Department of Economics
The College of Wooster
Bus. Economics 260
Prof. John W. Sell
Case studies are designed to allow you to put into practice many of the tools that we have been learning throughout this semester. For this purpose, three- or four-person teams will be assigned. Each team will give two presentations on a case study from the text according to a schedule to be determined in advance. Typically, a presentation will be 50 to 60 minutes in length and team members will want to use handouts, posters, PowerPoint slides, or overheads to support the analysis. One of the other teams will be selected as a "critique team" for each presentation. It will be the responsibility of the critique team members objectively to evaluate the presentation using a specific case evaluation form for this purpose. This provides constructive comments to the presenting team and will be incorporated into Professor Sell's evaluation of the overall presentation. The author of your text has prepared a sample annotated analysis of a previous case. You may wish to look at this case as an example of what to look for when thinking about your own case.
A case study is evaluated both on content and delivery. The content evaluation includes whether the presentation was accurate, complete, specific, and detailed. Were appropriate analysis tools used? Did the team demonstrate a mastery of relevant concepts? Was it clearly shown that the recommendations could be implemented? You want to be SPECIFIC in all recommendations, supporting them with the appropriate IFE, EFE, CPM, TOWS, BCG, IE, QPSM or SPACE matrices.
Delivery includes whether the presentation was interesting, lively, special, and clear. How good were the visual aids? Were your voice tone, eye contact, posture, and appearance professional? Were your handouts, slides, or overheads effective? Note that a good presentation is delivered, not read.
All team members will recieve the same tentative grade. The final grade for the case study will be the tentative grade adjusted by confidential feedback from the other team members. Each team member will rate each of the others (and him/herself) on the relative contribution made in preparing and delivering the presentation. Consistent poor ratings by other team members will reduce a particular presenter's case grade. It is important that all team members share the work of the team appropriately. Similarly, it is the obligation of each team member to evaluate the work of others truthfully and fairly. There is a specific form for this purpose that should be submitted in class on the day following the presentation.
Audience members who are not part of the critique team have the responsibility to be informed about the case material in advance, to ask questions, to point out errors, and to offer comments on the recommendations, perhaps including counter-recommendations. Constructive criticism and praise should be give as appropriate. Because of this, absences from class during the second seven weeks will be noted and, if more than 3 for any reason, will result in a reduction of as much as one letter grade in your course average.
rev. 29 December 2004 by Jws.