CASE STUDY
Introduction
The student will be provided with case studies (or similar exercises) related to the current readings during Units 1 through 8 of the course. After reading the relevant cases (or similar exercises), students will provide a written response in either one of two ways. The student will provide either a 2-3 paragraph written response for each question listed after the case study (or similar exercise) or provide a written case study analysis. Either product should be constructed using 7th Edition APA style, include in-text citations and references. If the case or similar exercise does not have questions listed, the written response will follow the directions in the below section. Directions will indicate when to use the case study guidelines or provide a 2-3 paragraph response for the listed questions.
Directions – Case Study Guidelines
publishing the case, think like a practicing manager. As part of your analysis, it is necessary, but not sufficient to answer the following questions in enough depth to show that you have performed more than a superficial reading of the case’s content, and subsequently applied relevant theory.
Introduction
Identify the key problems and issues in the case study. What is the issue being presented or analyzed in the case? Focus on the main issue in the case if more than one topic is presented. Use your judgment to decide on which issue is the one that is potentially most costly to an organization if left unresolved. There are more kinds of costs to be considered than economic costs. Do not neglect them in your analysis. Formulate and include a thesis statement, summarizing the outcome of your analysis in 1–2 sentences.
Background
Set the scene: background information, relevant facts, and the most important issues.
Where did the issue take place? Consider this because you need to consider cultural and environmental considerations that may differ from those of the United States, in your analysis.
When did the issue take place? There may be historic and environmental considerations different from those of the United States, which should be considered in your analysis.
Who was affected by the issues? In other words, who are the stakeholders inside and outside of the organization that needs to be considered when formulating an analysis, and possible response to the situation?
Evaluation
Why did the issue occur? This may involve conjecture on your part. It is all right to speculate; just identify your speculation as such. In an empirical case, causal factors may be identified as such. Outline the various pieces of the case study that you are focusing on. Evaluate these pieces by discussing what is working and what is not working. State why these parts of the case study are or are not working well.
Proposed Solution/Changes
Provide specific and realistic solution(s) or changes needed. Explain why this solution was selected. Support this solution with solid evidence, such as: concepts from class (text readings, discussions, lectures), outside research
Recommendations
How would you, as a manager, apply the insights gained from the case to improve an organization’s operations? Determine and discuss specific strategies for accomplishing the proposed solution. If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues. What should be done and who should do it?
The paper requirements are: title page, reference page, double-spaced, 1″ margins, APA style headings, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font and 3 academic outside sources in addition to the textbook (minimum of 4 sources).
Finalizing the Case – After you have composed the first publish of your case study analysis, read through it to check for any gaps or inconsistencies in content or structure. If you make revisions, proofread and edit your analysis before submission.
Case/Exercises for this Unit
Chapter 4, Exercise 5.1 – Indicators of effectiveness (page 74)
Please read the exercise and provide 2-3 paragraph response to questions:
Submit the original and revised lists of indicators of effectiveness that you generated for your organization.
Provide rationale for why you selected those indicators.
Explain how did your list compare to the provided factors on pp. 74-75?
Chapter 6, Exercise 6.1 – The intervention style indicators (page 100)
Please read the exercise and provide 2-3 paragraph response to questions:
Score the instrument. Submit the response grid and scores for all five modes of intervening.
Explain your most preferred style (or styles)?
Explain how does this make you more (or less) effective as a manager? As someone leading a change effort?
Do the results of this instrument surprise you? Do you think that you should change your style? Why or why not (to both questions)?
RESEARCH ANALYSIS
Introduction
Each chapter contains a Research Analysis assignment based on some of the theory presented in that chapter. One of your assignments each unit (1 through 8) will be to review related research as directed and write an interpretation of your results. After completing your write up, please submit it by 11:59 p.m. Sunday CT.
Directions
Using the cited research from the textbook as a starting point, you are to find a current (as recent as possible) related journal article, preferably on the same topic. You should then read the current article and compare its’ results and findings to those summarized in the text. After determining whether the results and findings are the same or different from those cited in the textbook, you then need to explain what those similarities or differences mean, in plain English.
All cited material must include both internal citations and a complete reference list at the end of the paper. A cover sheet should minimally indicate the name of the Research Report, the name of the course, the student’s name and the date.
Article Specific Directions
Chapter 4-6
The articles used to support Chapters 4 through 6 range from foundation articles to fairly recent, so you should be able to find something at least as recent as the articles cited in the chapters. The point of the exercise is to find another article to compare and contrast with the points summarized in the text.
To that end it may be helpful to:
Use the library databases to search on authors cited in the chapters to find related articles. Our library should have full-text access to some relevant works that you can use for this assignment. An alternate strategy would be to search for articles citing these authors and see if we have access to those.
Use the topic of interest in the text to generate search terms. For example, in Unit 1, “freezing”, “unfreezing”, and “refreezing” were possible choices.
You do not want to merely summarize the article. You want to indicate whether the article you found is consistent or inconsistent with the material presented in the text. Then you want to discuss what these results, along with the material presented in the text, mean to managers in terms of recognizing the need for change and starting the change process.