CASE PRO!
Successful Case Analysis & Interviewing Techniques by Professor Michael A. Mische
University of Southern California
Marshall School of Business
2013
• “A business case is a statement of facts about an organization, individual, and/or industry, that is set in a certain time and context and with certain information about its circumstances, performance, situation, operating environment, attitudes, managers, customers and competitors.”
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Business cases can come in different forms. The most common is the written case, however cases may also take the form of verbal representations, video and experiential.
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Experiential cases are usually interactive in form and technology enabled. Some forms of interactive experiential cases include those on the Internet, a proprietary server, or traditional DVD or other storage media.
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Cases vary in difficulty & complexity
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Case vary in the quantity & quality of information that they provide
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Cases are set “in time,” under certain conditions, & in a set context
CASES PROVIDE LEARNING
OPPORTUNTIES & INSIGHT INTO
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Your ability to perform under “pressure.”
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Your decision making skills and ability to function as a consultant, manager or analyst.
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Your creative, analytical, and learning skills…how fast you adapt & learn.
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Your time management skills & ability to quickly assemble complex facts & develop solutions into a coherent manner & context.
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Your use of data & your ability to communicate, react, persuade and interact with other personalities, conflicting points of view, & different communication styles.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE…Showcase Your
Talent. Cases provide you with a unique opportunity to learn new concepts, apply concepts & theory to facts & craft solutions & responses. Learn how-to recognize the type of case that you are working with.
SOME CHALLENGES &
OPPORTUNITIES
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUITIES:
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Managing your time!
Managing your stress & pressure.
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Using incomplete data, knowledge or facts.
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Maintaining your composure & concentration.
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Communicating your ideas, impressions & social skills. •
Learning, adapting & asking the critical questions.
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Understanding the requirements & answering the questions. LEARNING OBJECTIVES…Learn How-To:
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Quickly recognize issues & organize key problems, data, facts and situations.
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Efficiently scan, read & intellectualize a case.
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Use critical thinking to analyze the case.
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Structure your thinking for fast & efficient analysis & use of analytical techniques.
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Effectively communicate (written & oral) & present your analysis for greatest effect.
Classic form that you are familiar with
Could be short with 1-2 pages or long with 5-10 pages
Uses exhibits & tables
Can be proprietary or public (example
HBS case)
This form is generally used to assess your probing & discovery skills – critical thinking & question asking
Designed to assess
