Case Study: Analysis of Jill White Case

Guidelines for Written Case Analyses

Analysis of Jill White case. All the instructions are in the attached file “Guideline for Written Case
Study”. The case which is the only source the analysis will be based on is also in the attached
files “Jill White Case”.

Write the case analysis as a consultant engaged to assist the firm and address the managerial issues described in the case, give a recommended action plan, and be persuasive.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Introduction section of the paper is to identify the issues, problems, and challenges in the case study.  It may be helpful to use examples to illustrate the issues, problems, and challenges. There is no need to describe the business or the industry in the Introduction because these are well known to the top managers who will be reading the final consulting report. This section should be no more than two paragraphs.

ANALYSIS

Explain why Jill White has been unable to develop a service-oriented organization culture, high-quality service, a committed group of employees and managers who can work effectively independently, low employee turnover, and a profitable business at Club Lido.  Divide your Analysis up into subsections, there may be more than 5 subtitles in the Analysis section. Give each subsection a section title.  Cite facts in the case to illustrate and support your explanation.  Explanations often require an example.  Remember that the point of a case analysis is to explain why and how case events have occurred.  If you find yourself repeating case facts, you are probably off track.  You should be explaining case events, not repeating case facts. From the analysis section, the reader should be able to anticipate what the recommendations will be.  For example, if employee turnover is high because compensation is too low, the recommendation is obvious. In the Analysis section, never attribute problems to “poor management” or “mismanagement.”  Never attribute a problem to “inefficiency.”  Instead, give the precise root cause of the problem.

To make the Analysis more persuasive, understandable, and rigorous, do the following:

1. Give specific examples of how the asserted cause could be the real cause. Examples are an essential tool to explaining an argument.
2. Construct figures and diagrams to explain.

• Connect the explanation to a problem. Sometimes students address issues in the Analysis section that are seemingly unrelated to the case issues outlined in the Introduction  Be sure to connect the analysis and explanations to an issue identified in the Introduction section.

2. Cite to the evidence. In general, it is not necessary to include citations to the case because we are all familiar with the facts stated in the case.  There are a few exceptions to this.  When using data that comes from a case exhibit, cite the exhibit number.  For example, “See Exhibit 7” or “See footnote 2.”  Second, when bold contentions are stated (for example, “The hospital’s infection rate is unacceptable.”), cite to the facts in the case to support the contention.
3. Replace vague words with specifics. Never use vague words such as “inefficient” and “poor management.”

The Analysis section should be approximately four pages.

RECOMMENDATIONS

[Give recommendations to address each of the problem causes described in the Analysis section.  Remember that recommendations should follow directly from the analysis.  That is, once you explain why a problem has occurred, the recommendations should be obvious.  For example, if it is explained that low wages cause employees to terminate their employment, the recommendation is obvious—increase wages.  Do not give any recommendations that are not related to causes/explanations given in the Analysis section.  Recommendations that appear out of nowhere (unconnected to any causes in the Analysis section) are unlikely to be implemented. Do not give goals as recommendations.  Examples are: “Management should more effectively utilize resources” and “Quality and productivity should be improved.”  These are goals.  Give specific recommendations or initiatives that could lead to achievement of these goals. The Recommendations section should be one or two pages, double spaced.]

1. Subtitle A (e.g., Creating a Service-Oriented Organization Culture at Club Lido) [Tailor this subtitle to your recommendations. The order of the subtitles is up to you.]

[Insert your recommendations here.  Check to make sure that your recommendations follow directly from the problem causes discussed in your Analysis section.]

1. Subtitle B (e.g., Creating High-Quality Service at Club Lido)

[Insert your recommendations here.  Check to make sure that your recommendations follow directly from the problem causes discussed in your Analysis section.]

1. Subtitle C (e.g., Creating a Committed Group of Managers and Employees at Club Lido Who Can Work Effectively Independently)

[Insert your recommendations here.  Check to make sure that your recommendations follow directly from the problem causes discussed in your Analysis section.]

1. Subtitle D (e.g., Lowering Employee Turnover at Club Lido)

[Insert your recommendations here.  Check to make sure that your recommendations follow directly from the problem causes discussed in your Analysis section.]

1. Subtitle E (Improving Club Lido Financial Performance)

[Insert your recommendations here.  Check to make sure that your recommendations follow directly from the problem causes discussed in your Analysis section.]

General Guidelines for Written Case Analyses

1. Write sentences and paragraphs. Do not use lists or bullet points.
2. Do not use contractions.
3. Use active sentences such as “John threw the ball,” rather than passive sentences such as, “The ball was thrown by John.”