#nmims #cdpi :

CASE STUDY -
In some B-School Process, instead of a topic/issue they give a CASELET in WA / GD. Some of
the top management institutes, as well as some of the lower ranked ones, have shifted from
using Group Discussions during the second stage to using Case Studies (along with the
Interview).
Thus, it is quite important to:
(a) Understand what these Case Studies are all about;
(b) How you should go about a Case Study discussion
(c) Demonstrate the necessary skills; and
(d) Prepare accordingly for them
What is a Case Study? -
It is important to realize, first of all, that you are not going to get a big Case Study, running into
several pages, that you may get during the placement process at your college or that you will be
given during your MBA course. Case Studies handed out during the admissions process are
typically short one-pagers, which are fairly straightforward and easy to grasp.
Usually Case Study discussions, like Group Discussions are held over a duration of between 15-
20 minutes.
You will be given time before the discussion to read the material given to you and think/ jot down
some points. As for GDs, utilize this time well!
Just like GDs, your discussion will not be moderated (the evaluators will not usually interrupt the
flow of the discussion or indicate who should speak etc); you shall only be evaluated based on
your performance. You have to take whatever opportunity you get to speak.
Case Studies given are typically in the form of a situation/ problem that you are faced with. You
have to work with the others in finding out a solution or deciding how to proceed.
For example,
1. you may be told that you have been appointed the marketing manager of a firm and you are
faced with a situation of declining sales and loss of market share of your major product over the
past couple of years. What can you do to reverse this decline and put your company back on the
right track?
2.You could be that you are told that you are the HR manager of a firm. The situation is that there
has been a massive drop in the performance of a particular employee, who has earlier been a
top performer. His boss comes to you and notifies you of the situation and states that in spite of
the employee’s good track record till then, the current situation cannot be accepted. How are you
going to address this issue?
****************************************************************
Approach to solve a CASE STUDY is a ball game. Sharing "My Approach to Solve A Case
Study"
**********************************************
Discussion on Case Study is a situation based Analytical Discussion, in which you have a story
or situation; full of problems.
How should you discuss a case (structure to solve a case)
Discuss (in group) :
[A]. Situation and the environment of the case.
[B]. Identify all the problems (if there are more than one problem (hidden problem) in the given
situation case)
[C]. Priorities all the problems
[D]. Again identify Few Major problems and work on it and remove other problems
[E]. The Most Important : Identify The Business Problem from Major Problems (Assume You find
bad cash flow in the quarter is the major problem; Less Sells or Bad Sells in the quarter or Bad
product or not targeting the right customer might be business problem, you can find this from the
case itself or from your reasoning; Sometimes major problem and Business Problem could be
same )
[F]. Now start working on The Business Problem and try to find
a. Why (reason behind the problem)
b. What (What should be solution)
c. How to implement the solution
[G]. Last but not least - Try to add one point "Review of the solution" after some time we should
check, is our solution working or not???.... This one is very important.
Suggestion :
If you are an initiator; Start with, Hello Friends .....The Case of Godrej Hotels....... (give a name to
the case);
I think There are many problems in the case (if there are, might be in the case you have only
problem, seldom happens).
Problems are ......................; then priorities problems; identify major problems; then business
problem (SAY BUT I THINK REAL PROBLEM IS ..........)
Then try to convince the group that You Have identify all the problem and Priorities the problem
the best way, (you are half done; now give chance to others, By saying ,so Friends what your
take on the problems) And Lead the GD; in the same sequence as mentioned above.
If you are not initiating the discussion; Speak all the problems (if no one did, or some major
problems, which are missed by group) then Help Group to find the real problem and Business
problem and give solutions.
Note :
1. Never Start the case from solution
2. If you think; the problem you identify should be main problem but group is not listening to you
and behaving like a stubborn kid, no problem say your points once; next time try to bring your
point with new dimension, And then for sake of group go with group. Moderator (panellist) will
definitely notice your point.
==============================
Past Year CASE STUDIES TOPICS of NMIMS (Its more or less GD, but they love to call it Case)
1. It is tougher to stay at the top than to reach the top
2. Development and pollution are two faces of the same coin
3. CSR is a sham
4. Can Businesses survive without cheating
5. Should the Govt. go for censoring TV Channels
6. i-Pod is destroying music industry.
7. Sometimes less is better then more.
8.IPL has reduced cricket to soap opera.
9.Price rise leads to social unrest.
10. Workers had quit the job after they had to do overtime and night shifts. HR department and
Operations department want to get them back. Suggest the measures to deal with situation.
11. An Indian entrepreneur exports textile to US and US meltdown lead to losses for him. He and
his family committed suicide, whom to blame?
12. A boy is dying. You want his kidney for your own son. The dying guy is willing to donate it for
free, but his family is not willing to give it. You are an entrepreneur. How will you deal with this
situation?
13. Come out with consensus on top 10 toughest jobs out of 20 difficult jobs given
14. People are more concerned about financial accounts than social accounts, How can this be
improved?
15. A company had strong profit and revenue but credit and standing was falling down. Give
reasons and suggest ways to improve it.
16. You are the manager of a travel company and 6 places are given to you. Rate each of them
and come out with group rating.
17. Five people go on a strike in an organization, should they be thrown out?
18. There should be time constraint for scientists working in a company.
19. I-tabs will replace libraries
20. Media sensationalizes news
21. Smart phones becoming norm of the day
22. Success is fluke and failure is inevitable.
23. India is a great aspirational society.
24. Are we producing a generation of burnt out children?
25. Should capital punishment be scrapped?
26. Modern cinema is a boon for social transformation
27. Newspapers are becoming redundant now
28. Manufacturing is the base for economic development
29. Internet is good for young generation
30. Govt. monopoly is better than unfettered competition
31. Education opens the window of opportunity
32. Respect is not demanded, it is commanded
33. Yes, we can!
34. Newspapers are becoming redundant now
35. Manufacturing is the base for economic development
36. Internet is good for young generation
37. Govt. monopoly is better than unfettered competition
38. Education opens the window of opportunity
39. People are more concerned about financial accounts than social accounts, How can this be
improved?
40. A company had strong profit and revenue but credit and standing was falling down. Give
reasons and suggest ways to improve it.
41. You are the manager of a travel company and 6 places are given to you. Rate each of them
and come out with group rating.
42. Five people go on a strike in an organization, should they be thrown out?
43. There should be time constraint for scientists working in a company.
44. A company ABC manufacturer’s paints-it causes health problem to employees and users,
what will you do as the quality manager?
45. You are the school principal, because of a faulty question paper, many students have failed.
Parents are demanding a re-exam but employees are not ready to do it in a short time. What will
you do?
46. When Indian economy is going down, why employment being generated in Banking sector
and connect with rural India?
47. School Management has been negligent and a number of 12th grade students (wanting to
apply for colleges) have been failed in one exam jeopardizing their chances to a better future.
What course of action do you suggest?
48. How businesses can survive and thrive in the current times.
49. Low Agricultural Productivity. Suggest ways to increase productivity?
50. Workers had quit the job after they had to do overtime and night shifts. HR department and
Operations department want to get them back. Suggest the measures to deal with situation.
51. An Indian entrepreneur exports textile to US and US meltdown lead to losses for him. He and
his family committed suicide, whom to blame?
52. A boy is dying. You want his kidney for your own son. The dying guy is willing to donate it for
free, but his family is not willing to give it. You are an entrepreneur. How will you deal with this
situation?