2 Reflection
Analysing business cases
Communication skills
- Be clear why you are reading the text.
Producing input texts - mapping
- (a) Read the case study text to map the case.
- Before you read closely, look quickly through the text to see what it is about.
- Ask yourself questions about the text.
- Read the text carefully.
- Underline or highlight high levels in the text.
- (b) Process the case study text by making notes.
- Select information, using levels in the text to decide.
- Make or find key concepts for the levels.
- Organise the key concepts into notes.
- (c) Produce a summary
- Produce a summary (in your head, in writing or in a diagram).
Producing input texts - framing
- Read the assignment title and identify instructions and concepts.
- Read textbook texts and develop concept knowledge.
- Search-read and make notes on the case study to frame the case with business concepts.
Producing an analysis text
- Define the concepts you are using.
- Organise the analysis.
- Provide criteria for categories.
- Give examples and details for categories.
- Use evidence from the case study or elsewhere as rationale for analysis.
Language knowledge
How texts are organised
- Case study: story, description
- Case analysis: concepts
- Levels in text:
- high-level generalisations and key concepts
- low-level: examples and details
How texts are structured
- First paragraphs
- First sentences of paragraphs
How sentences are structured
- Nouns and verbs
- Subject and verb
How word groups are structured
- Noun groups
Business studies knowledge
- STEP concepts:
- external environment
- social, technological, economic, political factors
- Stakeholder concepts: power, interest
- US airline industry
- Automobile Association demutualisation
- CCTV industry
- Nike