1. WELCOME TO CASE BASICS Barry Wright

2. Welcome … please read and be prepared to respond: A neighborhood business association has these members: coffee shop, bookstore, drugstore, clothing store, hardware, bakery and bike shop. The owners are wondering how they might cooperate for better success. You are a business consultant brought in to propose how to bring these businesses together for mutual gain. You suggest …

3. A narrative description of an event Usually pertains to real-life examples Usually has no formal solution Decision Making PROCESS WHAT IS A CASE

4. THREE PARTS TO A CASE Part 1: The information that is presented to you Part 2: The information that you ‘request’ or assume for the case Part 3: The information that you present back Content Presentation

5. PART 1 THE INFORMATION THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU Can be written/oral May require research Will require you to THINK / REFLECT Stand on the Shoulders of GIANTS (theories and tools) MBA tools / language (debt to equity ratio / matrix structure)

6. Part 2: This might not be a formal step What information is ‘missing’ from the case? Reflect and ask. Or, reflect and assume. One of the hallmarks of business cases is that not all of the information is available. This is done so that the case mirrors life – never is all the relevant information available! What you must do when analyzing a case is to work around the missing information and make assumptions. These assumptions should be conservative, defensible, and clearly stated.

7. PART 3: THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED BACK Defining the content to be presented Assessment to Implementation (decision framework) Presenting the content Public Speaking Skills (selling your ideas)

8. Decision Making Process Defining the content to be presented Read the case (twice) Assess the Situation Summary (MBA language / tools) Define the problem (one sentence) Quantitative and Qualitative (theories) analysis Assess Alternatives Alternative generation (3 usually) Decision (Best) be aware “Judges are from Missouri” Criteria generation Action and implementation

9. ASSESS THE SITUATION “Size Up” the environment (use different LENS to do this) SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces, PESTE, etc.. Identify Stakeholders (and their needs) Assess other relevant concepts (i.e. ratio analysis) Every case has constraints – time, money, resources: know what they are and work within them Identify Problems (major & minor) – which one are you going to solve?

10. ASSESS ALTERNATIVES Alternatives may be stated, may not be stated in case Must relate to solving the major problem(s) Best to think in terms of Pros & Cons Relate to “Size-Up”

11. MAKING A RECOMMENDATION Requires judgment Based on the analysis of alternatives Usually referenced against criteria Goals, Constraints, KPI’s, Preferences, etc.. Sometimes makes the best of a bad situation Missouri

12. IMPLEMENTATION WHO – Who is responsible for an actionable task WHAT – What is the task to be performed WHEN – When should it be started/finished HOW MUCH $ - How much will it cost

13. Application Marcos (experienced MGR) Newly appointed ‘external’ Manager of a production team; team members get along well; they appear to be restricting their output to minimum acceptable levels; night shift

14. Decision Making Process Defining the content to be presented Read the case (twice) Assess the Situation Summary (MBA language / tools) Define the problem (one sentence) Quantitative and Qualitative (theories) analysis Assess Alternatives Alternative generation (3 usually) Decision (Best) Missouri Criteria generation Action and implementation

15. THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED BACK Presenting the content AMMA Attention Getting / Meaningful / Memorable / Activating Communication plus …

20. AWARENESS Location Room size and layout Room temperature Chairs Windows/Doors Lighting Audience

21. Let’s have some fun Draw Story Telling and Presenting like a Pro together to get the … Last seat on the space ship

22. Let’s have some fun! A space ship will be leaving our doomed planet – I guess that global warming thing had some truth. There is one spot left – you believe there is no one left on earth better for the last seat than this one person (you decide who that is – can’t be anyone in this room). Convince the last surviving members of the human race on earth that you know the right person and that this person should have the last seat.

23. QUESTIONS