CASE STUDY(ENT600) : GUIDELINES & TEMPLATE
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP (ENT600) WRITTEN REPORT ON CASE STUDY (20%) OVERVIEW A case study is an account of an activity, event or problem that contains a real or hypothe hypothetical tical situation and includes the complexities you would encounter in the business. Case studies are used to help you see how the complexities of real life influence decisions. The term case study refers to both a method of analysis and a specific research design for examining a problem . Analysing a case study requires you to practice applying your knowledge and your thinking skills in a real situation. To learn from a case study analysis you will be "analysing, applying knowledge, reasoning and drawing conclusions" (Kardos & Smith 1979).
, A successful successful case study study analyses analyses a real-life situation where existing existing problems problems need to be solved. solved. It should: Relate the theory to a practical situation; for example, example, apply the ideas and knowledge discussed in the coursework to the practical situation at hand in the case study. Identify the problems. Select the major problems in the case. Suggest solutions to these major problems. Recommend the best solution to be implemented. Detail how this solution should be implemented. •
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INSTRUCTIONS 1. This is a group project and the students are required to form groups comprising of 3 MEMBERS ONLY. 2. Each group needs to choose ONE ONE company (Lecturer/Student identified) that required technology solutions. 3. The group need to collect as much as possible about the company (i.e company background, product, marketing techniques, business performance, etc). 4. The information can be collected through document reviews, personal interviews with the owners, observation, etc. 5. The group needs to analyse the company using SWOT analysis, and propose relevant business intervention to enhance the performance of the companies. 6. The group needs to write a final report using the given format. 7. Use Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11 with 1.5 spacing for writing a case study report. 8. The report must be submitted on or before ______________. jeopardize jeopardize the student’s student’s grade grade for this subject.
Failure to do so will
ENT600 : NFL 2017
CASE STUDY(ENT600) : GUIDELINES & TEMPLATE
CASE STUDY WRITTEN REPORT FORMAT GUIDELINE Before beginning to write, follow these guidelines to help you prepare and understand the case study: Read and examine the case thoroughly. Take notes, highlight relevant facts, underline key problems.
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Focus your analysis. Identify two to five key problems.
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Uncover possible solutions.
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Select the best solution.
GUIDELINES FOR CONTENTS Following is a suggested guideline for preparing your case study reports (remember to always use Harvard Business Style for all formatting and referencing as per the course outline):
1. COVER PAGE Company Name Student Names, Student ID, Programme and Group Lecturer Name • • •
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY If Appropriate – should be written last to focus on key points/findings. •
3. INTRODUCTION Outline background of the study
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Outline the purpose of the case study.
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Describes the business problem that this project was created to address. The problem may be process, technology, or product/service oriented. This section should not include any discussion related to the solution . Identify the theory that will be used.
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Here, the reader should be able to get a clear picture of the essential contents of the study.
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Note any assumptions made (you may not have all the information you’d like so some assumptions may be necessary eg: “It has been assumed that…”, “Assuming that it takes half an hour to read one document…”).
4. COMPANY INFORMATION An overview of the company and may include: Background Organizational Structure Products/Services Business, marketing, operational strategy Financial achievements • • • • •
ENT600 : NFL 2017
CASE STUDY(ENT600) : GUIDELINES & TEMPLATE
5. COMPANY ANALYSIS Analyze the case (product/service) by using SWOT Analysis. •
6. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Findings Identify the problems found in the case. Each analysis of a problem should be supported by the facts given in the case together with the relevant theory and course concepts. Here, it is important to search for the underlying problems; for example, cross-cultural conflict may be only a symptom of the underlying problem of inadequate policies and practices within the company. •
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This section is often divided into sub-sections, one for each problem.
Discussion Summarize the major problem/s. •
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Identify alternative solutions to this/these major problem/s (there is likely to be more than one solution per problem). Briefly outlines each alternative solution and then evaluate it in terms of its advantages and disadvantages. There is no need to refer to the theory or coursework here.
7. CONCLUSION •
Sum up the main points from the findings and discussion.
8. RECOMMENDATION AND IMPROVEMENT
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Choose which of the alternative solutions should be adopted.
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Briefly justify your choice, explaining how it will solve the major problem/s.
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This should be written in a forceful style as this section is intended to be persuasive.
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Here the integration of theory and coursework is appropriate. REFERENCES
Make sure all references are cited correctly. Recommend that you source interviews, business journals, periodicals, and textual references as well as some online research. Make sure you support your ideas with facts and figures. Please try to use your own words and ideas based on research rather than copy and paste other’s words from the internet.
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APPENDICES (if any)
Attach any original data that relate to the study, but which would have interrupted the flow of the main body. All charts, financials, visuals, and other related items can be placed here and referenced in the report.
ENT600 : NFL 2017
CASE STUDY(ENT600) : GUIDELINES & TEMPLATE
TEMPLATE
COMPANY LOGO
COMPANY ANALYSIS NAME OF COMPANY
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP (ENT600) : CASE STUDY FACULTY & PROGRAMME SEMESTER PROJECT TITLE GOUP MEMBERS
LECTURER
: : : : 1. 2. 3. :
ENT600 : NFL 2017
CASE STUDY(ENT600) : GUIDELINES & TEMPLATE
TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE TITLE PAGE
i
ANKNOWLEDGEMENT
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TABLE OF CONTENT iii LIST OF FIGURES
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LIST OF TABLE
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
vi
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 1.3
Background Of The Study Problem Statement Purpose Of The Study
2. COMPANY INFORMATION 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6
Background Organizational Structure Products/Services Technology Business, marketing, operational strategy Financial achievements
3. COMPANY ANALYSIS 5.1
SWOT
4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 5. CONCLUSION 6. RECOMMENDATION AND IMPROVEMENT 7. REFERENCES 8. APPENDICES
ENT600 : NFL 2017
