The Elements free essay sample

Case Analysis Cases in Strategic Mgt. September 29, 2011 Introduction A case study provides an account of the trends and actions that have occurred in a business or industry over a certain period of time. It records the events and decisions managers had to deal with. Changes in the market, new competition, fluctuating profits, changes in the board of a company are all examples of significant events that would be documented in a case study. After the events of a business are documented and analyzed a recommendation is given that would help the business’ organizational problems. Case Analysis Case studies are used for a number of reasons. They provide experience and examples of organizational issues that the reader may not have encountered. It gives the reader an understanding of how top level managers solve problems as they occur. These solutions can then be compared and contrasted based on their level of success or failure. We will write a custom essay sample on The Elements or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This will give a person a decent basis to provide recommendations To analyze a case study one must first look at the history of a company, considering their development and growth overtime. It is important to chart the important incidents in the company’s history, tracing the most critical or unusual events that lead to the development of the company that it is today. After researching the company’s history it is time to view the current manifestation of the business. Using the SWOT analysis technique and the historical data that was charted a document of the strengths and weaknesses of the company should be developed. Using these strengths and weaknesses it is now necessary to analyze the current environment of the industry the company is in. Having done these steps there should now be a document of the strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats within the industry the company is in. Following the SWOT analysis it is necessary to view the corporate level strategy defining the company’s mission and goals. Some of the factors to consider are the nature of the company’s subsidiaries and acquisitions. Analyze the relationship between the businesses owned by the company. Now that the corporate level strategy is acknowledged the business level strategy must be found. If the company in question is one single business, the strategy would be the same as the corporate strategy. Though, if the company has various businesses under its control each one could have its own strategy. Having performed a SWOT analysis and viewing the corporate and business strategies employed, will provide a very good look into the operations of the business. With this information the final portion of a case analysis can be completed. This involves making a recommendation for future operations of the business. The recommendation should be directed at a strategic issue the company is having. The set of recommendations should be specific for each case analyzed. Once these recommendations are made piers can add their input to formulating a cohesive strategy. Conclusion Case Studies are an effective way to analyze business problems from various sectors of the market. They are also a useful tool in work shopping strategic planning and collaborative development. These studies teach analytical skills as well as research techniques, which is why they are very useful in a class setting and a great learning development tool.