Case Analysis - Walmart

Handout and Rubric Case Study Assignment BUSU630 Assignment #1 Case Study

Due Week: 2

Case Analysis Format (5 pages normally)

Choose a company that you want to analyze, could be a company for which you have some knowledge or a company for which you have some interest and desire to find out more about through this analysis. Should not be your current employer. It may be a company where you are a frequent customer. Identify and then create a case study. In other words you are to write a masters level case study about a problem that you have identified in a specific company.

Title of the Case Problem Statement: (The problem statement is a one sentence declarative sentence that describes the strategic issue to be examined.) The title must incorporate all of the sections below.

Scenario: (The scenario is a 3-5 sentence summary of the case which includes the names of principles and companies, such facts and details as would be necessary to the understanding of the problem). This provides a clear (and cited) context for the problem, (who, what, where, when and financial considerations). For example, is your chosen case study trying to analyze a financial, cultural, supplier, competition, customer or other problem? Once you have identified which of the above is the key issue that you are going to analyze then you would use the proper operations or supply chain analysis found in the text book to analyze the problem using a case study method.

Analyses: You can choose from two different forms of analysis or assessments for your case study which flow logically from the problem and present these in detail. For example, if the problem deals with profitability then the choice could be pro forma budget an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) or Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC). If the problem is growth, competitive industry analysis, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), Key Factors of Success (KFS), etc. could be chosen. This takes two to three pages usually with three to five APA references, one of which is always the text book. Your research comes from business or library sources (never Wiki anything or Google). Remember you have to use APA headings for all of your MBA work https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/16/

Conclusions: (Express what you have concluded from the analyses and present outcomes of the analysis either in narrative or bullet point format). This is usually a half or full page and is always cited using business sources.

Recommendations: (Present the action items that should be undertaken or implemented based on your conclusions that would solve all or part of the problem that you identified. This may be done in either narrative or bullet-point format. However, if you use bullets you have to have an explanation for each bullet. This is usually a half or full page.

Remember the job of an MBA is to offer recommendations, options or opportunities based upon the data (and cite). The MBA would never use the words “must, should, have to, etc.” in their work. The MBA only presents opportunities and options. Each recommendation, opportunity or option needs to have a business citation (otherwise it is just opinion and companies don’t have to pay MBA salaries for people who just want to give opinions).

Graduate students always have the option of joining Brandman’s Online Office Hours (free).

https://my.brandman.edu/student/OWC/Pages/Online-Office-Hours.aspx

Below is the rubric that will be used to grade your Case Study Assignment.

Evaluation Criteria Case Study Analysis Paper

Exemplary 111-120

Proficient 95

Developing 94

Emerging 87

Key Insights 30 Provides accurate and clear descriptions of the case study. Accurately and comprehensively discusses the impact and value of the strategic issue that is to be analyzed. Provides a clear picture of the context for the strategic issue.

28 Provides a fairly accurate and clear description of the case study. Fairly comprehensively and accurately discusses the impact and value of the strategic issue that is to be analyzed. Provides some context.

23 Provides somewhat accurate and clear description of their case study. Somewhat accurately discusses the impact and value of strategic issue. Provides some context.

25 Provides limited or unclear definitions and/or descriptions of their case study. Limited if any discussion on the impact and value of strategic issue chosen. Provides no context for the strategic issue.

Application

30 Clearly identifies and discusses specific actions in regards ‘best practices’ that can be used to address and improve the case study at hand. Clearly describes how each action will

28 Fairly clearly identifies and discusses actions in regards ‘best practices’ that can be used to address and improve the case study. Fairly clearly describes how each action will promote

23 Somewhat clearly identifies and discusses actions in regards ‘best practices’ that can be used to address and improve the case study. Somewhat describes how each action will enhance

15 Limited if any identification and discussion of actions in terms of ‘best practices’. Limited if any description of how each action will apply the tools available in supply chain and operations.

enhance a clear application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

a clear application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

promote a somewhat clear application and understanding of the tools available in supply chain and operations.

Critical Analysis

30 Consistently employs critical analysis in discussing the key insights gained about the case study. Accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis and application. Uses the text book and at least four other business sources.

26 Fairly consistently employs critical self- analysis in discussing the key insights gained about the case study. Fairly accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis and application. Uses the text book and at least three other business sources.

22 Somewhat employs critical self-analysis in discussing the key insights gained about the case study. Somewhat accurately links theory and course concepts with analysis and application. Uses the text book and at least two other business sources.

25 Limited if any critical analysis in discussing the insights gained and their understanding of the case study. Limited if any connection made between theory, course concepts and application. Uses the text book and at least two other business sources.

Writing Mechanics

30 The paper is logical, well written, and the required length. Spelling, grammar and punctuation are accurate. Consistently uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA formatting standards are followed; citations and reference page is correct.

26 The paper is logical, well written, and is the required length. Minor errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA standards are followed with a few minor errors.

22 The paper is somewhat logical and well written; may be 10% too long or short. Some errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Somewhat uses sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. APA standards are somewhat followed but with numerous errors.

15 The paper lacks clarity and may be confusing; may be 15% too long or short. Numerous errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. Limited if any use of sources (textbook and assessments) to support discussion and analysis. Limited if any adherence to APA standards.