For your final presentation and assignment, your team should choose an organization and a specific issue related to one of the management functions we have discussed this quarter—planning, organizing, leading, or controlling (ethics could and should be addressed as needed in any of these areas).  You will build a case study from your research that is suitable for class discussion.  The core elements of this expanded case study should include the following (taken from http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/publications/qmanual/ch-08.php):

1. Title page

2. Table of contents

3. Executive summaryThis section should comprise a brief overview of the case, giving a brief background and noting any important assumptions made. (You will not have all the information you would like - so you may need to make some assumptions). As well as this, you should give a synopsis of your case report, noting very briefly the major problems identified and the recommended solutions.

4. Problem identification and analysisIn this section, you should identify all the major problems in the case. Try to identify the underlying causes of problems, not just the symptoms. Seek advice from your tutor on the layout of this information. You should link each problem identified to relevant theory and also to actual evidence from the case. Remember, you MUST integrate theory and reference all non-original work.

5. Statement of major problemsIn most case studies, you will identify a number of problems. Most likely, there will be too many to actually 'solve' in the number of words allowed. Hence, it is crucial to state very clearly which are the major two or three problems, or key issues, that must be solved first. Therefore, this section is just a short concise statement of what problems you are going to solve in the remainder of the case. Half a page is adequate. Having once identified the key problems, you can continually check back to ensure that you are actually attempting to solve them, and not some other minor problems you identified. This section is crucial to a good case report.

6. Generation and evaluation of alternative solutionsWhile most problems will have a very large number of possible solutions, it is your task to identify and evaluate a number of the more appropriate (at least 2-3 for each major problem identified).  Each alternative solution should be briefly outlined and then evaluated in terms of its advantages and disadvantages (strong and weak points). Note: You must evaluate alternatives. It is not necessary to make a statement in this section as to which alternative is considered best - this occurs in the next section. Do not integrate theory in this section and do not recommend theory. Practical solutions to the problems are required.

7. RecommendationsThis section should state which of the alternative solutions (either singly or in a combination) identified in Section 6 are recommended for implementation. You should briefly justify your choice, explaining how it will solve the major problems identified in Section 6. Integration of relevant theory is essential here.

8. ImplementationIn this section, you should specifically explain how you will implement the recommended solutions. Theory cannot be implemented; you must translate it into actions. This includes explaining what should be done, by whom, when , in what sequence, what will it cost (rough estimates only), and other such issues. Remember, if a recommended solution cannot be realistically implemented, then it is no solution at all.

9. Appendices (if any)

10. Reference list  This will contain an alphabetical list of all the references you have cited in the body of the report. Do not include details of any sources you have not cited. Ensure the style used is correct and consistent.

Group Paper and Discussion:

Your team will have 30 minutes to present your case, facilitate a discussion, and come to a closure that clearly defines the issues that must be addressed for a successful solution.  Prior to the presentation (the Tuesday before your discussions, May 23), you will provide the class and the instructor with a written report (maximum 10 pages) including Sections 1 (Title Page), 3 (Executive Summary (minus the Recommended Solutions)), 4 (Problem Identification and Analysis), 5 (Statement of Major Problems) and 10 (Reference List).  Your classmates will be expected to read these prior to the class, and you will use this work as the basis for your guided discussion in the classroom.  Papers should be submitted through the E-Submit link by midnight, May 23.

You will be expected to facilitate a group discussion of Sections 6 (Generation and Evaluation of Alternative Solutions) and 7 (Recommendations) as effectively as you can in the time you have available; familiarity with the basic material you have provided should be assumed.  You should take notes on this discussion, since you will need it for your final individual paper.

Please use a standard citation format for your Reference List (you can find style guides for citations on the UW Libraries Information Gateway at http://www.lib.washington.edu/research/wri.html).  It should provide two things: 

1. documentation that shows you have collected sufficient information to allow a good analysis of the case, and
2.  references to resources that you can use to support your analysis, either from experts in the field you are exploring or from comparable studies that have been previously done of the case. 

You may include articles from peer-reviewed journals, newspapers and magazines, books, class readings and any other media that can support your presentation and analysis of the case.

Final Individual Paper:

For your final individual paper, you will complete the case study by providing your personal summary of Sections 6 (Generation and Evaluation of Alternative Solutions) and 7 (Recommendations), as well as Section 8 (Implementation).  These sections may or may not coincide with the results of the class discussion, but should reference major points raised during that discussion and address those effectively.  Length should be no more than 3-5 double spaced pages (in addition to the 10 pages of your group report).  Final papers will be due by midnight on the last day of instruction in the quarter, June 2, through the E-Submit link

Be careful to pace yourself in the organization of your paper.  It can be easy to fall into the trap of spending the majority of the length on description of the case, and then finding you have to cram the analysis and recommendations right at the end.  Describe as much as is necessary to lay out the case, but focus on what you, the manager, have to say about the challenges and opportunities.  Assume your reader knows little about the organization and the situation you are analyzing, and be specific with examples.  Remember also to use specific examples and references from your readings during the quarter and your independent research to bolster your analysis.