Mini Case Study
Writing Assignment 2: Mini Case Analysis
ECON 634 Bangalore, Dec/Jan 2009/10
100 Points
Due Date: Tuesday Jan 5 at 1pm; 25 point penalty per day late
This is a team-based writing assignment. My strongly preferred team size is four, but I will consider team sizes of three or five on a case-by-case basis. Your assignment is to
Read the Harvard Business Review short case study “Class- or Mass”. Write an analysis of the case following this outline (submit one report for your entire team):
Identify 3 possible actions the firm could take to deal with its excess inventory problem. These actions may be options identified by characters in the case, or actions you think of yourself.
Start your review be stating clearly each of the three options to be considered in your analysis.
After stating each of the three options, go back to the first option and analyze its relative strengths and weaknesses. What is most attractive about this option? What is least attractive about this option? Why?
Repeat step 3 for the second option
Repeat step 3 for the third option
Next, identify what specific information it would be most useful to have before having to choose between the three options. Speculate on how the firm might be able to obtain that information.
Finally, select one of your three options as the option you would take if you had to make the decision now without any additional information. Clearly explain your reasoning for selecting that option.
NOTE: your analysis should focus upon identifying key pieces of information from the case itself and your identification of other specific pieces of information that would be useful to the key decision-makers. Your analysis will NOT be of the “And I Want a Pony Too!” type in which you just assume everything will work out just the way you want it to happen. For example, you will not give me an option that is “I will have marketing prepare an ad campaign that increases demand enough that all excess inventory is
ECON 634 Bangalore, Dec/Jan 2009/10
100 Points
Due Date: Tuesday Jan 5 at 1pm; 25 point penalty per day late
This is a team-based writing assignment. My strongly preferred team size is four, but I will consider team sizes of three or five on a case-by-case basis. Your assignment is to
Read the Harvard Business Review short case study “Class- or Mass”. Write an analysis of the case following this outline (submit one report for your entire team):
Identify 3 possible actions the firm could take to deal with its excess inventory problem. These actions may be options identified by characters in the case, or actions you think of yourself.
Start your review be stating clearly each of the three options to be considered in your analysis.
After stating each of the three options, go back to the first option and analyze its relative strengths and weaknesses. What is most attractive about this option? What is least attractive about this option? Why?
Repeat step 3 for the second option
Repeat step 3 for the third option
Next, identify what specific information it would be most useful to have before having to choose between the three options. Speculate on how the firm might be able to obtain that information.
Finally, select one of your three options as the option you would take if you had to make the decision now without any additional information. Clearly explain your reasoning for selecting that option.
NOTE: your analysis should focus upon identifying key pieces of information from the case itself and your identification of other specific pieces of information that would be useful to the key decision-makers. Your analysis will NOT be of the “And I Want a Pony Too!” type in which you just assume everything will work out just the way you want it to happen. For example, you will not give me an option that is “I will have marketing prepare an ad campaign that increases demand enough that all excess inventory is