Case Study
ANALYZING A CASE STUDY
STAGE 1:
QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE GENERAL SCENARIO PRESENTED TO
GAIN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION.
Underline/highlight information which may indicate problems exist
STAGE 2:
EXAMINE THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY
Read the questions several times-work out what is asking of you
STAGE 3:
READ THE CASE AGAIN VERY THOROUGHLY
Look for evidence
STAGE 4:
PLAN YOUR ANSWER-SOME GUIDELINES
You must be able to cite evidence (s) to support your arguments
Apply your knowledge of theories to evidence assembled
Draw legitimate inferences about matters not explicitly stated
Make concrete recommendations- avoid vague conclusions
STAGE 5:
WRITE YOUR FINAL ANSWER
Express your ideas in your OWN words – do not simply paraphrase what you read; be selective in what you quote from the case.
CASE STUDY 2 - “PINNACLE MACHINE TOOL CO.”
Don Anglos had to decide whether to trust his gut or his head, and he had to make that decision by next week’s board meeting. Either way, he knew he was bound to make at least a member or two of his senior management team unhappy.
The question at hand was whether Pinnacle Co., the small, publicly held Indiana-based machine tool company he led as CEO, should attempt to acquire Hoilman Inc. Hoilman was a company known for the cutting-edge sensor technology and communications software it had developed to monitor robotics equipment. Anglos had just heard a credible rumour that one of Pinnacle’s chief competitors was planning a hostile takeover of the company. Coincidentally, Don Anglos knew Hoilman well because he had recently held exploratory talks about the possibility of a joint venture designed to develop similar technology capable of monitoring a broad range of manufacturing equipment. The joint venture did not work out. But now, by acquiring Hoilman, Pinnacle could develop software that transmitted real-time information on its customers’ equipment, enabling it to set itself apart
STAGE 1:
QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE GENERAL SCENARIO PRESENTED TO
GAIN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION.
Underline/highlight information which may indicate problems exist
STAGE 2:
EXAMINE THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY
Read the questions several times-work out what is asking of you
STAGE 3:
READ THE CASE AGAIN VERY THOROUGHLY
Look for evidence
STAGE 4:
PLAN YOUR ANSWER-SOME GUIDELINES
You must be able to cite evidence (s) to support your arguments
Apply your knowledge of theories to evidence assembled
Draw legitimate inferences about matters not explicitly stated
Make concrete recommendations- avoid vague conclusions
STAGE 5:
WRITE YOUR FINAL ANSWER
Express your ideas in your OWN words – do not simply paraphrase what you read; be selective in what you quote from the case.
CASE STUDY 2 - “PINNACLE MACHINE TOOL CO.”
Don Anglos had to decide whether to trust his gut or his head, and he had to make that decision by next week’s board meeting. Either way, he knew he was bound to make at least a member or two of his senior management team unhappy.
The question at hand was whether Pinnacle Co., the small, publicly held Indiana-based machine tool company he led as CEO, should attempt to acquire Hoilman Inc. Hoilman was a company known for the cutting-edge sensor technology and communications software it had developed to monitor robotics equipment. Anglos had just heard a credible rumour that one of Pinnacle’s chief competitors was planning a hostile takeover of the company. Coincidentally, Don Anglos knew Hoilman well because he had recently held exploratory talks about the possibility of a joint venture designed to develop similar technology capable of monitoring a broad range of manufacturing equipment. The joint venture did not work out. But now, by acquiring Hoilman, Pinnacle could develop software that transmitted real-time information on its customers’ equipment, enabling it to set itself apart