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This document provides guidelines for students on how to conduct a business case analysis, including key components such as point of view, time context, problem statement, objectives, and areas of consideration. It emphasizes the importance of a SWOT analysis for understanding internal and external factors affecting the business, as well as the need for clear assumptions and alternative courses of action. Finally, it outlines the conclusion and recommendation process after evaluating the alternatives.

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Erica Napigkit
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10 views

Final Output Format

This document provides guidelines for students on how to conduct a business case analysis, including key components such as point of view, time context, problem statement, objectives, and areas of consideration. It emphasizes the importance of a SWOT analysis for understanding internal and external factors affecting the business, as well as the need for clear assumptions and alternative courses of action. Finally, it outlines the conclusion and recommendation process after evaluating the alternatives.

Uploaded by

Erica Napigkit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Easy: Business Case Analysis

Format and Guidelines for Students


(Comparison of Two Businesses)
updated on FEBRUARY 22, 2021 by MATT

This case analysis guideline will help you to have an idea of how to analyze
a business case properly. This will also give you pointers on how to
construct and what to include in the different parts of your analysis from
point of view, problem statement, down to the decision making and plan of
action.

May this post be of help to all of you, so you can come up with a better
analysis of your group’s homework or projects.
I. Point of View
This is any decision-maker or person who is in the position to make the final
recommendations as mentioned in the case.

For example, the problem is related to the manufacturing division. It can be


about Engineering, manufacturing processes, quality assurance, and
warehousing. The possible decision-maker or point of view is the Vice
President for the Manufacturing division.

If the concern or problem is relating to product quality which is under a


Quality Department within the manufacturing division, then it is possible to
put the ‘Manager of Quality Department’ at the Point of View.

If you are unsure about which position to place in the point of view. I
suggest that you take a look at the company’s organizational chart (if
given). The reason is that sometimes, the organizational chart is unique per
company. You can compare the organizational chart of a government
agency and a private corporation. I am pretty sure you can notice the
differences.

II. Time Context


This is the time in the case where you will start your analysis. It can be an
imaginary time or the last-mentioned date in the case. Make sure that you
can justify the reason behind your given time context. Because if your
stated time is not relevant, it is possible that your analysis is also not
relevant.

Assuming that the problem arises during the summer / dry season in the
Philippines, you cannot put June to November in the time context as it is
usually the rainy/wet season in PH.

If the problem arises in 2021, you can use that year in time cotext. For
example, ‘First Quarter of 2021’ or ‘February 2021.’

III. Statement of the Problem


This defines the perceived problem in the case which becomes the subject
of the analysis. You can present this in declarative or in question format.

IV. Statement of the Objectives


These are the goals that the case analysis hopes to achieve. It should
basically satisfy the test of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic, and Time-bound)

For example: To improve the company’s performance in terms of product


quality in 12 months. Or to increase the company’s sales for its dog food
product lines in 6 months.

IV. Areas of Consideration


For the areas of consideration in your case study, you have to state the
internal and external environment of the company/firm through SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis.
For the internal environment, you can indicate facts relating to the
company’s financial situation, production/manufacturing, marketing, and
human resources.

For example, does the business have a high employee turnover rate? Does
the business’ revenue continuously increasing year after year? How about
product quality, can it keep up with the industry competition? You should
focus on the factors that can help solve the issues and problems that the
business is facing.
For the external environment, indicate the economic situation of the city or
country. If the government policy affects your business then you can also
state it. Indicate here also your competition which company it is or which
product. If your chosen company sells dog food or mobile phone, state your
competitor.

Now that you have the list of the internal and external environment. You
should now list your company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats.

Under ‘Strengths,’ of course, depending on what is stated in the case. You


can indicate if the company is prominent in the industry, awards such as
‘Best Manpower Agency for 10 years,’ ‘Best Hotel in terms of service.’

For ‘Weakness,’ include if the company has a high manpower turnover ratio,
lowest quality in the market, low budget for marketing/advertisement.

Under Opportunities, indicate if the country the company is located in a


‘Free Trade Zone,’ rising population which can equate to increasing product
consumption. For example, increasing toothpaste consumption. The
Philippine Government has a build build build program which means they
will need an increase in cement usage.

For Threats, input if the consumers are starting to buy online stores. Your
company has hundreds of competition and they are launching new products
every quarter of the year.

VI. Assumptions
These are the factors that are not clear or not specifically stated in the case.
You need to clarify these factors and state them as assumptions to limit the
analysis.

In layman’s terms, the assumptions you will list here will be the boundaries
of your analysis. It will also help the panelist to understand the reason
behind the items you list in your case analysis.

VII. Alternative Courses of Action (ACA)


These are the possible solutions to the identified problem. Each of the ACA
must stand alone and must be able to solve the stated problem and achieve
the objectives. The ACA must be mutually exclusive. In this regard, the
student must choose an ACA to the exclusion of the others.

Also, you have to analyze each ACA in the light of the SWOT analysis and
assumptions that is if there are any. You have to state clearly the
advantages and disadvantages of each ACA. If the case contains enough
information or data. Your stated advantages and disadvantages should be
supported quantitatively to minimize bias.

VIII. Conclusion/Recommendation
After the analysis of the different Alternative Courses of Action (ACAs), you
can now come up with the conclusion, recommendations, and decisions. You
do not need to repeat the analysis which you have done in the ACA section
of the analysis.

To make this part clearer, it is best to come up with a decision matrix


similar to the photo.

By: Kimberly R. Tabelon

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