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How to download the Harvard Business School Cases

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How to Download and Analyze a Case
How to download the Harvard Business School Cases
Enter the following link into your web browser:
http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/relay.jhtml?name=cp&c=c24832
To get the Harvard Online Course materials you need to register as a new user (unless you
already have registered).
The Harvard Online Course may ask you for a "Reference ID" That number is “c24832”.
Then just click "Add to my Courses" and you'll be able to purchase the class materials with your
credit card.
Outline for Case Reports:
Please follow this outline for all written case reports. Please note that this follows the discussion
below.
1. Situation Analysis
2. Assumptions and Missing Information
3. Problem Definition
4. Development of Alternatives
5. Evaluation of Alternatives and Recommendation to Management
6. Appendix Used for exhibits such as pro-forma income statements and other detailed
analyses.

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The Case Analysis Framework
The case analysis framework presented here is a synthesis of the frameworks used by your
professor and other marketing professors who use case analysis in their courses. It will provide a
solid structure to organize the diverse information presented in a case.
As you work your way through this framework, or a similar approach to case analysis, we offer
the following hints to increase your probability of success:
1. No one can analyze a case after reading it only one time, or even worse, doing the analysis
during the first reading of the case. You should read through the case once just to get an
understanding of the nature of the case. During the second reading, you can begin to structure
and classify the issues as they appear. A truly comprehensive case analysis will probably
require at least three readings.
2. Don’t get trapped into thinking the “answer” to the case is hidden somewhere in the case text.
There is never a single answer to a case just as there is never a single marketing strategy that
is appropriate for all situations. Each case is unique. Looking for tricks or shortcuts is not
appropriate.
3. Make an effort to put yourself in the shoes of the decision maker in the case. The use of role-
playing as part of the analysis can be very useful. It helps you gain some feeling for the
perspective of the key parties at the time the case took place. After you have done several
analyses, you will likely come up with your own additional procedures or guidelines that
assist you with this process.
Step 1: Situation Analysis
The material presented in a case is much like the communications we have in our daily lives.
Usually our conversations involve the selection of a topic and then the discussion of that topic,
and so it is with cases. The problem is that we end up with bits and pieces of information that by
themselves are not very useful, but once organized, can be quite valuable in our assessment of
the situation. The first step in the framework helps you organize the pieces of information into
more useful topic blocks.
The process of assessing a situation is widely accomplished through the use of SWOT Analysis
(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). Looking at an organization’s strengths and
weaknesses is the first half of Step 1. This involves looking at the organization’s internal
environment. Strengths are those aspects of the internal environment that can help the firm
address a present problem, issue, or opportunity, while weaknesses are negative factors or
deficiencies that do not allow the firm to reach its full potential. One topic that should be
addressed is the content and appropriateness of the current marketing or sales plan. Is the plan
current? Do the key parties understand and utilize it? Was it developed with input from all levels
of the organization? The organization’s financial condition may also present strengths and
weaknesses. Is it in a solid position, and does it have, or can it acquire, needed funds at a
reasonable cost of capital? Other possible strengths and weaknesses might include managerial
expertise, human resources, product reputation and customer loyalty, patents and trademarks, age
and capacity of production facilities, channel relationships, and promotional programs (sales
force, advertising program, publicity, and sales promotion efforts). These are all issues that we

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How to Download and Analyze a Case How to download the Harvard Business School Cases Enter the following link into your web browser: http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/relay.jhtml?name=cp&c=c24832 To get the Harvard Online Course materials you need to register as a new user (unless you already have registered). The Harvard Online Course may ask you for a "Reference ID" That number is “c24832”. Then just click "Add to my Courses" and you'll be able to purchase the class materials with your credit card. Outline for Case Reports: Please follow this outline for all written case reports. Please note that this follows the discussion below. 1. Situation Analysis 2. Assumptions and Missing Information 3. Problem Definition 4. Development of Alternatives 5. Evaluation of Alternatives and Recommendation to Management 6. Appendix – Used for exhibits such as pro-forma income statements and other detailed analyses. The Case Analysis Framework The case analysis framework presented here is a synthesis of the frameworks used by your professor and other marketing professors who use case analysis in their courses. It will provide a solid structure to organize the diverse information presented in a case. As you work your way through this framework, or a similar approach to case analysis, we offer the following hints to increase your probability of success: 1. No one can analyze a case after reading it only one time, or even worse, doing the analysis dur ...
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