Description
Business cases are used to help students learn about important concepts and explore the issues, problems, or decision-making situations faced by organizations and managers. The case study should be analyzed individually and will have its own set of questions to be addressed. Read the appropriate materials and prepare a case analysis report in a way that addresses all the questions provided. The case study mentioned below needs to be purchased from the Ivey Publishing website.
Bansal, P., Montgomery, W., & MacMillan, K. (2020). Maple Leaf Foods: Changing the system. Ivey Publishing.
Objectives
- Develop an ability to identify the hidden issues based on a detailed analysis.
- Analyze the issues based on the theoretical concept learnt.
- Provide a recommendation for each issue identified in the case.
- Prepare a coherent report and integrated analysis.
Instructions
In order to complete your case analysis successfully, you should consider
- reading the case two to three times to understand the issues faced by the organization or the protagonist;
- analyzing the issues based on the theoretical concept learnt; and
- providing a recommendation for each issue identified in the case.
Resources: You may like to explore the following resources for learning how to analyze a case and write a Case Analysis report:
- SW Learning. (n.d.). Preparing an effective case analysis. http://www.swlearning.com/management/hitt/hitt_student/case_analysis.html
- Chandy, K. T. (2004). Case writing guide. http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~tchandy/Mgmt411/case_guide.html
- Cengage Learning. (n.d.). Case studies: Overview. https://college.cengage.com/business/resources/casestudies/students/overview.htm
- Prentice Hall. (n.d.). How to analyze a case study. http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_laudon_essmis_6/21/5555/1422312.cw/content/index.html
- UNB Writing Centre. (n.d.). Case study analysis. https://www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/_resources/pdfs/wss/casestudyanalysis.pdf
You should consider organizing your report as follows:
- introduction (Brief summary of the case – not more than 150 words)
- company background (based on data in the case and from the company’s website; not more than 150 words)
- issue (based on discussion questions provided – Please name the sections appropriately)
- evaluation of Issues
- suggested Alternatives
- conclusions
- recommendations
Other instructions:
- Word Limit: 1500 to 1800 words
- Should use APA format
- Consult your instructor regarding the use of external academic and relevant non-academic references to support your case analysis
Introduction: The case is about ‘The Maple Leaf Foods (MLF)’ which created a vision to change and became a sustainable company by focusing on society and the natural environment. The learning objectives of the case are:
- To describe how vision can drive change in an organization.
- To examine drivers and the need for organizational change.
- To examine the challenges and opportunities related to implementing change
Suggested Case Questions:
- Discuss the key internal and external factors that led to the need for organizational change at Maple Leaf Foods.
- Discuss the significance of organizational vision in guiding the change management efforts at Maple Leaf Foods.
- Discuss the challenges faced by Maple Leaf Foods when implementing organizational change.
Late Submission Policy
- This assignment is subject to the Late Submission penalty policy, namely 5% per day for three days.
- This page will close and will not allow further submissions after this Late Submission period has expired.
- In the event of an emergency situation preventing you from submitting within this time frame, special permission must be obtained from your instructor. Documentation substantiating emergency is required. In such a circumstance, if the extension is granted, the professor will reopen the submission function for you on an individual basis.
- Please do not email your submissions to your professor, either before or after the due date; all coursework should be submitted through the online course (Moodle).
Evaluation
Case Analysis will be marked in its entirety out of 100. The following rubric indicates the criteria students are to adhere to, and their relative weights to the assignment overall.
| Activity/Competencies Demonstrated | % of Final Grade | |
| 1. | Case Analysis (80%) | |
| a. Provided Company Background | /10 | |
| b. Identified the issues, problems or decision dilemma faced by the organization/ protagonist | ||
| c. Analyzed the issues, problems or decision dilemma faced by the organization/ protagonist and integrates with the theoretical concepts learnt. | /20 | |
| d. Provides suitable alternatives related to the issues, problems or decision dilemma faced by the organization/ protagonist. | /20 | |
| e. Provides appropriate recommendation given the case facts and analysis completed | /15 | |
| f. Included Introduction and Conclusion | /15 | |
| 2. | Attention to Detail (20%) | |
| a. Use of relevant facts from the case and other resources (course material, additional readings, etc.) | /10 | |
| b. Spellings, grammar, and APA format followed | /10 | |
| Total | /100 | |