A case study marathon? No, we don’t suggest that you run while you solve. Our entire batch was taken to a resort for this first-time programme at LIBA conducted by Dr. A Seetharaman, Dean of Academic Affairs, SP Jain School of Global Management, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney. The main idea behind the programme, being conducted for the first time, is that we learn case analysis better in the midst of nature instead of in classroom environment, which often creates stress. For the last three decades, marathon case studies have been conducted as an experiment by applying the principle of behavioural sciences across the world.
Through the day, 115 of us learnt how to do a structured case analysis which helps in formulating the right strategy to keep competition at bay and maintain a leadership position. We were divided into six groups and each group got a complete case study to analyse wherein we were expected to study industries as well as organisations. There were six case studies across sections such as the Oil Industry, Hollywood, DSP BlackRock, Samsung, Rolls Royce and Alibaba.
We analysed the case studies by adhering to a certain framework as explained by Dr. Seetharaman. We then prepared IFE, EFE, CPM, TWOS Matrix and Balanced Scorecard to create a strategic action plan for the organisation and industries that were given. Each group had to do a 15-minute presentation followed by a question/answer session which made the solution and learning interactive and fun. We all benefitted much from this 11-hour long marathon case study as it broadened our perspective and deepened our knowledge about strategy formulation.
Final-year student, Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai