Guidelines for Written Case Analysis

Task

Guidelines for Written Case Analysis

Each of the assigned questions at the end of the case should be repeated in bold font, followed by your answer in professional essay style, and be accompanied by tables, exhibits and/or supporting schedules as appropriate. Please use 12 pt. Times Roman font, double-spacing. Where numeric answers are called for, the calculation must be shown in the body of the text. Tables and exhibits that are less than a half-page in size should be inserted in the body of the text rather. Larger exhibits should be contained in a numbered appendix and cited in the body of the text. Grading will be based on content and responsiveness to the question asked, on writing quality (clarity, conciseness, spelling, grammar), and on professional format and physical appearance. Follow the instructions in the student outline for each case. Review the rubric used for grading the assignments. 

Written case reports should be around five double-spaced typewritten pages each in length, not counting the space devoted to exhibits, computation sheets and APA format references. Whenever possible, exhibits should be placed within the body of the report. Otherwise, they may be placed in an Appendix at the end.

The major sections might be:

Background (make it brief, do not rehash the facts in the case).

Presentation and illumination of the facts as they highlight the issues.

Discussion of the applicable rules, norms, guidelines and governing law.

Analysis of relevant US GAAP or GAAS pronouncements, laws, regulations, and all applicable IFRS and IFRIC rules and analysis of alternative courses of action (if applicable) with advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.

Your conclusion and recommendation with the reason for the course of action you recommend, and the reasons for ordering the alternative course of action.

Subheadings not used: lengthy unformatted narrative loses reader’s attention.

One or more exhibits are not referred to in the body of the report.

Too much focus on minor issues or issues for which there are little or no data.

Rehashing of facts in the case. Present case data only when it is needed to support a line of reasoning you are developing.

Disregard for the quality and/or relevance of the data on which your conclusion is based.

Ask yourself if the data was collected in a sound manner and whether the data are relevant to the issue you are addressing.

Failure to provide a rationale for the recommended course of action that is likely to deal effectively with the problem(s) identified, and failure to provide rationale for dismissing alternative courses of action.

Failure to present analytical work in an understandable manner. When doing computations, be sure your presentation (usually in an appendix) is sufficiently detailed so that the reader can replicate the analysis.

Analysis deficiencies:

Fails to identify fundamental problems in the case and/or their causes

Lacks thoroughness (fails to consider all relevant evidence for or against a particular alternative.)

Done incorrectly (incorrect computations, inappropriate assumptions)

Paper should be sufficiently proofread with correct spelling and grammar.

Organization and format (subheadings, etc.)

Presentation is clear and concise

Issues stated clearly

Analysis of facts:

Identifies fundamental causes of problems

Thorough (considers all relevant evidence)

Done correctly (computations, assumptions)

Reference to relevant GAAP, GAAS, IFRS etc. o Practical

Adequately supported, good writing quality

Addresses the key issues

Sufficiently specific