Week One – 5 - 8

“Our life is the creation of our minds, and we do much of that creating with metaphor. We see new things in terms of things we already understand: Life is a journey, an argument is a war; the mind is a rider on an elephant. With the wrong metaphor we are deluded; with no metaphor we are blind.” Johathan Haidt - The Happiness Hypothesis
Class timetable

5:30 – 6:15 OUTLINE

6:15 – 6:45 Introduction to Cases

6:45 – 7:00 BREAK

7:00 – 7:15 Case - Erin Brochovich

7:15 – 8:15 Constructing the case

8:15 – 8:20 NEXT WEEK

Overview of course

Outline

How to Write Cases

AACSB Rubrics – How to Write Cases
(Separate handout)

Tips For Writing Cases
(below)

Tips For Writing Cases

Read the case over and over – know the case well
Use the format that is given – this is not an option
Use headings
Point form is permitted – has its drawbacks – easy to misunderstand
Write in the present tense – the case is happening now
Write an analysis not a summary – don’t summarize, analyse
Stay away from narratives – don’t simply retell the case
Deconstruct the facts of the case and reformat into meaningful wholes – the headings of the case
Part to whole – whole to parts
Write a case not an essay
Use details from the case, be specific
Don’t generalize or editorialize
Don’t assume anything not given in the case during the analysis
Stay out of black/white dualities

I. Analysis

1. Stakeholders
Empathy – see their worlds from the inside
What is their point of view – reference?
What would they like to see happen?
What do they not want to happen?

2. Ethical Issues
Difficult trait for people
What obligations do people/groups have? What is the greatest good for the greatest number?
What is the right thing to do?

3. Why Now? What has changed? Difficult trait for people
What led up to this issue emerging now?
Chain of events – causes and effects.
History AND precipitating events

4. Alternatives
Give pros and cons for each alternative
No alternative is perfect – choice between evils – choice between rights
No way out
Keep ethical issues in mind
Everyone’s answers thus far will be pretty such the same

II. What has been left out?
What has been overlooked?
Questions not asked?
Alternatives not pursued?