To solve an unsolved case: A Case Study (A)

Case (n): an instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring

But as a B-school student, I would rather define:

Case (n): a minimum 20-page report, usually taken from Harvard Business School, for which we are expected to provide a 2-page solution

These days, whenever I check Facebook, the only notifications that I see are: ‘X_i likes Y_j’. Pardon me for the excessive use of variables. But it is the effect of the Marketing Research test I just gave. Rather as I would put it, the post-test effect. So, ‘X_i likes Y_j’; where X_i includes all the students presently studying in a B-school and Y_j includes the FB page of all those companies who launch case-study competitions in B-schools with the aim of, as they call it, ‘Getting a fresh perspective of solving real-time problems’.

Until last year, these competitions were a taboo. The reason for not participating was as simple as: ‘We’re just in our 1^st year. We don’t know how to solve a case.’ Almost 2 months into my 2^nd year, and I still wonder if I could give the same reason to evade from participating in them. But unfortunately, they are now the raison d'être for a 2^nd year B-school student.

With almost all professors resorting to the case-study approach pedagogy, I think it is time to reflect on how a case is actually solved.

1.  If you think reading the chapters mentioned in the course outline would help you find a solution to a problem faced by a Mr. …..(a name you can’t pronounce) from …….Ltd. (again a name you can’t pronounce and are probably checking  Google to know more about the company) as he looked out of his car window on a rainy day in August 1995, think again.
2.  Always count the number of pages that the case runs into. Get your concepts right. Page count is always back-to-back. Avoid creating a feeling of utopia to the other person by telling him-‘The case has 7 pages’. Tell him, it has 14 sides. One needs to be mentally prepared of what lies ahead of him.
3. When you mention the number of pages, make sure that you accompany this count with the number of pages of simple-plain text.                                                                                     NOTE: Exhibits are never read and hence are not to be included in the modified page count.
4. Should you discuss a case before submitting the solution? If yes, then where? In a friend’s room? In the mess? In the hostel common room? In the library or in the Computer Center? How long should the discussion last for?                                                                                       NOTE: Case discussions have been known to have lasted for hours together, sometimes even after the case has been submitted.
5. NEVER discuss a case. Why so? Because a case discussion would always be preceded by several other discussions: A discussion on the venue for the discussion, a discussion on the time for the discussion and a discussion on the members that were present for the previous discussion and a discussion on who will be present for today’s as well as the next discussion.
6. The best way to solve a case is, initially (in the 1^st year) to divide the number of questions and assign them to the group members. And as the number of cases increase (in the 2^nd year), to assign each case to a group member. In this way, every member gets to enjoy the pleasures of free-riding.
7. Google will always be your best friend. It will give you all the possible solutions for the case. But remember, plagiarism is an offence, isn't it?
8. Ensure that your solution has less of text and more of SmartArts, Charts, and frameworks. Not only does the solution become easier (and beautiful) to read, it suddenly makes you look more knowledgeable (although just a misconception).
9. It is imperative that your group has at least 1 member who claims to ‘understand’ the exhibits and is able to fill in 5 sheets in an MS Excel Worksheet. Make sure that you use all the primary as well as secondary colours as highlighters in those sheets. Again, although just a misconception, it suddenly makes you look more knowledgeable.
10. Never submit a case more than 60seconds before the submission deadline, least you miss out an important conclusion from a not-so-important case fact.

If these points are taken into consideration, your submission will definitely earn you a good grade. But more than the submission, it is the case-presentation in the next class that will earn you brownie-points. So how do you pass with flying colours there as well?

Now, Harvard case studies never reveal the solution in Part (A), do they?  

The mystery will be solved in: To solve an unsolved case: A Case Study (B).