General Motors Case

The Case Study HB DECISION SCENARIO CASES

DECISION SCENARIO CASES The most common type of core scenario you’ll encounter in cases is a Decision.

The analysis of a decision scenario has six distinct elements:

1. Identification of the required decision

2. Review or identification of options

3. Criteria selection

4. Criteria- based analysis

5. Recommended decision

6. Proposed actions

Identification of the Required Decision

Somewhere in the case, usually in the first section, you’ll find a statement of the decision that is needed. That tells you the case is built around a decision scenario.

Review or Identification of Options

Decisions usually have options; some have multiple options. Look for them.

Work on the two options that seem most different from each other.

Then work on the remaining options.

You should have an understanding of all the available options before you make your final decision.

Criteria Selection What should I think about when making the decision? Relevant to the decision. They should reflect concepts that can help you understand a specific decision.

Relevant to the case evidence. Look for those that reflect the evidence in the case. You will need to make some educated guesses about the criteria.

Limited to the minimum necessary for making a sound decision. A decision recommendation is difficult when many criteria are used. Identify the top criteria; the most helpful in revealing what you need to know for making the decision

Criteria-Based Analysis

The analysis of a decision directed by criteria examines the case evidence related to each criterion and what it says about the available options.

Learn which option offers the best fit between the criteria and the evidence in the case.

Recommended Decision

What decision recommendation(s) support most strongly.

Different criteria often conflict with each other

Make a judgment of which criteria and what evidence are most important for making the decision.

Proposed Actions

A decision is only as good as its implementation

A smart decision can be undermined by poor implementation.

The purpose of a decision action plan is to implement the decision as effectively as possible.

READING AND ANALYZING A DECISION SCENARIO CASE

Read the case: “General Motors: Packard Electric Division”

READING AND ANALYZING A DECISION SCENARIO CASE 1. Read the first and last sections of the case. What do they tell you about the core scenario of the case?

2. Take a quick look at the other sections and the exhibits to determine what information the case contains.

3. Stop! Now is the time to think rather than read. What is the core scenario of the case? What does the main character have to do? What is the major uncertainty?

4. What do you need to know to accomplish what the main character has to do or to resolve the major uncertainty? List the things you need to know about the situation. Don’t worry about being wrong.