...Case Analysis Guide The Six Steps for Preparing a Case Analysis with excerpts from: “Teaching and the Case Method”, Barnes, Christiansen, Hansen; Harvard Business School Publishing. Professor Edward G. Wertheim, College of Business Administration, Northeastern University Why study using the case method? Stated simply, to teach you, the student, how to think. “The sole direct path to enduring improvements in the methods of instruction and learning consists in centering upon the conditions which exact, promote, and test thinking. Thinking IS the method of intelligent learning, of learning that employs and rewards mind. We speak, legitimately enough, about the method of thinking, but the important thing to bear in mind is that thinking IS method, the method of intelligent experience in the course which it takes”. * *From “Teaching and the Case Method”, Barnes, Christiansen, Hansen; Harvard Business School Publishing. Your Responsibilities: Participation in a case method class is futile without careful preparation. It is similarly futile to attempt to learn simply by listening to your classmates’ opinions of the “right answer”. Learning in a case method course is based on active participation in the generation of alternative solutions and creation of actionable strategies. The case itself is merely the conduit for discussion. Most students are disconcerted by the seemingly vast and disjointed information presented. Even though the prospect of a...
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...Summary of a guide to case analysis The guideline provides an overall strategies for us to explore our insights and analysis ability. First of all, it explains the importance of using cases to practice strategic management. Learning by doing is a point that the author points out, which means that students are assumed as a part of the company, and dealing with various situation, solving problems by applying tools and concepts, have the ability to create an action plan. There are 7 key strategies are illustrated. The first strategy is objectives of case analysis. It means in a given case, identifying the company and understanding the company’s current situation first, and do judgments critically, apply the right strategy to lead the firm to success. The point here is discussion, case discussions will bring more opinions to the problem, and it also provides an opportunity for students to develop the skills of managerial judgments and diagnosing the business issues. The second strategy is preparing a case for class discussion. Basically, it requires students be prepared before class, so that students will involve in the class discussion and contribute some reasoned thoughts, views with classmates. Suggestion also provided in the guideline, such as skim the case quickly, read the case thoroughly and so on. The third strategy is participating in class discussion of a case. Students do a lot discussion during the class, the content includes students participate in discussion, and...
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...Preparing Business Scenario Analyses The following general guidelines may be used in preparing for an oral or written business scenario analysis and presentation. There may be several feasible courses of action regarding the solution to any case. It is more important to concern yourself with the process of problem definition and isolation, analysis, and evaluation of alternatives, and the choice of one or more recommendations, rather than trying to find a single answer. Very often, the right answer is the one that you can propose, explain, defend, and make work. • The Process of Analyzing a Case 1. Read and study the scenario thoroughly and efficiently. Read the scenario once for familiarity, noting issues that come to the forefront. Read the scenario again. Determine all the facts, making notes about symptoms of problems, root problems, unresolved issues, and roles of key players. Watch for issues beneath the surface. 2. Isolate the problem(s). Get a feel for the overall environment by putting yourself in the position of one of the key players. Seek out the pertinent issues and problems. 3. Analyze and evaluate alternatives. a. Once the problems and issues are isolated, work at gaining a better understanding of causes. In what area of the unit do the problems exist? Why? What caused them? Examine and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the unit’s processes (e.g., planning, communication), human behaviors, and/or exhibits (e.g., financial statements,...
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...Audience Analysis and Reception XBCOM275 March 21, 2014 Craig Slone Audience Analysis and Reception When writing a formal report, it is critical to be organized while stating the facts of the subject. A formal report is meant to inform and persuade while keeping the audience entertained and engaged. I would first write down all my ideas. I would then organize them into an outline, but the most crucial piece is to understand who the audience is. When understanding the various aspects of the audience, the more engaged they would be. Analyzing the different individuals in whom the report will be presented prior to the day of the presentation will make for a well-prepared report. I would first understand each of the individuals in management and the role they play. Some management might prefer to see numbers while other management might need to see the process behind the numbers. If this would be the case, intermingle the numbers with the processes. This will keep both audiences engaged throughout the presentation. Preparing ahead of time can only do so much. When presenting to the management team, you can get a feel for how they are reacting to the information, like if you see someone looking away or yawn. This would indicate to add some entertainment, like adding questions to ask the audience or to add some humor. On the other hand, the report could be a disaster if I did not consider the audience and their needs. If I did not realize the report was for management, I might...
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...BASIC CONSIDERATIONS IN MAS & CONSULTANCY Management Advisory Services – refers to the function of providing professional advisory (consulting) services, the primary purpose of which is to improve client’s use of its capabilities and resources to achieve the objectives of the organization. Characteristics of MAS Engagements 1. Services are rendered for the management 2. Involves problem solving 3. Relate to the future 4. Broad in scope 5. Involves varied assignments 6. Engagements are usually non-recurring 7. Engagements mostly require highly-qualified staff 8. Human relations play a vital role in each engagement Management Consultant – refers to a person who is qualified by education, experience, technical ability, and temperament to advise/assist businessmen on a professional basis in identifying, defining, and solving specific management problems involving the planning, direction, control, and operation of the firm. Management Consultancy is not limited to CPAs. Any professional may practice the same, as long as he has the required competence, experience and technical ability to solve business problems. The practice as well as the practitioners are not licensed or regulated by the law, and there are neither admission requirements nor a board which certifies practitioners. Reasons for Hiring Management Consultants: 1. A consultant is considered independent, objective and detached to the problems faced by the organization. 2. ...
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...Audience Analysis Paper Audience Analysis Paper When confronted with presenting a quarterly sales meeting to stakeholders, including managers, salespeople, and customer the person would design communication with the audience in mind. Speakers must consider the characteristics of the audience, and explain the appropriate communication channels, also keep in mind the diverse audience presenting the information to. The speaker needs to ensure the message is successful. An effective communication strategy is always identifying different groups of people with whom you will need to communicate. The audience may need to be dealt with an approached differently. Manager’s knowledge of the subject matter is extremely high. Managers may need to know the effects on customers and profit numbers they are seeking. Salespeople’s experience on the subject matter is also excessive. Salespeople will want the details of the sales information so they will not speculate if sales enhanced. Customers will vary in age, occupation, income, and interests. However, customers are going to apprehensive with how product or service in the sales report is doing on the market. Stakeholders take interest in information on the quarterly sales chart, because it indentifies the increase or decrease in the company’s production. Many different types of communication channels can be used however face -to-face or in-person is considered extremely rich. Face-to-face and in- person meetings are considered...
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...Audience Analysis Paper An audience analysis is a very important first step to successfully preparing for a presentation. Analyzing an audience to present to a group of stakeholders can be quite a tedious task, and the difficulty lies in anticipating responses and needs. Stakeholders are a very diverse group ranging from management to customers, so making sure to prepare the presentation in a way that each subgroup can understand is the critical aspect of performing and communicating successfully. This paper explains the necessary steps to complete an audience analysis. Focusing on presenting quarterly sales information to managers, salespeople, and customers, all preparations are discussed to ensure proper communication that can be understood by everyone in the audience. To begin an audience analysis, it is necessary to determine what characteristics of the audience must be considered. In this case, it is especially important to first identify the primary differences between the subgroups of the stakeholders. Managers, salespeople, and customers will be present, and all have varying needs that will be expected in the presentation of the quarterly sales information. According to Locker and Kienzler (2008), the primary audience usually acts on the information presented and secondary audiences will ultimately be the implementers of ideas stemming from the presentation. In the stakeholder group who will be present at the meeting, the managers are the primary audience and the...
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...Guide to Case Analysis A case presents a situation involving a managerial problem or issue that requires a decision. Typically, cases describe a variety of conditions and circumstances facing an organization at a particular time. This description often includes information regarding the organization's goals and objectives, its financial condition, the attitudes and beliefs of managers and employees, market conditions, competitors' activities, and various environmental forces that may affect the organization's present or proposed marketing strategy. Your responsibility is to carefully sift through the information provided in order to identify the opportunity, problem, or decision facing the organization; to carefully identify and evaluate alternative courses of action; and to propose a solution or decision based on your analysis. This guide provides an overview of the case method. It begins with a discussion of the role that cases play in the teaching/learning process. This is followed by a series of guidelines for case analysis. After carefully reading this material, you should be prepared to tackle your first case analysis. Even if you have had previous experience with cases, this guide will provide a useful review. Why Cases? • The case method differs substantially from other teaching/learning approaches such as lectures and discussion. Lecture- and discussion-oriented classes provide students with information about concepts, practices, and theories. In contrast...
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...Welcome to Strategic Human Resource Management Course Number: MBA 786 School of Business & Technology University of Wisconsin - Parkside 6:00 - 9:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Molinaro 167 October 29 – December 17 Fall Semester 2008 “…if we are to have citizens who can live constructively in this kaleidoscopically changing world, we can only have them if we are willing for them to become self-starting, self-initiating learners.” Carl Rogers Contacting the Instructor Professor: Dr. Karen Crooker Phone/Voice Mail: 595-2348 (worst way to contact) Office: Molinaro 349 Fax: 595-2680 (label to my attention) E-mail: crooker@uwp.edu (best way to contact) Address: UWP, Department of Business, PO Box 2000, Kenosha, WI 53141-2000 Web page: http://uwp.edu/~crooker/ Office hours: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m., Mondays & Wednesday. Other times by appointment. Course Description Using human resource management systems to create and sustain competitive advantage. Emphasis on an integrative framework that requires linkage between, as well as consistency among, functional HR activities and their alignment with and reinforcement of the organization’s competitive strategy. Course Objectives The goal of this course is to help students develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to ✓ Name competitive...
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...Preparing ... Sales Staff to Promote Repackages Lines of Coppertone Introduction This essay will outline how ... (...) can successfully prepare its sales staff to promote repackaged lines of its Coppertone products. The identification of ...’s business strategy and the general training implications that result, has provided a general framework for the discussion of designing, developing and evaluating of an effective training session for the staff. 1.1 Business Strategy and Training Implications ... has decided to increase its product line by developing pocket-sized sticks and sprays of sunblock after conducting market research indicated that consumers were looking for a daily sunblock product. Managers have reasoned that ...’s that this move will result in a significant market expansion. ... is currently adopting an internal growth strategic direction. Organisational objectives outlined above, point toward an internal growth strategic direction. Firstly as ... wishes to increase product lines and expand its market, this points to a focus on product and market development as well as the marketing of an existing product. Innovation is achieved through the modifying the size of its existing sunblock for the convenience of consumers. In order for the sales force to be prepared to promote the new lines, this strategy has several training implications (Noe 2010). Market research has revealed an increased awareness of the dangers of sunburn. A fundamental element of this strategy...
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...5002V1: Information based decision making Version 1: Nov 13 Page 1 of 2 Unit 5002V1 - Information based decision making Introduction This unit is about understanding the sources of management information within an organisation, and being able to analyse the information in order to identify patterns and trends. It is also about being able to use simple decision making models and methods of presenting decisions as well as understanding how to communicate management decisions effectively. Scenario Learners may use their own employment context, or that of another organisation with which they are very familiar, to base their assignment. However, in the case that they are not able to do so, please use the below scenario:- You are a manager, leading a department in a medium sized company. You are required to analyse and present management information and to communicate decisions made to a range of different audiences. Task 1: Examine and provide examples of the differences between data and information. Evaluate at least three different sources of management data and information, preparing a table to evaluate the benefits and possible limitations of each source of information in terms of its usefulness in helping managers to make sound business decisions. Discuss the selection criteria you would apply to ensure the quality and integrity of the data and information you use for management decision making. Give reasons for each selection criterion. Guideline word count: 600-700 words ...
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...Audience Analysis Paper Karla Ramirez University of Phoenix Audience Analysis Paper Effective communication is essential in any business to succeed. “Effective communication is all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. It's also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible” (Mind Tools Ltd., para. 1). Presenting any message to a group requires an individual to know the audience. Analyzing the audience will allow the sender to understand the audience motivation in addition how to connect with the audience. Prior to addressing an audience, the sender will consider the characteristics of the audience, appropriate communication channels, the diversity of the audience and ensuring the message is effective. Characteristics of the Audience Speaking to a group of individuals one will encounter many personalities. While preparing a message the sender must consider the characteristic of the audience. In a group presentation, the sender may try to find a common ground among his or her audience looking at common characteristics. The sender can profile his or her audience using demographic and psychographic characteristics. “Demographic characteristics are measurable features that can be counted objectively: age, sex, race, religion, education level, income, and so on” (Locker & Kienzler, 2008, p. 44). “Psychographic characteristics are qualitative rather than quantitative: values, beliefs...
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...Our Advantages & Disadvantages |Internal Advantages | |Advertising - Social network, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Website, Radio stations, Global events, Television ads, Email, memberships,| |word of mouth, YouTube, Google, tumbler | |Promotions - Loyalty cards, reward systems, | |Staff - Availabilities, customer service, RSA, flexible hours, training, work ethics, problem solving, team working, honesty, | |integrity, professionalism, create brand excitement through innovation | |Attractions – Live music program, food and drinks, atmosphere, personalized booths, entertainment, celebrities, merchandise, late night| |business | |Food & Beverages - Lunch, Dinner, Starters, mains, desserts, bar packages | |Entertainment - Weekly and monthly entertainment included local and international artists | |Merchandise - Selling products in store collectables, clothes, accessories, online...
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...information is accurate and reliable (Vincent et al, 2003). This is achieved by highlighting how various accounting/financial activities and transactions are to be reflected during the preparation and presentation of these statements (Schipper, 2008). Even though the IASC doesn’t have any legal authority to compel organizations to comply with these standards while they are preparing their accounts, reports and statements, it usually collaborates with the governments of many countries, such as that of U.S, to ensure the enforcement of these principles. The setting of the IAS takes a principle-based approach considering that instead of formulating stringent rules to be complied by all entities, IASC provides a conceptual framework that is to be followed by all accountants and auditors while they are purporting their undertakings (Schipper, 2008). The U.S government has been agitating all firms, especially public entities, to embrace the principle-based approach as opposed to the rules based standards considering that the latter compromises the ability of accountants to exercise their judgments while preparing financial statements (Nobes, 2005). The country’s preference for the IAS/principle-based approach can also be attributed to its flexibility as depicted by the ability of its standards, guidelines and principles to be used in a wide range of situations (Nobes, 2005). However, many allegations have been raised in relation to the move to adopt this approach as a result of the...
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...A comparative studies of consolidated financials Table of Contents: 1. A. Description of Expanded accounting equation for Hal Burton Web consulting for the period of 1-30, 2015 B. Basic and consolidated financial statements of Hal Burton Web consulting for the period of 1-30, 2015 1. Income Statement. 2. Statement of financial position 3. Statement of owner’s equity 4. Statement of Cash Flows. 2. A. Requirements of International Accounting Standards (IAS-1) and its comparison with US-GAAP for the presentation of financial statements. B. Supporting examples of financial statements prepared under IFRS and US GAAP References. 1) A. Analyze and summarize the below transactions using the accounting equation in the form of a table showing different assets, liabilities, capital, revenue and expenses. Table 1. Expanded Accounting Information | | | |Hal Burton Web | | | | |Consulting | | | Statement of Owners Equity | | | | ...
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