Book Companion:

Library and Information Center Management,
Seventh Edition

---

Tips on Analyzing Case Studies

Case studies are descriptions of management situations. They usually include information about the setting (the location, type of organization, size of organization and the business or sector). They typically also provide background on the key factors pertaining to the case.

Case studies are used in management classes to:

1. Improve the decision-making ability of managers-to-be.
2. Expose potential managers to the environment of managerial decision-making where decisions are often made under
a.
1. Time pressure
b.
2. Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the decision and
c.
3. Conditions of risk.
3. Provide an opportunity to supply theoretical constructs to real situations and test their applicability.

Case study analyses may be structured in many ways but they usually contain some common elements. Typically, an analysis

1. Clearly defines the primary (and any secondary) problems in the case.
2. Identifies factors that influence the situation including
1. Individual factors
2. Inter-group relationships and interpersonal factors
3. Environmental factors
3. Provides some alternative solutions to the problems and compares their likely outcomes.
4. Concludes with the solution chosen and tells both why it was chosen and how it will be implemented.

There is no one right solution to a case study. Problems can be solved in many different ways and the solutions will vary. If you feel comfortable justifying a solution and can explain how it will be implemented, it is probably viable.