Page 18 - Articles Written by JGJ EF DPS

THE ICE BREAKER CASE

The following introductory, ice breaker business case study, takes
between one and one - and - a half hours to complete with the class. It is
an attempt to demystify the case method in the eyes of the students. It
allows the lecturer to visually construct a solution drawing on the
interpretation of each paragraph by the class but augmented by the
lecturer. In addition, on student prompts, the lecturer constructs an
analysis drawing on common diagnostic tools and their interpretation to
aid the assessment of the company’s current and future competitive
position. Essentially, it is an attempt to read between the lines, to pick out
the critical elements and build a solution that the students can take a
measure of ownership from.

Moreover, the process aims to enable students to construct their own
solutions to future cases by applying the same questioning and
relationship building steps without being mired in the all too rigorous
application of accepted diagnostic tools advocated in their course
literature. These tools should and must be adapted to circumstances
existent in the case study under examination. In a sense the lecturer is
trying to show by example and the process of questioning and adaptation
that the mantra for students should be ‘don’t do as I say do as I do!’ both
look, see and comprehend.

Learn by example but adapt where necessary.