Comm 101 Tutorial Section 101 Week 4

Agenda Case SkillsLieber CaseBusiness PlanQuestionsDiscussion (if time)

Week 4 Case based learning - Why Apply tools and concepts to real-world scenarios Engage critical thinking skills Fantastic learning tool for students Reinforce the connection between analysis and recommendations/solutions 3 Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Case based learning - How Issues, Analysis, Recommendations Approach Prioritizing Framing your response 4 Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Issues, Analysis, Recommendations 1. Issues: important problems, decisions or issues. 2.Analysis: analysis of underlying causes of issues, and alternative actions considered, selectively supported by relevant concepts and frameworks as you learn them. 3.Recommendations: a set of clear recommendations, supported by your analysis. Because cases are complex, yet the memos (or class discussion opportunity) brief, you will face the challenge and discipline of organizing your thinking well and writing/talking concisely. Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Stages of learning in cases Individual Preparation Small group discussion Large group (class) discussion After case personal reflection t L Ind. SG LG Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Approaching a Case Skim the case quickly to “get a feel” Look to see if a specific decision point is identified (typically in the first or last paragraph) Then, read the case carefully and make notes (but do not take too long) Can you identify the issues? How are they linked? Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 The Case Preparation stages A) Identify Issues B) Analysis C) Alternative Generation D) Decision Criteria E) Alternative Assessment F) Recommendation G) Action & Implementation H) Assumptions Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Importance & Urgency of Issues Cause & effect diagram (fishbone) SWOT framework Comparative data Financial analysis Your list will grow as you progress through your degree Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion Prioritizing Issues

Week 4 Prioritizing Issues Fishbone analysis: cause & effect Urgency/importance quadrant Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Decision Criteria – What decision criteria could you use to screen alternative options? – Hint: list under qualitative and quantitative Provide examples relevant to the practice case $ Return, aligns with strategy, etc. Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Framing your response Know your audience – report/memo What are the issues? “What” course of action should be taken. – Without this you risk listing lots of items but failing to commit to one “Why” reflects your evidence, directly from the case and distilled from your analysis “How” is the implementation plan Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Memo – Not everything from your prep will fit in the memo constraints – Check each set of instructions – Be selective in what you choose to present – Develop your own style and “voice” – Learn from exemplars Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion Framing your response

Week 4 Recap of case fundamentals Make a decision based on the information at hand – Issues – Analysis – Alternative solutions – Recommendation Persuasion and argument in support of the Decision – “my analysis shows” beats “I think.” Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Student Myths MYTH: I have an advantage because I know this company You will only learn the keys to success if you can “abstract” away from the case -this means getting beyond the detail or specific situation to recognize and deal with the broader principles Also, your knowledge may post-date the case! Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 More Student Myths MYTH: I will have an advantage if I go to the company’s web site and spend a lot of time doing research on this company In fact, you may be wasting your time. All the information you need for the assignment is in the case. Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Conclusion There is no single right answer to a case With practice you can become good at tackling – New industries – Complex data – Ambiguity – Building your “toolkit” and making good tool selections – And characterize problems and opportunities PROCESSING the situation via – ISSUES – ANALYSIS – RECOMMENDATIONS Case Skills LieberBiz PlanQuestionsDiscussion

Week 4 Lieber Case What are we being asked to do? 18 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Lieber Case What are we being asked to do? Evaluate whether or not we can afford to drop our price by 20% 19 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Lieber Case How do we do that? 20 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Lieber Case How do we do that? We are going to look at the profit we make off of each unit sold and check to see if it covers our fixed operating costs Let’s look at the numbers 21 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Lieber Case 22 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills Exit Presentation and double-click object

Week 4 Lieber Case Questions? 23 Lieber Biz PlanQuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment Each team selects one business plan – No duplicates – register on form through assignment guidelines pdf Identify elements of a business plan – do not analyze the business plan Note the assignment specs on the pdf 24 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment - Rules Maximum 1000 words – Include word count Don’t submit late 25 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 26 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 27 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 28 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 29 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 30 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 31 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment You are NOT analyzing the business plan Just show your knowledge and comprehension of the business plan Access Bloom’s taxonomy to ensure you are not over-analyzing 32 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 33 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 34 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

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Week 4 Business Plan Assignment 36 Lieber Biz Plan QuestionsDiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Business Plan Assignment Questions? 37 LieberBiz Plan Questions DiscussionCase Skills

Week 4 Discussion 38 LieberBiz PlanQuestions Discussion Case Skills

Week 4 Discussion 39 LieberBiz PlanQuestions Discussion Case Skills