O Read Case example essay topic

TM 583 Strategic Management of Technology Case Study Assignments As noted in the syllabus, there are two written case study assignments for this course. All case assignments are due on the Sunday ending the week. Submissions, in Microsoft Word format, can be posted in the Drop box. Use the following convention for naming your file: Case ##-# [LASTNAME] for example: Case II-9 Smith Case II-8: The PC Desktop Videoconferencing Systems Industry in 1998 Part #1: Why did Intel enter the DTS market? What were its objectives? How do you evaluate this initiative from strategic perspective?

Be sure to support your comments. Part #2: Identify and evaluate key elements of Intel's approach to develop its business in the DTS market. How successful has Intel been? Due: Sunday ending Week 3 Case -5: Innovation at 3 M Corporation (a) Part #1: How does the Lead User research process differ from and complement traditional market research methods? Part #2: Has the Medical-Surgical team applied the Lead User research process successfully? Why or why not?

Be sure to support your conclusions. Due: Sunday ending Week 6 How to Prepare your Case Analysis Each case study will follow this sequence: o Read the assigned case study o Each student submits an individual analysis of the case. The analysis will cover questions or provided above. o Papers should be at least three, but no more than five, double spaced pages in length. o Assignments should be submitted before Sunday, 10 pm CST of the week the paper is due. Papers should be submitted in Microsoft Word format and posted to the Drop Box set up on the course site for each assignment. o Instructor posts grades in the course Grade Book by the following Wednesday.

Feedback is returned to the student by Saturday of the same week the grade is provided. Approach the assignment as follows: o Read case twice, once for an overview and once to gain full command of the facts related to the assigned questions. o It is very important to identify the fundamental strategic issue presented by the case. This represents the lesson the case is intended to provide and is key to analyzing the case. o Be thorough in your diagnosis and make an outline of your assessment. o Support any and all opinions with well-reasoned arguments and numerical evidence; do not stop until you can purge "I think" and "I feel" from your assessment and, instead, are able to rely completely on the phrase "My analysis shows... ". o Charts and tables can be used to explain more clearly the main points of your analysis. o Prioritize your recommendations and make sure they can be carried out in an acceptable time frame with the available skills and financial resources. o Review your recommended action plan to see if it addresses the problems and issues you identified. o Avoid recommending any course of action that could have disastrous consequences if it does not work out as planned; in other words, be as alert to the downside risks of your recommendations as you are to their upside potential and appeal. o Three Primary Tools - o Comparison - point out similarities - debt-to-equity ratio of company is consistent with industry standards o Contrast - point out differences - strategy is very different from usual practice o Synthesis - integrating facts, comparisons, contrasts, principles and outcomes of procedures and / or other interpretations already arrived at into a consistent interpretation of the elements of the case study. This interpretation of the situation can then yield a reasonable and supportable conclusion. Remember there are no obvious answers to the problem. Also we are not searching for "correct answer" but learning how to apply what you have learned in realistic situations in a competent, considered manner as a means of reaching a reasonable and supportable conclusion Your case write-up should consist of three sections as follows: o Background or Introduction o who the case is about o what their problems are o historical background if relevant (keep this very brief) This section should not exceed one page. o Analysis (usually question 1 of the assignment) o Restate the problem or issue in one or two sentence so Analyze the facts presented in the case that are relevant to the stated problem, issue or question State any assumptions you are making about the case fact so Answer the question making sure that you support all of your conclusions.

This section should be 1-2 pages in length Recommendations, Conclusions & Rationale (usually question 2 of the assignment) o Present your choice of alternatives AND your rationale o Why you chose the alternative you did? o Why you did not choose any of the other alternatives? o Are there potential downsides? This section should be 1-2 pages in length Hints & Tips o You will find far more information in the cases than needed for your analysis. Edit, edit, and edit until your analysis us highly focused and concise. If it is not critical, leave it out. o Organize your paper and write it in a professional manner. Assume it will be read by a member of senior management at your company. o Carefully explain the rationale behind your recommendations.

This is the number one problem on most case papers. Part of this is anticipating questions senior management will ask and present this information in your paper. o Avoid techno-minutia. Do not provide highly technical details. o Always concentrate on strategic issues and high-level business concerns Hints & Tips The case studies in the text are fairly long. The subject matter for each case is different. These two issues lead students to sometimes get lost in the details. Hopefully these tips will help: o Write-ups should focus squarely on the questions asked Focus on the business and strategic issues presented in the case.

There is usually only one key strategic issue presented by the case - identifying this issue provides a sound basis for completing the assignment. o Do not focus on technical minutia o Re-read the case once you know which questions require an answer Outline the key points you believe answer the question Edit your work to the most relevant information to comply with the space limitations.