ÅA DEVELOPING AND WRITING EFFECTIVE CASES ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ISSUES Based on Dr. Alan L. Carsrud The FIU Center for Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation

ÅA By writing a Case YOU SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIQUE ISSUES FACING ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS AND TO APPLY THE RESEARCH READINGS IN A MORE PRAGMATIC MANNER.

ÅA KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK: What is the situational context of the case? Who are the principal players? What are the pertinent facts to put in case? What facts to put in exhibits? What concepts to apply? What is hard about this case?

ÅA KEYS TO BUILDING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS CASE Cases help the reader understand key concepts through self- discovery. There is no permanent right answer for any entrepreneurial case. Good case development means setting up the situation so interesting questions can be asked. A goal is to help the reader to ask penetrating questions. A case should help the reader:  learn different courses of action,  find a better decision,  discover a better way to solve a situation.

ÅA REALITY ABOUT CASES Business Cases are often messy and confusing. Entrepreneurial Business Cases are even more “messy” just like entrepreneurs themselves at times. Firm problems are rarely found in neatly wrapped packages

ÅA THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN WRITING A CASE. They are not just histories, but build in historic fashion. They are a selection of facts and inferences that present a situation. They should allow the reader to step into the situation/opportunity being faced by someone. They are a microcosm of life.

ÅA KEYS TO CREATING THE SITUATION Situations should require some form of action. There should be a range of possible actions available. Situations should require applying a range of different skills.

ÅA WRITING THE CASE Put yourself in the shoes of the protagonist. Pick a limited set of foci for the situation or opportunity. Research current literature. Outline the situation to create a logical flow of case facts. Communicate the action of the case in a engaging manner. Assess facts, don’t overload with irrelevant material. Organize materials, such biographical sketches of players. Be creative within the realm of reality.

ÅA HINTS AT WRITING Have a section on situational context. Context section can be either at the front or the back of the case. Use headings to help organize the case. Have strong lead off sentences to sections.

ÅA DON’T: Make this a case analysis. Make your personally obvious solution obvious. Make this an academic research paper. Make the players unbelievable.

ÅA REMEMBER WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS DEVELOP A VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE FOR THE READER SO THAT THE READER CAN LEARN FROM THE SITUATION AND RELATE TO A PLAYER (OR PLAYERS) IN THE CASE.

ÅA CONDITIONS FOR CASE WRITING: Collect significant and relevant information about the firm, the concept, and the entrepreneur before you start writing. Anticipate what questions you think a reader might ask. Pick a key focus or problem for the case.

ÅA Basic Case Styles Highly Structured Cases. Short Vignettes. Long Unstructured Cases. Ground Breaking Cases. Highly Structured Cases.  Short  No excess information  Problem well-ordered and stated.  Best solution exists.  Can apply known tools or models  Data for solution available.

ÅA Basic Case Styles Short Vignettes.  Introduces a key concepts.  Little excess information presented.  Length one to ten pages.  Best answer is not derived from formula.  Usually a short teaching vehicle Long Unstructured Cases.  Ten to fifty pages with several exhibits.  Writer reflects the reality of a situation by providing nearly all needed information about situation.  Existence of qualitative factors does not permit solution.

ÅA Basic Case Styles Long Unstructured Cases.  Underlying problems and/or opportunities are unclear.  Covers terrain where knowledge exists or there are preferred practices.  Forces students to read outside readings (key to teaching note). Ground Breaking Cases.  Written for advanced MBA and doctoral students.  Students and instructor engaged in joint exploration  Little existing or prior knowledge on which to base systematic research.  You are extending knowledge base.

ÅA HINTS AT EXHIBITS Put in exhibits common to most cases such as:  financial statements  organizational diagrams, etc. Exhibits unique or specific to the entrepreneurial business case. Put something “uncommon” or surprising in the exhibits.

ÅA Writing a Teaching Note Directed to faculty not students. Concepts in case should tie to the existing research literature where ever possible (full citation). Where should this case be presented in a curriculum? What is obvious focus of this case? What are the hidden issues in the case? What kind of graduate business skills should the reader apply to case? Suggested questions to cover in case.

ÅA HAVE FUN IN WRITING YOUR CASE & TEACHING NOTE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONSIDERING YOUR CASE FOR THE OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL CASE SERIES.