How do you apply the case method in case studies?

Question

Let's consider a case study about a company facing a strategic decision.

**Case Scenario:**

Company X is a technology firm specializing in smartphone manufacturing. They're considering whether to invest heavily in developing a new line of environmentally friendly smartphones or continue with their current line of products, which are profitable but not eco-friendly.

**Applying the Case Method:**

1. **Understanding the Situation:** Begin by comprehensively understanding the case. What are the company's goals, market trends, customer demands, and potential challenges?

2. **Identify the Issues:** Highlight the key issues or decisions the company is facing. In this case, it's the choice between profitability and environmental sustainability.

3. **Analysis:** Analyze the pros and cons of each decision. Consider market research, cost implications, customer preferences, competitors' strategies, and the long-term impact on the company's brand and reputation.

4. **Discuss Solutions:** Brainstorm potential solutions. It could involve maintaining the current product line, gradually transitioning to eco-friendly products, or innovating entirely new strategies.

5. **Evaluate Alternatives:** Assess the feasibility, risks, and implications of each solution. Which aligns best with the company's values and goals? What are the short-term and long-term effects of each option?

6. **Decision and Action Plan:** Based on the analysis and discussion, make a decision. Develop an action plan outlining steps, timelines, resources needed, and strategies to implement the chosen solution.

7. **Reflection:** Reflect on the case and the chosen solution. What lessons can be learned? Are there alternative approaches that could have been considered? What can other companies learn from this situation?

The case method involves group discussions, allowing participants to share diverse perspectives, challenge assumptions, and arrive at a well-thought-out conclusion. It's a dynamic process that encourages critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

Answer 1

This is very good… My thinking however is that the case method involves more than broad discussions, sharing perspectives and assumptions, and a well-thought-out conclusion. It involves leading teams in communication, cooperation, collaboration, feedback, and decision-making. What is critically important is how this is done in the case to achieve the best possible outcome.

You might consider three competency dynamics of leading teams in the case method: generation of ideas, integration of ideas, and synthesis. The time spent by the team in each construct is what is important. The generation of ideas is essentially summative and typically lasts much longer than it needs to. Studies have shown the integration of ideas is in fact the rate limiting step in achieving a quantitative assessment of an efficient optimal work function. This is where the team agrees/disagrees and presents evidence-based arguments that show cooperation within the team and collaboration with other teams and experts, leading to a final synthesis. The synthesis typically speaks to a hypothesis by the team that informs a strategy and path to a best practice outcome. We can discuss this further.

-jq