters where the lessons of
previous three chapters (Ch 1, 2, & 3) are put into practice. Since it takes
long participation and classes, these Chapters has been skipped. The
chapter does not include more learning content or new frameworks (but of
course just to mention there are always something new to learn if you want
to, however these chapters are more for students than professor.) Ch 4-7 is
best to practice, compare, and find differences (for the students to deal with
themselves). Therefore, In my slides I have skipped these chapters for
aforementioned reasons.
Chapter 4: Case Analysis Demonstration
Chapter 5: Problems Situation Case Analysis (Case Study: Allentown
Materials Corporation: EPD)
Chapter 6: Decisions Situation Case Analysis (Case Study: General Motors
Packard Electric Division)
Chapter 7: Evaluations Situation Case Analysis (Case Study: Allentown
Material Corporation: The Electronic Products Division)

39. PART II
DISCUSSION
CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal

40. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
HOW
TO DISCUSS
A CASE
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case

41. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Discussion skills are important because business school
students often spend significant classroom time talking
about cases.
Case discussions are a principal means for learning in business
programs. They also help you learn how to think about business issues
on your own and as part of a group.

42. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
COLLABORATION
Case discussion skills are grounded in the special qualities of the case
method. The purpose of a case discussion is to construct meanings for
a case based on evidence drawn from it and to recognize the
uncertainties inherent in all of the meanings.

43. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Wrong assumptions about case:
• Cases are stories that have embedded in them the knowledge
students previously received directly from a text, an expert, or both,
and are therefore containers in which the truth is hidden, or a long
word problem with a right answer.
• Cases analysis is the process of finding the correct answer.
• Case discussion is the opportunity for the students to show the
instructor they have found the right answer.

44. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Case discussions aren’t opportunities to recite knowledge learned
elsewhere. They are opportunities to use knowledge and intuition to
generate new knowledge.
In a case class, you have to do something that may not feel
comfortable at first: take responsibility for your own view of a case,
develop an argument for it, be prepared to explain the argument, and
listen to others who disagree with you. This can be nerve-wrecking but
as you get accustomed to it, you will see how disagreement can
enhance your learning.

45. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Key things to remember while discussing the case:
Providing a fact straight from the case when it is needed in the
discussion is valuable.
Avoid the trap of asking right question at the right time. Sometimes
dumb question can lead to clarification that was pending.
Collaboration succeeds or fails based on students’ willingness to take
risks and contribute to the evolving, understanding of a case situation.
The Responsibility, burden, and the privilege of learning rest primarily
with the students, not the instructor, complete reversal of lecture
learning model.

46. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
CLASSROOM RISKS
Every student in a case classroom shares the risk of exposure.
There are also personal factors that can heighten the level of
perceived risk:
• Language spoken in the classroom may not be your first
language. Fear of being laughed at.
• Gender differences that make you speaking in a group seem
extremely risky. Or struggle with cultural norms. International
students not being able to cope with the rhetorical
complication.
• Degree in unrelated field.
• Intellectual fear.

47. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Reducing Risk – the Wrong Way
Canned Comments: “A great comment at the wrong time is the worst
thing!”
Speeches: This looks much safer, challenge is to find right moment, but
reality is that moment hardly arrives. Even if you do find that moment,
speech will sound like a speech.
Delay and Assess: Longer you remain silent, the harder it is to join the
conversation. With no participation track, a student become essentially
invisible.

48. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Reducing Risk – The Right Way
Speak up Early: Participate as early as possible, ideally in the first
class. It reduces the nervousness of being in the spotlight. To learn how
to be a good participant, you have to participate.
Be prepared: To be a real contributor, your preparation should be
thorough yet flexible. Preparation that yields some understanding and
raises salient questions serves you far better than prepared points or
disconnected notes.

49. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
PUT LIMITS ON YOUR PREPARATION
Careful preparation is the foundation for effective class participation, but
you shouldn’t over prepare. Don’t fall into the trap that more time you
put in the preparation, the better prepared you will be. Those long hours
will just make you sleepy, not more knowledgeable.

50. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
Setting limit on case preparation has several benefits: it puts a healthy
pressure on you to use the time well; it helps you keep your life in
balance and stay fresh; and it encourages you to pay attention to how
you analyze a case.

51. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
READ ACTIVELY
Passive reading kills, Active reading makes you think.

52. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
RECOGNIZE THE SOCIAL FACTOR
Students who get to know each other outside the classroom can
change the atmosphere inside. Get to know each other.

53. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
LISTENING IS PARTICIPATION
Listening is participation. You listen to keep up with the discussion and
find opportunities to contribute. Quality comment is not possible if you
haven’t been listening with care. Listening is tough, you have to learn
how to listen.
Complacent students aren’t listening because they don’t realize that the
discussion is generating knowledge continuously.

54. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
REFLECT ON WHAT YOU LEARN
By taking a little time after class to think about the discussion before the
memory of it fades, you’ll capture more of the value of the classroom
experience.
Yusuke Watanabe, an MBA graduate recommends a post-discussion
practice that has both a short-term and long-term payoff:
Make sure you write down two or three takeaways for each case and
reflect upon them later. It will take only three to five minutes to write
them down. Writing down takeaways will make you remember the
virtual experience much longer.

55. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 8: How to Discuss A Case
BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF
Don’t be afraid to make the obvious comments and stupid question.

56. PART III
WRITING
CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal

57. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
HOW
TO WRITE
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay

58. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Writing about a case is very different from talking about it.
You collaborate with others in a discussion, bringing to bear
everyone’s background and case preparation along with the
instructor’s knowledge and facilitation skills. But you usually
work on your own when writing about a case. You have to
perform the entire analysis yourself as well as organize and
express your thinking for a reader. Audiences want to know the
end product of the writer’s thinking, expressed logically and
economically.

59. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSUASIVE CASE STUDY
This fact helps explain the characteristics case-based essays have in
common:
1. Answer two questions – What? Why? And often a third – How?
2. Make a position statement? (What?)
3. Use evidence to persuade the reader (Why?)
4. If needed, provides an action plan (How?)

60. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Three Questions
Case Based essay Q& A
Question Answer
What? Position statement (expresses a conclusion )
Why? Argument
How? Action plan

61. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Position Statement
A sharply focused position statement organizes the entire essay.
Without one, the essay has no purpose or direction as far as the reader
is concerned.

62. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Evidence
Evidence can be qualitative and quantitative.
Conclusion and evidence should justify each other.

63. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Action Plan
Action plan complements and completes the argument of a case based
essay by answering the question How?
• How do you solve a problem?
• How do you implement a decision?
• How do you improve a performance?

64. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
ELEMENTS OF ACTION PLAN
An effective action plan has these five characteristics:
• Sets goals based on the argument
• Addresses the actionable content of the argument
• Consists of specific steps
• Has realistic short and long-term steps
• Identifies and responds to the major risk to the plan

65. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Goals
A goal statement at the beginning of the action plan summarizes the
desired end state of the plan. The goal can be simple and have one or
several parts.

66. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Actionable Content of Argument
The argument is the source of all the actionable content. The plan
translates that content into tangible action. Every major actionable
issue in the argument should be represented in the action plan.
Argument that asserts three major causes of a problem should have a
an action plan that deals with all three causes.

67. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Steps
A plan consists of series of actions to be taken over a period of time.
The description of actions should strike a balance between generalities
and excessive detail. As a guide, ask yourself what readers want to
know. Vague steps give readers no idea how they would be
implemented. Minute details bog readers down and cause them to lose
sight of the important details of a step.

68. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Organization
Action plans are carried out in time. Some steps come first, some come
later, and others come much later. You have to show the reader the
order of the proposed steps in time. An action plan is not a to-do-list
that records the item randomly. Most substantial action plans need both
short-term and long-term steps.

69. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Criteria for action plan steps
Position in sequence Criteria
Short term Urgent
Low hanging fruit
Necessary for longer term steps
Long-term Dependent on prior steps
Complex, need time to accomplish

70. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 9: How to Write A Case-Based Essay
Risk
Every action plan has a element of uncertainty and risk. Nothing ever
goes entirely as planned. You are well advised to identify the chief risk
to the plan and propose measure to manage it. But don’t agonize over
the risk of every step. Rather, ask the question, what’s the worst thing
that could go wrong with the plan? Then ask, How can the risk be
contained or eliminated?

71. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
PROBLEM ESSAY
DECISION ESSAY
EVALUATION ESSAY
Chapter 10, 11, 12

72. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Since the next 3 chapter of the book is based on practical
and sample study, I will only be highlighting key points
from each chapter in coming slides.
Chapter 10, 11, 12

73. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
HOW TO ORGANIZE A PROBLEM ESSAY
An essay on a problem situation has four parts:
• Problem Definition
• Diagnosis
• Proof of causes
• Action plan

74. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
HOW TO ORGANIZE A DECISION ESSAY
Decision essays have six elements. The following list arranges them in
the state-and-prove order explained below.
• Recommended decision (position statement)
• Decision options
• Decision criteria
• Proof of recommended option
• Critique of options
• Action plan

75. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
HOW TO ORGANIZE A DECISION ESSAY
Decision essays have six elements. The following list arranges them in
the prove-and-state order explained below.
• Decision options
• Decision criteria
• Critique of other options
• Proof of recommended option
• Recommended decision (position statement)
• Action plan

76. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
Decision essay organizations: pros and cons
Organization Pro Con
State-and Prove Reader knows what Less “scientific” and more dogmatic
you think or aggressive in appearance
You know what you have May invite insufficient attention
to prove to rejected options
Forces immediate move to
proof
Less risk you’ll run out of time
Prove-and-state To reader, essay seems More risk you’ll run out of time
objective and scientific More risk you’ll stray from intended
organization

77. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
HOW TO ORGANIZE A EVALUATION ESSAY
An evaluation essay has five elements:
• Bottom-line evaluation (position statement)
• Evaluation criteria
• Proof of the evaluation
• Qualification
• Action plan

78. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
Having Covered all these chapters the book “The case
study Handbook: How to Read, Discuss, and Write
persuasively about cases” Ends here. The remaining part
of the book i.e. Part IV is Case for analysis and writing.
Cases includes
Allentown Material Corporation: EPD
General Electric: Major Appliance Business Group
General Motors: Packard Electric Division
Malaysia in the 1990s
Whistler Corporation
All these Cases are used throughout the book in executing
whatever we have learned till now.

79. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
Chapter 10, 11, 12
At the end I would like to end this slide with the first
paragraph of the book.
“The case study handbook has emerged from sixteen
years of work with business school students. The impetus
for it was a void in the guidance I could give them about
case essays.”- Author of the book, William Ellet

80. CaseAnalysisseries
©2021 Sudeep Rai
Sudeep Rai
@sudeeprai.journal
CHECK THE HIGHLIGHT
SECTION OF THIS PAGE
TO FIND THE TEMPLATE,
TO FIND THE SAMPLE
FOR CASE ANALYSIS.