1. How to write the case
summary
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2. What is a case?
 Story
 Real management problems
 Under a specific context
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3. What is the content of a case
 Introduction
 Company Background
 Information related to the management
problems
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4. Case teaching
 Understand the organizational
situations
 Identify problem(s)
 Analyze problem(s)
 Provide criteria
 List alternatives
 Compare alternatives
 Offer suggestions
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5. What can we get from the
case teaching
 Enhance analytical skills
 Practice problem solving skills
 Improve communication skills
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6. Case preparation
 Read through the case once, go back
 Identify the key issues of the situation
 Identify the problem/opportunity to be
resolved
 Analyze the key factors
 Identify alternatives
 Recommendations
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7. The reasons for the case
summary
 Attract attention
 Persuade managers
 Identify problems
 Provide advices
 Action
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8. Format of the case summary
 Executive summary
 Problem
 Criteria
 Alternatives
 Action plan
 Length: less than 4 pages
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9. Case summary –executive
summary
 Usually a paragraph
 Describing the relevant background
information
 Stating the problem
 Making clear your recommendation
(specify what to do in what time frame)
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10. An example
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11. As the one of the largest grocery retailers
in Canada, Green has been reducing
prices to attract customers. However,
with the market continuingly slumping,
Green’s third-quarter revenue is 20%
lower than that in the same period last
year. The reduced margin has seriously
affected the normal operation of Green. For
Green to compete effectively in the market, I
recommend laying off 200 employees within the
next three months.
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12. Case summary -- problem
 Analyze in detail 2-3 causes of the
problem you identified
 Length: a paragraph
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13. The example
 Two causes:
 Weak economic situations
 Reduced revenue
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14. Case summary -- criteria
 Standards used to evaluate alternatives
 3 –5 criteria
 Explain criteria
 Indicate why you choose the criteria
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15. The example
 Maintain the current advantages
 reduce costs
 Beneficial for the long-term
development of the organization
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16. Case summary -- alternatives
 2-3 alternatives
 Analyze advantages and disadvantages
based on the criteria
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17. The example
 Do nothing
 Disadvantages: high costs, harmful for long term and
organizational advantages
 Lay off employees
 Advantages: reduce costs, maintain current
advantages, long term development
 Change product structures
 Disadvantages: may need changes in strategies,
cost reduction not obvious in short term
 Advantage: beneficial to long term develop.
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18. Case summary –
recommendation
 state which alternative you will choose
and why you choose it
 Briefly provide action plan for how to
implement your suggestion (when, who,
how)
 Consistent with the introduction and
alternative analysis
 A paragraph
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19. The example
 Based on the above analysis, I
recommend alternative 2 because …
 I propose three steps to lay off 200
employees
 1-2 month: get a list from branches
 At the same time, HR draws up the plan
 1-2 month: evaluate the candidates and
send the list to the top managers
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