Your case study may add some insights into the meaning or limitation of a theoretical concept. It may suggest new concepts that are worth considering in the future. This experience will help you develop your case study skills. Reflect upon the following questions on how to continue to improve your skills:
Was your list identifying the problems adequate?
Did you identify the relationships that the problems shared?
Did the process of evaluation and analysis work well? Can you improve on this?
Did you consider a sufficient number of possible solutions? Did you discard solutions too quickly without considering modifying them first?
Did you consider all the counter arguments? Was the solution settled on the most effective argument?
1. Was your list of identifying the problems adequate?
Reading the case study a number of times is fundamental to the identification of the main problems. Read the case study, as many times as possible until you are satisfied that you have understood the nature of the case study and have identified all of the problems that are relevant to the study. If you feel a piece of information is not relevant to the case, reread the case study again to be certain of this before discarding it. Never be too hasty to delete information – always check. Do not worry if the list is too long to begin with. Refining the list is one of the skills you will learn with practice.
2. Did you identify the relationships that the problems shared?
One of the best ways to assist you with examining relationships that problems shared is to depict them in a diagram, such as a tree diagram or through mind mapping. If you clearly draw out the connections between problems the relationships are highlighted.
You may need to consider the functions of management, such as, planning, organizing, leading and controlling of a particular company. These also can be mapped to give you a clear idea of their organisation and their hierarchy of control or leadership. Diagrams or mapping are wonderful tools for working out and visualising these relationships.
3. Did the process of evaluation and analysis work well?
Evaluation and analysis can seem like a daunting task to begin with. However, this is just a process of asking the right questions and reflecting upon these questions. Refer back to the section Critical Thinking as it is essential to all academic assignments, including the analysis of case studies. The more this process is practiced the better you become at it.
4. Did you consider enough solutions? Did you discard potential solutions too quickly without modifying them first?
How many is enough? This is a common question and it is difficult to answer. Consider at least 3 or 4 possible solutions. However, attempt to evaluate them very carefully. Consider their:
· Costs and benefits
· Limitations
· Relevance
· Suitability
· Consequences
If a solution fails on one or more of the above criteria then consider possible modifications that make them more acceptable. If it cannot be suitably modified, then discard it.
5. Did you consider all the counter arguments? Was the solution settled on the most effective arguments?
If you are under-decided on a solution and believe you have 2 or even 3 good possible solutions, one way to limit your decision is to consider all the counter arguments to that solution. There is rarely an ideal solution and most solutions will fail in some aspect even to a minor degree, the task is to find the one that has the least problems. By selecting the solution with the least persuasive counter arguments and being able to refute those counter arguments you are considering all the aspect (good and bad) of that solution.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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