...Case-Study Method and Report Guidelines Why case studies? “Decision making is what managers do, so do Project Managers” The decisions of managers directly influence revenues, costs, and profits of an agribusiness firm. If you are to be successful in a management career, you must learn to be a good decision maker. You must develop the ability to apply classroom training in business and economics to problem solving so that you can learn how to (1) make decision making easier, (2) improve the analytical quality of decisions, (3) reduce the time required to make decisions, and (4) increase the frequency of correct decisions. As you discuss cases with your fellow students, you will learn that decision making is often a confrontational activity involving people with different points of view. Most important, you will learn how to work toward consensus while tolerating legitimate differences of opinion. The Seven Steps of Problem Analysis 1. Read the case thoroughly. To understand fully what is happening in a case, it is necessary to read the case carefully and thoroughly. You may want to read the case rather quickly the first time to get an overview of the industry, the company, the people, and the situation. Read the case again more slowly, making notes as you go. 2. Define the central issue. Many cases will involve several issues or problems. Identify the most important problems and separate them from the more trivial issues. After identifying what appears to be a major...
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...Case Study: Janet Name College Case Study: Janet A case study is an in-depth analysis of a person, event, decision, period, project, policy, institution, or other system that is studied holistically by one or more methods. By gathering data and variety of sources and using these different methods, researchers can use scientific methods and perspectives to relate with various patterns and causes for behavior. In the field of psychology, case studies are widely known to help Psychologist’s and researchers with the assistance to help understand and overcome a person’s illness. While examining the “Case Study: Janet’, the use of psychology’s four goals and the modern perspectives were used to help determine the interpretation of the cause. Description Janet was a young girl that grew up in an abusive household that was beaten by her father as a part of a discipline process. Her father never explained why he used such drastic measures, so she grew up thinking that this was acceptable. She presumed that the only way to earn his love and respect was to do better. There was only one positive influence in her life; an aunt, who was rarely around because of the distance between them. Janet learned early to associate love with fear and trying with failure. As Janet grew older, she began to learn that her father might have been wrong. She began to see the regret coming from those actions, and soon realized that she had control. Janet started to guilt her father into...
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...CASE METHOD Case study method is said to consist of several deficiencies. In spite of that, it is widely used in management education and training. Many arguments are made for using the case study method for imparting management education. Some of these arguments are: a) Translating Knowledge into Action: The texts always provide the concepts and their logical sequence. The success or failure of the manager depends more on his action and dynamics rather than his conceptual knowledge. The case enables one to decide about the action in a given situation and then relate it to the textual knowledge. The shuttling between precepts and practices will be possible while dealing with a case situation. (b) Opportunity to Analyze: In a case, a reader is getting a good opportunity to analyze and find out the ingredients. While the text gives standard principles, the application would vary based on the actual situations. One who reads the case gets an opportunity to diagnose the problem, evaluate alternatives and finally select a mode of operation that may be right or wrong. Several such decisions will enable one to become an adept decision maker. (c) Opportunity for Self-Determination: In a case study situation, all decisions are taken by the one who reads the case rather than any imposition of answers or solutions by anybody else. Practice makes a man perfect. Cases provide ample opportunities for self determining the case solutions based on one's own analytical and decision...
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...Case Study Question 1 What is a Case Study? “A case study is an observational method that provides a description of an individual” (Cozby & Bates, 2012). The sample size in a case study usually only consists of a single person or organization, but by design only studies one single social phenomenon. They typically use field-related research to produce qualitative data and help to prepare for future qualitative research. Question 2 What are Some Reasons for Using a Case Study Approach? Case studies are useable within the social sciences to help explain rare circumstances or behaviors. In the world of music, the ability to name correctly and consistently an audible pitch without relating it to any other pitches is an extremely coveted talent. One case study by Lucinda Pearl Boggs (1907) provided qualitative data on a participant known as Miss C. Disinukes, who possessed the gift of perfect pitch. Boggs discovered that Miss Disinukes began learning about music at an extremely young age, and that she had very talented, musical grandparents. This research sparked further quantitative research to test whether having early musical education aids in the development of perfect pitch. Question 3 What are Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Using this Approach? Like pilot studies, case studies are very helpful in exploring a topic on a smaller scale initially and beginning a larger product using the data gathered in the case study. For example, a researcher may be studying...
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...Chen ZhiQing | Student ID No.: | 22012511 | Unit Code & Name: | MNG91002 | Campus: | MDIS | Tutor’s Name: | Frankie-Lim | Assignment No: | 1 | Assignment Title: | Case Analysis Research – Striving for Best Academic Practice | Word Count: | 1193 | Due Date: | 21 Apr 2014 | Date submitted: | 20 Apr 2014 | Declaration: I declare that this assignment is my own original work and has not been submitted for assessment elsewhere. I acknowledge and irrevocably agree that the assessor of this assignment may, for the purpose of assessing this assignment: * Reproduce this assignment and provide a copy to another member of faculty for review and comment, including whether the work is an original work; and/or * Provide a copy of this assignment to a plagiarism checking service for review so that it may determine whether the assignment is an original work. The checking service may retain a copy of the assignment on its database for the purpose of future plagiarism checking. I have read and understand the Rules relating to Awards (Rule 3.17) as contained in the University Handbook. I understand the penalties that apply for plagiarism and agree to be bound by these rules. CHEN ZHIQING 20 Apr 2014 Signature (please type) Date Tutor's comments: Paper Title: Case Analysis Research –...
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...SS3150 – Six Approaches to Qualitative Research The chosen qualitative research approach that I chose to use for my research is Case Study. The particular type of case study that I decided to use is the critical instance case study. These examine one or more sites for either the purpose of examining a situation of unique interest with little to no interest in generalizability, or to call into question or challenge a highly generalized or universal assertion. This method is useful for answering cause and effect questions. Some of the strengths of case studies are as follows; they are a good source of ideas about behavior, they give good opportunity for innovation, they are a good method to study rare phenomena, they provide good method to challenge theoretical assumptions, and also are a good alternative or complement to the group focus of psychology. Some of the weaknesses of case studies are that they can be hard to draw definite cause-effect conclusions; they are hard to generalize from a single case and also the possible bias in data collection and interpretation (due to it being a single person that gathers and analyzes the information). In my opinion the case study approach best fits my research paper because it will allow me to look at both the causes and effects that domestic violence has on children. Although, there have been several scholarly reviews that have been conducted of this literature there is still more research that needs to be done in order to fully...
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...qualitative research? There are many considerations when dealing with qualitative research. One of the considerations I must take into account is where the information is coming from for the qualitative research (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). The information should make sense and contain reputable or honest data. Another consideration is the data should be validated (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). This can be done through peer-reviews to see if the data makes sense and has been known in other cases. This can also be done through other resources that have stated and proven similar facts. A third consideration is that the data is non-numerical and exploratory (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). Many times there is some confusion between qualitative and quantitative research as qualitative research focuses on narrative or pictures while I would prefer more numerical data. 2. What factors should go into determining the sample size used in a qualitative study? When conducting research, quality sampling may be characterized by the number and selection of subjects or observations. Obtaining a sample size that is appropriate in both regards is critical for many reasons (Patel, Doku, and Tennakoon, 2003. A large sample size is more representative of the population, limiting the influence of outliers or extreme observations. A sufficiently large sample size is also necessary to produce results among variables that are significantly different (Patel, Doku, and Tennakoon...
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...International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, Vol. 1, No. 1, June, 2010 2010-023X Information Technology roles in Accounting Tasks – A Multiple-case Study Maria do Céu Gaspar Alves Abstract—Nowadays the business world is changing at a faster and faster pace. The reasons given for this is globalization, highs information technology (IT) investments and the rapid pace of technological change. Organizations are responding in different ways and at different rates to the wide range of IT based opportunities and pressures. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the effects of IT related organizational changes on the management accounting function and to contribute to the body of knowledge about to what extent IT affects the ability to solve accounting tasks. The relationship between IT and accounting practices was investigated qualitatively using six case studies and we will measure the impact of IT on accountants’ tasks. The findings suggest a tendency for change and the decentralization of accounting tasks. Index Terms—Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Documents, Information Technology, Management Information System. I. INTRODUCTION Nowadays the business world is changing at a faster and faster pace. The reasons given for this is globalization, highs IT investments and the rapid pace of technological change in combination with escalating costs of research and development (Frishamar, 2002). The role of information technology...
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...Risk Management- Drunken Patient Lawsuit LAW/531 February 17, 2014 Risk Management- Drunken Patient Lawsuit The IRAC method is an instructional tool that can aid students in the comprehension and evaluation of information so that they can make informed value decisions. It is an acronym for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. Although this is a legal model used to evaluate hypothetical situations in law cases, it is by no means limited to the study of the law. Useful for case studies presented in varied mediums such as narratives, videos/films, or recordings, the IRAC method may be applied to other activities such as defining a term or demonstrating a concept, principle, relationship, analogy, or contrasting idea. Often the instructional focus is on the end result of case study discussion rather than on how to "walk through" a method or approach to be used by the students in the case analysis (Bittner, M.1990). Issue: A recent court ruling should motivate hospital risk managers to conduct a careful periodic review of their facility's procedures and legal obligations when it comes to treating intoxicated patients. The patient, Kevin Kowalski, later wandered onto a nearby highway and was struck by a car, leaving him paralyzed below the neck. Throughout the case, Mr. Kowalski contended that even though he decided on his own to leave the hospital, the hospital should have prevented him from doing so based on his level of inebriation. Analyze: In order to analyze...
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...you already have learned, use the inductive method of reasoning and strongly believe that there are multiple perspectives to be uncovered. Qualitative researchers focus on the study of social phenomena and on giving voice to the feelings and perceptions of the participants under study. This is based on the belief that knowledge is derived from the social setting and that understanding social knowledge is a legitimate scientific process. The following are the key characteristics of qualitative research: • Studies are carried out in a naturalistic setting. • Researchers ask broad research questions designed to explore, interpret, or understand the social context. • Participants are selected through nonrandom methods based on whether the individuals have information vital to the questions being asked. • Data collection techniques involve observation and interviewing that bring the researcher in close contact with the participants. • The researcher is likely to take an interactive role where she or he gets to know the participants and the social context in which they live. • Hypotheses are formed afterthe researcher begins data collection and are modified throughout the study as new data are collected and analyzed. • The study reports data in narrative form. How does Rayna’s study fit into the description provided for qualitative research? At this point, you might want to reflect on why Rayna would want to choose a qualitative study to examine her questions. Steps in Conducting...
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...How to do a Case Study There are common steps that most approaches recommend be followed in tackling a case study. Beforehand (usually a week before), you will get: 1. the case study, 2. (often) some guiding questions that will need to be answered, and 3. (sometimes) some reading assignments that have some relevance to the case subject. Your work in completing the case can be divided up into three components: 1. what you do to prepare before the class discussion, 2. what takes place in the class discussion of the case, and 3. anything required after the class discussion has taken place. For maximum effectiveness, it is essential that you do all three components. Here are the subcomponents, in order. We will discuss them in more detail shortly. 1. Before the class discussion: 1. Read the reading assignments (if any) 2. Use the Short Cycle Process to familiarize yourself with the case. 3. Use the Long Cycle Process to analyze the case 4. Usually there will be group meetings to discuss your ideas. 5. Write up the case (if required) 2. In the class discussion: 6. Someone will start the discussion, usually at the prompting of the Instructor. 7. Listen carefully and take notes. Pay close attention to assumptions. Insist that they are clearly stated. 8. Take part in the discussion. Your contribution is important, and is likely a part of your evaluation for the course. ...
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...In this research note we will discuss strengths and weaknesses in the design of this study, and propose ways to deal with the weaknesses in a follow-up study. We will address two themes; generalizability and reliability/validity. Generalizability Generalizability theory is mainly used as a tool to conceptualize and design reliable data. (Brennan 2001) If we want to operationalize generalizability than generalizability would be an extension of your conclusions from for example a small survey to a much larger population. Applying this on case studies, Mills, Durepos and Wiebe (2010) say generalizability refers to the ability of extending the validity of one's case study conclusions to other cases of the kind. In his paper, Malmi actually uses the term theoretical generalization and defines it as the explanations generated from this and other case studies that will help ABC failure as a phenomenon to become understandable. In order to achieve this, Malmi explicitly illustrates the different interests of organizational stakeholders, different purposes for the use of ABC and describes political, economic and cultural influences on ABC implementation. Due to the multiple factors affecting ABC implementation, Malmi described ABC failure in a broad context such that his conclusion is easier transferable to other organizations. Reliability and validity In the context of quantitative studies, reliability can be defined as the extent to which evidence is independent of the person...
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...(25%): Students are required to work in a group of 3 to 4 members. Students will be allocated one case study to analyse and attempt. The case study comprised of a few questions. Students are strongly encouraged to exhaust relevant syllabus taught and guided throughout the semester to attempt all the questions. Choose either one of the following case study to attempt, please refer to the attachments for the detail of case study. Case study 1: Abou Shakra Restaurant: Creating Customer Value The Old-Fashioned Way Questions: 1. Describe Abou Shakra in terms of the value it provides for customers. (20 marks) 2. Do you think Abou Shakra should develop a high-growth expansion strategy? Why or why not? (20 marks) 3. Should Abou Shakra spend more on advertising than is currently expended? (20 marks) 4. Suggest TWO (2) other methods by which Abou Shakra can provide value to its customers. (40 marks) Or Case study 2: Mavi Jeans: Jeans That Fit Questions: 1. Indicate and explain FIVE (5) factors contributed to the success of Mavi Jeans? (20 marks) 2. How would you define the company’s target market? What is the current positioning strategy? Briefly explain Mavi’s 4Ps. (20 marks) 3. Suggest TWO (2) methods by which Mavi can segments and targets the Malaysian consumer jean market. ...
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...a Business Case Study A business case study confronts students with a real-life dilemma and engages all their abilities to solve its challenges. In presenting a specific business or policy situation—one that does not have an obvious solution—the case provides information for classroom discussion and other study. A good case study stimulates an educated conversation and the building of business knowledge. The best case studies are learning-centered, not instructor-centered. Details describing the differences between the two can be found in Exhibit 1. A student reading the case should be provided with the information needed to make good decisions about the case, or the ability to find the information if that is a learning objective. Information critical to solving the case should never be contained exclusively in the case’s teaching note, because doing so puts the instructor in the center of the learning, and leads to frustrated students. Cases should satisfy professors and students as well as the businesses, organizations, and people featured in the cases. Although these interests might appear in conflict, a case that is written with fairness and intelligence will ultimately receive the respect of all parties. The best cases have several structural characteristics in common including a protagonist, specific time frame, and use of past tense. An author who becomes experienced in case writing may deviate from this pattern, but doing so may result in an inferior case. The structure...
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...1 A (VERY) BRIEF REFRESHER ON THE CASE STUDY METHOD The case study method embraces the full set of procedures needed to do case study research. These tasks include designing a case study, collecting the study’s data, analyzing the data, and presenting and reporting the results. (None of the tasks, nor the rest of this book, deals with the development of teaching case studies—frequently also referred to as the “case study method”—the pedagogical goals of which may differ entirely from doing research studies.) The present chapter introduces and describes these procedures, but only in the most modest manner. The chapter’s goal is to serve as a brief refresher to the case study method. As a refresher, the chapter does not fully cover all the options or nuances that you might encounter when customizing your own case study (refer to Yin, 2009a, to obtain a full rendition of the entire method). Besides discussing case study design, data collection, and analysis, the refresher addresses several key features of case study research. First, an abbreviated definition of a “case study” will help identify the circumstances when you might choose to use the case study method instead of (or as a complement to) some other research method. Second, other features cover the choices you are likely to encounter in doing your own case study. Thus, the refresher discusses the •• definition of the “case” in case study research, •• benefits of developing a theoretical perspective in conjunction with your...
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