Course Project: Development and Analysis of Two Mini Case Studies Objectives | Guidelines | Grading Rubrics | Best Practices Objectives Select, develop, and analyze two mini case studies. The purpose of this project is to identify a successful strategy and compare and contrast it with an unsuccessful strategy, with the aim of identifying critical success factors (CSFs). You may select two strategies developed in the same company or from entirely different companies—or, indeed, different industries. Case studies are used extensively in teaching business. Typically students perform an analysis on a case study prepared by an author or the professor—in this instance, the student is the author of the cases. The case study research strategy provides the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of an organization or event—data can be collected from multiple sources (for example, company websites, interviews, or published articles). Please select two examples that reflect success and failure—collect data from multiple sources and develop two mini case studies of 500 words in length. Perform a cross-case analysis by comparing and contrasting the case studies on points of parity and points of difference. This should entail developing a framework, similar to many of the frameworks presented in class (e.g., SWOT or Five Forces) and analyzing the key data in your case studies. The analysis should be presented after your case studies and should be followed by a brief concluding statement and references in APA format. Guidelines Mini Case I: (Success): Sufficient length begins with general points and moves to a focus on specifics, evidence of success, good quality content—relevant, accurate, and timely. Mini Case II: (Failure): Sufficient length begins with general points and moves to a focus on specifics, evidence of failure, good quality content — relevant, accurate, and timely. Cross-Case Analysis: Once you have completed your cases you need to conduct a cross-case analysis. This requires comparing the two cases to determine points of similarity and points of difference. Research Skills: Each case uses four to six sources, and sources are cited in the text and at the end of the case study in APA format. Writing Skills: Ideas are communicated clearly in business English and using the appropriate business terminology. Work should be prepared following the development of a rough draft, revision, editing, and proofing to produce a final polished report. A successful project will meet all of these requirements to earn a maximum of 200 points. At the conclusion of this project it will be beneficial to compare what factors are selected by your peers. Are there patterns here? Milestones Week 1: Select company strategies, read supporting documents in Doc Sharing. Weeks 2–7: Research and prepare rough draft and analysis, followed by revision, editing, and proofing—obtaining feedback. Week 8: Submit Final Report. Grading Rubrics Category.

1. Course Project: Development and Analysis of Two Mini Case
Studies
Objectives
|
Guidelines
|
Grading Rubrics
|
Best Practices
Objectives
Select, develop, and analyze two mini case studies. The purpose
of this project is to identify a successful strategy and compare
and contrast it with an unsuccessful strategy, with the aim of
identifying critical success factors (CSFs). You may select two
strategies developed in the same company or from entirely
different companies—or, indeed, different industries.
Case studies are used extensively in teaching business.
Typically students perform an analysis on a case study prepared
by an author or the professor—in this instance, the student is
the author of the cases. The case study research strategy
provides the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding
of an organization or event—data can be collected from
multiple sources (for example, company websites, interviews, or
published articles).
Please select two examples that reflect success and failure—
collect data from multiple sources and develop two mini case
studies of 500 words in length. Perform a cross-case analysis by
comparing and contrasting the case studies on points of parity
and points of difference. This should entail developing a
framework, similar to many of the frameworks presented in
class (e.g., SWOT or Five Forces) and analyzing the key data in
your case studies. The analysis should be presented after your
case studies and should be followed by a brief concluding

2. statement and references in APA format.
Guidelines
Mini Case I:
(Success): Sufficient length begins with general points and
moves to a focus on specifics, evidence of success, good quality
content—relevant, accurate, and timely.
Mini Case II:
(Failure): Sufficient length begins with general points and
moves to a focus on specifics, evidence of failure, good quality
content
—
relevant, accurate, and timely.
Cross-Case Analysis:
Once you have completed your cases you need to conduct a
cross-case analysis. This requires comparing the two cases to
determine points of similarity and points of difference.
Research Skills:
Each case uses four to six sources, and sources are cited in the
text and at the end of the case study in APA format.
Writing Skills:
Ideas are communicated clearly in business English and using
the appropriate business terminology. Work should be prepared
following the development of a rough draft, revision, editing,
and proofing to produce a final polished report.
A successful project will meet all of these requirements to earn
a maximum of 200 points. At the conclusion of this project it
will be beneficial to compare what factors are selected by your
peers. Are there patterns here?
Milestones
Week 1:
Select company strategies, read supporting documents in Doc
Sharing.
Weeks 2–7:
Research and prepare rough draft and analysis, followed by

3. revision, editing, and proofing—obtaining feedback.
Week 8:
Submit Final Report.
Grading Rubrics
Category
Points
%
Description
Mini Case I: Success
40
20%
A quality paper will meet or exceed 500 words.
Mini Case II: Failure
40
20%
A quality paper will meet or exceed 500 words.
Cross-Case Analysis
40
20%
Includes framework and critical success factors.
Research Skills
40
20%
Based on accurate, relevant, and timely sources.
Writing Skills
40
20%
Business English, grammatically correct, error free, APA
format.

4. Total
200
100%
A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the above
requirements.
Best Practices
The Process for Developing a Case Study and Cross-Case
Analysis
Generate topic ideas (brainstorm – use your experience – your
interests – career oriented choices).
Develop initial ideas (explore the Internet – library data bases).
Select a topic (find the best fit between assignment and
information/interest/experience obtained).
Develop a research question/set of questions - e.g. Why did
this strategy succeed? (answering this question this will guide
data collection and helps interpret results).
Data collection and analysis:
Decide on suitable sources and means to access these sources
Conduct interviews/observations, if appropriate
Collect published sources and record publication details (use
APA format)
Review data and determine gaps that need to be filled
Determine case study structure (chronological or organized
around key events/issues)
Interpret data in relation to the initial research question
Develop an outline – Say what you are going to say – Say it –
Say you have said it (i.e. Introduction – Main body – Summary
and conclusion).
Develop a rough draft, revise, edit and proof – this is critical to
producing a good quality document.
A good case study should be:
Significant

5. Complete
Consider alternative perspectives
Display sufficient evidence
Be written in an engaging manner
Cross-Case Analysis
Once you have completed your cases you need to conduct a
cross-case analysis. This requires comparing the two cases (or
more) to determine point of similarity and points of difference.
The objective is to determine the critical success factors
(CSFs). What are the key factors that led to success?
Understanding success also involves studying failure.
The following framework might be helpful. You should identify
factors for comparison based on the characteristics of your own
cases. Such factors might be charismatic leadership, global
growth, effective value chain network.
The CSFs are based on your judgment of the evidence you have
collected, and should emerge as you work through this
framework. What are the key factors that have led to success. It
will be beneficial to compare what factors are selected by your
peers. Are there patterns here?
You can present your analysis in your report as a figure, but
remember to introduce it and comment on what it means and
present your CSFs in the text. Remember to number your figure
and give it a title, e.g. Figure 1: Cross-Case Analysis, see
below:
Figure 1: Cross-Case Analysis
Success: Company X
Failures: Company Y
Critical Success Factors
Similarities:

6. Differences: