What is going on in the situation that you are analyzing? • How can you account for its characteristics and the way these may be changing? • How can you make sense of the situation and arrive at an interpretation that allows you to say something concrete about it?

 

Successful organizational analysis rests in an ability to examine any given organizational situation so that its fundamental characteristics are made clear. It is not simply a question of spotting problems and applying appropriate solutions. Rather, it hinges on questions such as:

• What is going on in the situation that you are analyzing?
• How can you account for its characteristics and the way these may be changing?
• How can you make sense of the situation and arrive at an interpretation that allows you to say something concrete about it?

Elements of the Case Study

(a) Brief Summary: Introduction to Your Organization A brief account of the situation being investigated, providing sufficient information for the reader to understand the nature of the organization and its context. This section should include relevant background information as well as a clear statement of the focus of your case study. For example, it is appropriate to provide information on the age, size, and history of the organization, the product or services it provides, and the general nature of its environment. The purpose of this is to orient the reader, so that he or she can acquire an understanding of the industry or sector with which you are dealing, and the general trends it is facing. Following a general introduction, you should focus in on the specific situation of the organization that demands—or did demand– attention.

PRACTICAL CASE STUDY, continued
(b) Analyze the organization using at least six metaphors from the course. Here explain and demonstrate your thorough understanding of the metaphors. Present the organization in terms of the six metaphors, applying these to bring out the critical issues and challenges of the situation. Demonstrate your understanding of the metaphors and their relevance to the case (if you find that they do not appear relevant, choose other metaphors. If you cannot find six that are relevant you should choose a different focal organization!).

The different metaphors that we discuss in class fit different situations. Which metaphors or combination of metaphors best accounts for your situation, and helps you understand and produce the analysis or “storyline” by which you can best gain insight (For more details on this method, see Chapter 11 of Images of Organization). This will call upon your ability to use your information and judge its significance.

For example, you may find that your case is best understood as a situation of organizational politics, one of classic bureaucracy, or one that is best understood in terms of the inability of the organization to adapt to its environment. You cannot make this judgment too early in the course—you will have to wait until you have finished the preliminary analysis. If you are successful in this final stage of the project, you will find that you have a much deeper understanding of the situation studied than you did at the beginning of the course. Your task in writing the final report is to communicate this understanding to the reader.

(c) Offer substantial and clear recommendations for the organization, and show how these emerge from your analysis. Here you can synthesize but go beyond the metaphors.

The report should be approximately ten to twelve double-spaced pages (approximately 4000-5000 words).

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE REPORTS

The following criteria will be used to evaluate the case study
• Demonstrated understanding of the metaphors, and the theories and concepts related to these, which can be used to explain the case situation; a discussion of alternative ways of viewing the case will be particularly valuable when relevant.
• The comprehensiveness and care with which the case situation being analyzed is
described
• The complexity of the case (cases that are very simple and offer little challenge will not necessarily earn a high grade)
• The quality of discussion linking theory to data: the rigor and soundness of your
analysis and general conclusions
• The professionalism with which the report is presented.