google case study

Instructions for

The Case Study Analysis / Term Paper

This case study analysis is the term paper assignment mentioned in the syllabus.

Format: Use the case study analysis template provided to you as a separate attachment along with these instructions; they have some slight revisions from the one you were given earlier in the quarter. Do not alter this format ; type directly onto the template after the ¶ sign. Leave the footnotes in the paper. Single-space. You may double-space between bullet-points and paragraphs, if you wish. The analysis should be as long as is necessary to write the quality of term paper that you desire. There is no maximum page length. Most likely, however, the term paper will need to be 9 - 14 pages (or more) in length (including the nearly 6 pages of the template). Quality (i.e., grades) and length do not directly correlate. Turn in a hard copy, but maintain an electronic copy until after you have received a grade for the paper.

Case Study Selection: All members of the BA 385 class will conduct an analysis on the same case study—“Google, Inc. in China.” This is an important and well known incident that contains many of the themes of this course in the Business Environment. The case study will be a separate attachment along with this document. Note that the case study is a pdf file. It is approximately 18 pages long. Limit your analysis to the material in the case study. Do not do additional research (except, you may do 5 minutes of research on the author, if you wish). You cannot find the answers to the template questions on the Internet.[footnoteRef:1] [1: ]

Suggestions:

· Case Study Analysis Example. Use my case study analysis example sent to you earlier in the quarter on Wal-Mart: The Main Street Merchant of Doom as a guide to writing your term paper. This analysis will be useful to you for determining formatting and how to approach answering the questions. Do not, however, copy any parts of that case study into your term paper. Avoid being derivative. Do not use it as your template.

· Template Footnotes. When using the case study analysis template, read all of the footnotes carefully. They have been placed in the template to help you with definitions and suggestions on how to proceed. Read footnote 1 in the template before you begin.

· A First Step. After completing the Pre-Analysis (Section I), read the case study and then tentatively identify the Key Issues (Section IV). You need to know what the key issues are before you begin analyzing the case study, since the key issues will determine or at least should influence your responses. Then, go back to Section II and begin the analysis. Read footnote 6 in the template now.

· The Facts Section. This is a complicated case study with many facts. The only facts that you need to include are the facts that will provide a foundation for understanding the key issues, analyzing them, and supporting your position in Section V. In the historical context section, you may wish to include a few more facts in order to provide a background that will help the reader to understand the case study. While it is better to error on the side of including too many facts, it is not a good use of your time to include a large number of unnecessary facts. Read footnote 7 in the template now. Note the sentence in italics.

· The Context for the Case Study Analysis. The context for your analysis of this case study is the Business Environment class. Therefore, the key issues should involve the type of issues that are discussed in the textbook and course. Wherever appropriate and possible, you should make reference to the concepts and terminology used in the textbook and course. Read the 4th paragraph in footnote 1 in the template now.

· The Subject of the Case Study Analysis. The subject of the case study analysis is Google, Inc. and China’s responses to Google’s actions. You should respond to the questions in the template on that basis.

· Section V: The Analyst’s Position. When stating your position on the key issues you will have identified in Section IV, you need to not only state your position, but to build a strong, logically developed argument in support of your position based on evidence (see the 2nd sentence of that question (V) and footnote 23). Section V is the most important part of the case study analysis. The analysis leads up to that point. Think of Section IV as the hypotheses, Section II as information gathering, and Section III as the analysis of the information upon which the “term paper” (that is, Section V) will be based. The answer to Section V will constitute 25% of your term paper grade.

· English Grammatical Conventions. If necessary, obtain help with grammar. Your ability to write English will be one factor in your grade, and I will reduce your grade because of poor grammar, repeated misspellings, poor proofreading, and other problems with English usage (syntax, diction, tense agreement, word order, coherence, etc.). If you do obtain help, provide me with the name of the person and, if appropriate, the organization helping you and a phone number. Their assistance must be limited to grammar, spelling, and clarity. Their help must not change the substance of your comments.

Grading: Grading will be based upon (but may not be limited to) your understanding and use of the case study template; your understanding of the case study itself; your ability to focus on those issues critical to this class; the reasonableness of your statements (while acknowledging that a range of different answers are acceptable); the use of concepts and terminology from the textbook and lectures; the use of logic and critical thinking skills; the depth and breadth of the analysis; and the strength and persuasiveness of the entire case study analysis/term paper, but especially of Section V. Responses to Section V may legitimately reach very different conclusions. While the conclusions reached are important, how well they are supported with evidence (facts within a logical framework) is often even more important.

If you have any questions about this assignment, please contact me.

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