Individually prepared case analysis of three single cases, which will be selected by students from amongst
those eight (8) mini-cases to be prepared on a semi-regular weekly basis as per the term schedule (below).
Case analyses will be handed-in at the beginning of class and sent electronically via OWL Drop Box. The case
write-up should be no more than six pages (double-spaced, 12-point Arial font) in length, with a maximum of
three exhibits. The student should write the mini-case assignment from the perspective of the main character in
the case whose financial management issue requires a solution (or, where no case character is given, from the
perspective of a financial consultant advising on the next steps for the company/organization). The case writing
tools presented in class, in the text, and delivered on OWL as supplementary readings should be used to
“crack the case”. In addition to specifically answering the mini-case questions posed in the textbook, the case
assignment submitted report should include the following:
• – Identify the main character in the case and their strategic and financial business issue(s) and how the
organization competes through finance excellence
• – Summarize the key case “question(s)” from the perspective of the main character, asking the question “what
needs to be done now, soon, this year, in 3 years, etc., and how can solving this financial issue be beneficial”?
• – Using the text, course tools, and Connect on-line supplementary tools and information, conduct any other
reasonable financial, strategic or tactical analyses of the firm, and stating why these were considered important
• – Sufficiently analyze and answer all case questions posed in the textbook in an integrative and professional
report-style
• – Go beyond the case facts in theorizing what the company’s industry might look like in the future, what the
firm will be like in 2020 and 2030, and how the organization can use finance to stay relevant in diverse
markets, grow organically and through new improvement initiatives, and improve return; ask what this company
is doing/can do to become sustainable and how to measure such diverse aspects that can be unfunded liability,
how a larger or smaller competitor would conduct financial operations differently (if applicable), how
competitors may enhance their profitability using alternative approaches (you can speculate here), etc.
• – Propose a solution(s) to the financial problem(s) and/or assessment of the firm’s financial structure, as the
case circumstances require. Create a detailed plan of action for the character/company to execute in order to
solve their problem(s), enhance their competitiveness, and “win in the marketplace”, including the 5 W’s of how
to execute on the plan