1 Notes on Case Analysis David Robinson, September 2008 Business school cases are quite long and complicated. We study cases not so much to find the right answer, but to train ourselves in systematic analysis so we will be effective decision makers in the business world. Successful case preparation depends on multiple readings of the case and multiple points of view. Multiple Readings of the Case If you attempt to analyze a case by pulling an “all-nighter” (waiting until the last minute, spend hours poring over the case and going line by line looking for insights) you will be overwhelmed. You should plan for multiple readings of the case over several days, complemented by group meetings and discussion. Multiple Points of View Even if you are preparing to write an individual brief, you should plan to discuss a case with a study group. You’ll notice that in business the major consulting firms always assign a team of people to each client, not just their single best industry expert. The reason for this is that no one person is likely to comprehend all the problems a firm faces. No two individuals are likely to have the same insights, but the combined wisdom of a team is likely to come up with a fairly comprehensive analysis. First Reading of the Case You should read the case first on your own— if you meet with your study group and open the case book and say, “OK, what’s this about?” there is every likelihood that your team will degenerate into “group think” (one person comes up with a plausible solution and everyone else concurs in a false consensus without challenging either the analysis or solution). In your first reading, read through the whole case quickly and try t...
