Preparing an Effective Case Study

Preparing an Effective Case Study (PECS) and Case Analysis Guide (CAG) give ideas of how to prepare case studies but are not the only way that one can be done. PECS gives an outline that includes five parts that should be included in the analysis. These include: Strategic Profile and Case Analysis Purpose, Situation Analysis, Identification of Environmental Opportunities and Threats and Firm Strengths and Weaknesses (SWOT Analysis), Strategy Formulation, and Strategic Alternative Implementation. Each section is then detailed more specific giving details of what needs to be included in each part. The situation analysis includes general environmental analysis, industry analysis, competitor analysis and internal analysis. This gives an idea of the general environment to which the company functions in and how it fits into the industry. The strategy formulation is the section about alternative strategies for the company this section includes strategic alternatives, alternative evaluation and alternative choices. This section is most of the time the hardest step in the analysis. The last step is the Strategic alternative implementation which is the action part of analysis it includes the action items and the action plan as to how to the company gain more profit. CAG is a six step analysis format which includes an executive summary, current situation analysis, alternative solutions, recommended alternatives, implementation of the plan and results. Both of these analyses include finding alternative solutions and recommended alternative and how to put the plan into action. The difference can be found in CAG having a results part which is not included in the PECS.

Having looked at these two types of analysis I feel that I will use the CAG style to form my analysis for this class. I have used the format before and fill that it will be easier for me to form an analysis of the cases we will need to complete. I have used parts of the PECS analysis in classes as well in my undergrad studies and feel that I could mix them into the CAG style to make the analysis part of my own analysis of the cases. Being able to change from one analysis to another will make working in groups easier since not everyone will want to use the same format.

The IKEA concept has many of these steps in the analysis but not all of them. It gives the situation analysis by telling about the environment in which IKEA fit and gives a background on the company and how it competes with others in the industry. It also gives an analysis of strategy formulation of the action plan it put into place to help the company have an edge over others in the industry by having customers help keeping cost down by selling items that need to be assembled by them. This helps make it so that most anyone can buy their products. This is an implementation that others in the industry have not been able to reach and compete with IKEA in this area. The firm's vision of being able to reach most

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