Written Case Analyses

There are multiple cases used in the course. Cases are selected to provide insight into a variety of industries and to afford an examination of key strategic issues. At the senior level I use either HBS or equivalent level cases, and for the masters level I use HBS cases simply because they are qualitatively among the best that are available. The cases I use present business problem-solving at a complex level. My experience is that my students handle these cases sufficiently well, simply reinforcing that Hampton University business students perform at the highest of standards. The number of written case analyses varies by semester, so confirm from the syllabus which cases are required and when they are scheduled.

In writing a case analysis, I require:

A cover sheet that states the title of the case, names of student contributors and student signatures. Every member must personally sign the cover sheet. This requirement is important for the following reasons: (1) Case analysis is hard work and groups need to be able to manage "free riders" - members who do not work but claim the grade - only students whose name is on the paper and who have signed the paper merit the grade. (2) I occasionally  have a student who needs a case grade and makes a claim on a paper ("My name was accidentally omitted," the student typically protests.) Once a paper is submitted, no names may be added. Make sure that your name is on a paper to which you contributed. If your name is not on a paper, you need to discuss this with your group members.

Three sectional headers (the content of these sections is sketched below):

(1) Introduction. - This section should state precisely the problem confronted - this is, state what the case is about. I am not especially concerned about your ability to restate the firm's history in the introduction, except that such history illuminates the issue that now must be confronted. The "Introductory" section is typically termed the "Problem Identification" section in many texts and this heading correctly states the content for an introductory section.

(2) Analysis.- This section will be your longest section. This is where you demonstrate your ability to identify the relevant facts and data and reason through the information, showing how the data is important. DO NOT simply restate the case in this section.

(3) Conclusion.- Your concluding section is a resolution of the case. It ought to follow from your reasoning presented in the Analysis section, and it ought to resolve or, at least, address the problem(s) or issue(s) stated in the Introduction.

The Grade Sheet which is available from the web site HERE.

The above are required.

The written report is due on the date indicated in the Syllabus for class discussion. Because cases are discussed in class written analyses are not accepted after the scheduled discussion.

Depending upon the number of students enrolled in the course and submitting case analyses, grading of all cases may take two weeks. Cases are returned to students with the instructor's comments and grade.

Format and Presentation. There is no set format, although sectional headers, "Introduction", "Analysis", and "Conclusion", are required. The analysis must be in narrative form ("bullets" and "outlines" do not work). The professor will assess the intelligibility of the analysis ("Is what you wrote understandable?"). This a business course - cut out the flowery prose and the irrelevant. Make your statements brief, to the point, and move from one item to another in a logical development of an argument. Do cite a statistic, financial information, or other quantitative datum to connect your interpretation to a key case fact -- root your findings and interpretations in demonstrable, concrete facts. Do not type, Xerox or include extensive text material unless you are interpreting or analyzing it and you feel that this presentation is absolutely essential.  Unless appended material is directly relevant and thoroughly analyzed, I will view such material as "padding" and deduct points - I am not impressed by fancy graphic or colors! I am impressed by extensive analysis of financial and market data, and reward it. There is no required length, but 5-10 pages is common. Do not buy a cover for your paper (or go to any expense or time for "pretty" display), but do staple the pages. Names must be typed on a cover page and you must sign the cover page. This is to preclude claims that a paper ought to have included a student whose name is not originally included on the cover page. Once the paper is submitted, it is considered complete and accurate as to student contribution. If a student's name is omitted, I infer that the student failed to participate in the case analysis.

(1) Only one typed paper is to be submitted by the group for each case. This cuts down on paperwork.

(2) Each contributor must sign the paper prior to the paper's submission. This precludes students from attempting to affix their name at some later date to papers in which they did not contribute. When you work with a group - it is your responsibility to ensure that the submitted paper is signed by you to earn credit. Frankly, the issue of students arguing that they were not named on a case as a contributor has become so great a problem that I will make no exceptions to this rule. DO NOT ASK! Your recourse is solely with your group members. You must arrange to contribute to another group's case, or your course grade will record "0" for a case grade.

(3) Interpersonal problems do arise with groups. I expect students to learn how to manage these kinds of problems and the people that create these kinds of problems. The most common problem is the "free rider", someone who does not contribute. I recommend that when this happens: talk with the person; try to reach an accommodation; and, failing this, inform the student to find another group and leave the student's name off the assignment. If you are asked to leave a group, find another group and go to work. Ask me to intervene only after your group has failed to manage its own affairs.

(4) Turn your case in at class on time. If you need to email me a case, you must first ask for permission. The reason for this is that I have advanced knowledge that your case is expected. I receive email only at home, but your message is time-stamped to verify timeliness. Also, I have received email files that either were not in a format that my software could recognize, or the file was corrupt (maybe, "gibberish"). 

(5) The work you submit must be your team's original work.  Plagiarism, at a minimum, will result in a grade of "0" - failing the team for the entire course. Failure of members to accept a failing grade will result in my reporting of the incident as a Code of Conduct violation for others to judge culpability and a student's graduation from this institution. Cheating is simply not worth it. I reserve the right to submit papers elsewhere to verify plagiarism against databanks.

Keep a Copy of Your Submitted Work. To preclude disputes between the Instructor and a student as to submission of written cases, students are required to keep a copy of all cases submitted. This may be either a diskette or "hard copy', such as a second printed copy or Xerox copy. If a case is lost, the student will be responsible to submit a copy for grading. The instruction will assess the circumstances for purposes of any penalty.