The initial step in performing a case analysis is to develop a comprehensive situation analysis. A situation analysis consists of seven investigative and analytical steps.
Assessment of the market needs for the product
Assessment of the market demand for the product
Assessment of the nature of the market competition
Assessment of the external environment
Assessment of the internal environment
Assessment of the product life cycle stage
Once the comprehensive situation analysis has been preformed then one is in position to analyze the problems and opportunities that have been identified.
The identification of problems and opportunities will then be summarized and evaluated utilizing either quantitative or qualitative methodology referenced in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework.
Since we will be focusing on developing your competitive analysis, we will only say at this point that analysis often highlights relationships that are contra-intuitive and often can only be discovered by data evaluation.
We perform these Analysis so you fully understand the value of the methods that we use to enhance the performance of your firm.
We do not just restate the facts of your situation, We develop an integrated view of your firms competitive position.
If a fact is a significant element in your analysis then it is reasonable to restate it, however we will explain why it is important and what is its impact on the performance of your firm.
Rationality is Key to Assumptions
While we will attempt to give you as much information as we can to support our positions, it is our experiences in the field that are the strongest factors in our recommendations.
Correlation and Causation, Symptoms and Disease
Cognitive recognition of cause and effect is a skill that must be developed. One major strength of case study analysis is that it will cause you to become cognizant of causation and able to distinguish between the Symptoms and the Disease. This is where statistical analysis can often lead business people astray: Correlation indicates only a relationship in the values of two items, it is the human intellect that finds and defines the underlying significance of such numeric relationships. This is where most firms fail in their analysis. You must have significant experience to identify which relationships are critical to yours firms performance and those that are merely academic in nature.
Understand the Concept of Opportunity and how it impacts a firms performance.
Opportunities exist outside of the existence of the firm/organization. If the firm goes away, but the condition or situation remains, then that is an opportunity. These are the areas of the most promise and risk for firms.
Review Objectives Critically
Stated objectives can often tell a manager about the management philosophy of the firm and about the current marketing strategies being utilized by the firm. It is important to identify the true goals of your firm, for they will often determine the allocation of resources to reach specific objectives.
State Several Alternative Action Plans with the pros and cons of each plan.
This will demonstrate that we have researched and developed an action plan based on careful evaluation of alternative plans. In reality this facilitates the development of causation recognition. The analysis of alternative plans will make you know why the plan works. It is the "Why" that is the goal of our business evaluation..
We Will Present our Final Analysis in a clear and concise manner.